Wow. Some of you really get worked up at the slightest insinuation of anything happening to Videl. Well you can lay your fears aside...maybe you'll have to read on to find out. Other than that you ain't getting nothing out of me. Sorry, but that's what suspense is for. Sorry for calling you anonymous CW but really, Who are you? And what else can I call you? Then again some signed reviewers are just as non existent because they had nothing written on their bio page. Oh well, the traumas of life, I'll live.

Disclaimer: Jeez I'm getting bored of these

Chapter Seven

Bu-bum, bu-bum.

The only sound was of blood as it pounded through Gohan's ears.

Bu-bum, bu-bum.

Videl.

Bu-bum, bu-bum.

Where was Videl?

Arms hanging uselessly by his side, Gohan's breathing grew deeper and deeper. He began to tremble ferociously all over.

Videl.

There was no sound aside from the beating of the demi saiyan's heart as he opened his mouth and release an anguished scream. Pain that had been building up for far too long erupted in that wavering note.

All those that were lifting themselves out of the surrounding wreckage of the train (all those that were still alive to do so) could not help but stare in silence at the tortured bellows coming from the pre-teen. No one approached the boy. The shock of the accident had left all in a stunned stupor. Gohan was the only one moving.

With a final battle cry fire engulfed the child as his hair rose before him, flaring gold. He had to get Videl out! He had to! She would still be alive. Oh go...let her be ok. If only her.

In the madness that raged within him it never crossed Gohan's mind to stretch his senses towards the one he sought and his selfish thoughts went unnoticed. He ran towards the overturned carriage, every fibre screaming at him to get inside it and fast. There was no question of getting to the door on the other side. As far as Gohan was concerned, speed meant everything now; it was as though with each passing moment a little life might be being leached from Videl's body. Oh god what if she was hurt? She could be dying...she could, no...no not that. The scorching fury left little room for rational thought. And so taking hold of the carriage roof, Gohan pulled hard throwing himself into the action that a fraction of his power could have performed.

Those that had been struggling to free those trapped beneath the rubble, the other passengers on the train, stopped in consternation, drawn by the blazing light that had suddenly exploded around them. The glow shone so bright that in places it penetrated the debris of the train reaching those confined below. And that light...gave hope.

Gohan's barely controlled strength meant that, like the edges of a can, the roof of the train carriage was pealed back with a rusty roar of complaining metal. It never had a chance against the determined Saiyan. Without hesitation Gohan sped through th egap created to the one he sought, bearing her free of the wreckage, his entire being calling thanks. He landed softly on the grass, her frail frame in his arms and hugged her to his chest, awash with relief.

Gohan gazed down on the young girls pale face, framed by ebony trails of hair that shone beneath the murk that engulfed it, gently wiping the dust from her forehead. And as he did so, her eyelids slowly fluttered open.

"Gohan", she smiled up at him.

"You're ok!" he sighed a smile creasing across his lips.

She nodded and reaching forward took his face between her hands, never once did their eyes lose contact. But that was as far as they went.

A bright flash suddenly lit up the startled youngsters and they turned to stare in surprise at its source, blushing profusely.

"Great this'll definitely make the front page!" exclaimed the excited photographer. His suit was torn to shreds and chaos reigned around him, but media were always on the look out for a story. He was just glad his camera hadn't broken in the crash.

"Hey I'd say you're that kid from the cell games right?" he questioned Gohan eagerly, oblivious to the boys bewilderment, "And that's Satan Videl WOW? Mind if I ask you some questions kids. This is great stuff now lets see..."

The photographer began rummaging in his pockets for pen and paper before realising that his hand was merely going straight through one of the numerous gashes in his trouser leg. "Damn, bummer, well kids..."

But Gohan was no longer paying attention. His eye was drawn to the scene directly behind the irritating man. Charred corpses lined the ground and those that were able to were either freeing themselves or turning to help those buried, though there feeble despair filled moves helped little as shock took the strength from already weakened muscles. Gohan, without even realising his thoughts, knew what he had to do.

"Videl..." he began tentatively, but she was ahead of him.

"Go", she whispered.

Gohan smiled at the beautiful young girl, as she released his neck from the embrace of her arms. Lowering her gently to the ground, Gohan had the corners of his mouth turned up again despite the situation. She weighed next to nothing. Gently he took her face in his hands and tilted her eyes to his.

"I'll be back ok", he reassured.

Her nod was all he needed before he was off towards the ruins of the train. It was in his blood to help. And more than that, Gohan, unlike many of the shaken passengers, actually could

!!!

The next few hours of the demi saiyan's time were spent dragging those bodies that were still living from the fragile rubble that threatened to pile down again at the slightest provocation. Twice now the boy had been buried yet still he didn't stop, none could match his furious energy.

Yet even though he pushed with all his might, there were still those that died before he reached them, or even when he was in the process of dragging them out. Ki's winked from low to non-existent and only served to make Gohan push himself harder. If it hadn't been for the danger of the delicate debris he could have moved so much faster, but in these conditions, if he did, the death toll could have well risen beyond it's already extortionate values. And Gohan could have never forgiven himself. Too many had died already.

But nevertheless, he didn't give up. However as Gohan dug ever deeper, hefting a sheet of metal from where it lay and releasing the body beneath, Gohan had to accept that it was over. There were no more to save. He lifted the five year old he'd just reached tenderly into his arms and rocked her gently. She was so small, so young. Her eyes opened or at least the one that wasn't so swollen from burns that it could did.

"Thank you", she whispered softly, before the blood bubbled out of her throat and down her cheek. It wasn't long before she breathed no more. Her life force left her. There was nothing Gohan could have done but smile at the child in her last moments. At least she hadn't been in the dark.

Walking slowly, to the stares of the survivors he laid the child down at the end of the row of corpses that stretched too far into the distance. Soon family would come to claim their dead, and the mourning would be greater even than it was now.

!!!

Videl found Gohan standing isolated watching the few doctors that had been on the train and survived the crash try to save those close to death with no resources available at all. At least they could make the passing easier.

Gohan tensed slightly when he felt Videl's hand on his shoulder and turned to look at the one who had interrupted his thoughts. Tears streamed silently down Videl's pale cheeks. She had never seen death before. She wished it woudn't hurt so much, though that was a longing not even the eternal dragon could grant. Gohan could see the torment in the young girls eyes and held her to him as they both watched the battle for life before them, knowing that right then there was nothing they could do.

But the peace was short lived. Sirens announced the emergency services and, as couldn't be helped, the media followed close behind. A helicopter clattered overhead and Gohan could just discern the cameraman leaning out the side.

Shifting his weight he stirred Videl as she lay in his arms. Her grip was vicelike on Gohan's shirt and her eyes wide with growing shock; The truth of the situation only beginning to sink in.

When he realised she wouldn't let go he whispered gently in her ear, "Videl, I have to go."

She jumped in surprise and Gohan tried to release himself once more. But she only gripped harder.

"Don't leave me!" she whimpered, and Gohan could see the pain in her eyes. His heart dried out to make it go away. If only he could keep her safe. Burt others needed his help possibly more than she, and his was a journey that no other present could carry out.

"Videl I'll be back soon I promise. But you have to let me go!"

And so, seeing the warmth and desperation in his eyes, she did, throwing out to him all her trust and Gohan caught the rope.

"Please", she muttered, "Don't be long. Come back to me!"

The feisty attitude was gone to leave only the hollow shell of an eleven year old girl embedded in fear. Gohan nodded firmly and, with a final squeeze, released her. Taking a running leap the demi saiyan launched himself skyward amongst the clatter of camera shutters determined to try and capture his progress.

Videl let her arms fall to her sides and hugged herself as squatting down on the ground she prepared to wait. He would be back. He would be! Was this really happening? Or was it really just a dream? Well whatever it was she would be here when the demi saiyan returned. And no matter how people pushed, prodded and shrieked, she wouldn't move.

!!!

The rushing wind blew many cares away as Gohan charged into the sky. Let them look? Let the whole world know who he was if that was what it took to save the innocent. The demi saiyan hadn't realised how much he missed flight, having been so long bound to Videl's side. It was a relief to be amongst the clouds once more...

His reverie was short lived however as the helicopter from earlier clattered up beside him the lens of the camera trained on the boys floating form.

"GIVE US A WAVE, KID" the cameraman yelled through the slipstream of air that was too strong for his naked eye.

Gohan waved dazedly. What on earth were these people doing?

"Um...I have to go now", he called back, blinking in surprise as his eyebrows rose do far as to almost bury themselves in Gohan's hairline.

Before another word could be shared the golden boy burst out of sight, destination firmly in mind.

"Damn", sighed the cameraman as the chopper swerved down once more to drink in the scrap metal that was the train, strewn beneath them.

!!!

As Gohan touched frantically down on the lookout he didn't stop running. Piccolo and Vegeta looked up in surprise at the boys approach. They hadn't felt him coming. When they had agreed to meet on the lookout they hadn't expected the source of their discussion to appear before them. Why was the boy here? There curiosity was not to be satisfied.

Completely ignoring the shocked pair, Gohan sprinted straight past to the chambers beyond.

"Dende something awful-" Gohan began to gasp but stopped short. The small green god raised an imposing hand.

"I know Gohan. I'm sorry."

The young Namekian stated down in sadness at his shuffling feet. How he wished there were something he could do. Though he was god that didn't make him the al powerful being from human fiction. Gohan on the other hand wasn't ready to accept defeat. He forced himself to ignore the finite sorrow on his friends face.

"But Dende you don't understand", he implored, beseeching an answer, "The Dragonballs-"

"Can't be used for another nine months", finished Dende. He didn't need to be able to read the demi saiyans mind to know what he was about to suggest.

"But-"Gohan tried again only to once more be cut short.

"Even then they would be useless. We understand the ways of the Shenlong's magic Gohan but the human race would have no explanation for their dead coming back to life. It's easy to implant acceptance into their minds, especially when they're weak and vulnerable, when a loved one is brought back straight away but nine months...it's too long. They'd think they'd gone insane", the young god shook his head. Gohan was not the only one who wished Dende's powers were greater, "I'm sorry Gohan but not even deities have power over life and death no matter how high the ranking they display."

The green god glanced up briefly from the despairing child at his feet when two more figures filed into the shadows of the room. Vegeta and Piccolo, curiosity growing too much, had left their strained positions, and entered the chamber just in time to see Gohan collapse to his knees.

"Gohan please get up", mumbled the embarrassed Namekian in distress. Gohan didn't even raise his eyes from the ground.

"Dende I implore you, no I beg you, on hands and knees I beg you. There must be something anything..." Gohan glanced up to see Dende's shaking head. He just couldn't accept that. He couldn't.

"Sensu...?"

"There aren't any Gohan. They were all used against Cell and you know how long it takes Korrin to grow more", Dende said, beseeching the demi saiyan to understand with eyes if not tone of voice. Stretching down, Dende lifted Gohan's slack form gently to his feet, "Rise my friend and worry no more, let me carry the guilt for there is nothing you can do."

The first of the heart wrenching sobs was torn from Gohan's body. The first tears shed since before his father's death. Even Vegeta was moved at the anguish flaring from the young super saiyan as he cried out all his despairs and hidden woes.

Ha ha Peace Lover. Thought you were going to get romance there. Almost but not quite. I men come one they're eleven. Hope you like the chappy and I await lots and lots of reviews. I love reviews.

Oh and sorry if anyone gets offended by the Madrid references. It was a good idea though.

Honey Nut Loop