¦±¦±¦±¦±¦

Chapter 5 – Kidnapped

¦±¦±¦±¦±¦

Gohan landed at the school just as the bell rang. It indicated that the last period of school was about to begin. The two students ran into the school and to their lockers. It was easy for them to reach their lockers since no one was in the hall.

"I really hope mom doesn't get mad at me. I just know she would have my head if she found out that I missed almost a whole day of school!" stated Gohan nervously as he opened his locker. He grabbed the locker textbook as Videl did and they dashed down to their history class. Gohan took a small gulp and opened the door.

"... And we need to remain in this class for the remainder of the day. If there is any other complications reported in the city we need to remain in the school-" The teacher turned to the two students who slowly but quietly walked in the room. "Videl, Gohan. Surprise to see you both walk in at the same time... late."

Gohan pulled the note from his bag, and handed it to the teacher. The teacher pulled her glasses on and opened the note to read it. There was a slight hesitation from the sensei before she raised an eyebrow glancing to the two students.

"At Capsule Corp? You both were completing some errands for the emperor?" asked the teacher raising an eyebrow. Gohan gave a small gulp as he looked to Videl. She just gave a shrug as the teacher gave Gohan the note back.

"Go ahead and take a seat. Our discussion will continue with the trading system," stated the teacher as the two students took their seats in the back. They both slung the backpacks from their shoulders to the side of their chairs and sat in two empty seats that were beside their friends' Erasa and Sharpener.

Erasa looked at the two with a smirk on her face. Videl looked to her friend, and slightly frowned. "What?"

"Spill!"

Videl raised her eyebrow as she looked to her friend nervously. "W-what are you talking about?"

The blonde female's smirk widened. "Come on! You can tell me! I know you were with Gohan." Videl's face began to turn the slightest shade of pink as she looked back to the teacher. "So, what did he look like SHIRTLESS?"

The black haired female snapped her head to her friend, a red blush staining her cheeks. "W-what?!"

"You heard me, girl. Spill on the details!" whispered Erasa excitedly. Videl looked away from her friend.

"You have such a perverted mind, you know that?" asked Videl as she began to slightly fidget. 'You and all of Gohan's friends and family...'

Erasa raised an eyebrow. "Oh come on! We know you like him! He is the CUTIEST guy in school!" Videl just remained silent.

In the mean time, Gohan was listening to the girl's talk. He couldn't help but slightly blush at Erasa's hushed outburst. He leaned back in his chair and placed his hands behind his head.

"Oh Videl!"

Gohan looked at Erasa from the corner of his eye as she began to talk to her friend once more.

"I didn't know Capsule Corp has a clothes line! That outfit is SO cute!" the blonde stated cheerfully.

Videl gave a small shrug as she looked to the teacher who was lecturing. "As the teacher said, I was at Capsule Corps. Ms. Briefs gave Gohan and I a new set of clothing since we were out fighting crime earlier-"

The blonde gasped, "That reminds me! Did you see the emperor?! I heard he was on the planet, and in this city!!!"

Videl and Gohan exchanged glances before Videl gave a small unsure nod. "Yeah..."

The blonde squealed loudly.

The teacher looked up, and frowned before she went back to reading from the text once more.

¦±¦±¦

Forty-five minutes went by, and the class was uneventful. Videl and Gohan gave bored sighs at the same time. That was, till something blew up not far from the school. The building shook and the students shrieked in surprise.

Gohan stayed in his seat, and he groaned aloud. He covered his eyes with his hand. 'This is not happening... this is not happening...'

"Oh my!!! Look! Someone's wounded out there!" exclaimed a random female as she pointed to the sidewalk.

"And there's some people FLYING!" exclaimed a guy as he looked up from the window.

Gohan frowned as he used his ki sensing abilities. They weren't familiar to him... Videl nudged his shoulder and looked to his eyes. Concern was clearly written in them.

'What is happening?' she mouthed to him. The hybrid saiyan gave a small gulp as sweat droplets were slowly trickling down his neck. This whole situation was bad enough as it is... and now that had to get even worse.

'We need to leave here FAST,' mouthed the hybrid as he looked into the girl's eyes. She slightly tilted her head as she bit her lip. She gave a small nod before she began to pack the things in her bag, and same as Gohan.

But it was too late for an escape.

The side of the wall exploded, and a few students were caught in the way. Their bodies flew feet away and into the other side of the classroom. Others were crushed by the fallen wall and energy attacks set off. Blood was also spilled. Much of it was. Gohan lowered his head as he grabbed a random student's jacket sitting on the same table, and put it on, the hood over his head. He lowered his ki to almost nothing. Gohan motioned for Videl to hide under the desk for the time being. She did so as Gohan went to look back at the evil attackers.

A man, who had orange skin and white hair, gave a small laugh as he looked around. "Pitiful." He turned on his scouter and looked around the room. The highest ki he could find was one with a power level of Two-Hundred and Eighteen. The person was hiding. He smirked.

Gohan gritted his teeth as he too had hid under the desk. His power level had been lowered to almost nothing. He would have been at the ki level of about 5 on the scouter. He was so glad that he was able to sense the ki's. He began to crawl to the end of the row so he could try and escape. He didn't want to fight this warrior in the school. He didn't want to endanger any other students. A few were already gone. They had died when the wall gave out. Among the crowd that had died was his friend Sharpener. He gritted his teeth as he lowered his head. He could also feel Erasa's energy lower dramatically. She must be close to death also.

The saiyan teen heard Videl give a scream as a hand grabbed her hair, and the orange skinned man pulled her up. Gohan looked back and he began to snarl. He came out from his hiding place.

Videl gave another scream as the orange skin man gave a smirk. He grabbed her neck, and began to block her airways with his bulky fingers. "Well... well... well... Look at what we have here." He brought her up to his face, "A female with the power level over Two Hundred. The emperor's weakness."

"Let her go!"

The warrior looked to the side noticing Gohan standing there with the hood over his head. His spiky hair was covered, and the man didn't recognize the teen. He gave a smirk.

"Or what? What could a wimp like you do to me? An elite warrior in Cold's army?" challenged the orange skinned man.

Gohan seemed to recognize this person... but he wasn't sure. "Are... you Jheese? From that Special Force of Cold's?" asked Gohan as he stood straighter. The man gave a small smirk.

"Ah, so I see that I've been heard of," stated the warrior as he continued to hold Videl tightly. She was beginning to black out from the lack of oxygen. He was suffocating her.

Glaring once more, Gohan phased out, and back to Jheese. He grabbed onto the evil warriors' arms, and began to twist them till he heard a crack. Gohan gave a satisfying smirk when he heard the bone break, and shatter as it was crushed under Gohan's tight grip. Jheese screamed out in pain as he was forced to release Videl. She fell into Gohan's safe arms, and briefly fainted as she coughed and choked for much needed air.

Gohan backed up from the evil warrior as he cradled Videl in his arms gently. He looked to her and he clenched his teeth. He looked up to the orange skinned warrior. He held out a hand, and he created an energy ball.

Jheese gasped as he watched the teen in horror, and he gritted his teeth in confusion and pain. "What do you think you can do to me kid? I am an elite warrior! No one can defeat me but my master or the enemy emperor who took over lord Frieza's territory-"

The male teen noticed Jheese gasp when the dragon pendant was noticed. Gohan's lips curled into a smirk. "I'm glad that you don't underestimate my strength." The broken warrior gasped as he began to back up; he seemed to loose his balance and he fell back. And when he tried to break the fall by using his arms, he screamed out in pain. He had totally forgot about the broken limbs! Jheese looked up and noticed the energy ball being thrown at him. That was the last thing he saw till death took him.

Gohan lowered the hood from his head as he set the jacket down back onto the desk from where he got it. Videl was currently sitting on the long desk as she rubbed her newly bruised neck. The black haired human just woke up. She looked into Gohan's eyes, and bit her lip.

He was starting to act different around her. It was like she was his territory and he was protecting it. Although she felt safe around him, she couldn't help but be scared at what he could do to her if she didn't do as he asked.

"It's not safe here..." stated Gohan as he went to pick up Videl in his arms once more. She shook her head as she stood on the ground.

"I'm fine... I think I can manage," she stated as she looked up to him. But the young emperor caught her as she lost her balance. He gave a small chuckle.

"For now, I'll be the one transporting you thru the city." And that was all said as he picked her up, cradling her in his arms. He made his way down the stairs looking down, and noticed the students stare at him fearfully.

One of the teen boys walked to Gohan, and frowned. "Y-your just like them. A ruthless KILLER!" exclaimed the teen. The hybrid saiyan turned his head as he noticed the deceased students lying on the ground. He lowered his head.

Videl, who was still carried in Gohan's arms, gasped when she noticed the dead and the dying. These were people that she had known, Friends, acquaintances... all dead.

"I-I'm sorry... for bring this upon all of you..." stated Gohan as he gave a sigh. "And due to this turn of events, I'll be returning to space and fulfilling my duty... I'm sorry this had to happen to all of you..."

The teacher walked up to Gohan with a worried expression. "Gohan, I don't want you to be listening to these students. It isn't safe out there now-"

"It isn't safe any where I go!" cried Gohan as he turned his head away.

The teacher placed a hand on the male teen's shoulder. "Mr. Son, I am sure that everything would be fine. I'm sure that the emperor would keep us safe. He always manages to keep that promise." The teacher noticed Gohan's eyes darken.

"My point exactly, ma'am." He looked down to his dragon pendant and held it up for the teacher to see it. "Have you ever seen this before?" he asked her.

The teacher looked at it as she pulled out her glasses to get a better look. "I must say... it does look familiar. It looks similar to the Emperor's Necklace..." Then it came to the teacher as she snapped her head up to gaze at the teen. "... No, you can't be..."

Gohan looked into the teacher's eyes, and he nodded. "Yes. I am he."

She shook her head as she looked back to the pendant. "H-how?"

The emperor gave a dark laugh. "I didn't want the job. But I was the only one who could take it to keep the planets in harmony and safe from another evil force."

"But how?!"

Gohan looked up to the teacher. "I can't tell you that... you could also become another target... as Videl has..." He continued to carry the black haired female who waited patiently. The male saiyan looked to the destruction done to the class, and walked past the stunned students to gaze at the dead. He kneeled down as well as lowering his head in respect. All around watched silently as he stood with a frown.

"You will never be forgotten, and may you all rest in peace," he muttered to the lifeless. He looked up and noticed all staring at him. He could feel two students on the verge of life and death. He frowned as he walked over to the two. Erasa and Angela. Videl's friend, and the girl who tried to black mail him. He set Videl on top of the desk, and strides over to the two. He placed his hands on the two students' chests, and he concentrated.

All around failed to notice three saiyan warriors walk into the room. They were bloodied, their uniforms destroyed and clothing nearly completely gone. Walking into the room, Vegeta made his way to Gohan and passed a few of the students watching on. He gave a gasp when the teenaged emperor released some of his life energy into the two teen girls. It was a small amount that slightly winded the hybrid saiyan, but it made the girl's eyes widen before their breathing became normal once more.

Gohan began to pant as he closed his eyes for the moment. Both girls sat up as if nothing had happened, and they looked to their skin. It seemed to have healed after the energy was given! Both looked to Gohan as he continued to breathe deeply.

Vegeta's eyes widened and he began to gawk. 'How did he do that?!' It seemed that the saiyan prince's presence would need to be known. His face became emotionless once more.

"Gohan."

The teen's breathing became slower and lighter before he looked up to the full-blooded saiyan. He so happened to notice the injuries that Vegeta possessed.

"W-what happened, Vegeta?" asked Gohan standing up. He began to feel a wave of dizziness come by standing up so quickly.

The saiyan prince clenched his fists as he looked up to the young emperor. He just knew that Gohan would go ballistic. He gave a small gulp and licked his dry lips. "Y-your family had been attacked earlier... when you had battled against another evil force in the city."

Gohan's eyes widened. He looked to the other saiyans in the door. He noticed Raditz standing there with a young boy in his arms. It was his youngest brother, Goten. The older saiyans, as Vegeta, were also beaten badly, and so was Zarbon as he stood beside Nappa almost out of the door. But his dad wasn't there... He looked back to the saiyan prince.

"Where's my father?" he asked boldly. He had a ghastly feeling that something didn't go right...

Vegeta lowered his head. "Kakarot was destroyed after a ten-way ki attack." Gohan's face paled.

"And, my mom?" he asked weakly.

Vegeta's lips remained in its frown. "Cold's minions abducted your mother. We could only protect Raditz and your younger brother. Kakarot died protecting him as we arrived to the scene."

Gohan clenched his teeth, and his fists as he closed his eyes. The information was slowly making sense, and it was not making a lovely connection to him. His rage began to flare DANGEROUSLY. And it easily triggered him into Super Saiyan mode as he screamed out in fury.

¦±¦±¦±¦

Cold lifted his eyes when he heard the clicking of heals. He gave a small smirk. His squads were finally back. "Did you do as I asked?" questioned the evil tyrant as he turned around. He so happened to notice an unconscious black haired woman and a dying saiyan warrior. About thirty warriors stood there bowing before Cold.

"What's the meaning of this man and woman?" questioned the dark lord as he looked to them with a raised eyebrow.

The leader of the squad walked up. "These two, your highness, are the emperor's parents. The saiyan is currently dying, and we are awaiting your command for what we should do with them." The king smirked as he looked down at the two fallen parents.

"I must congratulate you on your work. Your reward will be great, but before I send you off, what about the other warriors that are allies of the emperor?" questioned the tyrant. Everything was going well for him so far, and he was pleased at how he was slowly making his plans fall into effect.

The warrior bowed on one knee, "We have killed three of the current warriors on the planet, and we have a squad of fifteen looking for the ki-less man. We should have another squad coming in-"

"GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF OF ME!" shouted a woman from the other side of the ship.

Cold raised an amused eyebrow as he smirked. It seemed that he had another captive to use against the emperor. Wonderful. The evil emperor turned to notice a group of three men come in with a blue haired woman. She was struggling as much as she could to get away. The king walked up to Bulma as she gave a scream.

"LET ME GO!" she exclaimed as she thrashed around. One of the men slapped the woman, HARD, and she fell over to the ground. Tears began to cloud her vision and pour from the lids of her eyes. Many bruises were tainting her once perfect pale colored flesh.

Cold leaned down as he looked to the woman. She was indeed beautiful, same as the black haired woman who lay on the ground unconscious. Maybe they both could amuse him for some time as he waited for the hybrid saiyan emperor to come back to this space station.

The tyrant kneeled down to Bulma, and he grabbed her face with his hand tightly. Bulma winced when he grabbed her, and she tried to turn away from him. He was really making her uncomfortable. Cold smirked.

"What do we have here?" asked the king as he looked to the woman closely.

"She was found with the emperor, sir. She has been the one to give him advanced technology," informed the soldier. Cold looked up, and smirked as he stood.

"Excellent," stated the dark tyrant as he smirked. "But strip search her. She might be carrying something that could contact the emperor." The blue haired female gave a small gasp as she looked up to the lizard like tyrant. He smirked down to her.

"And when she's finished being searched, I want her to be sent to my chambers... so we could have some time alone." He looked to her, the smirk becoming wider and more evil. She shook her head as she began to become angry.

"H-HOW DARE YOU!" she shouted spitting in his face soon after. Cold closed his eye as he felt the glob of saliva slide down his face. He looked up to her, and he slapped her face with one hand. She didn't have time to scream as her head snapped the other way. She fell into an unconscious state and her body slumped forward.

The king stood up and he motioned for her to be taken out. "And make sure the saiyan gets put into a regeneration tank. I think he'll be worth more alive than dead." And the order was followed.

¦±¦±¦±¦

Gohan stood before the class in the second Super Saiyan transformation. He gave a war cry as tears began to fall from his face, and his legs gave out from under. He fell to his knees and began to cry.

"H-he can't be... after all I-I had done to bring h-him back home... and to k-keep mom from doing anything drastic!" Another power surge shook the school building from Gohan's anger and sadness. He used a hand to cover his face and to wipe away the tears.

All of the remaining students, along with the saiyan warriors and Zarbon watched.

Videl slowly approached Gohan, and she kneeled down to him. He looked to her as she wiped away a tear falling from his eye. But he did something completely unexpected. He grabbed her, and he clung onto her tightly as he cried on her shoulder. A small squeak was heard from the small female as she looked to the mass of spiky hair that faced her. So, all Videl could do at the moment was rub his back in a soothing manner and be there for him to shed the tears.

"Again... AGAIN!" he shouted.

Videl continued to rub his back soothingly. "It's alright Gohan... It's alright..."

He shook his head. "N-no, it's happening again... Damn it! It's happening again!" he shouted, his power increasing by the second. The golden aurora came back and brighter than ever.

"Gohan!" she shouted as she backed away from him slighting. "Pull yourself together. Wallowing in misery won't do you any good! Do you hear?!"

But the only response she got from the saiyan was; "Again... it's happened again! Again, again!" This was really ticking off Videl. This wasn't the Gohan she knew. Her lip twitched as she held her hand back and swung.

A slap echoed in the room, and Gohan's head snapped to the other side.

Everyone gave a surprised gasp. Gohan's tears were also long gone too as his head remained turned.

The smack didn't hurt him. He barely felt it! But they way how it was done, and who had done it made him feel the pain. Videl struck him.

Videl couldn't believe what she just did! She just hit the emperor, her friend, the one she... lov- liked. Her hand was shaking, and she stared at it with shocked eyes.

She struck Gohan.

She, Satan Videl, hit Son Gohan, the Gold Warrior, the son of a World Champion in Martial Arts, the EMPEROR... her comrade... She forced down a thick lump that blocked her throat, and the guilt began to invade her gut. And did it hurt! Did it ever hurt. Slowly looking up to the eyes of the male before her, she bit her lip. Her teeth sunk into the flesh to the point where it broke the skin, and she began to bleed.

"I-I... I'm sorry Gohan... I don't k-know-"

He placed a finger over her lips and he smiled. "Thanks."

In response, Videl raised an eyebrow as she frowned. She then slapped her forehead and shook her head. "I won't even ask why..." She heard a low chuckle coming from Gohan as he stood up, and picked her up bridal style.

She looked to him while pouting. He gave her a smirk in return, "Now you're starting to learn." The black haired female tilted her head over so slightly before she frowned. He looked to Vegeta, who stared back with emotionless eyes, and he gave a nod. The emperor turned back to the history teacher and he slightly bowed to her.

"Sorry that I have leave like this sensei," stated the male saiyan teen as he looked into the older woman's eyes.

She nodded knowing. "Yes, of course." The teacher was still shocked, and most of the recent events didn't register in her mind quite yet. He gave a brief nod as he turned once more to the dead. It was truly a somber moment. He turned to leave following the saiyan prince, his first chosen advisor. He couldn't help but notice the surprised, and sad looks of the students. He felt guilty that they had to go thru this, but he was very surprised at how well some of them were taking this. They might have just been acting strong before the ruler over the universe... He admired that... to a point.

"Let's get back to Capsule Corp. I need to talk to Bulma," whispered Gohan as he began to walk down the halls with the burly men walking behind him. He couldn't help but notice the doors open to the classrooms to see this turn of events. The emperor, still in his Super Saiyan Two stage, walked down the hall carrying the Champion's daughter in his arms with men, who just arrived from a bloody battle, following behind. The six heard whispering from the students.

Vegeta gave a growl as he could hear these annoying pieces of chatter. He began to power up, but the side-glance from Gohan caused him to stop. Vegeta bit his tongue as he continued to walk. He didn't want to make Gohan any angrier than he already was. And as the bright sunlight shone and fresh air hit the senses of the group of warriors, they pushed their energy down to take flight into the air.

Some students in the school watched from the windows as the five warriors took flight. Two others were being carried. A random male looked out the window and he furrowed his brow.

"Who are they?" he asked as he turned to another student.

His friend gave a shrug. "It looks like the leader is the Golden Warrior."

The class door was slammed open from a random student who ran in. She was out of breath as the class in the room turned to her. "EVERYONE! We need to get to a safer place! Students were ATTACKED!"

The male teacher frowned as he looked to the girl. "What exactly are you trying to pull?"

She shook her head frantically. "That warrior with golden hair! That was the emperor! He just defeated this orange skinned villain! He helped to save the remaining students in the classroom from the evil dude!"

The teacher frowned, "That can't be! The emperor was spotted on the other side of town earlier. You must be mistaken!"

The girl shook her head. "It WAS he! He just left with some of his ally warriors!" The students gasped as they looked back to the window. But to their disappointment, the flying warriors were gone from sight.

¦±¦±¦±¦

Vegeta looked around, his eyes widening. The Capsule Corp. library was in ruins. Shelves had fallen over, and books were aimlessly tossed all over the room. Needless to say, the room was a complete mess. But there was no sign of Bulma.

He shook his head. She couldn't be gone! She just had to be here! He didn't see any blood around the room or burn marks, so no ki attacks were used. She just had to be alive!

"Woman!" he shouted as he looked around.

Gohan walked into the library, and he shook his head. He wasn't even gone an hour and this place look as if it was robbed! He snarled. 'So... it seems that King Cold has sent spies down...' He looked at one of the torn up books. He frowned. 'Trying to find dirt on me or my friends?' The book was of different theories that he and Bulma had made about three years back.

The emperor stood up and he scanned the room. No one was around. No ki's were found, not even Trunks could be found...

"Bulma! Trunks!" he shouted as he continued to search around the room. "Trunks! Bulma! Are you around?!"

Videl gave a small frown as she sat on one of the couches. She was still lightheaded from the earlier attack... it didn't seem to get better. She turned her head, and noticed something move in the shadows. She raised an eyebrow, as she stood up, wobbly at first, but able to keep her balance. She noticed the shadowed person run from the area it stood before. It was the shadow of a young child. Videl licked her lips, and she continued to steadily walk to the bookshelf.

"Trunks?" she asked in her gentlest voice. "Trunks, it's me, Videl! I'm Gohan's friend!" she stated turning the corner. She noticed the shadow wait there silently and she continued to approach it. "Trunks? Is that you?"

The boy began to walk up to her, and he looked into her eyes. His own eyes were watering due to tears that fell earlier. He continued to sniff as he rubbed his running nose and his eyes with a balled fist.

"Oh Trunks!" she stated as she kneeled down to him, and held out her hands. The young hybrid saiyan ran into the females' arms and began to cry in them. Videl inwardly frowned. This was the second time that she had someone cry in her arms and not even thirty minutes had passed! Things weren't going good... She needed to remain strong, and try to remain sane since her world had seemed to go upside down. "You can tell me what's wrong, hun. Do you know where your mommy is?" she asked him softly as she gently rubbed his back.

Young Trunks choked on his own sobs as he tried to speak to the black haired lady. In result, she shushed him and gave him a hug. "It's alright Trunks..." she muttered keeping her eyes down.

"D-dad... w-wi-will thi-ink of m-me as w-weak..." he said in choked sobs. Videl frowned as she heard the child's words. He was ashamed of his actions.

She closed her eyes and inwardly sighed. "It's alright Trunks. It's alright." She continued to rub his back in soothing motions. "You know... it's alright for someone to cry once in a while," she added softly as she continued to keep him close to her.

He looked up to her and he hastily wiped away tears. "B-but daddy says I-it's weak," stated the young child.

Videl shook her head, "It isn't a weakness, Trunks." She smiled down at him kindly, "It helps to make you stronger since it helps to relieve stress." Trunks blinked as he looked up to her.

"It does?"

She nodded and gave him another hug. He hugged her back tightly. And when I say tightly, I mean TIGHT. This is a hybrid saiyan, after all. She noticed shadows in the distance, and she looked up. She noticed Nappa and Raditz there looking down to her with a compassion clearly written in their eyes.

Zarbon was watching with a hint of joy. Little did she know, the green tinted advisor knew that she could very well be Gohan's bride, as humans had called it, in the future. Zarbon took a liking in the female even though he just had a small glimpse of her caring but feisty spirit.

Gohan stood there with a loving smile; there was also a hint of sympathy too for the young boy she was comforting. Gohan, however, just knew she was the perfect one. The thought brought a small blush to his cheeks. 'Maybe our friendship may grow... into something more...' After all, he was hoping that he might start a family one of these days...

And then there was Vegeta. His eyes were stone cold as he watched the teenager comfort his son. The saiyan prince began to feel something close to betrayal since his son didn't come to him first. Trunks, after all, was his own flesh and blood.

Videl looked back to the boy and smiled. "Why didn't you go to your daddy when he called out?"

The young boy looked down, he was completely oblivious to the males that watched them. "Daddy would be mad that I cried," stated Trunks.

Videl blinked. "Why is that?"

Trunks looked up into the black haired female's eyes. "He says a person is weak when they cry." He then looked back down. "Daddy never cries."

Videl rubbed the young boy's back. Then a she got an idea. Although Vegeta was standing meters away and he could easily attack her, she knew Gohan would come to her rescue. But she needed to help this young child. It broke her heart to see a child cry. "Well you know what?" questioned Videl to you young boy. He looked up to her. His lavender locks of hair slightly moving. "He must be awfully cranky for not shedding a few tears here and there," she stated in a joking voice.

Trunks then finally cracked a smile, and he began to giggle like a small child would. Videl ruffled the young boy's lavender locks as she stood up as she placed her hands behind her back. "And you know what else?" she asked leaning down to his level.

The young hybrid saiyan stood on his tippy toes to listen. "What?" he asked with a smile.

Videl pointed to where the young boy's father stood. "I think if you gave him a hug, it would help to brighten up his crankiness." She smiled to Trunks. "What do you think?"

That was when the young boy noticed his father standing there with an emotionless expression. It almost looked like he was scowling at the young boy, and he slightly wince as he looked back up to Videl. But the boy thought it over. 'Everything Miss Videl says... is true...' His dad was cranky most of the time... but there were times that he noticed his father happy. It was those times that he had to hide to see the happiness that his mother and father shared when they thought they were alone. He did notice times when Vegeta smiled, or playfully smirked when Bulma gave him a hug, or a kiss on the cheek. Maybe more than that... But Trunks knew that only his mommy could kiss his daddy.

Videl gazed to the child's eyes and gave a nod, and he did the same back as he looked to his father.

Vegeta stood there with a puzzled look in his eye as his son walked up to him. He then kneeled down to his son giving Trunks the opportunity to cling to his father into a hug. Although the father of the child had heard the whole conversation between the female and his son, he didn't expect his son to do as she had advised!

He slowly wrapped his arms around his son and giving the young boy a hug also. And keeping his arms around his son securely, he picked up the child. Trunks gave a small smile as he looked up to his dad. Who ever said smiles were contagious proved the proud saiyan prince correct. Vegeta gave his young son a small smile, and that made Trunks even more believing in Videl's words.

Vegeta inwardly gave a small sigh of relief. At least he knew his son wouldn't push him away, as his own father had done to him in the past. These were times that the prince cherished.

Videl walked over to Gohan with a smile, and he returned it as he wrapped his arms around her thin waist. Laying his head on the top of hers he gave a small sigh. This time, although it seemed to be full of grief for the disappearance of his mother, and Bulma. And the demise of his father... plus a few school acquaintances and friends... These small moments of peace helped to calm his nerves for the time being. There was nothing more he wanted than to be here, with his secure arms around the woman whom he was falling for. He didn't know what he would do if he lost her...

The only guess that remained in his mind was that he would go insane, and all hope for the universe would be gone. He hoped that it wouldn't be a foreshadowing of things that might come up... because he didn't know how much more his poor heart could take. Only seventeen years old, and the fate of the universe sat on his unstable shoulders.

And he muttered a few words that he had heard Bulma say over and over in the lab when he was younger; "I need a vacation." Sure, it gained the attention of all the warriors in the room due to the fact that it was random, but there also seemed to be some humor behind it.

The comment made the men chuckle, and Videl giggle as she leaned back into his muscled chest. He sure seemed to know how to break a tense moment.

¦±¦±¦±¦

(Notes from a few weeks back)

Okay... when I was writing this on Monday night/ Tuesday morning, the days before school started... I had really gotten into the story. But I had to force myself to go to sleep since school would be starting in two days... But that night, I had a strange dream... and it was very similar to my writings! Since I don't watch much TV, all my writing is strait from my head, and not from something I saw. The strangest part, though, was I remember seeing people being killed around me... and this villain thing abducted me, similar to how Bulma was abducted. Sure it was more of a nightmare, but I found it strangely amusing, and I laughed when I woke up in the morning. I never knew that my writing could affect me THAT bad... oO; But then again... it's kinda sad when I think about it. ::shakes her head::