Sorry sorry sorry sorry. I could bore you with reasons why I haven't updated but I won't though I assure they are real. Your lucky I'm even writing this now because I'm ill and it's horrible. Anyway as they say the show must go on…

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Chapter Thirteen

A bush-like, puffed up mound of black rose ominously from beneath the blood red sheet accompanied by a loud groan. Thin tendrils escaped the mass reaching out like the antennae of a giant beast whittling out its prey. Then, from the dark depths rose something possibly more terrifying still. A flabby hand slowly inched its way upwards to pet the dark monster, which…ignored the attack completely and merely bounced back into position resisting the lame attempt to tame it. A bulbous head appeared beneath the shock of wiry curls and groaned again. Hercule was not a morning person.

Resisting the urge to collapse back to sleep the egotistical man rolled out of bed and staggered in the general direction of the bathroom. Not general enough though as it turned out when big-headed (literally and metaphorically), overgrown gnome, eyes still closed with sleep, walked straight into the wall, inches from the bathroom door, with a thump, before slumping unceremoniously to the ground. Needless to say the incident woke him up more effectively than a wet flannel.

On coming to his senses however Hercule noticed the presence of a dull roaring. A sound he knew all too well and that bought a smile to his previously scowling lips. With a flying visit to the sink to try and fulfil the impossible, namely tame the monster that sat precariously balanced on his head, he headed for the window and flung the heavy curtains aside.

"HA HA…" he yelled, eyes glazed with rapture.

Nothing. No one there at all. Could he have been wrong? Possible. Possible but not likely. He knew that sound all too well as any self respecting celebrity should. But the thick headed fool could come up with no explanation. And so stood dumb founded, framed in his window like a slack jawed ape, listening to the sound of an expectant audience that didn't adore for him. As for the crowd, well I think you know where they were. However their victim was long gone thanks to the use of means unavailable to your average human.

-----

Shadow obscured half the figure's face so that all that could be seen was a mouth set with determination. Steady breaths gusted rhythmically and knuckles whitened as they took a firm grip on the wall behind. Stealth was the key to this operation.

Quickly, before courage failed, the lithe form peered round the corner. He could see them all now. Standing, watching…waiting for him. Why was he so scared? He'd done nothing wrong. They had nothing against him.

They stood there so smug. Some chattering amongst themselves, others wandering moodily, hunched shoulders a reflection of the time they had spent lingering in that same place yet gaining no reward. Their hideous contraptions, glinting in the morning sun, hung against accustomed chests, a hugging familiarity in ever changing situations. All it took was a click and a flash from just one these menacing machines however and the jackal herd would be on him in seconds. There must be a way to avoid that. Just had to wait for the right moment to strike…

A harsh slap broke the silence as a palm made contact with the wall inches from the mysterious individual's countenance.

Silence broken, tension shattered, a muffled shout of shock. Spikes of hair flew aside and dark eyes blinked at the invasion of light.

The intruder, the tormentor of the peace, sighed, a slight form staring up in resignation, head shaking.

"Gohan can we go now?" asked Videl, though her tone of voice made it clear that this wasn't really a question. There would be no arguing.

"But…"

"No buts"

Gohan cringed but couldn't help himself. He had to finish what he'd started. Couldn't she see the problem here?

"But", Videl scowled and the demi saiyan rushed on, avoiding her gaze as he dry washed his hands nervously, "What about them? How do we stop them seeing us?"

Videl groaned despairingly and made as if to strike out. Gohan's eyes widened dramatically as he tried to back further into the unrelenting wall. Sheesh he was a saiyan for Christ's sake!!! The strongest being on planet Earth! Yet someone of Videl's size and stature could make him cower!?! Only one other could have that affect, another woman, one that had held dominance over Gohan since the day he was born. His Mother! Gohan shuddered.

Nevertheless Gohan was puzzled by Videl's behaviour. Why was it that she didn't seem troubled by the hordes waiting to engulf them standing outside the school?

Gohan's eyebrows drew together in confusion.

"Videl…?"

"Shh"

She clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Just don't say anything. Anymore stupidity on your part and I might just hit you."

Gohan opened his mouth as though to protest but on seeing Videl meant what she said, closed it again, crossed his arms as though wounded and pouted.

Videl felt all her anger melt away at the sight. Why did he have to be so cute sometimes? Shut up brain, she thought, way more important things to be doing.

"Anyway Mr Clever-Clogs, we don't need to go through the main doors. Why don't you just fly us up onto the roof?"

Videl waved her arms in imitation of her words and Gohan had to bite his lip to keep himself laughing out loud at the sight.

"What's so funny?" hissed the tense girl, pushing Gohan into the wall and glancing round the corner just to check they hadn't been heard. And then she froze.

One of the photographers looked directly at her! Videl's heart thudded violently against her chest as though eager to smash her ribs and escape. But, thankfully, the man's gaze didn't rest on her wide eyes and instead swept on past leaving behind a trail of relief.

Videl wiped her forehead. That was too close.

Letting her breath escape her Videl forced her taut muscles to relax. This done she turned back to Gohan…only to find him still trying to contain laughter. Eyes rolling as he fought with his self-control. Growling with frustration Videl gave him a swift prod of annoyance and mercifully Gohan took his cue.

With a sweep of arms and a rush of air, Videl, before she knew it, was stumbling across the roof of the school building trying to regain her balance before tumbling into a mass of limbs. Gohan hadn't had to drop her like that! And now there he was, rushing around worrying.

"I'm sorry Videl I thought you'd got your balance. Guess I moved a little too fast. It's the adrenalin and I was worried about being seen and…"

A glare was all it took to bring the demi saiyan to stumbling silence. Videl nodded with satisfaction. For once he'd made the right decision.

"Just shut it and help me up would you."

-----

The day passed in spasms of time. At moments it flew and at others it crawled, or rather slithered, along like an earthworm. Eyes followed every move the pair made and Gohan could almost hear there whispering thoughts pondering over the truth of the accusations laid over him. Then again he should have been grateful that they hadn't decided on any conclusions or the situation could have taken a turn for the worse as if it wasn't bad enough already.

At all hours Gohan relentlessly asked himself what he was doing? But the answer was always the same. He could just fly off, leave, and never come back. But where would that leave Videl? She'd be dropped into the middle of the grease vat that Gohan now wallowed in, the only difference being that she would have little chance of swimming out.

And as for the media well they still hovered outside, apparently they didn't lose interest that easily. Well they wouldn't get what they were looking for. Regardless of what the other students did, Gohan stayed well away from the front doors. The press weren't allowed in the building but if people went to them that was a different matter.

The demi saiyan shuddered to think what was being said about him. The things he would have done by morning no matter the truth behind them. Well there was one consolation. Sharpner was as unhappy about the situation as he was. Sure the bimbo had succeeded in making Gohan's life hell but nothing had been solved.

Videl still treated the blonde like the chewed gum found beneath every school desk and the hounding hordes of press reporters didn't want to hear from him. Him!!! The one that had given them the story in the first place. And why wouldn't they talk to him? Because he couldn't lie. Al the other students, even those who had never talked to the boy, came up with juicy titbits about Gohan. So varied was the gossip in fact that the press was left open to be able to create whatever image of Gohan they wanted. Geek or Sex God, Hero or Crook. Sharpener's head was too thick to come up with any variation of what he truly knew. Gohan was just a normal kid working hard so as not to fail the term. But no one was interested in hearing about an average schoolboy and so Sharpener had been tossed aside so that the image of Gohan could be bathed in the glow of limelight. Being the pompous jerk that he was, Sharpner was beginning to envy Gohan all the attention. And he got the girl too!!! There was no justice in the world.

But while Sharpner moped around, wallowing in self-pity Gohan was making plans. He didn't like them but it was the only way. It would be upsetting but only for a short time. In fact both he and Videl would get over it rather quickly.

He knew what he had to do no matter how hard. The next stop was the Lookout for an appointment with God himself. And as soon as school ended Gohan made his swift exit with an astounded Videl in tow, who had been swept, quite literally, off her feet.

-----

Krilin turned sharply, his eyes tracing across the cloud-scattered sky, following an unseen form. As though sensing the disturbance Chi Chi looked up from her tea.

"What is it Krillin?"

The startled monk turned back to his host and grinned sheepishly rubbing the back of his bald head, which still failed to show any trace of hair.

"Ha ha. I'm sure it's nothing Chi Chi", he chuckled nervously waving a calming hand, "Nothing at all."

But Chi Chi knew, like a sixth sense, when someone wasn't being completely honest.

"Krillin!!!" she warned eyes narrowing dangerously. If only our dear cue ball had heeded the warning.

Next second the pint sized human was sent flying across the yard coming to a halt in a gravity defying position when his back came into contact with the nearest tree. As he slid to the ground he could see a pair of upside down legs moving to stand firmly in front of him. A little cross eyed, the unfortunate soul stared up at a nemesis more terrifying than Frieza or even Cell himself. A being that was capable of bringing even a saiyan to his knees. Against a foe of that ability a human never had a chance.

The petite woman with the cherubic lips lowered herself slightly and, resting her hands on her knees, smiled sweetly.

"Now Krillin, tell me what's going on?"

The poor monk quailed and told her what he had sensed. It would be a oozing battle to argue anyway.

"You sensed Gohan!!!" the woman exclaimed, eyebrows twitching, "Oh my baby. He might be hurt! Why else would he be going to the Lookout. I have to go to him. And he should come home. I'll need him when the baby comes…"

Chi Chi prattled on to herself before a bemused Krillin who was making a vain attempt to get to his feet. With much staggering he eventually found his balance.

"Oh I have to go to him…"

He watched Chi Chi walk back and forth, moods swinging from anger to worry and back, round and round. A spiral of emotion until…

"KRILIN"

The bald midget snapped out of his Chi Chi induced trance but wasn't given the chance to say a word.

"We're going to the Lookout. Take me to my Gohan NOW!!!"

"But Chi Chi!?!"

"No buts, go."

And so, after a short chase around the yard and a few more thwacks for Krillin, they were off. Krillin sighed at the determined woman he now carried. Her eyes were fixed ahead though she could have no idea as to the exact location of their final destination.

18 wasn't going to be happy with him for being gone so long. Sure they'd only been going out for a few months but he knew she cared. He'd only gone to the Son household to give Chi Chi a bit of company considering she was alone for the moment and this was the thanks he got. Why me, he thought, as he sped away over mountain ranges, why is it always me!

And as for Gohan, well he was going to have a surprise soon. What had begun as a simple trip was turning into a gathering. And though Krillin didn't know it yet, if Chi Chi found out what Gohan had been getting up to, his very reason for visiting Dende in the first place, well…we'll just have to hope she doesn't, won't we for more likely than not the diminutive human would end up in the middle of the argument.

I am sorry for this taking so long. But it's here now. Christmas holidays will be starting next week so it'll be easier to update. YEY Christmas. Anyway enjoy and most importantly of all R&R.

Toodles

Honey Nut Loop