Disclaimer: :::insert typical fanfic author disclaimer here:::
Last Revised : 4/5/03
by Psycho Ann
Chapter 2 : In a Day's Work
Videl hummed a tune as she strolled through the busy market. Oh, how she wished she could buy new clothes and weapons... but her money could hardly even pay for a day's meal. She also wished she could removed the heavy cloak that covered her from head to toe. She reminded herself once again that just a few more hours around the town she would walk out, take it off and walk back in from the front gate. The soldiers and hunters were always searching by the description of her cloak. Idiots. It was very frequently that she would lead them to believe the cloaked figure they were looking for left the city or town while she spent a few days making money.
Of course, the only thing she had to be cautious of in those times was Gohan. He knew her more than herself sometimes, knowing just where she was going to stop. He was usually the reason Videl lost so many jobs before she got enough money to make the travel to another town or city. Damn it, she also wished she could just fly her way around, but then, whenever she did, the ki was enough to alert him and nearby scouter wearing troops of her position and they would be right behind her in minutes. And the stunt she pulled at the farm yesterday... she could only hope he was far enough not to detect the slight ki. She was sure Frieza's troops had.
Strolling out of the town, she got to the end of
the forest. Looking around to make sure no one saw her, she pulled off
the cloak and stuffed it into her pack. She then quickly made her way around
the town to enter it again from the front gates. This time, all that the
people (mostly men) saw was an attractive young woman who had red hair
(courtesy of her array of wig collections), striking green eyes (she loved
contacts) who dressed in a daring leather outfit. Videl hated wearing anything
skimpy, but she took it to her care to dress as different as she could
each time when going into towns.
She then suddenly felt the urge to scowl; the good
these disguises do if Gohan could still recognize her every time he got
close. He seemed to have his senses attuned to her as hers was to his.
Even without ki, they could easily feel each other's presence if they're
close enough. Or if they were paying attention. Frequently, Videl would
sense him too late because she was caught up in something else. Those were
the times she would get the beating of her life. He enjoyed stalking her,
waiting till the last minute when she realized he's too close for her to
run. Damn him. He just loves the look of panic in her eyes doesn't he?
Making her way into a nearby restaurant, she asked for the manager. The manager hired her on the spot as their waitress. The pay was decent and Videl took to her job immediately. Apparently the manager of the "Morning Glory" was right for hiring her. Men bought her drinks and stayed longer just to see her hurry around gracefully in the short skirts. The tips she got was overwhelming and the other waitresses were visibly jealous. There were a few tense moments when some of the more rude customers would touch her and suggest inappropriate things. Videl had to stick her fist in her apron from punching a hole straight through their faces while forcing a smile on her face. Unknowingly, her ki had spiked up a millisecond when it happened. A millisecond was all it took. Gohan knew exactly where she was.
Nearing dinner time, the restaurant was like a war
zone. The cooks rushed around furiously in the kitchens trying to keep
up with the orders. The few waitresses found themselves darting from table
to table as customers continually streamed in. Videl was a blessing. The
manager found himself thanking Kami that the newly hired 'Miss Jenny' was
more than a waitress. She was 5 waitresses in one.
Videl had an incredible memory and memorized who
ordered what without writing it down. She would also entertain the customers
as she waltzed out of the kitchen balancing 7 plates of delicious gourmets
on her arms, shoulders and head. The neat drink trick was entertaining
too. Videl would throw an open bottle in the air and catch all the contents
in mid air into a cup, then she would flip the cup on to the table while
catching the bottle behind her back.
'Thank goodness I learned that trick from being a bartender...' Videl thought as she again demonstrated her skills to an elderly couple.
"Jenny! Table 25!!" another waitress yelled.
"I'm on it!!" Videl yelled back as she made her way to the table right under the stairs. She delivered the four plates balancing on her arm on the way before reaching the table. "And what wou-"
Videl fought the urge to dive through the glass windows beside her. Sitting there calmly was Gohan. His handsome face in it's usual carefree look (which she wondered how it could change so quickly into something more vicious) as he kept his eyes on the menu. Okay, maybe he hasn't seen her yet, maybe she could just back away and...
"Nice of you to choose the red and green combination today, Videl. I personally like the brown and purple."
Damn it.
She glanced around nervously, trying to decide if she should run. She would hate to cause any damage, not to mention she hadn't been paid yet. "What do you want this time, bastard?" she scowled at him. He looked up at her, smirking.
"You know that I won't pass the chance to have you serve me. The usual, please."
"Yes sir, one of everything," she grounded out through clenched teeth as she made her way back, not even bothering to ask what he wanted to drink. He usually just wanted water anyway.
They had been in this situation before. She would
always be the one serving and once she had even ended up in his lap at
a night club. He would delightfully make her job hell. Ordering enormous
amounts of food (to which she still couldn't believe he could finish) when
she was the waitress; ordering the most difficult drinks to make when she
was the bartender; having her massage his rock hard back for hours straight;
or just watching her squirm in his lap as she forced a smile through her
teeth. Then after she got her pay, after the first step out of the place,
he would be there to fight her.
Videl took all these chances to try and kill him,
but then, the keyword was 'try'. Poisoning him doesn't work. He somehow
could sniff out the more deadly ones and calmly eat the ones less toxic.
She tried stabbing him once when massaging him, where she learned that
no dagger could pierce his skin. She actually given up trying to hurt him,
and instead planned on how to get away.
'DAMNHIMDAMNHIMDAMNHIM,' Videl thought as a 'soothing' mantra.
Again, he was tormenting her. Whenever she had to pass his table with her arms full of food he would conveniently stretch out his long legs to trip her. Already twice she couldn't dodge his leg and ended up entertaining him and the other customers with breath-taking acrobatic skills. She took the plate out of her mouth as she was again applauded for saving the large pot roast from it's descent to the tiled floor.
"Your order SIR," she grumbled as she placed another 5 plates on his table and clearing the ones he finished.... all the while trying to evade his hands from spilling drinks and food either on the floor, her, or himself. He would hit over glasses and plates and she would try desperately to catch them all. She used to let him do what he wanted, but it once got her into a load of trouble and a pay cut when he complained to the manager that she deliberately spilled it on him. And the customer is always right. Damn it. But it's a chance to hone her skills anyway.
"I am so going to kill you one day, Gohan..." she muttered as she used one hand to bat and block away his hand in a speed only they could see while her other hand cleared away his plates.
"I would look forward to that day, Videl," he replied as his hand continued sparring with hers while the other kept its furious pace of shoveling food into his mouth.
It was near closing time when Gohan finally finished his meal and paid for it (also giving her a generous tip). She watched warily as he calmly walked out the door. "Ooohh!! Did you see that guy? Man he is like soooo hot!!" a blond waitress next to Videl swooned. A few others agreed with her as they drooled after Gohan's departing figure. The black spandex and robe didn't do much to hide his incredible body and his handsome smooth face was open for all to see.
"You're so lucky to be the one serving him, Jenny!!"
Videl wanted to kill herself, "Uh... yeah... sure." All she saw was a man that delighted in playing with her; all the while letting her know that he could do whatever he wanted. Videl did not like that one bit.
'Here comes the moment of truth...' Videl thought as she received her pay. The manager had insisted she work there full time but she eventually convinced him that she needed to go, but might drop by again. After thanking the manager and her fellow co-workers, she took a deep breath and charged up her ki. Almost flinging the back door off its handles, Videl shot out to narrowly miss Gohan's right hook. They took up into the black sky to once again start their deadly dance.
In the Saiyan's country, Vegeta; the king, named Vegeta also, drummed his fingers on his throne. The blue haired queen stood beside him, her worried eyes settled on the messenger before them.
"Frieza's troops have missed the general, my King. She proved to be able to elude his grasp once again."
"Yes, it won't be long before Frieza considers her a serious threat. Her powers have increased tremendously over the years, and she is the only one that could get into the palace without detection. At least, that's what the Namek says."
"Shouldn't we at least help her?" The queen, Bulma Briefs, asked. Vegeta scowled at her.
"Ignorant woman, how many times have we told you... If Frieza even gets the word that we are helping someone to kill him, he would wipe us out with those damn androids of his."
Vegeta wanted nothing more than to feel Frieza's
spine snap between his teeth, but he knew that attacking the alien head
on would result in nothing but wanton destruction for earth. The android
troops that Freezer had rivaled them even in their Super Saiyan forms...
no way they could take him out in an attack on the palace. And the problem
that only a handful of them could actually ascend was a major factor too.
Of course, then there was the former General of Satan Country. General
Videl, a girl that had thousands of troops under her when she was only
14. Nothing was known about her, not even her last name but her ingenuity
and power was incredible in human standards.
She was their key. The brand of Satan's Royal crest
must be flowing in her veins. She could get into the palace through locked
doors and secret entrances. Try as he might, Frieza couldn't find or reprogram
secret doors without tearing the whole palace down. She could lead a single
super saiyan or troops right to Frieza. They would try to dispose of him
quickly and not worry about the android troops who will shut down as Frieza
breathed his last breath.
Yes. They will wait.
Unless Kakkarot's brat kills her first.
"DAMN YOU!! STAY STILL!!" Videl hissed as she sent
a barrage of ki balls at Gohan who skillfully dodged them all. Furious,
Videl gathered her hands as she called out, "KAME HAME HA!!" The bright
blue light blinded her momentarily as it hit a mountain, effectively blasting
a hole right through. It was when she first sent out on her mission that
she 'found' Master Roshi on an island in the middle of the sea. He taught
her the basics of ki manipulation and the Kame Hame Ha. The months she
had to endure his perverted ways were worth it as she mastered the devastating
attack.
The light died down and Gohan was no where in sight.
Videl barely had the time to lower her hands when the hairs on her neck
raised. Behind her.
His large hands were on her neck and she could feel his hot breath
at her ear.
"I told you before that the attack would prove useless unless the target was still," he whispered, "and that it uses too much ki. You should attack more effectively."
"I'll keep that in mind," she answered gruffly, already charging up again.
"You always say that, and now you see where it got you?"
Before she could answer, Gohan gripped her neck and slammed her head first into the ground. She felt her skull crack on impact and struggled to stay conscious. He stood over her, his features in a harsh frown.
"Have you learned anything at all, Videl? You improve on speed, power, and skill but you don't seem to learn anything from experience. You're not being a very challenging prey, girl."
"...Why.... are you... can't you just leave me alone.... I need to... kill him...." Videl gasped, trying to get up on her knees.
"Him? Frieza? The one that framed you for the royal murders? Hah!" Gohan sent his elbow crushing down on her back. Videl again crashed to the ground.
"If you can't even beat me, how can you beat him?"
In her heart she knew it was true. Painfully true. But she won't give up no matter what. She would train harder to beat Gohan, and then she would try and get her revenge on Frieza. At least, that's what her mind told her.
"I... will... beat you...." she coughed out blood as she pushed herself up, her legs shaking. "You just wait..." She glared at Gohan, her aqua eyes brilliant as ever, determination shining through.
"We'll see."
He dashed at her again, his hand raised in a killing blow. No, she won't die here. Rolling away at the last moment, Videl ignored the cracking of her bones as she took off into the sky once more. He followed, trying to keep up. They both know that she was faster than him (at least when he was in normal form); when she runs, it's only the matter of when he'll find her again. It took all of her will power to blast away from Gohan, the pain dragging her closer to darkness. She flew until she couldn't sense him anymore and merely dropped to the ground, her ki disappearing as she slumped into unconsciousness.
Bounty hunter Ken chuckled to himself. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the most famous hunted, General Videl..."
His oily hair shined in the moonlight as he regarded
the unconscious figure on the ground. She was badly hurt but it did nothing
to mar her beauty. Already he could imagine the soft curves under her tattered
clothes. It wasn't everyday he could have his way with a beautiful hunted
before turning her in for the enormous amount on her head. Ken was a huge
burly man, his framed towered over hers as he stepped closer. The awful
smell of alcohol roused Videl from her state.
Her eyes widened when he attacked her, crushing
her with his large body. She wanted to fight back, to scream to do anything,
but the pain was overwhelming. Her ki was spent from her mad dash, and
now this monster of a man was going to have his way with her. The feel
of his lips on her neck and his hands painfully grasping her body made
her want to retch.
He was ripping her clothes off when she desperately gathered what she could and fired it into his face. The ki ball hit dead on and caused him to fall back, yelling and grasping blindly. His face was horribly burnt as skin hung loosely from his charred flesh.
'Oh crap, it didn't kill him...' Videl was in panic now, she fired all she had left. She was even beginning to loss consciousness once again. And all she did was make him very, very angry.
"YOU BITCH!!!" he screamed at her, "You'll pay for that!!!"
Videl felt herself crash into a tree as he viciously backhanded her. Blood once again gathered in her throat as she coughed it out. Everything felt broken, torn, crushed, she hadn't felt so much pain since escaping from Frieza's troops the first time. Somehow the knowledge that it would become much worse made everything hurt even more.
He was on her again, his hands everywhere. In her pain filled state she could feel him starting to unbuckle his pants. Oh, Dende. Please. No.
Nononononono. Let him kill her, anything but this.
She didn't even realize that she was screaming.
"Scream all you want General, it''s going to get better..." the man sneered as he pushed her legs apart.
Videl snapped. "HELP ANYONE!!! PLEASE HELP!!! GOHAAAAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!!"
A powerful ki that felt familiar exploded in her senses.
A flash of gold.
The huge bounty hunter was off her and flying across the clearing. She barely had the strength to see Gohan glowing a bright gold with an expression of fury and anger twisted on his features. She never seen anyone with an expression like that. It was something that even the most powerful would step back from. She didn't have more time to ponder it though as she finally gave in and embraced the darkness.
Gohan felt her ki fade away entirely. At first he was worried that she died but he could still see the slow rise and fall of her chest. He turned his attention back to the man that made his blood boil. Bounty hunter Ken amazingly still had the strength to stand up. He focused on Gohan who was glowing brightly, but hadn't yet ascended into Super Saiyan.
"You did this to her right?" Gohan's cold voice carried over.
"I... I..."
"Wrong answer."
Suddenly Gohan was in his face. Then his face was
gone as Gohan nearly ripped it off his head. He felt his bones crush as
blows rained down on him. He didn't even have time to scream as his lungs
collapsed a second later. The last thing he heard before Gohan raised
his finger to evaporate him was, "No one hurts her but me."
