Stolen Kisses
—A/N: I don't own DBZ! I hope you enjoy this story. And I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. Sorry for updating so late, again I had computer problems. Without further adduce, here's chapter six. I hope everyone is enjoying their vacation, I also hope this chapter was worth the wait. Feedback is highly appreciated!
Thank you everyone for last chapter's reviewers: reallycoolygirly, Ryuu-Kage(Shadow-Dragon), Me, Lady-Thetis, DemonVidel, and SonJanusX
Chapter Six: Be Still My Heart…
About thirty minutes has since the last chapter…
The sun had set a few minutes ago and darkness was slowly spreading its sheet upon the sky above.
Outside the winds blew and cried with their soft cries. A deer gathered one berry into its mouth before heading into the bushes.
When Hurcule and Rosanna arrived they found everyone present but Videl. When Tori was asked about Videl's absences, his stuttering was apparent.
"She went out for a small walk, nothing's up! Great job, idiot!" Tori replied.
"It's too late to go and come from the city." Serenity responded. "Maybe should go look for her or at least call her. It won't take long." She pulled out her cell phone.
"NO!" Tori yelled. He blinked and saw the group looking at him suspiciously. "Uhm, don't. At least wait a bit. I'm sure she'll be back soon, besides she's a big girl now and she'd feel so embarrassed and pissed if you came looking for her like some kid. Besides she's Hurcule's daughter, right dad? And no Satan gets defeated!"
Hurcule nodded proudly. "That's right!" He then followed that with one of his obnoxious laughs.
"Oh dad, did you see your newest ad for this year's tournament?" Tori asked quickly. Tori was determined to do his best to change the subject. Serenity glared at her older brother and nodded to him. Tori looked from the corner of his eyes and nodded. He knew Serenity would pry whatever he knew one way or another. It was a trait he feared from his siblings but he never showed it. Only a fool would show women like that fear, they must smell it.
Tori looked away and saw his father was in his "glory" mode so he patted his dad's shoulder and walked them over to the dining room table. Tori only nodded and added a few "oh yeah, you're the champ." Or "No one can beat you, dad."
Hurcule sat down and grew silent. He looked at the fireplace and his face showed no emotion or clue to what he was feeling. Tori saw the years of worry appear onto his father's forehead. He was actually worried. He cared. This realization somehow froze the determination within Tori to a solid core. Tori sat opposite of his father and remain silent, and tried to think of a new way to keep their minds off of Videl's absence. He had a feeling Videl was out for more than a walk.
Tori's eyes snapped open. He felt it. He turned to Serenity and he saw her expression, she felt it too.
Tori bit his lip and looked out the window. "Videl."
Videl's face was white with fury, and her eyes were a dangerous sapphire and wide with the effort it took to control the rage that wrapped around her. She clenched her fist and felt her body become warm with her ki rising at a rapid rate.
Her body seemed to quiver with tension.
When Trunks and Gohan momentarily regained the power to draw their eyes from her, they glanced at Vegeta. If they were surprised by Videl's obvious emotion and ki, they were completed dumbfounded at Vegeta. Vegeta's mouth was pinched into a harsh line and his face had turned to a bright scarlet. Not the type of a blush but of extreme rage. They began to see small bulging veins appear on his tightened fists. He seemed to be holding himself under control only by immense effort. Whatever there was about Videl Satan, it was something that could strike Vegeta a nearly mortal blow. The two demi-saiyans knew that Videl was the "she" Vegeta had been so unnerved about.
"I've come here to look at the three men who are so scared they might have to share their "kingdom" with the "common" people they resort to frightening women and children! Well, we're not frightened, dammit! You'll never scare us off!"
"I don't live here! I'm here for a visit. I live in West City! Videl what are you talking about?" M. Trunks replied.
Videl darted her glare at the oldest man. "Ask the all mighty Vegeta who came to our house and nearly scared a little girl and my sister to death!"
Trunks and Gohan looked at Vegeta who wore a mask that sealed off his emotions and he spoke firmly and with cool control. "I frightened no one, little girl."
Little girl! Videl's eyes grew wider and she took a step closer and she looked far angrier than before. "Liar…!"
Vegeta folded his arms and was a bit impressed that she'd stand up to him and he considered she did that only because she didn't know exactly who and what he was. "I merely pointed out the fact that it makes no sense for the "Great Hurcule" to be here among Kakorat's family. I mentioned how you'll never survive since you were pampered since birth! You're weak rebellious and ill-prepared children. And that you don't deserve your blood, you don't care about the heritage you have flowing through your very veins and allowed it to be wasted!"
"What are you talking about? How dare you say that when you know nothing about us? And you're going to be the one that will make it impossible to live here! You're so damn arrogant that you can't accept anything! You're the most arrogant, insensitive, self-centered and self-important person I ever met!" Videls stomped her foot. "We'll stay here even if we have to pour our blood into this damn ground." She breathed in and out. "And no one will change that." She glowered at Gohan who stood only a few feet from her. She'd never ever throw in the towel and give up. She was brought up that way and she hated the taste of defeat.
Maybe Vegeta should have stopped talking but somehow a part of him spoke and not one of the saiyans expected this.
Maybe his emotions were getting the best of him and he let his mouth do the talking without consulting him. Or maybe he was taking this Uncle a bit too far and letting his unsettled past control his thoughts and actions. "Do you know who the hell you're talking to? You and your blasted sisters are here to slip yourself around here and I won't stand for it! Love only makes you weak and these two will not fall for women who'll use them for publicity!"
Gohan and Trunks looked at Vegeta as if he lost it, and from his expression he felt the same, for he must have from what he had just said. Both saiyans were bring forced to the wall, forced to choose sides, forced to decide whether to stand with the saiyan prince or with the daughter of the man that lied and cheated and spoke nothing but pure deceit.
"Even Bulma...?" Videl challenged and looked at Vegeta. She held her head up high. "…Oh of course, it's such a wasteful amount of energy used." She said softly, aware deep within that she would not be able to make such a decision. Her eyes moved from Vegeta to M. Trunks, and then to Gohan. Their gazes met and held. "Of course they will. You just want to feel superior since you're different that everyone else and to hell with everyone else, right?"
It seemed to Gohan and Videl that they were alone in a world tossed by a cataclysmic turbulence.
"You're wrong, Videl." Gohan said quietly.
"My dad is defending what he believes; doesn't everyone have the right for their own choices and beliefs?" M. Trunks added.
Videl eyed them. "So you support what he did?" Videl's fists shook and she seemed to be speaking more to Gohan than anyone else. "So you believe what he said about love?"
"…He's my father, Videl…." M. Trunks answered.
"…And a friend who I have known for years now…" Gohan added. "That's what friends do; we defend one another when they have something to prove. Boy, did that sound a bit corny Even though sometimes his ideals aren't the best I know which are from which aren't."
Videl scoffed. "You saiyans are alike!" Her voice cracked in chocked misery. "Well, we have something to prove for ourselves. Stay away for the next time one of you steps foot on our land you won't live to regret." Then she gave each of them to coldest glare they'd ever seen.
She left without another word and Gohan moved swiftly to follow her. M. Trunks had meant to do the same, but seeing Gohan follow, he was stung into immobility by a surprisingly black cloud of jealousy. M. trunks turned to looked at his father and saw in time to see a fleeting look of pain and grief crossed his face, a look so full of anguish that M. Trunks found it almost hard to believe.
As soon as Vegeta felt M. Trunks' eyes upon him, he brought his features under iron control. "There's going to be trouble, Trunks. I'm glad you were smart and stayed on the winning side."
M. trunks gazed at Vegeta and a look of sadness touched his eyes. "I didn't stay because you're going to win, dad." He said softly. "I suppose you wouldn't understand my motives. But it doesn't matter now. The damage has been done but cannot be forgotten."
"No damage, Trunks." Vegeta chuckled. "I'm sure their father will be more than willing if shoved in the right way."
M. Trunks shook his head. "Give it a rest, dad. I have a feeling, dad, it might just be a war that will cost you more than you bargained for."
"You're not going through with it?"
"If you mean knowing that I killed someone by my own hands and will, then no, I'm not going through with it. I shall use my power to help defend what needs to be defended. But I shall not start it. Nothing is worth this, not even land. Land is one thing, dad… but this war shall bring something you may not be ready for." Vegeta snarled at his son an M. trunks shook his head again and opened the door. "Don't say I didn't warn you."
He left through a different door so he would not have to see Gohan, or worse, Gohan and Videl.
Vegeta looked at his fist and loosen it to look at his palms and fingers. "I won't let her win!" he clenched his fingers into two fists that shook with fury at his sides. "I WON'T!"
Satan House
Serenity looked at her fists. "Seriously, we're only staying for like another week and then we're gone—"
"More like a month, Serenity." Tori interrupted.
Serenity sent him a glare then continued. "Ok, a month, but still! What does that short guy want from us? What did we do to him?"
The two remained silent then it hit them. "The Cell Games." Quickly Serenity headed for their father's room and easily snagged the videos from her father's "secret hiding" place which was behind his "sanctuary." When she returned she saw her brother carrying a bowl of popcorn and one of his top favorite magazines. Serenity rolled her eyes and grabbed the remote from the coffee table and forwards the tape. "Boring…Boring… oh here's something."
"Dude, this guy loves spandex. Gosh, he must have one in every color. And if he doesn't I'm sure Mira wouldn't mind making some for him. " Tori said. Tori and Serenity winced when they saw Hurcule flying into a mountain then boulders fell upon the spot he landed. They sweat dropped when he tried to brush it off as luck.
Blushing they muttered, "Damn he can be such a jack ass."
After watching the sets of tapes of the real Cell Games, Serenity stood up. "I guess he had something against that Cell Games thing but I know that little kid defeated Cell with all that power he gave off. But I doubt he's any relations of ours… hum."
"Maybe it goes further than that, Sherlock." Tori finished his large bowl of popcorn and flipped the channels until he found a scary movie. Serenity knew her brother always annoyed everyone when he watched movies that aren't as scary as they claimed to be. He'd do mockery screams every time someone screamed or he'd pretend to bit his fingernails. Then if he knew anyone was really scared he'd try to act out some scenes and scary them half silly.
"AAHHH…!"
Serenity rolled her eyes and left for she was determined to crack this with or without her brother's help. Tori screamed again and with a frustrated growl, Serenity slammed her bedroom door closed. "Brothers, I swear!!"
Son House
M. Trunks looked out the window and saw Gohan holding his cheek which most likely meant she smacked him across his cheek. M. Trunks drew the curtain closed and stepped away.
Gohan opened his eyes.
Fight?
Impossible!
No matter what he did he could not remove Videl's face from his mind, or her angry and frightening words. He wanted one more chance to explain before the real war began.
Videl stormed away from the house until her small wrist was caught by Gohan's hand.
Videl gasped but her shock was quickly replaced by her anger. "Videl wait." He then tried to turn her to face him.
She smacked his hand away and for the first time he saw the tears she held back in those sapphire orbs.
Those blue depths shimmered and a few tears rolled down her face passed her cheeks, which had a faint rosy tint to them.
Her voice was a bit hoarse but they held the anger that soon retuned in her eyes when she realized her venerability.
"Leave me alone, Gohan. I can't stand much more of you people tonight, not even you." She turned back away from him.
And she walked away, just like that.
—Moments Later—
Videl tapped her fingers on the table; she'd been so close and yet so far. He'd caught her and brought her back.
Dammit.
Damn him. Damn it all.
Videl glared at the wall and folded her arms against her chest. She looked like a beautifully formed statue but the only way someone knew she was there was when they saw her breathing. "What is there to talk about?" Videl asked bitterly after a few moments.
Gohan had given up a few minutes ago to get something to eat so his mother and Bulma tried to get her to talk.
"Survival…" Both women stated quietly.
Now she turned to look at them. "Survival…" Then she looked away and stared at the ceiling. "Yours or ours…?"
"I don't understand." Bulma replied.
"Maybe I don't understand myself. I hate him…" she then closed her eyes and forbad any tears to fall. "But then I love him so much. I'm so confused."
"Did you come here earlier with the idea that our sons would desert their beliefs or honor? Aren't you asking a lot more than you'd be able to give?" Chichi looked at Videl, "Would you desert your family?"
Videl sighed deeply. "I suppose you're right. What are we to do then?"
"Knowing Vegeta, he'll be planning on winning without delay…hum…" Bulma's eyes lit up. "I know exactly who can help."
"Who…?" Videl looked at the older woman in wonder.
Chichi beamed. "Your mother and her people…I heard M. Trunks knows where she is." she then gave the teenage girl a reassuring smile. "I know she'll help—"
"—and maybe this will be the perfect push to get Vegeta back to his arrogant but loveable self." Bulma added.
Videl looked up at them. "Why are you doing this?" she narrowed her eyes a few seconds later. "What's the catch?"
"No catch. Let's just say that this deed will end something and start something new and wonderful." Chichi answered.
"But—"
"Do you want our help or not?" Bulma interrupted her.
Videl sighed. "I do."
"Don't worry; everything works itself out in the end." Bulma smiled.
Videl stood up and made her way towards the door. "When does this all take place?"
"Tomorrow…" Chichi insisted.
Videl grimaced when she looked at the clock. She heard it chime as it read: 2:30 am.
"Not tomorrow, give me a day or two. No doubt my father will go ballistic when he finds out how late I'm coming home."
Chichi handed Videl a jacket. "Here… it's cold tonight and I don't want my daughter—err, you to catch cold, now do we?"
Videl looked at Chichi oddly and all three of them had heard her slip but Videl merely shrugged it off and put the warm coat onto her body. Videl murmured a "thank you" to the women and opened the door.
Videl stiffened. Was she being paranoid or did she feel another pair of eyes on her.
Videl turned back and decided she was being a bit jumpy for no reason.
"Later." Videl said.
Chichi placed a hand on her shoulder. "Are you sure you don't want any company? The woods can be a dangerous place—"
"I'll be fine, besides the sunrise will be soon." Videl replied.
M. Trunks walked past the rooms to get a drink of water and hopefully some early breakfast. He hadn't noticed that Gohan wasn't in his room or anywhere in the house.
Elsewhere
Heart warred with love. Jealousy warred with understanding. With a keen set of eyes a person could see signs that the sun would soon began to rise over the hills and the mountains behind her. Surprisingly the young woman didn't feel sleepy but she felt tired since her anger took most of her energy.
After a moment's rest, Videl regained her equilibrium. She found it hard to believe she'd taken the bull by the horn and had done what she had done—battling the lion in its own den. She hadn't thought of any consequences when she lashed out at them. Videl placed a finger on her lip, "How reckless of me" But then again she was a fighter, not a quitter.
She was more certain her entire family would be furious with her if they discovered what time she came in and what she had done. All she managed to do was put another barrier between her and…Kami! She was thinking about Gohan. What a useless thing. He didn't feel the same anything for her. Well maybe just lust but nothing more.
Gohan's face lingered before her and, despite all mental battles, the warmth of the night, the glow of the moonlight, and her own vulnerability overcame her.
Videl looked up. She could feel the strength of him, the feel of is hands on her warm skin. She could almost grasp the taste of his mouth as it had plundered hers with wild recklessness. Yet now she was left with a dark void she had no way to fill. It could never be. They had too many difference and too much pride. Their family never got along after the Cell games. He was a Son and she was a Satan, It was like oil and water. They could never mix.
Videl frowned. Her control slowly returned. She would not drop her pride in the dust for him, and that must truly be what he expected. She had too much pride to do that. Their confrontation had already proven it. He would use her and discard her, possibly with some amusement that a Son had once again proven stronger than a Satan.
Tonight, as far as she was concerned, they had fought their final battle. If it took every ounce of strength she could gather, she would wipe Gohan Son away from her mind…from her heart…from…
The darker shadow beneath the tree shifted and she stopped dead in her tracks.
For a minute fear touched her. But from the breadth of his shoulders, the way he sat with arrogance and tranquility, she knew it would only be one person. She could feel his almost animal-like magnetism before she could even see his face.
She could run and use the night's cover to hid her tracks or fly right now.
But she did neither. She waited almost breathless expectation as he walked up to her side.
"Videl"—his voice was deep and vibrant—"Its time we talked."
Videl's eyes grew wide.
Son House
"Do you think she's ok?" Chichi asked. She wrapped a few of her fingers into the spiral cords of the phone.
"Don't know." Bulma answered. She and Vegeta had left about a half an hour ago.
Bulma looked up ad the ceiling and sighed. "Saiyans are not only unpredictable but so complicated."
Elsewhere
Videl scoffed. "I really don't see what we have to talk about, Mr. Son. I know where you stand…where we stand."
Gohan shook his head. "You don't try to understand anyone's position but yours. Correct?"
"Mine is not the most enviable position."
Gohan sighed. "Videl, what do you want me to do? Spit and turn my back upon my beliefs and my heritage? We all have the right to protect what we believe we should protect."
"Exactly, so go tell that annoying arrogant man that."
Again Gohan shook his head then he chuckled. "You don't know Vegeta."
Videl scoffed and gave him a challenging glare, "You're scared then?"
"Scared?" Gohan raised his eyebrow. "Don't make me laugh. I'm not your message boy, Videl."
Videl looked in Gohan's eyes and she sensed something within them, a thing which neither of them would put a name to it.
He walked closer and brought himself within inches of her. She remained immobile, her eyes defiant and glowed with potency. She was not going to let him see an ounce of the growing fear within her, even though her heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.
Why did her defenses seem to turn to sand every time he was close to her? Videl groaned inwardly.
All her good intentions and determination seemed to melt into an emotion she did not understand, or chose not to understand.
Videl started to hover close to the height of the large trees. Panic was flowing within her body.
"Videl, we can't talk like this. Get down. Come and walk with me…talk to me, and listen to me."
"No, I can't do that." Videl answered.
"Why?" a small smirk formed upon his lips. "What are you afraid of?"
"I would be a fool not to be afraid of you."
"I didn't say you were afraid of me. I don't want you to be afraid of me. But I really think you maybe afraid of yourself." Gohan saw she looked completely shocked by what he just said. "You're a little afraid that you might really understand."
She stared at his leonine face. The way his eyes looked she knew he was trying to contain a raw emotion that was eating at his own control. After a few seconds she could no longer read his eyes. Feeling the situation was far from repair, she turned her face away from the heat of his gaze. She had felt it sear her skin, seeking something.
"Seeking what?" Videl thought.
He flew up to her. "Look at me, Videl." He said. When she failed to respond, he reached to take her face between his fingers and turned it toward him. "Look at me, dammit."
"Make sense and I will!" she snapped, angered now more at the effect his touch had had on her than anything else.
She was prepared to deny anything, to battle anything he could fling at her. What she was unprepared to battle was the electric excitement he had the power to stir in her.
There was a long extended silence in which she could hear the rapid beating of her heart. The world that surrounded them seemed to devoid of any other life. Videl gazed up at the moon and shuddered at its breathtaking nearness and awed by its uncanny beauty.
Gohan studied her face in the moonlight and thought, How beautiful she is...yet how unreachable.
The protective shield she built as an invisible barrier stood in his way, evading all and every advances he made towards her. Perhaps it was this very thing, this elusiveness, which made him desire her more.
His voice was softer than either of them had expected. "Videl, don't shut the doors between us. If some of us don't reach, don't talk, this whole thing is going to explode beyond any hope. We've got to stop it."
Suddenly vulnerable to his tenderness, she felt tears brimming in her eyes. Angry at herself for evincing such weakness, she became momentarily disorientated. "I am making sense. You just refuse to acknowledge." he added.
Before Videl could answer, he reached to pull her close to him. Unable to move as quickly, he brought her into his arms then he flew them down onto the ground. When he released her she turned away with a disgruntle grunt. "You're insistent…a saiyan trait I presume."
"You should know." Gohan replied.
Her laugh was soft and almost bitter and ignored his comment. "You want to talk to me?" she placed her hands firmly upon her hips. "So talk."
Gohan leaned a hand upon a nearby tree and grinned. "What a consummate actress you are."
"Ugh, just tell me what the hell you wanted to say that you had to stop me on my way home. What explanation is it this time?" Gohan got ready opened his mouth so she narrowed her eyes. "And it had better be good."
Videl took a seat on a large rock but the defiant glow in her eyes never faltered. "And if it has anything to do with me not fighting you, Gohan, or you think I'll give up this fight—" Videl merely let out a harsh laugh. "—don't even count on it."
Gohan sighed heavily then looked into the sky before meeting her glare head on. "Though I'm still debating why I'm saying this but, Vegeta isn't what you see him as. He's just Vegeta."
"Vegeta doesn't own squat here and dammit he knows it. He's speaking as if he rules everyone. He has no right to tell me, or my family that we can't stay here! He has no right to what belongs to someone else!"
"Even people who are not strong enough to hold it?"
Videl glowered at the demi-saiyan and bit her lower lip. She heard him begin to talk and all her anger blotted the words out. He made her so frustrated at times. Videl found herself walking close to him as he continued to get lost in the world of his past. He talked about his frustration, his anger and wanting to, when Goku had died and Goten was born, to be a somewhat father figure for his sibling. But he felt the shoes were too big to fill. He felt he'd disappointed everyone since he was young. Felt he hadn't been able to help when he was needed the most. Felt that he hadn't been strong enough when he was needed.
He turned to face her now. His cheeks were surprisingly flushed after he practically told her everything about himself,
a person he hardly knew. A woman he wanted to know, the woman outside and the woman being protected by an invisible shield.
She'd just seen a glimpse of the more vulnerable and understanding side of him. Unable to help herself Videl stretched out a hand to touch him and he stared at her intently, as if he could never finish devouring her with his eyes.
Gohan reached out to take her outstretched hand and pulled her close to him. He closed his eyes briefly taking in her tempting smell of faint perfumes and shampoo. He could feel her warm trembling form shudder against him. She felt his lean body grow ridge and tensed as it was influenced with passion and desire.
"I'm sorry, Videl." He said softly, "You know you can't win. You must go." The last words were a groan, but he clung to her and would not let her pull away from him. A wave of fear swept through her and she shivered, for she knew if this touch were all of him she would have, if they fought to the death, she would not let go.
Then he moved away, and then he caught her face into his hands and lifted it to him. They kissed, again, and again, and again, until the strength that made Gohan Son drained from him and he could only be what he was—a man who wanted, needed, this woman in his arms.
He then stood before her, looking into her eyes until Videl had no strength to resist. She, too, was caught in a whirlwind of emotions that tore at her, stripping away all but the flame of passion that was raging, like a forest fire, beyond all her efforts to control it. This flame unlocked by the other, gave them the key to their heart; a key that others who had come had failed to grasp.
They stood underneath the tree, each breathing in the scent of the other, each aware of only the other's presence.
She sensed hurt in him and she wanted to heal it, and so they clung to each other for several moments, unmoving and silent. Both felt the beating of the other's heart against their body. Gohan gripped her more tightly and his desire overrode all else. With deliberation he pushed tomorrow from his mind.
With their hands infinitely gentle they undressed each other, wanting to touch, to explore, to learn. Touching Gohan's warm skin became an erotic sensation for Videl that aroused her to tingling excitement. He exuded a body heat so warm that contact with him set her on fire……
:) And here we would have a little lemon (:
Satan House
The clock chimed 4:00 am.
Hurcule continued to pace around and Serenity continued to watch him with drowsy eyes. Before closing her eyes for a few seconds while Tori's head bobbed up and down as he began to drift asleep.
"Can't we go to sleep now? I wasted too many hours of my beauty sleep waiting up for that girl!" Rosanna yawned. "Look at me! I'll collapse from exhaustion! This has to be a crime!"
"Oh shut up! We have enough of your damn nagging throughout the day!" Serenity snapped.
Tori's head shot up and the tired young man lazily looked around. "Dad you're making me dizzy and Serenity's getting piss off. You know how cranky she gets when she doesn't get any sleep and how bitchy Rosanna gets."
"I recent that!" Rosanna snared.
"I can't believe she'd do this! What could she possibly be doing?" Hurcule yelled. The three only gave the other a look. "And at this time of night, I can't believe she'd do this to me! I planned her life in advanced! The perfect husband, the perfect marriage, the perfect family—"
"—and happiness of course. Right?" Serenity asked. "And how are you so sure the one you pick is the one?"
Hurcule laughed and shrugged her question aside. "Nonsense, I know what's best for my children. I know my children, each and everyone of them."
"Then why don't you know where Videl is, dad?" Tori asked.
"Well—well how do you expect me—?" Hurcule sputtered then he let out one of his obnoxious laughs.
"Oh for Kami sakes dad…"Tori fell back and found a cozy place on the couch. It was way too early in the morning to have him laughing like some crazy banshee.
Rosanna rushed to Hurcule and batted her eyelashes. "Baby, you are the champ, right? You defeated Cell and you are our hero, right?" Rosanna hugged him. "Videl's a big girl and doesn't need daddy's protection. Can we go to bed then?"
"The champ never sleeps!" Hurcule boomed. Rosanna hissed and muttered something underneath her breath.
She glowered out the window and saw the sunlight and shook her fists wildly. "When I get my hands on that twit…I'll—"
Hurcule turned towards the woman with a dark expression, "You'll do what?"
Rosanna paused and swallowed. She covered her mouth and gave him a nervous giggle. "Nothing, sweetheart, I'd never ever hurt Videl." Rosanna then spoke underneath her breath and added; "Even though she's one of the people making my life a living nightmare…"she paled when she saw Hurcule glaring at her, "opps. Uh… I'll just excuse myself and make myself another cup of coffee." She turned to Serenity and Tori and somewhat nervously asked, "Tanya and Hajji, would you like some?"
Both young adults gawked at her and replied with their correct names. Rosanna blinked, "Isn't that what I said?"
Rosanna shrugged for she didn't care. She then headed towards the kitchen with ever hatred still lingering in her heart. She clenched her fists and swore she'd have her revenge. Everything was being thrown off schedule because of that child and whatever else was going on since they moved here! Dammit, she should have said "No" when she had the chance, but no she said "Yes"!
"And after a whole year she STILL hasn't gotten our names right." Serenity yawned.
Tori gulped down hi cup of coffee, "I really don't give a damn; I got a date in the morning with Brenda."
Serenity couldn't believe she was bored and tired enough to sarcastically ask, "I'm so interested, who is she?"
"You don't know her? Brenda, blonde hair, green eyes, and a sweet package! She was lonely this week and I decide to grace her with my presence. Besides, you never know, she may not be another airhead. She was valedictorian before the year you graduated."
"For once in your life you choose a great one, one out of a million for you to get that." She yawned. "Ok, enough about you…Daddy, can we just go look for her?"
"NO!" he growled. Then he grinned wildly. "I want her to come here and meet me head on, face-to-face! I want to see the terror and shock in her face when she opens the door to see me!" he grabbed a small notepad, "I even took the time to write down everything I want to stay so I don't forget! That girl's going to be grounded for a long time!"
"Oh daddy, come on. So this is the first time she stayed out. You weren't worried like this for Tori or me!"
"Well, she's my sweet pea! I want to protect her! She's my last baby! There are too many wacko and psychos running around! Besides Tori hardly had dates—"
"HEY!" Tori objected, "That's a lie, I wasn't even in high school then and the girls in my grade were too childish!"
"—and Serenity was more than qualified to take care of herself."
"Well, thanks a lot dad!" Tori huffed.
"Besides, I want what's best for her—"
"Wait, didn't we go through this scene a few hours ago? I'm not up for reruns ok?" he looked at the clock, "If she doesn't show up soon I'm going to bed. Sorry, dad but this is insane."
"Aren't you a bit concerned?" Rosanna asked.
Tori could see she didn't give a damn if Videl was alive or not.
"Concerned? She could take down almost anyone who challenges her. I mean she faces bullets, criminals, assassins, robbers and suicidal bombers practically everyday and hardly gets a scratch!" Tori chuckled, "I see no worries here."
"Oh, your so naïve, she maybe Hurcule's daughter but she's human! I mean think about it, what if she was ambushed by those jerks over there! She could be dead, hanging onto life! Or yet, what if sometime later she could have been run over by some drunken person and now is in a coma or even dead. Or kidnapped by some crooks who want all of us dead! Or, or—"
"Enough!" Tori replied.
"Yeah, you worry too much snookie." Hurcule added.
"Snookie?" the two young adults looked at one another. If they hadn't been suffering from fatigue they'd be laughing at the nickname. They found nothing wrong with nicknames but they had a few privately chosen nicknames for the woman.
"If she's doing what I think she's doing I have a great idea to punish her." Rosanna ran her hand down Hurcule's chest.
"And what would that be?" Hurcule drank down a shot of some of his expensive wine.
Rosanna's eyes lit up as she saw that he actually looked interested. Rosanna grinned wickedly, "Perfect." she looked up at him with an "innocent" face and a pouting expression. "I thought. No I couldn't do this to Videl…but I must. We'll send her to Madam Arles School for Girls. It's a highly appreciated and sturdy boarding school."
"A boarding school?" the three looked at her.
"Why of course, but this school is highly recommended for young women. I'm sure Serenity would love it too! It will show them the right way to be in society and to meet the right people. Also, helps them meet qualities to find a husband by graduation—"
"But you aren't married, are you a drop out?" Tori replied.
Rosanna flustered and glared at him, "Anyways! It teaches them the right qualities to have. I mean having a mother like Videl did, did give her an excuse to have an occasional tomboy lifestyle which grew out of hand because of lack of parenting."
"You." Hurcule pointed accusingly and his face flared with rage, "You have no right to talk about Videl and her mother, do you hear me?"
Rosanna gasped and looked apologetic as she looked up at him. "Oh Hurcule, I didn't mean to impose that… oh don't be silly darling. This waiting up must be getting to your head. Boarding school? Don't even think for a second I said that.
Honey, you've had too many drinks because I was only repeating what you said earlier. I would never ever send Videl there. I know that she's not my daughter and I won't treat her less than my own. Besides, now that you mention it, it's not a bad school! I mean it's only for the lost case of girls and Videl is like a daughter to me… and I love her very much. I'd never ever do that to her. I'd have to hate her to do anything bad to her and you know I don't hate her, right snoogy?" She fluttered her eyelashes and pouted, "You do believe me…" her voice grew low and almost seductive, "Don't you, Hurcule?"
Hurcule flustered. Tori and Serenity couldn't believe he was hugging her and forgiving the little liar. The men of this family fell like flies for a pretty face, usually from the wrong types of girls.
"I know I'm not drunk so I know she's lying." Tori muttered. "Dammit, I thought dad would use a brain cell or two and kick that lying witch out of here!"
"I know. Since we've moved out here so many lies and deceit and odd things have been going on." Serenity agreed. "We'll just have to be aggressive enough to get dad to kick that hussy onto the streets where she belongs!"
Rosanna stroke Hurcule's chest slowly. "Perfect. Man fall so easily for my looks. Humph, at this rate we'll be right back on track. Webs of deceit and lies are my specialty, and by the end of this whole trip I'll be the new Mrs. Satan and stinking rich with no little pests and groupies to stop me. It can't get any better than this." her lips formed into a malevolence smirk.
"Can't we just go look for her?" Tori suggested.
"With how tired you are, sweetie, you'll get lost and cause even more problems than a solution." Rosanna chimed. "So, how about another drink?"
Elsewhere
They lay in an embrace of spent passion, legs entwined, his face buried at the curve of her throat, his arms bending her to him fiercely, as if he would never let her go.
She kept her eyes closed, refusing for a time to return to a world that held nothing for them.
She sensed that now he could assume she understood what he felt, and that he would expect her to convince her family of his point of view. But she knew she couldn't, she wouldn't, despite the immense sexual appeal he possessed, the erotic passion she could not resist.
She stirred and he knew the rare, magical encounter was over. He rose on his elbow and looked at her, then he brushing a strand of hair from her face. He read her resolve in her eyes and the anguish of it tore him into pieces. No matter what they shared, Videl had fund the strength and resolve to continue the battle. "…What a fighter..." Gohan smiled.
He rose and stood above her, his nude body firm and muscular, the epitome of athletic perfection as the last light of the moon gave it a glowing white hue. She rose to stand beside him and the tears that touched her cheeks answered his unspoken question.
She knew if she did not become strong she would again bend before his will like a willow before a storm. Whatever her body's desire, or her heart's yearning, she would not submit, and in the finality of her stare he knew it. "Don't. Don't try to fight something you cannot win, Videl."
Videl glowered at the demi-saiyan before her, "What is it that you want from me? What?"
Maybe it was that he let his heart speak before registering with his brain, or maybe it was those blue eyes. When he looked into them, it was so hard to say "no" to her. "You could marry me, Videl…and your family could find stay here without interference. No rude social calls, no threats and no pain. Believe me, everything will be fine." He touched her cheek and used his thumb to remove the tears that flowed down, "I don't want to hurt you, Videl. But you've got to let go."
She was crushingly aware that he had said nothing about loving her. Love just didn't enter into the picture when a saiyan wanted something. She would be a means by which he could acquire what he wanted. She ached for one tender word, for a denial of what she knew. But words of love never came. She was suddenly caught between wanting to be with him and refusing to allow him to bend her to his will, as if she would become willing to surrender only because he felt his demands took precedence over her.
Videl cast her gaze away from him "Do you honestly believe I should be the one to sacrifice everything so you can retain your honor? What of mine? Is there no will to the world expect your own?" she turned and stared at him, "You ask too much, Gohan. More than I am capable of giving."
"You can be happy with us, Videl… with me. My parents would love you love their own and my brother would love you as the sister he never had."
Videl shook her head. "You ask me to do what you can't do. No, Gohan! No, I could never marry you!" she looked up at him, "Not unless you were willing to come halfway. Not unless you were able to give as much as you ask me to give." She wanted to cry out, "Not until you can say you love me and tell me I'm not a pawn in a contest that has no meaning."
Gohan sighed and dropped his hands to his side, "I can't do that. Videl, for Kami sakes be reasonable. I thought you understood. I thought…what about us…will you throw it away?"
"Will you?" she challenged. "Tell them to stop meddling in my family's affairs. Tell Vegeta to forget his earthly empire."
"I can't buy the woman I want at the expense—"
"What makes you think you can buy me at all? I'm not for sale, got it?"
His anger was replacing his control. He had been so certain. He knew he had possessed the woman within her. For a short, breathless time he had owned her heart, and her body. But now he realized there was a part of Videl he had not touched, a strong core that demanded something beyond his grasp.
It was a kind of defeat he had never tasted before. They stood at an impasse. Both wanted to reach across it but were too stubborn to discard the problem that weighed them down. "Why am I asking so much, Videl?" Gohan questioned. "I could give you—"
"I told you, Gohan, for what you want to give; you ask too great a price."
She bent to gather her discarded clothes and he did the same. They dressed in silence. Despite the passion they had shared, the gulf between them only seemed to grow even wider. "Do you not understand the forest has many dangers if you're not too careful?"
Videl gave him a rebellious grin, "I know. For I believe I met one of these dangers."
"You're impossible." Gohan grumbled and tied the belt on his navy-colored gi.
Videl only held her head high and began to fly off but Gohan choose to not let her have the satisfaction she thought she had achieved. He intercepted her and ignored her efforts to stay out of his reach, and he pulled her into his arms. "This can't end between us Videl…not like this."
Videl advert her eyes to the ground beneath them, "It ended before it begun." She glowered at the saiyan, "I was a fool to believe that what we shared meant something to you. I should have known that if you wanted something as much as you want my family and I to leave you wouldn't hesitate to use whatever means were necessary." Videl gritted her teeth; she wanted to hurt him as much as he hurt her. "I've said it before… and dammit I'll say it again, stay the hell away from me!!"
The shock of her words deliberately brutality rocked him, taking this opportunity Videl twisted his arms and flew off as fast as she could hoping he wouldn't catch her. Her words had struck one of the most vulnerable parts of him, a part he had unwittingly given her to destroy.
He watched her disappear in the now dawning skies and he felt a sudden hollowness, as if someone had torn out his heart and left him empty. He levitated down and sat beneath the tree and surrender to self-examination that was more intense than any he had dared before. It was at least after six before he took of after feeling exhaustion caught up with him.
9: 00 AM
That morning there was a thick, heavy silence at the breakfast table.
Mostly because Tori had his head, face first in his breakfast despite Serenity's encouragement to sit up.
Rosanna was frantically added mascara and lipstick onto her face and complaining about her lack of beauty sleep.
Hurcule was glaring at his cup which had nothing in there to really stare at. Videl knew it was because of her and why she came in late, it wasn't like she did this before. She had but it was strictly business but this time she had foolishly mixed business with pleasure and now she'd have to live with it.
Videl played with her chopsticks and looked up and saw everyone was in there own world. Videl knew this silence wouldn't be over for a long time and this family wasn't the only family that had this dreadful silence.
Son House
Since the call for breakfast, not a word was said. Only the sounds of Goku and Goten's chopsticks against their bowls and their occasional slurping were heard. Chichi only ate a partial amount of her food as her thoughts wondered onto the plan. Gohan hardly ate as well and knew M. Trunks was getting suspicious of him. "Are you gonna eat that?" Goten asked.
M. Trunks shrugged and shoved the large bowl to the youngest saiyan, "Sure, knock yourself out."
Goten's eyes lit up instantly for there was just something irresistible about Chichi's cooking, "Gee, thanks!"
Goku plopped an egg roll into his mouth and stared oddly at Gohan. Gohan seemed lost in his own thoughts, which wasn't the odd part. They had to be something serious or dark for his face showed just how hard he was thinking and he had a deep frown on his face. It was as if he was having a mental battle and he was struggling to remain in control.
"Something is seriously not right here." Goku plopped another egg roll into his mouth. Goku watched M. Trunks now then at Gohan and saw concern filling both of their eyes. Goku saw Vegeta outside training and knew he had to be connected. Instantly, Goku knew that there was more to this than some silent standoff.
"EE—YAA…!"
The large saiyan males fell one by one with low groans of pain.
The small female figure stood with a large smile on her face and reached down to pick up a small child.
"Vegeta!" she beamed, "You're ok, right?"
"You didn't have to do that. I had them ok?" he mumbled angrily.
She tilted her head to the side and giggled at him. "You look so adorable when you pout. We better get back to the palace; mother and father will have our hides if we don't hurry back."
She placed him on his feet and Vegeta stared at her, "Hey, sis."
"Huh?" she turned and kneeled to look eye-to-eye at her brother, "Yeah?"
His features immediately softened, "Thanks."
She smiled, "No problem. I'll always be here for you, no matter what. From thick through thin and you'll be there for me too, right?"
Vegeta gave her a self-assured smirk. "Right…!"
"Good then." She released his hand, "Last one there's a humanoid!"
His eyes grew wide, "HEEY!! No fair! Wait for me, Kikya!!!"
She flew off giggling, "Come on Vegeta, you can do it! See there you go, you're flying!"
Vegeta growled as the image appear again. He was strangely oblivious to Bulma's presence. Bulma shook her head and silently prayed that the plan would work. She just hoped that things would cool over and they could hold on just a bit longer. Vegeta thought about the young Satan girl, and the old misery burst within him, aided by the pain and destruction he caused over the years. Vegeta stared into the ground and the memories flooded right back. He saw his sister holding him as a toddler and promising to love him. He slammed his fist into the ground and the image vanished.
Vegeta refused to admit that that his niece might have the ability to shatter his capability to block his memories. Every time, there was a memory that left him feeling warm then cold for he realized it was a memory. And memories couldn't keep you warm and safe.
"Vegeta, close you're eyes…" Kikya sang.
"I hate waiting. Can I open them now?"
"Ok…open them." She smiled when he opened his eyes, "Happy belated birthday my dear brother!"
Seven year-old Vegeta's eyes lit up, "For me?"
"Yep, open it!"
His brown eyes grew even wider with appreciation, "Ahh!"
He felt pressed into a concern, into a battle, though he absolved himself of the consequences of telling himself that the fault laid in the Satan family. Vegeta looked into the sky and stared at the clouds. He would not fall because of one child, her mother or his damn memories. Seeing her had resurrected emotions that he had thought he had buried long ago. When he learned he was the only surviving saiyan, deep down he secretly hoped she had survived. She was more than his sister; she was one of best friends. He was involved in his own thoughts for quite some time before he realized Bulma had touched his shoulder. He turned and saw apprehension flood in her blue eyes.
Chichi sighed and washed the dishes and noted Gohan was sitting on the couch in then living room. Obviously in his locked in a battle with his thoughts. In time, she wanted her sons to bring new blood into the family, women of their own choice, strong, loving and even possible wealthy women. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she vaguely heard m. Trunks talking to her.
"…Let me get this straight so I make sure I've got it. I'm taking Videl to meet her mother's people, right? And she did agree that she wants to meet them, and since I've told them about her their all anxious too. I could—"
"It's out of the question." Chichi curtly replied.
M. Trunks looked surprised, "Huh?"
Chichi smiled, "What I meant to say was that Bulma and I want to go. We want to learn more about our husband's heritage." M. Trunks smiled and his eyes dropped from Chichi's quickly and Chichi was certain his plans went deeper. She searched for it and found it.
Videl's Room
Videl placed a hand underneath her head and stared out the window.
"Don't even think about it." A female voice came from behind her.
Videl gasped and turned to see Rosanna. "What do you mean?"
She smiled coolly, "Don't play dumb. If you're thinking about what I think you're thinking about you best forget about it!" She chuckled softly and tossed a few locks to the side of her face, "They're ruthless and betraying creatures! They don't have any choice but to stand by me. In the saiyan laws saiyans are forbidden to interfere with mated couples unless threatened by a higher force of disaster unless granted by Dende himself. And if there is anything else you have planned it won't work."
"How do you know about saiyan laws?" Videl eyed the older woman suspiciously.
"I have my sources." She looked at Videl with one of her dark smiles. For an instant she saw raw rage in Videl's eyes and she swallowed hesitantly. Though it was covered soon, it had been so intense and so frightening that Rosanna froze from uncontrollable fear.
"You know nothing about them so leave me alone." Videl turned back to the window and narrowed her eyes, "Or else."
Rosanna glowed underneath her breath and clenched her fists. She would not be ignored when she was threatening.
Videl held up her hand to signify she wouldn't hesitate to blast her, "One step and I won't be responsible for the consequences."
Rosanna swallowed once again before chuckling, "You wouldn't dare!"
The glowing light formed into Videl's hand and soon turned into a large enough ki energy to destroy the woman's body and rub her from existence. She grew frightened by the aura surrounding Videl and the way the window curtains and papers moved around so violently. "Try me." Videl challenged.
Rosanna's eyes grew wide and with all the strength she could muster she screamed. Videl smirked then she lowered her hand and soon the energy faded. With that done all the papers fell to the ground and the curtains swayed gently from the wind. The looked like a tornado went through it but aside from that it looked quite normal. Videl knew Rosanna was going to run to her father and babbler faster than Erasa on a hot Sunday morning. But Videl simply didn't care, she'd take care of Rosanna in due time, so the witch would have to wait.
Gohan's Room
Gohan's thoughts were on Videl. He had heard them, probably because they'd forgotten how sensitive and acute saiyan hearing was. Had M. Trunks assured her of help from others? Is that why Videl had been so confident that they could survive? If that was the case, he would have to make sure Videl understood the truth. If Videl was depending on M. Trunks for help, Gohan was going to stop it. And he could give himself all the reasons in the world to do so, except the truth. He would not tolerate the thought that was now looming over his head, a thought that made his body fill with repugnance.
Next Time
What is Gohan planning on doing? Will Kikya be of service or will there be interference on both sides? Will Vegeta fall to his memories and will he confront his sister and his past? A shot of despair and mistrust leads the two lovers into a question of whom to trust. Walls are being built and others are being torn down. Who's to be trusted?
"I think that was meant for me."
Threads of desire are being woven and with a darkness enclosing will their love be enough to stop it?
—A/N: In my opinion not a bad chapter, plus a little lemon. I hope you enjoyed this chapter; you can email me questions at (:
—I'll answer reply to the question and I'll probably add in to my first author note of the next chapter just in case anyone has the same question.
—I really liked those flashbacks I placed in for Vegeta. I found them a nice piece to help explain Vegeta's emotions.
—Completed: July 10, 2004