One Heart
A/N: I don't own DBZ and I started working on this the day after I submitted Chapter Three. I got sort of excited from the preview I made and decide it wasn't going to write itself so I better start cracking. This will be one or maybe the only longest chapter of One Heart. I never expected it to come out so long but at least it was worth the wait (20 pages originally), right? Right! Review, please. I'm trying to get one last chapter or maybe two before the end of August, depending on reviews. I like this chapter and the next one will be a mixture of sadness and romance.
Emotions and language will tend to rise a bit and there will be some OCC (Out of Character).
Thanks for reviewing the pervious chapter: Jujubie, zfighter, Borachio.
Chapter Four: Videl's Secret Admire Gets Busted! Part II
12:30 AM (Satan Mansion)
Erasa flopped onto the couch and watched most of the reporters leaving the mansion.
"I would never have guessed in a billion years that Videl and that ass would be getting married." Erasa yawned. "What was her dad drinking tonight?"
"I don't know what the hell he was drinking but for one thing, Videl's not going to marry that ass." Videl said angrily as she interrupted Erasa. "And that's exactly what I'm going to tell that insane father of mine. He may have ruined my childhood but the day he messes with my future, hell will freeze over!"
"Think you can say that to your pops, Videl?" Erasa sat up.
Videl scoffed. "Of course I can."
"You know I always found it a nuisance to fight with my parents. I mean for one you can never say what you really want to say or otherwise you'd be either grounded for the reminder of your life or find yourself halfway to boot camp. Plus mothers play that trump card of having to deal with swollen ankles and hours of being in labor plus carrying you around for nine months." Erasa shrugged. "But thank Kami for siblings which distract my parents from me to them." She drank the last drop from her glass, "Did you get a letter from your secret admirer?"
"Yes. He said he'd show himself personally sometime soon." Videl replied.
"Did he change colognes?"
"No, but I'm glad so I know its hopefully not more than one guy."
Erasa winked. "Why not…? I wouldn't mind having two guys to drool over me and right mushy poems about me. I mean he could write poetry about your eyes—"
"He already did." Videl handed Erasa the freshly opened letter.
Erasa sniffed the letter. "Oh yeah, the man knows his colognes all right." Erasa scanned the letter and fanned herself. "I love this one, definitely a one to keep away from your dad. If he's a hottie and you two make a connection it would be like a match in heaven or something. He knows so much about you. Its like you two knew each other or something." Erasa looked at the clock and screeched. "Oh my gosh. Mom's going to fry me. I told her I'd be back at 11 and I'm late. I'll probably get another lecture and grounded for a week or so." Erasa stood up and frantically searched for her purse. "Oh no, I can't find it. Now I'll have to replace my credit cards, my lipstick, aaguhh, they don't make my number anymore." Erasa scoffed. "Damn FDA, I mean it's not hurting anyone."
"Erasa…" Videl held the panicking blonde's purse in her hand. "It was behind you."
Erasa took a deep breath of relief. "Thank Kami. Ahh, Videl you're a lifesaver." She looked around. "…Uh…Where are Gohan and Sharpener…?"
"Enjoying the last of the buffet and avoiding my dad at all cause. Sharpener's a bit dizzier and insane as usual." Videl replied. "Gohan offered to drop Sharpener on the way since Sharpener's in the same direction." Videl blinked. "Speaking of housing, we really should find out where exactly Gohan lives before we go wondering aimlessly for hours."
Erasa agreed. A sly smirk formed upon her lips. "Oh I forgot to ask, what were you and Gohan doing outside a while back?" Seeing Videl was about to protest Erasa chided in. "Don't deny it. I was watching since I dropped my makeup kit when I was trying unsuccessfully to impress some guy who I found out was engaged. I mean who would have thought?"
"Erasa…!" Videl snapped.
Erasa blinked. "Oh. Oh, right the story. Anyways, as I was picking it up he got away and that when I saw you kissing Gohan and he was holding you."
"It was a friendly kiss and hug, Erasa." Seeing the doubt in her friend's eyes, Videl repeated herself. "A friendly kiss Erasa! Not a kiss saying "I'm going to rock your world." Or "Get on the bed" kiss! It was an innocent peck on the cheek."
Erasa still kept the board and cunning smile on her face. "Oh, I believe you, Videl. Honest."
Videl rolled her eyes. "If you think it's anymore than that, then all that champagne must have gotten to your head. Besides we're just friends and nothing more."
It was Erasa's turn to roll her eyes. "Oh sure…right…uh huh." She replied sarcastically.
"It's true!" Videl snapped.
"Then why are you blushing. Besides, it's as proven fact that sometimes friends can become some of the best couples." Erasa placed her hands on her hips. "Don't tell me you don't think about him more than some friend and more like a guy and you're a girl and what you could do—"
"ERASA…!" Videl yelled.
"Ok. Ok." Erasa giggled. "I got to go anyways. Tell Sharpie and Gohan that I'll see them tomorrow." Erasa gaped and turned around. "Oh and yeah. Good luck with your dad, Videl….Night."
She saw her older brother tapping his foot impatiently watching for his twin. Erasa had just called him about an hour ago and he stayed to listen and relax.
"Bye, Erasa." Videl exclaimed. She watched as Jok, the British butler opened the door for Erasa and bid her goodnight. Erasa smiled and thanked Jok before leaving.
Jok walked over to her and had a grim look on his face. "Shall I ring for Master Hurcule to join you in the parlor room?"
"No thank you, Jok." Videl held her head up high. "I rather not give him any heads up for what I'm about to say. Has Andrew left yet?"
"Oh." He grimaced. "The boy you are to marry? Oh yes he's still here." He pointed behind her. "…By the punch bowl." He leaned in. "I am gravely and deeply sorry Master Hurcule sprung such a thing. The staff and I give you our sincerest apologizes."
Videl patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I'm Videl Satan, I never give up."
Andrew poured himself a glass of the punch and grinned at Gohan and Sharpener. "I bet you two juveniles are jealous I am marrying Videl, huh? It's quite an honor brought upon her family. You didn't hear it from me but her old man is buying my ten thousand dollars to marry her. Then both my father and hers will merge their companies."
Gohan was about to speak when Videl interrupted him. "I want to speak with you…" she grabbed Andrew forcefully by the collar, "NOW!"
Andrew winked and muttered about receiving a preview of the wedding night. Gohan only glared at the arrogant pig and didn't say anything.
The two teenager boys watched quite amused how Videl easily dragged Andrew along the floor.
"You know (hiccup) I never seen such a pig in my life…" Sharpener said. "Is it me or is this room moving too fast." He staggered to the left then to the right. "Wow…it's like a roller coaster…up and down…up and down… like on a ship…" he covered his mouth. "I just remembered I'm seasick." Then he raced off towards the bathroom. Gohan wondered if Sharpener would make it there in time.
Videl threw Andrew against the wall of the parlor and stood angrily by the door.
Andrew laughed. "Shouldn't you have picked a room with a bed? I mean—"
"Ugh, you're such an arrogant fool. I don't want your dumb ass, ok?"
"Arrogant and a dumb ass, I maybe…." He took a step forward. "But I am the man of your dreams."
"Please." Videl scoffed. "Listen here. You bests talk my dad out of this stupid idea or it will be your ass! I don't like you, I never did. In fact, I hate you. I hate your guts. You think you're a woman's fantasy come to life but to be frank, your not! The next time you and my dad think that you can run m life you better think it carefully because there's no chance in hell that I'd marry you. I rather die than marry you."
Andrew grinned and there was something mischievous and evil about how his eyes glittered. "Ok, Videl. The marriage is off." He licked his lips. "I do love a strong and independent woman, a beautiful and independent woman."
Videl rolled her eyes and threw open the door. She pointed to her dad's library. "Go ahead Mr. Mucho. Oh, and I'll be listening, so you bests not pull anything if you know what's good for you."
Andrew grinned still. "As you wish madam..."
Videl cautiously watched him leave the room. He did as he promise and annulled the wedding and any further preparations were to stop immediately. Videl bit her lower lip and folded her arms when Andrew left. It was too easy, far too easy. What was Andrew planning?
Gohan groaned and he held Sharpener's shoulders and tried to navigate him. "Just move to the left…that's right. Ok, we're almost to the door." He turned. "Good night, Videl."
"Wait." Videl called and received his attention. "Are you sure you're sober enough to drive?"
"Yeah, I can see fine." Gohan replied.
"Ok…if you're sure. But shouldn't Jok tail along, just in case." Videl insisted.
Gohan mumbled something underneath his breath. Then he nodded. "Ok, I'll bring Jok along."
The butler held Sharpener's shoulder and escorted the drunk blonde to the limo that drove up from the driveway. Gohan saw Videl smiled from relief and returned the smile back. He wanted her to know that he'd be ok but decline from telling her. He wasn't sure if she'd understand or if it would complicate things more than they already were. He wouldn't take the chance yet. The amount he drank would probably have a regular human passed out on the floor but after all he was half-saiyan too. So the champagne wouldn't go to him like it did for Sharpener. He knew she wouldn't be as worried if she knew what he was but he couldn't afford to tell her, at least not yet. So he decided he would put her worries at ease. He would bring Jok along, drop Sharpener off, pick an area where some apartments were and claim one as his home. Lastly when Jok was out of sight he would take flight and head home as fast as possible and hope his grandparents were asleep.
It was about ten minutes since Jok, Gohan and Sharpener left and all hell broke loose.
"I'm the ONLY family you have left."
"YEAH AFTER MOM DIED AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE HELL MY BROTHER AND SISTER ARE." Videl folded her arms. "HA…Some family…!"
"WELL THAT'S YOUR PROBLEM AND NOT MINE!" Hurcule grunted and folded his arms. He glowered back at his daughter and snorted. "How can you hold onto something you never had? You only got in the way, just like now."
"YOU REALLY ARE A BASTARD. DAMN YOU. YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE BUT YOURSELF. YOU ONLY WANT FAME, FORTUNE, AND PUBLICITY. YOU DON'T CARE WHO GETS IN YOUR WAY, DO YOU? ALL YOU WANT IS MORE, MORE AND MORE! YOU NEVER FIND YOURSELF WITH CONTENT WITH WHAT THE HELL YOU HAVE. NEWS FLASH DAD, THE WORLD DOSEN'T REVOLE AROUDN YOU AND SOME CHAMP YOU ARE, I DOUBT EVERYDAY ABOUT YOU SAVING THE WORLD FROM CELL. I MEAN, YOU OF ALL PEOPLE?" Videl glowered at her father. "Tell the truth for once."
"You were always a spoiled brat that never seen anything but from your perceptive. Without my money you'd be living on the streets. I could have disowned you and sent you up for adoption." Hurcule growled. "You WILL marry Andrew!"
"I WON'T!" Videl yelled.
"Oh yes you WILL!" Hurcule spat.
"NEVER…!" Videl clenched her fist and restrained herself from knocking the brute senseless and unconscious.
Hurcule threw his hands up in the air and let out an exasperated yell. "Nice job, Videl. Now you missed out on a perfect marriage." Hurcule spoke angrily.
"A LOVELESS and stupid marriage!" Videl wanted to yell but she'd chosen the words she wanted to yell carefully. She wanted the last and final word.
"Now you'll be thirty some years old, single and alone thanks to your independent and foolish ways! You never know if I could go to sleep and not wake up in the morning." Hurcule snapped.
"Well then dad, I'll take my chances!"
"How dare you, young lady. Dammit, you're still my little girl--"
"I am not your little girl and I never was." Videl stomped her foot angrily. "You were never there for me. You never gave a damn about us. There's more to parenting then just showing up for an occasional birthday or holiday and thinking everything would be ok! Well it's not! I'm practically an adult now and I've been doing fine without your help or advice and I don't need it now. You're more conceited and more foolish than Andrew will ever be. You two would make quite a team, huh dad?"
"—and as long as you live under my roof, young lady, you'll abide to my rules."
"Fine, I'm moving out. I'll be out of here and out of your life forever." She held up her head high and left the room.
"GOOD RIDDANCE! I NEVER WANTED YOU ANYWAYS!!!" Hurcule shook his fist furiously and ignored the shocked maid that stood outside the room. Hurcule was left fuming until his entire body turned a bright red. Hurcule clenched his fist and stared at a piece of paper before him. "We'll see about that, young lady. We'll see." She was NOT going to have the last word, she was NOT! And he'd see to it.
Next Day (6:55 AM)
"I'm gravely disappointed in you, Gohan." his grandmother shook her head and placed her hands firmly upon her hips. She may be his grandmother but she still looked young and had the energy of a twenty-year-old. "Its not that we don't want you to socialize, we do and we're glad you went to the party; but, getting drinking wasn't part of the agreement."
"I'm a saiyan, I can handle it." Gohan mumbled.
"You don't know if it was tamper with, now do you?"
"Again, I'm a saiyan and I can handle it. And with all those reporters there and a few police officers why would anyone be stupid enough to do that.
His grandmother sighed. "I'm telling you this because I care, Gohan. When you come home from school we'll talk so you can tell me everything. I promise as long as you do, that no yelling or profanity shall be used. Promise me."
"I promise." He took his plates up to the sink and went to the bathroom. After brushing his teeth and grabbed his textbook and homework. "Later." He waved to his grandparents who in return waved back until he was out of sight.
The Ox King placed a reassuring hand on his wife. "Don't worry. He's a Son, the son of Goku and Chichi, he'll survive. He was always a survivor, sweetie. Come on inside, it's too cold for you in a nightgown."
She merely sighed but nodded. The couple made their way inside and the Ox King shut the door behind them.
"It will be all right, sweetie."
"I'm just so worried." She looked up at the ceiling while her husband placed a blue shawl over her shoulders. She looked down and walked across to the other side of the room. She opened the window and pointed to the still somewhat dark sky. The Ox King found it odd that it was darker than usual for this time of morning. "Can you feel it? Look." Her eyes grew wide with fear and distress. "The sky… it's dark and smeared with blood…something's going to happen to day… something bad…and I don't know what it is." She turned to him with apprehension flowing in her eyes. "Gohan…"
The gently winds that had once swayed gently began to move more violently. Birds screeched and animals took shelter underneath bushes and inside caves. It seems that nature too had sense this too. Something bad was going to happen…far worse than they imagined.
Orange Star High (7:25 AM)
"You told him off? No way, I wish I had been there!" Erasa looked a bit shocked but happy at the same time. "Oh…my… gosh, so what did he do?"
"He said I'd regret it." Videl said.
"Where are you going to stay?" Erasa frowned.
"I rented out this apartment. It's really nice and I already moved in from last night. I knew the landlords for sometime now since they knew my grandmother when they were all kids so naturally they offered to give my a discount which is affordable for me."
"So this is it? You're on your own?" Erasa looked a bit worried.
"Yeah…" Videl shrugged.
"You don't miss him at all?"
"Why would I miss that son of a bitch that walked out on my mother several times and only came back one year before she died? Why does he think coming back then made up for the time last." Videl grunted.
Erasa gulped and struggled for words. Seeing how uneasy and nervous Erasa was Videl cracked a small smile and pointed to the small crowd ahead of them. "Let's o check and see who's in the play, ok?"
"Uh…yeah...ok." Erasa nodded but the remained a bit dumbfounded by the news.
"Uh…Erasa…?" Videl turned and noticed she was not there. "Are you coming or not?"
Erasa blinked. "Oh yeah, I'm coming! Wait up!"
Calculus (11:44 AM)
"Berea, can you explain number 44 to the class?" Mr. Omak asked.
Berea stood up and began to explain the problem in a somewhat matter-of-factly tone.
She tossed her shoulder-length lavender –colored hair to one side and stood tall. Her green eyes reflected with confidence and its egotistical features began to emerge gradually. "First…"
Gohan rolled his eyes and began to tone her out. Berea thought she was the smartest girl in the world but she wasn't. She was smart, he'd give her that but she was cocky and snobbish. Gohan finished his drawing of Mr. Omak and began his new one of Berea. Gohan yawned and stared out the window. From just that few seconds he sat up abruptly.
"What the hell..? Why's the sky so red…? Am I the only one seeing this…?" he looked around the class room. Everyone was oblivious to it. "This can't be good or normal…whatever is going on isn't going to be good in anyway. I wonder."
"…And that is the easiest way to complete the problem." Berea took her seat. Gohan looked up and saw Mr. Omak erasing Brea's explanation from the chalk board. Berea gave Gohan one of her condescension smiles before turning her head. Mr. Omak called upon Nikon and the lanky teen stood up and talked about how he did number 65.
Capsule Corps (11:45 AM)
"Woman, why did you drag me out of bed? I have this damn headache that I can't seem to get rid of."
"Oh quite your belly aching and take a look at this." She drew open the curtains. Vegeta had braced himself for the merciless rays of the sun but only received darkness.
"What the hell—what's going on?"
"I don't know." Bulma turned to her husband and held up a test-tube. "Here."
Vegeta looked at it then at her. "What am I supposed to do with that?"
"Take it and fly up to the clouds. Collect some samples and bring them back. While you're gone I'll be taking pictures from my high-tech scanners and satellites. Who knows what's up there…or what's coming."
"And you're taking your chances with me." Vegeta chuckled. "How flattering." He took the test-tube. "I'll be back."
Bulma smiled and watched as he flew out the window. "VEGETA, USE THE DOOR FOR ONCE!!" Bulma sighed and knew he was out of ear shot. It was time to get to work. She took out her cell phone and pressed a button and waited. "Yes, cancel all my evening plans and hold all my calls…yes I know Mr. Moshe is suppose to fly in today. Yes…ok, thank you."
Lunch (12: 22 PM)
Erasa leaned over towards Videl when Sharpener and Gohan went to get their lunches."So spill, what happened when Andrew came over to your apartment the yesterday?" Erasa grinned.
Videl sighed. "You aren't going to drop it are you?"
Erasa shook her head. "Nope, especially if it's something juicy and maybe even bit exotic about the jerk."
"Never mention exotic when you're talking about Andrew. Those two words should be illegal to be in the same sentence."
"Ok, ok, illegal. Now get to the good stuff." Erasa beseeched.
"Ok." Videl agreed. "Let me finish the story before you go gushing about."
"Ok, I promise." Erasa hopped over to sit next to Videl. "Now dish."
"It happen about ten o' clock, which was right after that small study session we all had. You and Sharpener had left about ten minutes ago…"
"Damn I wish my Auntie wasn't coming too visit that day, I mean why at that time of night I ask you!"
"For Kami sakes, Erasa…"Videl snapped, "You promised, remember?"
"Oh. OH, right. Sorry, sorry. Keep going, don't mind me." Erasa replied.
Videl eyed her and continued. "Anyways, Gohan was helping me with the last problem when…"
Flashback…
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Videl looked up from the textbook. "I'll get that. Erasa probably forget something." She headed towards the door and opened it to reveal Andrew. He still had that cocky smile on his arrogant face. Videl sneered at him, just when everything was becoming just perfect, HE showed up as usual.
He smiled wider. "Hey, your dad said you moved out. I hope it wasn't about me."
"Please, this was bound to happen; it was just prolonged for seven years. With you it only helped nudge it forward."
He leaned against the doorframe and used one of his smiles that usually made women's knees feel like jelly, but it hadn't worked in this case. "Can I talk to you?"
Videl growled at him and how dark her eyes looked it showed she was in no mood to talk. Especially with the likes of him!
Andrew chuckled. "Don't worry I have nothing up my sleeves, see? Come on, I'd be a fool to try to pull anything on you." He craned his neck and smirked. "Got company huh? I was interrupting something, right? Just give me one minute, I swear, nothing more than talking."
Videl groaned inwardly and he motioned for her to stand beside him. He stood against the balcony and Videl cautiously walked closer. Her eyes darted back and forth and she was vigilant of her surroundings.
Gohan closed the textbook. His grandmother would have a cow if she knew where he was. Though she'd be glad he was socializing but being over a girl's house was a whole different thing for her. Since he was a demi-saiyan he had crazy hormones but he kept himself in check whether she trust the girl was another thing. He loved his grandparents but sometimes they could get overbearing at times, especially about the subject of girls. His grandmother would check his neck for any signs of hickeys or clothes for women's perfume, snoop through his stuff for love letters or anything like that. His grandfather would try to ask him about his day and classmates as subtle as possible, but Gohan quickly caught on.
Gohan snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a slap that rang throughout the area. Then he heard a cry of pain coming from outside. It was loud and probably hurt like hell. He saw Videl storming back into the apartment with her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. She was biting her lower lip and she looked almost angry enough to kill. Something about that made him smile. She looked dangerous and beautiful at the same time.
Andrew came running in with a red hand print upon left cheek. It was probably throbbing with pain with how red it was.
The guy deserved that a whole lot more pain. Gohan never liked this guy ever since he saw him. There was something just not right about him other than his cocky attitude. He reminded Gohan of Vegeta, but Vegeta only got arrogant when he fought and knew when to drop it. Plus, Vegeta would kill him if he ever found out Gohan was comparing him to a fiend like Andrew.
Andrew looked angry too but his face turned to an impassive state.
"I need to talk to her." He grunted and sneered at Gohan. "And it doesn't involve you."
Videl grasped Gohan's arm and said, "Don't you understand anything?" Videl shouted. "We are together now."
Andrew felt the wind knocked out of him and looked at the guy she chose over HIM! What did some nerdy guy have that he didn't? There had to be some reasonable explanation, there HAD to be and he wanted it NOW!
He thirsted out his hands angrily. "What?" he looked at Videl. "Explain this to me."
Videl stomped her foot and gripped Gohan tighter. "I don't have to explain myself to YOU!"
"You're chasing someone who obviously doesn't want to be with you. Just drop it and leave us alone." Gohan added. His voice was calm but his words struck Andrew and only enraged him.
Gohan gently ushered Videl to take a seat on the conch.
He then gave her the remaining plate of snacks she'd prepared previously for their session.
Taking the opportunity and threw a fist aiming at Gohan's back. Quickly Gohan gripped him into a tight headlock.
His eyes were dark as if they were as black as the night itself. His voice sounded callous and rough. "If I took this seriously you wouldn't stand a chance against me. Get out of here before you won't live to regret it."
Andrew stepped back with his mouth wide. He growled underneath his breath. "I swear, I'll be the one to say that. You just wait, you two just made the biggest mistakes of your pitiful life. No one threats me without paying dearly." He then left and slammed the door behind him. The pictures on the walls shock and a recent picture of Gohan and Videl fell on the ground and the glass cracked before shattering.
Videl looked at Gohan who was still glowering at the door. "Gohan…?" Videl asked softly. He looked behind him to acknowledge her presences one more. She leaned forward and hugged him from behind and placed her head on his back and sighed.
End of flashback…
"Wow. That's so romantic!" Erasa squealed. "You two are official an item? When did this happen? How come you never told me? Now I feel so left out and completely insulted!!"
"Don't be, were not an item, only friends. I only said that to get Andrew off my case and besides it would be too complicated. I mean, what do we have in common to being with?"
"Lots of things and you would know if you'd ask him some more personal, maybe intimate questions?" Erasa beamed. "I mean, I would suspect something if you two were alone for a bit and things happen, right? So…" she looked up. "Did anything happen?"
"If something did happen, it would be between him and me, not him, you and me."
Erasa grinned and nearly lurched out of her seat. "Something DID happen! What? What, happened?"
"Nothing happened. It was an innocent thank you and goodnight thing. No kissing, no nothing."
"You look a tad disappointed. Maybe if you nudged and pushed a bit in the right direction you could—"
"No, Erasa."
"But I never knew your Gohan could do that headlock thing. I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover. Dose he have muscles? Does he work out or something?"
"How am I suppose to know and he's NOT mine."
Erasa shrugged. "The point is you two would make such a cute couple and the minor point is Andrew's an arrogant jackass that needs his butt kicked big time. Couldn't Gohan just take him in an alley, beat him up?" her eyes twinkled. "I think someone's got a crush on you."
Videl groaned and looked outside and sat up. "Hey, did you notice how dark it's getting?"
Erasa looked up. "It's probably a thunderstorm about to roll in or something."
Videl nodded but she didn't believe it. It never got this dark before. Something just didn't feel right and Andrew's threat rang through her head. But how could a weasel like him be involved?
Orange Star Auditorium (1:22 PM)
"Students..." Vice Principal Echinoid announced. After it quieted down she cleared her throat. "We are under code blue for Orange Star district. Under the order of the major of our fair city students are to here by stay on school grounds until we discover what that mist and anomalous cloud color coverage is all about."
"What? What about the playoffs?" Arnold who was the star quarterback yelled.
"Sadly, we'll have to forget about it Arnold and forfeit."
"FORFEIT? To hell with that! We can't forfeit after all that we've been there and give them the satisfaction!" he stood up and headed towards the door which was guarded by three bodyguards.
Mrs. Echinoid stomped her foot and yelled, "Take one more step and you'll be expelled from not only the school but forbidden to play on any football team for the rest of your high school years. And from the way your grades are you'll be here for a long, long time, sonny."
Arnold growled. "You can't do that!"
"yeah." A few more of the team angrily chided.
"I certainly can. It's the law here for anyone who disobeys certain codes shall be expelled or harshly dealt with. Are you so confident that you'd take your chances of dying from Kami knows what's in those clouds." She turned to face the students. "Scientist all over the world such as the Bulma Briefs have come together to determine what's in the molecules that created such clouds. They have yet to discover if it's poisonous or harmful or contiguous."
"What about the play?" Yakima asked.
"We are postponing rehearsing and pushing the opening back a few days or weeks if needed until we know what to do." She sighed. "So please, remain calm."
Instantly after finishing her sentence the student body erupted and panic spread quickly among peers.
"Oh my God I'm going to die!" Angela screamed. "I'm too beautiful to die! Oh my God, this is it!"
Aureole threw papers on the floor. "After all these years for…NOTHING…?! What the hell was studying all this time to die like this! I want to go out with a bang."
Erasa grabbed the boy. "Clam down, buddy.
"Don't forget Hurcule's here and he won't let us down." Arnold added.
"Good luck." Videl muttered.
Gohan raised his eyebrow. He advert his eyes quickly and turned to the ceiling when Videl turned his way.
"Gohan, why are you so calm?" Sharpener asked. Gohan shrugged and Sharpener grinned. "So you're scared deep down, huh? Nice cover."
"How's your headache?"
"It feels like a donkey just kicked my head and everything is painful and scrambled up." Sharpener held his head.
Kami's Lookout
Mr. Popo ran out of the main quarters to find Dende and Piccolo who had the solemn faces he'd ever seen in long time.
"I've been seeing this coming for a few weeks now…I thought it was just a bad dream…they really are coming…aren't they Piccolo?" Dende spoke.
Piccolo only nodded. Then he turned and greeted Mr. Popo before speaking, "Yes."
"It's a bad time for Goku to be in Other World."
"Think you can arrange something to have Mr. Sunshine back before things get bad?"
Dende nodded. "Probably, I'll have to do a bit of blackmailing and groveling but I think it can be done." Dende answered.
"What about the clouds, Dende?" Mr. Popo asked.
Dende closed his eyes and reopened them after a few moments. "This is only the beginning I'm afraid. It will get far worse. From what I remember from my dream which I consider now is a vision, the world shall be cast into an eternal darkness by the time phase one is completed. From there something, it was always a figure in the dark and every time I try to see it, it only grows blurrier, will destroy Earth from the inside out."
"From doing what…?" Piccolo asked.
Dende shook his head and he frowned. "I really don't know. The dream becomes vaguer and vaguer as I think about it."
"If this is truly a vision and its somewhere locked in your memory I have a method to get it out." Mr. Popo snapped his fingers and a chair appeared. Dende sat down when Mr. Popo gestured for him to.
"Now close your eyes and relax. Take deep and even breaths and listen to my voice…that's it."
Piccolo stared into the sky. "What ever it is… it's strong…very strong." Piccolo clenched his fist.
A Hall Way (3:33 PM)
Everyone was beginning to get hectic, crazy and plain hysterical.
Angela sat rocking back and further and huddled herself into a ball against the lockers. "I'm going to die. I'm going to die. I'm going to die. Damn, I never got to date that Jonick guy. Life is so cruel. I'm gonna die."
"Why is everyone so panicky, I mean since the Great Hurcule's going to save us all." Videl said sarcastically.
"Are you ok? You've been acting a bit weird today. What happened when we left, Videl? Did Andrew come back and bother you?" Gohan asked.
"Look, just stay out of this, Son boy." Videl snapped. Videl hung her head down and sighed. "Listen, I'm sorry. I was out of line there." She stood up and smiled. "Everything's ok, really."
Gohan grinned. "You're a horrible liar."
Videl looked a bit shocked. She was never caught lying before. She even considered herself a professional liar since she'd been doing that for her dad's publicity events.
"Why are you so happy?" Angela snapped at Erasa. "Can't you get it through those air headed head of yours that we are about to die and I haven't dated the Star quarterback yet? I mean look at me, I'm so young, so beautiful, so innocent!" she grasped Erasa by her collar. "INNOCENT, I TELL YOU! INNOCENT!!"
Erasa smacked the girl upon her cheek and Angela fell to her feet. Erasa smiled widely. She'd been waiting to do that all school year. She had that to mark off on her "Senior Class to-do-list." Now the last few major things she wanted to do was… become Prom Queen this year, get Gohan and Videl together, make out underneath the belchers 33 times with Sharpener, and fight Angela and her preppy friends. Erasa nodded. "Not a long list this year…I better add a few just in case. Oh yeah, spray paint Mrs. Echinoid's car. Whoops, it got towed last week…hum…"
Sharpener crawled up and grabbed Gohan's collar and whispered with a few giggles coming from his throat. Gohan swallowed and began to think about knocking the boy out until he got over his hangover. Sharpener must have drank more than he thought because Gohan knew how he was acting wasn't some of the usual signs of handovers.
Sharpener giggled then he hiccupped. "Say you might as well snag a kiss from Mrs. "Untouchable" over there then you'll be a happy man about to die."
Gohan sweat dropped. "Wouldn't that just get me killed sooner?"
Sharpener shrugged. "Probably…maybe…definitely, but like I said, you'll die like a happy man." Sharpener laughed heartily before covering his mouth. "Muff…Ugh…Bathroom." He ran and took a turn and there was a loud scream that followed. "Oops, sorry Mrs. Echinoid, I'm sure it will come out with some bleach, hehhehe."
"RUGH…SHARPENER PENCIL…!" Mrs. Echinoid roared.
Sharpener dashed from that corner and ran behind Gohan. "Hide me." Sharpener whimpered.
"WHERE IS HE?"
Gohan pointed to the opposite hallway and Mrs. Echinoid ran off.
"Thanks, man." Sharpener stood up. "I thought I was a goner. I owe you…if we live long enough."
Gohan only nodded.
"Hey, it's getting darker out there." A girl exclaimed. The student body crowed around the windows to see. They could hardly tell it was daytime now. Most of the students took out their cell phones and called home and others used the numerous pay phones.
Sharpener sniffed. "I had a good run." He whimpered into his cell phone. "I love you too, mommy."
"Ugh, this is so sad." Gohan rolled his eyes and waited for his grandparents to pick up.
GOHAN, IS THAT YOU?
YES!
WHY ARE YOU YELLING?
BECAUSE I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER EVERYONE'S WHIMPERING AND YELLING.
ARE YOU OK?
PEACHY KEEN, GRANDMOTHER!
THAT'S GOOD.
HOW ABOUT YOU AND GRANDFATHER, HOW ARE YOU TWO?
JUST FINE.IT'S SO ODD THE SKY IS GETTING SO DARK ALL OF A SUDDEN, HUH?
YEAH, DID BULMA FIGURE ANYTHING OUT?
YES, GOHAN, SHE SAID SO FAR IT'S NOT DEADLY BUT WE WERE TALKING TO MR. PICCOLO AND HE SAID--
HELLO, GRANDMOTHER?! ARE YOU THERE? CAN YOU HEAR ME?
Gohan shook his cell phone and moved around trying to get a batter reception. All he got was scattered words and static. Then the phone turned off by itself. "Damn." He muttered underneath his breath. Gohan looked at his cell phone puzzled until he heard a bloodcurdling high-pitched scream from the next hallway. It not only caught his attention but everyone else's for their cell phones had chipped out as well.
The chestnut-haired girl who'd been using a payphone had the wires and the cord straggling her. Electricity surged through them and held her against the wall. The students stood there baffled and frightened by what they found. Before long Videl pushed her way through their gapping and useless peers and tried to grip and loosen the cords.
Videl gritted her teeth and felt her fingers heating and burning under the surprisingly high voltage.
Just as Gohan took a step and decided it was time to help the phone dropped its cords from the girl and collapsed limply.
Videl went hurtling back and Gohan moved quickly enough to grab her and steady them before them so they wouldn't collide with the glass windows. Videl opened her eyes a felt two warm hands encircling her waist. She could hear her rescuers fast pace beating against her back and their breath tickled her neck. Something wonderful brought Videl's nose's to attention but before she could figure out what it was her rescuer spoke. "You ok?"
Videl again had realized she was blushing for some odd reason and knew instantly it was Gohan. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Good." Gohan replied. Videl felt him loosen his hold from her waist and his hands dropped to his side.
Angela hugged herself and looked to see Gohan standing opposite of her, completely ignoring her. Angela smirked and began to fix up her hair. Before she could move she felt something grab her wrist into a death grip. She turned around and suppressed a gasp. Erasa glowered at the red-haired girl. "If you make one move on my friend's man I swear you won't live to regret it for I shall see to it personally."
"You wouldn't dare." Angela hissed.
"Try me." Erasa challenged.
The chestnut-haired girl slumped onto the floor, exhausted and her hair fried.
Mrs. Echinoid arrived with the school nurse who carried a First Aid kit. The nurse managed to get a steady pulse reading and began to check for cuts and bruises. "What happened here?" Mrs. Echinoid asked. Several of the students replied what happened even though they remained a bit skeptical.
Gohan knelt down and touched the gray sand that had rolled off the cords moments ago. He fingered it between two of his fingers. His eyes narrowed suspiciously, "Hum…interesting…" Gohan began to wonder how this sand had anything to do with anything.
"Ok, students please reframe from going anywhere near the payphones until we find out the cause."
Angela fluttered her eyes at Philip. "You know in disasters flirting can easily wear off the panic, with your girlfriend and a kiss or there."
"That's a good idea." Philip agreed.
Angela grinned and puckered her lips and after about a minute she opened her eyes and yelped. He was kissing one of her preppy friends!! "Now ex-preppy friend, Aniline." Angela thought furiously. Was that the Philip Aniline couldn't stop blabbering about? Well you had to admit with those highlights, firm muscles and sky-blue eyes he was a hunk.
BEEP! BEEP!
Videl headed to an isolated hallway and began to speak. "What is it chief?"
—Videl (Static) hostage… (Static)
"Chief…?" Videl hit her communicator repeatedly and continuously calling for the chief. "HELLO, CHIEF? ANSWER ME, CAN YOU HEAR ME?"
--Videl…? There was some interference. Anyways, you know that Red Shark gang, right?
"Yeah, bunch of losers but what about them?"
--The big shark got loose when he was being arrested and took your father as hostage along with about thirty other civilians. Says he wants a rematch. He's got them all at the Charity and Funds Inc. building on Larine Street.
Videl groaned inwardly. "Are you sure you guys can't handle it?"
--No, some of the boys are down with a few shots to the leg and others are scared shitless!
Videl took a deep breath. "Fine, I'll be there in a few."
--VIDEL, WAIT--
Videl had ended the transmission and hadn't heard the chief's plea, but hopefully it wasn't something urgent.
After checking that everyone was oblivious to her absence, she swiftly moved towards a window.
Videl opened the window carefully and eased herself in one flood motion then she touched the freshly cut grass of the campus. She took out her flashlight and managed to slip through the window. "Damn, its dark."
"Students, remember we are still under code blue. Now, everyone return to your homerooms. The major says he received word from the S.A.M. or the scientism acquaintance meeting that all civilians are to be inside for there seems to be a foreign interferences coming fast and is about to hit the atmosphere. They also said the atmosphere is weakening at an alarming rate as well as globe warming. So the heat shall be up as high as possible." Mr. Anionic, the vice principal spoke. Grumpily and unnerved, the students ambled towards homeroom.
"Man, I could be at the mall now."
"It's to dark out there…and its getting cold."
"Oh my gosh, I'm turning purple over here…Hey, let me borrow that jacket."
Erasa hugged herself and looked at Gohan and then behind them. "Hey, did you see where Videl went?"
"She probably went on ahead." Sharpener assured her. "Don't worry; she can take care of herself."
Gohan closed his eyes and felt something moving away at a steady but a hurried pace. "Videl…" Gohan murmured. She was at least a few streets away from the school and it didn't look like she was coming back anytime soon. She's stopped several times and began moving at an alarming speed. Something was wrong. Sharpener and Erasa paused when they saw Gohan had stopped and was looking way too serious for the Gohan they knew.
"Hey, what's up?" Erasa asked.
"Nothing..." Gohan shook his head.
"Are you sure?" Sharpener raised his eyebrow. "You look so serious."
Gohan cracked a small smile. "I forgot my jacket, that's all. I'll just go get it."
Erasa looked skeptical but she nodded. "We'll save you a seat."
Gohan nodded in return. "I'll be back before you know it."
Gohan rounded the corner before he finished his sentence.
"Something's up." Erasa murmured.
"What? Oh, besides the obvious thing is that his locker is in A hallway and not in C?"
"Exactly, it's like there's another Gohan and he's not going to tell us about him." Erasa said. "And I haven't seen Videl at all." She pointed to their homeroom which was missing four students: Videl, Gohan, Sharpener and herself.
"Something fishy or maybe kinky is going on here. Think we should follow him?" Sharpener asked.
Erasa smirked. "What do you think? Kinky, Sharpener? Where does he come up with these stuff?"
Elsewhere
"…can't keep her mouth shut forever. She'll tell so we'll have to get rid of her ourselves…one way or another….she knows too much. It's only a matter of time."
Two males stood on the roof of an abandoned building.
"You must be careful…or they'll find out." The older man muttered.
SatanCity
BEEP! BEEP!
Yes, chief?
Videl, finally! You ended the transmission before I could tell you some menace is running downtown. He's threatening to blow up the city and its surroundings if his demands aren't meant.
And they are?
He says its one and its simple. He wants you to come down there and fight him. No tricks, one on one.
No tricks, huh… and you believed him?
Well, we have about thirty hostages he's threatening to kill six every hour if his demands aren't meant. That includes your father, the mayor and many innocent lives.
Great way to put the pressure on me, don't worry about it. Just keep and eye on the guy.
Right, we can always count on you…AH, DAMN!
What? WHAT is it?
He set the top of the building on fire. We have the fire department on their way but it's moving so fast. My guess is we got ten minutes before he reaches the third floor where the hostages are being held.
And why would he do that if he's inside?
I tell you he cracked!
Videl could hear the faint sounds of bloodcurdling screams and cries for help in the background.
I'll be there in two minutes, tops.
Capsule Corps
Vegeta stood up. "I feel it…"
Bulma looked up from her notebook where she had been jotting down some observations. "Feel what?"
"A strong presences… I never felt anything like this before." He chuckled. "It's been so long since I had a battle and a little warm up will do my body some good. Besides you need to upgrade the gravity room a bit. It's not nearly as challenging as it was last year." He eyed her equipment and papers. "You keep yourself busy with your version of ideal enjoyment of life."
"Its not as enjoying as you think it is." Bulma sarcastically answered. "Besides, whatever it is could be the cause of this sudden darkness. I'd give you a flashlight or one of my night goggles but you Saiyans have keener eyes than those objects could ever have. So go on and have fun but don't get yourself killed in the process."
Vegeta scoffed. "Oh please, woman. This being is nothing compared to me but a little fun never hurt anyone...maybe except him." He grinned and added. "Looks like Kakorat's first brat, is on the move."
"Don't start a fight, Vegeta."
"I still don't get it. Why not me? Me, the prince of all Saiyans and here I must watch Kakorat's and his son excel me. This doesn't make any sense…my father said." He clenched his fist. "Doesn't matter, that clown isn't around anymore and I'll so take care of that brat with a bit more training."
"Why do I ever bother to try?"Bulma sighed. "You Saiyans can get so stubborn at times."
DowntownSatanCity
Videl ran up towards the group of police officers and the firefighters. There was no way they could make it in and out if the fire got any bigger. What kind of nutcase was she dealing with? "Did he kill anyone yet?" Videl asked.
The chief shook his head. "We've got ten minutes before that's supposed to happen but then again they'd all be dead by then if this fire doesn't get under control soon. It's already hit the second floor. Which would gives us…about…five to ten minutes."
"He could have snuck them out around the back chief." Mark said. Mark who had been working with the Satan Police Department for about five years now looked special about his theory.
"Doubt it, we been had backup back there." Chief Yupik murmured. "We tried to bribe him into coming out or at least letting some or all the hostages out, but no, he still wants you to come and now his demanding 100 billion zeni on top of that, plus a safe ride out of the country."
"Did anyone at least try to get in?" Videl questioned.
"We had the squat team out here and even then he had guys all over the place. He had two kids' heads directly in front of a pistol and said he'd kill then right then and there if we tried anything."
Soon a man emerged from the crowd and was begin held back by two officers. "If you boneheads are just going to sit there—LET GO OF ME—more people will die before you get in there! My kids are in there, dammit! You dumb asses are just standing there like scared wimps instead of going in there and doing your jobs!"
Videl nodded. Precious time was being lost. Videl took out a capsule and waited for the clouds of dust to disappear from the bag. She opened the duffle bag and threw numerous of items out of it until she found what she was looking for. Mountain gears. She couldn't use the front or back way without running into the fire and a helicopter or any vehicle would draw too much attention. With grace and ease she began to climb up the large building which looked almost ready to keel over.
Videl let out several loud coughs as she passed the smoking windows. She could knock the bad guys out and have the hostages jump out of the window and onto the awaiting tapeline like object waiting below. "Easy now…" Videl thought. She held her body away from the window so nobody would see her. She saw the bad guys' back were turned to her and the hostages were gagged and tied while others were also blindfolded. A child whose face looked swollen and bruise looked at her and hope glowed onto her face. She looked so happy, so innocent, and so full of life now.
One of the men turned and Videl hid.
"Find something funny, kid?" he snarled out her. The child made a muffled yelp and shook her head.
Videl heard a click sound and knew he was aiming a loaded gun somewhere.
From the sounds of pleas and cries she knew he was going to shot one of the hostages.
Without warning Videl leaped into the window without hesitation. The man was so taken by surprise he staggered back a bit. Before he could utter a sound or a word to his companions he was on the floor unconscious from the blow to his head.
Hearing the loud thump, the six other men turned around and glowered at her and readied their weapons.
Videl smirked. Only two of them looked like a worthy opponents, the others were scrawny and looked like they'd be dead by one of her attacks instead of unconscious. "So who's going to be first?"
Before anyone could move loud muffle screams started up. When Videl looked at where they were looking she saw the fire sweeping up past the door. The smokes would grow heavier if they spent too much time here. It was getting a bit hotter inside the room now and the walls looked thin. She could see the glow of the fire against the door that separated them from it. She didn't have much time; she'd have to work faster. Just as she turned around she nearly was hit squarely in the jaw by a metal bar.
Videl landed on her feet. "Not fair fighters are you? Come on, then." She wiped some blood from her forehead and cheek. Her head was throbbing and she felt a bit dizzy but it wasn't going to keep her down. Just as she landed a round the house kick on the guy who tried to attack her she heard claps from beside her. In the shadowy area of the room stood a man a very familiar man, Andrew.
"Well done, Videl. Well done." Andrew continued to clap his hands in approval.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Videl grunted.
"Why Videl, such language wouldn't daddy be disappointed." He gestured to the chair beside him which held Hercule tied, gagged and looking from the blood, savagely beaten.
"Let him go. Let them all go, right now. I'm the one you want so let them be." Videl hissed. "Or I'll—"
"Or you'll do what?" Andrew chuckled. "If you haven't noticed, Videl, I hold all the cards now. I am in charge, not you."
He took a few steps towards her and smirked. "It's such a pity it must end this way. I really did like you." He heard the helicopter and knew his ride was here.
He eyed one of his taller acquaintances to untie Hercule. Hercule shook his hands and was thankful for the release.
Elsewhere
It was coming down to all of this…
The woman stood in the shadowy area of the building in the alley. She looked up and a frown formed upon her lips. "Its time…"
Charity and Funds Inc.
The man, who untied Hercule, looked at Andrew with an impassive expression and remained silent. He waited patiently as if he was waiting for some order or some signal. Andrew nodded and the man took out a velvet box from behind the chair.
Videl looked skeptically at the box and watched for she'd be ready to strike.
Videl watched as the man approached her father who had an inexpressive expression upon his face.
"Dad…?" Videl questioned.
"It must be done." Andrew murmured.
When Videl saw what was it the box she gasped. It was a pistol and from her experience 9.99 % it was pervious loaded. Hercule fingered the pistol before gripping it. Andrew smirked and sat back into the chair Hercule had once been sitting in.
The sky was becoming dark enough that the street lights and lights coming from buildings were no help at all.
Hercule stepped towards Videl and Videl started to retreat. Sure she was a fighter but she wasn't stupid. From the range he was in he could kill her with one shot. One quick shot instead of dying slowly in pain and agony. She could practically hear it. BANG!
Each step he took another step she'd take back. The darkness around them made him looking menacing. She saw the shine from the polished gun and any awareness of the fire vanished. It grew still and Videl felt that her heart would pop out of her chest. What could she do?
"Dad, what are you doing?"
Hercule looked at the gun for a few seconds before slowly pointing it at her head. He was at least two feet away from her. Videl's eyes grew wide and she fell palsied which was something new to her. She never felt this way before since…
Hercules's hand shook a bit as he took aim. Sweat glistened down his face as he glowered at his daughter.
Andrew's threats rang throughout her head which added more pain to her head. Everything looked a bit fuzzy and she couldn't judge the perorations of her surroundings to kick the gun out of his hands. Andrew watched with a sly smirk upon his face as did the other eight men. Looking closely you could see a few tears forming in Hercules's eyes.
"Videl…forgive me…" his voice was soft and sincere. "I love you, remember that. If I had one last chance I wish I could change all of this. I know I am the main source of most of your anger and I swear to you, if I could, I want to make everything right. I wish your life be spared. But it can't…don't let fear control you. Fight for your life and your own future." He swallowed and his face turned to a heartrending phrase. "My wish for you was for a long and happy life with a loving family of your own someday…NO MATTER what else—you are still my daughter!" he pointed the gun with ease at Andrew but felt the coldness of another pistol held securely at his head.
Videl felt her headache worsen and she felt hot and dizzy. The smoke was becoming unbearable now. She had to save them, or die trying. She had taken an oath and she was going to honor it. Pride and honor ran through her blood from generation to generation.
Andrew chuckled. "Have you gone mad?" he spoke harshly. "You must have...to be pointing a gun at me."
"I'm sorry, but I can't let you hurt her. I rather die than see the likes of you harming the innocent." Hercule replied and never lowered his pistol.
Screams of protest and alarm rang as the fire swept up past the door and making quick work of it. Children and adults scurried as far as they could to escape the fire and its smoke. The fire had crept to the ceiling and soon the beam of the building went hurtling down towards Videl. Being dizzy and her sight unfocused she couldn't move as fast as she wanted to. Videl screamed and felt the heat of the inferno heat her skin.
The room grew still but it didn't block out the sounds of relief and amazement. Videl opened one eye when she didn't feel herself set on fire. "G-Gohan…?" There he was like sometime of warrior standing above her and held the burning wood as if the fire couldn't or didn't burn him.
He smiled. "Everything will be all right. Trust me. I'll always be there for you…"
Andrew was baffled beyond words and his men's eyes were wider than their faces at the moment.
Andrew whorled around and took the opportunity at hand as usual. "Shoot him. Damn you!"
Videl's eyes grew wide and before she could shout or act.
BANG!!
"Daddy…!" Videl screamed as she saw the blood flying and then her Videl's body lying limply on the floor. Blood trickled down from the wound and past his eyebrows and ran over more than half his face. He looked dead.
Videl felt tears fall down her face and she felt helpless. She was helpless once again.
Never leave the house in rage…always say "I Love You." And mean it for you never know…life is too short, Videl.
Videl's mother had said that just an hour before…
The murder took the gun from Hercules's hand and stood by Andrew. "Never turn you're back on us. You were always soft. Damn bastard." Andrew questioned. "Your gun wasn't even load…what type of fool do you think I am, you buffoon?"
Hercule stared at the gun helplessly as Andrew continued. "From the first day I meet you, I knew you like a book. You were too honest and cared far too much for my likings. I knew what you would do. I could tell by your eyes…"
Then Hercule didn't blink nor did his body move with the small breaths he had been taking. He was…gone. Just like that.
"You idiotic man…!" He turned to the other men and they pointed their pistols right at her.
Nine pistols were aimed directly at her, five at her head and four pointed at her chest.
Then there were numerous of shots that sprang lose.
Erasa gasped when she'd heard the shots after what the chief informed her about seconds ago. "VIDEL..!"
She reacted without hesitation and maybe without thinking as she ran towards the building.
Before she could near it however, Sharpener gripped her and held her back. "What the hell do you think your doing, Erasa?"
"Let go of me. I can handle it. Videl and I have been mountain climbing since we were thirteen!" she twisted her body. "There must be something I can do, Videl's like a sister to me. I'd do the same if she was my blood sister but she's still—"
"Erasa, please be logic—"
"LOGIC has nothing to do with it!!" Erasa struggled. "Dammit, if you don't let go you'll pray to have kids when I'm done with you."
"Why are you acting like this?" Sharpener tightened his grip. "Why are you going—?"
"BECAUSE SHE'S MY FRIEND!" she wrenched free and almost got there when she saw some children and adults by the window. Each untied, and no longer blindfolded or gagged. The firefighters quickly scrambled to prepare themselves. Soon all the hostages were safety on the ground and a large ambulance truck was on the way to treat their burns and bruises. "Where's Videl?"
Andrew crawled from underneath some rumbled and patted out the flame that caught upon his shirt. He took several breaths and wiped the blood from his forehead and nose with his sleeve. He looked around to see his men gagged and tied with rope like the hostages were---hostages! Where were they? He grabbed his cell phone and made a desperate call after canceling his departure. He didn't have long. He looked around and saw that both Gohan and Videl were nowhere in sight. What was that Gohan anyways? How could he defend himself against so many bullets and catch them as if they were nothing but pebbles? He heard the recipient pick up. "Find them; they're not to die before they arrive. Make sure they avenge me." He heard them answer and the click of the other person's phone. The building would collapse any second now. He looked up and his eyes became unfocused. "Damn you, Son Gohan…" Then everything faded out and grew dark.
Rain began to set in and helped aid in the firefighters fight against the now disintegrating flames.
Erasa looked around frantically. "Where are they Sharpie?"
Sharpener hugged her. "Wish I knew…I wish I knew."
Videl sat upon one of the large trees' branches in the City Park which was a few miles away from the once burning business foundation. She stared straight ahead as if in some reverie trance. Her hair clung to her forehead and her clothing hugged her like a second skin, but she didn't care.
Videl blinked a few times and came out of her abstractions. She looked down at her shoes and frowned.
"How did this happen…? I was so careful…" she whispered. She stared up at the sky and felt drop after drop land upon her. Soon she found herself staring at her fingers which were bruised and her blood covered parts of her body.
"Hey there, big kitty in the tree." A male voice spoke to her. Videl turned, startled by the voice and looked to find Gohan gazing at her from below. He didn't say anything more and they watched each other as if waiting for something or anything to be said from the other.
"Why is it that they are all trying to kill you?" Gohan questioned.
Videl didn't answer. She closed her eyes, "Why'd they…?" the thoughts of her father being shot before her eyes made her open them with a start. "I don't—I can't—I--" she was lost of words which was a rare thing for her. Videl gasped when she felt Gohan's breath upon her neck and reacted as if he was some stranger. Videl pushed him back with all her might and didn't anticipate on falling. But she was falling, wasn't she?
The rain droplets beat against the benches and tables below the once still tree. Gohan held her close to him which one hand resting upon her back and Videl's face was buried into his chest. He placed his head lightly upon hers and waited for her.
"It wasn't supposed to happen this way…everything is wrong." Videl sobbed. "Why is this happening?" she yelled.
He didn't answer as she would have predicted but instead he kissed her. The type of kiss that was you'd believe could taste and feel so wonderful in only dreams. But it wasn't a dream. He held her even closer and ran his tongue against her lips.
Two of Andrew's men ran past the tree and the oldest held his cell phone and spoke, "No sign of them…we're checking east." He nodded to his partner, "Look over there."
"Got it." His partner responded and they proceeded to split up.
Maybe it was only a few seconds or maybe a minute, but it felt like a wonderful lifetime spent in an instance. Slowly they broke apart and Gohan cupped her cheeks in his hands. They once again stared at each other and were just vulnerable enough to release an emotion that was so carefully sealed and bottled up for so long. They continued to search the others' eyes and got themselves lost within them.
"Forgive me…" She never expected the two words he said after that kiss. It almost hurt. Almost, for she could see he was not the least bit sorry and neither was she.
Videl blushed and saw his lips were parted as if he was about to speak but decided against it.
She wanted to kiss him again.
"You're my savoir... "
Gohan tilted his head to the side and have her one of his goofy grins. "Now there's a new one."
"You saved me and everyone else…" Videl turned away and touched her lips. "My first kiss!" she thought.
Don't get her wrong, she wasn't the girl that went on dates every other day or had meet any guy before him to consider a candidate for her first kiss. A person's first kiss was supposed to be special and remember-able and wonderful not quick and horribly done. Besides, she was Miss. Untouchable and boys were more of a forbidden to her because daddy didn't want the tabloids breathing down his back and exploiting the Satan name; instead, her family did that for her with his "business Trips" and dinner parties, Extremely boring dinner parities. Probably the only fun part about those parties was watching drunken guys making complete asses of themselves.
BANG!!
Videl winced when she saw the hole the bullet had made, about a few inches from her head.
"Come down!" one of the assassinators yelled and held his gun perfectly aimed at the two.
Within the next instance he and his partner were down and unconscious with their guns scattered a few feet from them.
Videl blinked and looked at the man below them. He had a cocky smirk on his face and looked mush stronger than her deceased father. He looked, like how Gohan did when he liberated her, like a warrior or some knight that had come to the rescue. He turned towards them and his smirk grew wider. "Well, well, well, brat. Caught up in the tree with a girl I see. Humph, wouldn't those parents of yours be so happy."
Videl watched as Gohan's eyes grew cloudy and filled with hostility. They never talked much about his parents and anyone would know by his expression that they must have died too. He'd looked so sad when they ended up talking about them. He looked so hurt, so vulnerable and even after all these years he looked ready to cry.
Flash…
Videl looked at the picture that was on Gohan's desk. She then took the photograph that was in a finely designed frame into her hands. She held it with such care and looked at the people in the picture. They looked so happy and by their attires they were recently married when this picture was taken.
"They died, didn't they?" Videl asked softly.
Gohan nodded and he answered just as quietly. "Yeah…"
"You were so young." Videl stood up. "You must have felt so lonely at times, huh?"
Gohan once again nodded. Videl stood up and placed the picture on the desk once more and walked over to him. She wrapped her arms around him and held him close. "You're not alone because you're my family, maybe not by blood, but our friendship with one another. You'll be part of my family and I'll be part of yours. We'll never be alone since we've got each other and nothing is going to change that. You and I will be together forever, I swear, that's all that really matters."
End of flashback…
Other World
"Goku, everything is not going to plan! Everything is so screwed up! " Chichi groaned. "Did they find a way to bring you back yet?"
"Well, we got plans and theories going on. King Kai begged King Yama to let me go back and never mention it but it failed. He said—" Goku cleared his voice. "'If I did it for you then everyone would want that privilege. For it wouldn't be fair to give it to only one person for then it will be another little favor then the next and so further."
"So glad you love to impersonate me, Goku!!"
Goku yelped. "King Yama?"
"Where is he?" Chichi questioned.
"Since you're so into mincing me to pass the time by, then I'll just be on my merry way and forget the plan I concocted." He grumbled.
"No, wait!" Chichi and Goku pleaded.
King Yama cleared his throat. "This plan may or may not work, it depends. My brother—"
"You have a brother?" Goku questioned.
"WOULD YOU—"
"Sorry, sorry!!" Goku apologized and Chichi only nodded and a sweat drop rolled down their faces.
"I'm getting way too old for this…" King Yama thought. "Anyways, let me continue. My brother—yes, I have a brother…"
CityPark
Gohan jumped down the tree and held out his hands and waited for her to jump into them.
Gohan tilted his head. "Don't worry, I won't drop you. Come on down."
Videl did as requested and landed safely in his welcoming arms below.
"Your surprisingly light, kitty."
"Oh please, spare me!" Vegeta scoffed and rolled his eyes.
Gohan let Videl out of his arms all together when she had her feet securely on the ground.
"Come on, over there!" A group of the remaining assassinators yelled while nearing the trio. "We can't let them get away!"
Vegeta looked towards the tree that the group of men passed and saw the figure of a woman. She must have seen him for she moved so quickly and without hesitation. Vegeta frowned, something about that woman.
The lone figure of a bulky shaped man stepped forward. "You let them escape?" he punched the nearest assassinator in the jaw. The somewhat scrawny man staggered back and ignored the blood running from his mouth.
"I'm sorry, sir managed to say.
A woman approached the group and covered her face with her umbrella. "If you step inside gentlemen, the chairman would like to speak with you." She gestured to the isolated building across from the park. The group of men followed the woman each with their umbrella shielding them from the downpour.
Elsewhere
The fire place warmed the somewhat small and now quiet little house in the mountain area.
Gohan's grandmother held up a tray of hot tea and handed a cup to her grandson and his two blonde friends then one for her husband. They all murmured a quiet "thank you" before she took her own cup.
She eyed her grandson and asked gently. "So how is she?"
"Well at the moment she's tell fast asleep." Gohan answered.
"Then there's no need to wake her…we'll talk in the morning." She replied. "Its pretty dark and raining heavily…" she looked warmly at the two blondes. "I'll call your parents and you can spend the night. We have plenty of room."
"Happy Birthday, Videl."
"Daddy, your home…! I was so worried." Five-year old Videl beamed and hugged her father tightly.
"You know I wouldn't miss this for the world." He chuckled.
Her mother placed the cake upon the table and sat down with her brother, sister, Erasa and Sharpener. Her father gestured for her to sit and she did, right between her parents. They cake read: Happy Birthday, Videl! It was delicately done with much love and tender care. "Now it's time to blow out the candles, Videl."
Videl grinned and took a deep breath before blowing with all her might. The six candles, which were once lit soon had smoke coming from their tops. The room erupted with cheers, laughter and claps.
Within the next instance she received her first present for her sixth birthday. Videl giggled and looked the present with shiny wrapping paper. "Wow, thank you!" Everyone soon began to eat slices from the enormous three layer cake.
BANG!!
Videl gasped and jumped forward. Sweat glistened upon her forehead and her heart began to race.
Images of the day her mother had died and the day her father was shot flooded back to her.
It wasn't some nightmare…it was real!!
She continued to pant and somehow all those good memories couldn't seem to blot out the bad. Every ten good ones were easily conquered by one bad memory. She had no family let. Her mother was dead, her father was dead, who knows what happened to her brother and sister and she couldn't find her grandparents anywhere.
"If I hadn't…none if this would have happened…If only I had…" Videl murmured and hugged her pillow close to her chest.
How can you hold onto something you never had?
"RUGH, shut up!" Videl threw the pillow at the wall. "And even if it is true…! Why are they trying to kill me...why daddy? Why?" Videl thought. Videl opened her eyes and looked at the open door. Gohan stood there with one hand on the doorframe and the other in his hair. He wore a loose white T-Shirt, blue jeans and a pair of white socks on his feet.
"Glad to see you're awake."
Videl scoffed. "Like you care." She tossed her head to the side to advert her eyes from his.
Gohan shrugged. "Fine...I don't." then turned as if he was about to leave.
Videl blinked and looked up for a delicious aroma caught the attention of her nose. She turned to the small table by the bed and noticed a plate of food. Not just any food, but two of her favorites!
Gohan smiled. "Food, made by yours truly, you'll feel better. Trust me, a person can't think clearly with an empty stomach."
Videl eyed him suspiciously and Gohan added. "It's not poisonous. Why would I rescue you then kill you? Not my style."
Videl scoffed. "Humph. I don't trust so quickly."
Gohan grinned. "You sure did trust me when you kissed me."
Videl blushed but it didn't keep her anger from flaring. "You...you, you're the one who kissed me."
"You sure didn't try too hard to retract." He gave her a wick smile and it made him look dangerous and sexy at the same time. She wished he used it more often but it was the first time she'd seen it.
What he saw her point at him didn't look as threatening as her eyes did. He'd expected for her to grab her gun but seeing that her gun wasn't in the clothes his grandmother got Videl to change into, she grabbed a water gun.
"You said everything would be all right. You said you'd be there for me…and even after all this…I still--I want to believe you."
"Then do…don't shoot me." He placed his hands up in the air. He would have laughed at the weapon she was using if she didn't look so anger. She looked dangerous like when Bulma and especially his mother looked like when they were extremely pissed off.
He sighed seeing that she lowered it just a bit. "I'm sorry but sometimes…" he placed his hands down. "Things don't work out and we do lose the ones we love the most, but we have to move on. Things like this happens all the time and we just have to learn to move on and be brave. You know they'd never want you to cry forever."
"Who said anything about crying?" Videl snapped. Videl grumbled something underneath her breath and folded her arms. She looked strong and she was strong, physically. Emotional she was a wrack.
"I know everyone is different when it comes to personal mourning and all. But I swear to, that everything will be back to how it once was."
"Fad chance…" Videl muttered.
"Trust me. Believe in me." His voice was even softer and his eyes made her feel so weak with some feeling she couldn't grasp just yet. A feeling she wasn't sure she was ready to grasp. A feeling that made her felt so warm and so safe and even…loved.
"Didn't I just say—?"
His face grew solemn. "Eat first…then you can worry." Then he paused. "Oh yeah, I found something in your pocket." He turned and left without any other explanation.
Videl's eyes drifted to a letter with her name carefully printed on the front center.
Videl slowly made her way towards the letter and picked it up. She smelt it, oh it smelled so good.
Her nose quickly identified the scent and from that she knew who he was.
Elsewhere
"Don't you think you hid yourself long enough?" an elderly woman spoke to someone but their back was turned from her.
"No. I can't…after all this time…I can't. I thought I'd be ready but I'm not! What if…" The female answered.
"What if, what IF, I'm tired of your 'what ifs' nonsense."
"We're not ready…she won't accept me. Not after all these years, never. It's just…I never planed for this to happen."
"Neither did I, no one did." The elderly woman murmured. "But you must do this…you said you cared about her, you love her. Some love huh?" she poured herself some tea and took a small sip for continuing. "Your heart has become frozen over and cold over these years. You don't love her enough, my dear."
"Yes I do." The female yelled. "I love her…more than anyone could ever imagine."
Next Time
Just as Videl begins to adjust to her new life things again begin to be erased from existence.
Sadly, Andrew is far from dead and now he's even more determined to rid himself of both Gohan and Videl. With a powerful mystery man on his side will he do just that? Things are becoming more complicated and what of this budding romance between Gohan and Videl? Will that suffer or will it never get a chance to blossom? What about that mysterious woman? Does she know more than she lets on or is she nothing more than a strange woman? Does Vegeta know who she is or is he just as suspicious of her as everyone is of one another?
"Do you believe in destiny?" (?)
"If I die…then I won't have to wonder…" (?)
"..When I was a kid, I use to think if I could fly that maybe I could reach the sky and go to other world and see them…what a fool I was." (?)
"If you're gonna let that stop you…then you're not the girl I thought you were." (?)
"What are you doing to me?" (?)
"I'm corrupting you." (?)
"Don't look at me like that." (?)
"Like what?" (?)
"Like how I want you to." (?)
"I don't know if I feel for you what you fell for me." (?)
"You're the one he wants." (?)
"If that was true…he would have told me that already, wouldn't he?" (?)
"You killed the one I loved…I'll never forgive you. You'll pay, I SWEAR IT!" (?)
"My love…I love you…" (?)
…My hands are tied…
My body bruised, she's got me with….
Nothing to win…
And nothing left to lose…
Completed: 8/10/2004
