/*
Disclaimer: DBZ isn't mine, Gohan is, well in my dreams he is at any rate.
Anything between /* and */ is just me budding in, so is anything after // up until the next hard return.
For those of you that realised or were wondering, I'm trying to learn to program in C++ as a hobby, that's the origin of the commentary codes.
Anything between * stars * is an action.
*/
Life Is Strange
Saga: Strange
Chapter 4: The First Kiss
In the morning Videl went through the normal morning rituals of showering and dressing, before heading down for breakfast and leaving for school.
Gohan had arrived at school before Videl and was sitting on a low wall in front of the building when her jet-copter touched down.
"Hey Videl." He said with a smile. "How are you?"
"I'm fine." She responded, but Gohan thought she looked tired.
"Are you sure, you look a little tired to me." He said.
"Yeah I'm fine, just didn't sleep to well last night."
Yeah, like I believe that. Gohan thought. There's more going on here than that, but you're not going to tell me are you.
"Okay." He said out loud. "Do you want me to help you with physics again later on?"
"Yeah that'd be great." Videl replied.
With that the warning bell rang, and they had to hurry up to get to their class on time.
At least I'm not surprised at him keeping up anymore. Videl thought as they made their way to their class. When they reached their seats Videl noticed that Erasa was sitting next to Sharpner.
"Hey girl." Erasa greeted. "I hope you don't mind me steeling your seat, but I wanted to sit next to Sharpner."
Something in her tone gave the whole thing away to Videl.
"No problem." She answered, before adding in a whisper. "Are you two...?"
She left the question unfinished, seeing no sense in wasting words or breath on stating the obvious.
Erasa giggled and nodded, before whispering back: "Don't tell anyone yet ok."
Videl nodded in reply and then turned over to Gohan.
He had an eyebrow raised and was eyeing her in a questioning fashion. It was almost as if she could hear his mind whisper: "Are they...?"
She nodded very slightly, and from the look on his face knew he got the message, they are, but don't tell.
She saw his face turn into a grin as he motioned toward the two behind her with his head. When she turned to see what was going on, she saw that they were holding hands under the table, she just had time to return his grin before the teacher came in and they had to start paying attention to what was being taught.
Three incredibly boring hours, in which Videl hadn't been able to help herself from occasionally staring at Gohan, later. The whole class was waiting for the bell, as the teacher prepared to make a final announcement.
"All right everyone. Now tomorrow we're having a special career-orientation-seminar. This is an official school event so you are required to come. Now our main guest speaker will be Bulma Brief, owner of Capsule Corporation. As I'm sure you all know CC is the largest company in the world, and it's more than likely that at least half of you will end up working for her."
The class seemed awed by the statement. And Videl couldn't help but feel impressed herself, her dad was easily one of the richest men in the world, but he wasn't worth peanuts compared to the owners of Capsule Corp. she returned to listening however as the teacher talked on.
"Now, ms. Brief's talk will end the morning part of our program, which will be followed by a lunch for students and guests. During this lunch some of you may actually come in contact with her and the other guests, so I suggest that you make sure to be on your best behaviour and in your best clothes."
Oh God, Gohan thought, I hope nobody finds out too much. Innocent country-boy knows richest woman in the world, is there anything strange about this picture. YES! And though Videl seems to have softened some I'm sure she still hasn't really given up on finding out what my secret is yet.
Little sweat drops were appearing on his face. At least I can hope that she won't bring Vegeta and Trunks, that way I might have a chance to survive.
Still dazed he walked out onto the grounds with the rest of the students, all of them muttering excitedly about their chance to meet Bulma Brief.
Gohan was shaken out of his daze when he reached the tree they normally sat under along with Sharpner, Erasa and Videl.
"Are you okay Gohan." Videl asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He lied.
Yeah right. Videl thought. But I suppose we all have a way of insisting on that even when we're not.
"So when did you two get together." Gohan asked Sharpner and Erasa softly, preventing Videl from slipping into a daze of her own.
"Did Videl tell you?" Erasa asked, looking at her best friend rather angrily.
"Of course not." Gohan said, before Videl could even protest herself. "But the way you were holding hands under the table did sort of give it away."
Both Sharpner and Erasa blushed at having been caught.
"Uhm, well uh." Sharpner stammered. "Uh, I guess after the party Saturday we felt closer to each other, you saw us dancing, so we decided to have lunch Sunday and the rest as they say is history."
"Fairly recent history I'd say." Gohan said with a smile.
God, Videl thought, why does he have to look so cute when he smiles? Why does he have to look so cute period? Doesn't he know I'm trying not to fall in love with him? And what's up with him anyway? Why'd he look so dazed when we came out of class?
"Say Gohan." Videl said. "Could you help me with physics now?"
"Sure." He replied, but Videl thought there was still something strange about him.
Gohan spend the rest of the day feeling slightly numbed by the fact that Bulma would be at his school the next day. I just hope nothing strange will happen, he kept thinking.
That evening when he came home for dinner. Goten jumped him, telling him that he'd go over to play with Trunks the next day.
Good. Gohan thought. If Goten is there playing with Trunks, that will probably mean Vegeta will stay behind to watch them, so it'll be just Bulma, and she's mentally stable, most of the time at any rate.
After dinner Gohan spend some time on his homework, before going outside to train with Goten. Goten was quickly learning to transform at will, so they had a nice Super-Saiyan spar until Chi-Chi yelled that it was time for Goten to go to bed.
After Goten went back inside Gohan continued to train with himself for a while, using the multi-form technique to be his own sparring partner. Guess I picked that up from Piccolo. He thought to himself.
About an hour later he reintegrated with himself and went to bed.
The next morning Goten left for Capsule Corporation right after breakfast, as Gohan left for school.
Gohan flew next to the nimbus for a little while, before heading of towards Satan city as fast as he could go.
Thankfully Videl wasn't around yet, so he could land in an alley near the school and transform back into his normal clothes.
When he reached the building he saw that he had been mistaken, Videl was around, but not in the air, she was just sitting on the wall where he often sat waiting for her. She was facing away from him and as he walked over to her, he noticed that she wasn't wearing her usual t-shirt and shorts, but a pair of black jeans and a sweater.
Hmm. He thought. It seems like she's decided to go by the well-dressed protocol. I guess I would too if I were about to have a chance to meet the richest woman in the world for the first time, but then, I met her for the first time when I was five and a half and still had a tail.
"Hey Videl." He said causing her to turn towards him.
Videl turned at the sound of Gohan's voice.
Damn I missed him. She thought. I just can't seem to find out how he gets to school every day if he lives in the 439 area.
"Hey Gohan." She responded. "Why aren't you dressed up like the rest of us?"
"Gosh to be honest Videl, I just thought I look decent enough like this."
"Oh, you do, it's just that most people want to make a special effort if they're going to have an opportunity to meet Bulma Brief."
"I just didn't feel like bothering with it."
Strange, Videl thought, he makes it sound as if it's no big deal to him.
I hope Videl isn't starting to suspect something. Gohan thought as he walked inside with her. They would have one hour of normal school first before the seminar would start so they made their way up to their classroom on the top floor. Sharpner and Erasa were in their seats already and Gohan noticed that like Videl they had dressed for the occasion, as indeed everyone but him seemed to have done. Sharpner was wearing a white suit, and Erasa a red dress.
// Sharpner's suit is like the one he wears at the world tournament, except the shirt is light-blue instead of pink, and the tie is black in stead of yellow.
"Hey guys." Gohan greeted as he and Videl slid into their seats.
"Hey Gohan." They both replied.
"Why aren't you dressed up?" Sharpner asked.
Great, Gohan thought, now I'm raising eyebrows all over the place just by wearing my normal clothes.
"Just didn't feel like it." He responded again.
Class started and Gohan noticed that even the teacher had bothered to dress slightly more formal than he usually did. Rather than the usual combination of a different coloured jacket and trousers, he was wearing a black suit.
After an hour the bell rang and all students went outside and gathered in the pavilion that had been set up on the grass behind the school. A few people from various companies talked about their work and the general sector they worked in, before the announcer came on stage.
"Now ladies and gentleman." He said into the microphone. "The moment I'm sure many of you have been waiting for. Orange star high school is proud to present a special lecture by: Bulma Brief."
Gohan nearly gasped in shock as Bulma walked onto the stage accompanied by Vegeta, Trunks and his own little brother Goten.
My god. Gohan thought as he noticed the others. How on Earth did she get Vegeta to come here? Why on Earth would she want Vegeta to come here? For that matter why did she have to bring the two leaders in the global let's make things difficult on Gohan standing, also known as Trunks Brief and my little brother.
Why did she...
At this point Gohan ran out of time to wonder about why, at least for the time being, because Trunks and Goten had launched themselves of the stage, and into the crowd.
Well, it's been a nice life. Gohan thought as the two kids made their way through the crowd to jump him.
What's that black haired kid wearing? Videl thought as she saw the two of them jumping Gohan. It looks like that Gi Gohan used. Didn't he say that was a family thing? Her question quickly answered by the little guy himself as he chirped a sweet little: "Hey big brother."
"Hi Gohan." The other kid seconded.
"Hey Goten, hey Trunks." Gohan answered, sounding somewhat troubled. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Well," the little boy Videl had just discovered was called Goten answered, "because Trunks mom had to go here, and Vegeta said he would go too, they took us along."
Gohan looked over to the stage where he saw Vegeta smirking. The bastard, he thought, he went along because he knew this would happen, and a free lunch not cooked by Bulma is probably also more than welcome to him. 'I hate you.' He thought at Vegeta, using the telepathic part of his Saiyan brain. Normally it was difficult to communicate like this, but he was angry enough at Vegeta to be sure it would come through. 'The feeling is mutual brat.' Vegeta's reply echoed in his head. 'Your pride is still wounded eh, Vegeta. Still can't take it that a half-blood offspring of a third-class Saiyan has more power than you.' 'You wish kid, you may have been stronger than me at the Cell-games, but I've grown stronger since then.' 'Funny, so have I, don't get me mad, or it might unleash my full strength again, and you don't want that to happen Vegeta, I can guarantee you don't want that. I'm a little weaker now than I was when I thought Cell, but that's the power I automatically have, if I push myself harder and get mad, you'll see the same sort of rise in Ki you saw when I faced Cell.'
Gohan smirked as he saw Vegeta's face go from a confident smirk to a confused and angry scowl.
// This is my interpretation of the Gohan / Vegeta power ratio, Gohan still can't tap into his full strength at will, so he seems weaker than Vegeta, but is stronger when he's pushed hard enough.
What's he looking at that guy like that for? Videl thought seeing Gohan apparently engaged in a staring match with the man standing next to Bulma Brief.
"Uhm, Gohan?" She said questioningly.
"What is it Videl?" He whispered back.
"Who are the kids?"
"Oh, this is my little brother Goten, and this is his best friend Trunks Brief."
"Brief as in Bulma Brief?"
"Yeah, she's his mother, and the guy next to her, in case you're wondering, is his father."
"Who's the girl, Gohan?" The boy Videl now knew to be Trunks asked while indicating her with his hand.
"Oh, yeah, this is Videl."
"You mean the daughter of Hercule?" Trunks said. And Videl noticed a rather strange tone in his voice.
"Yeah, she's a friend." Gohan replied. And to Videl's amazement both Trunks and Goten burst out laughing.
"What is it?" She asked nobody in particular.
"Oh nothing." Trunks replied cryptically. "Just a joke for insiders."
Gohan eyed Trunks angrily at that last remark. The boy was walking a very thin line, and loving every minute of it from the look on his face. I just hope my little bro doesn't let anything slip. Gohan thought, as he watched both of them with some concern.
I guess this means I won't be able to hide knowing the Briefs, but that isn't the worst thing I suppose, though I really don't want to give Videl even more mysteries to investigate. I should still be fine if neither of the two kids let's anything slip, Vegeta won't anyway, Bulma'd flip.
"Gohan?" Videl's voice brought him out of his own thoughts, back to reality.
"What Videl?" He asked, hoping on an after thought that he hadn't sounded too harsh.
"Do you know the Briefs?"
"Yeah, Bulma is an old friend of my dad's I think I was about five and a half when I first met her."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
That's a good question, from a normal persons point of view, I can hardly say, 'Cause I was worried you'd find out I was an alien.' Now can I.
"I didn't want to shock you with even more unexpected revelations about myself." Good one Gohan, he thought to himself, that was true, well sort off anyway.
"Still you could have told me." Videl stated, and from he tone Gohan knew that she wanted him to make it up to her.
"Tell you what, why don't I introduce you to her over lunch." Videl nodded happily and Gohan pointed behind him to the disappearing backs of Trunks and Goten. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go see to it that those two don't accidentally set fire to the school or something." Videl nodded again and Gohan ran off after the two younger Saiyans.
Gohan soon caught up with the two kids.
"Are you really friends with her Gohan?" Trunks asked.
"Yeah." Gohan replied with a smile.
"Even after what her father did?" The young member of the Brief family seemed puzzled by this.
"Sure." Gohan said. "After all I'm friends with you, and the first time I met your father he wanted to kill me."
"Good point." Trunks had to admit.
"Do you think her dad told her the truth about the Cell-games?" Goten asked with one of those typical innocent looks that only he and Goku could muster on his face.
"I don't think so squirt." Gohan replied. "I think he sometimes even believes his own version of events. So don't tell her or ask her anything about it. If we remain friends," or more he added in silent thought, "I'll probably tell her at some point, but right now she isn't ready to hear about it."
"Why not." Damn Goten can be clueless, Gohan thought, but that's probably part of his charm.
"It's a bit much to explain now squirt, but would you be able to understand dad defeated Frieza, if you'd been told since you were little that I'd done it?"
"I guess not, did you?" Clueless is a polite word. Gohan thought. As he noticed Trunks slap his own forehead.
"Of course I didn't, it's just that Videl would get the same sort of shock if she found out about Cell."
"Oh I think I understand now."
"Good Goten, so what ever you do, don't mention Cell, or anything else to do with the Cell-games. And I don't think I have to remind you that we can't turn into Super-Saiyans with all these people around."
"Don't worry we won't." Trunks answered in Goten's place.
Figures. Gohan thought. If one can do it so can the other. I should have suspected as much. I'm betting Vegeta doesn't know yet, he'd probably have a heart attack, after all the effort it took him to get to where he could go super his own son manages it as an eight year old. A grin not unlike Vegeta's trademark smirk settled on Gohan's face as he guided the two kids back into the Pavilion with a hand on each of their heads.
"One more thing guys." He said as they were almost within a normal human's hearing range of the pavilion again. "At lunch try not to eat more than humans do, and try not to eat too fast, we don't want people finding out about us, okay."
To his great surprise the two of them kept relatively calm during the rest of Bulma's talk. Gohan speculated that they're unusual rest might have something to do with the fact that they'd just seen him beat Vegeta in a staring contest, something that few people had ever managed.
After Bulma's talk about the many wonders of Capsule Corporation, and it's role in the world economy wound down lunch was announced and Gohan, with Videl and the two youngsters in tow went over to talk to her.
It took a little bit of work to push through the crowd of people but with Gohan's strength it was nothing he couldn't handle.
Bulma was standing near one of the buffet tables with Vegeta, and Gohan could see from the disappointed look on the prince's face that she'd told him, either in advance or through her bond, not to eat so much that it would arouse suspicion.
"Hey Bulma." He said in a casual tone that shocked most students in the area, including Sharpner and Erasa who had made their way to the front.
"Oh, hey Gohan." She replied turning to him, making the already surprised by-standers just about faint. "I see you've been babysitting Trunks for me."
"Well, he and Goten came looking for me, so I thought I'd better keep an eye on my brother, and the last time I checked they came as a package deal." He said with a smile.
"Yes." She replied with a grin. "Partners in mischief, did they give you any trouble?"
"Nah, I can handle 'm. By the way, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine Videl Satan." He said gently pulling Videl forward by her arm.
/*
Since I'm using Son Gohan, Videl Satan seems a bit out of place, as does the order of Bulma Brief, however Gohan Son doesn't sound right to me, and neither do, Brief Bulma or Satan Videl, let me know what you think by reviewing, I may change it, if the vote goes against my current solution, going with what feels right. Note that I may change it, even if you vote the other way, I may not change it, I'll probably have to try it out, to see if it works for me.
*/
"The Videl Satan?" Bulma asked.
"Of course, how many Videl Satans do you think there are?" Gohan replied while glaring at Vegeta who'd started shaking with laughter.
"Nice to meet you. Ms. Brief." Videl said to Bulma, while eyeing Vegeta strangely. From what Gohan had told her that short guy was Bulma's husband, but why did he appear to be laughing?
"Please call me Bulma." Bulma responded. "And the pleasure's mine."
"You're actually friends with his offspring." Vegeta said turning to Gohan.
"Give it a rest Vegeta, or Bulma might make you go shopping." Gohan replied.
His offspring. Videl thought. He must be referring to her father. But why the term offspring, was he just crazy, or was there something else going on here, and what was that tone she'd heard when he uttered the word his? Jealousy, anger? But why?
"Hey." Bulma interjected. "Don't you threaten Vegeta with that, that's my job."
"Well, go right ahead then." Gohan said with a grin.
"Okay." Bulma said. "Vegeta, if you don't give it a rest I'll make you go shopping with me every day for a week, and I won't do any maintenance on the GR for a month."
"GR?" Videl said, raising her eyebrow with the question.
"I shouldn't have mentioned that." Bulma replied. "It's a top-secret project of mine that Vegeta likes to use."
The rest of their lunch went rather smoothly, Videl and Bulma chatted on, while Gohan had his hands full with the kids. And Vegeta just stood there scowling. Occasionally eating something, but clearly pacing himself.
The afternoon part of the seminar was nice. And soon it was over. Videl left in her jet-copter, heading for home with her mind filled with questions.
Why is it, she thought, that every time I find out something about Gohan it gives me more questions than answers. I'm having more trouble figuring him out than I have with the Great-Sayaman, at least there I know I'm not making progress, but here I just seem to be getting more questions as I go.
Gohan flew home with his little brother. Goten was as always chattering on endlessly about his day, but Gohan's mind was on other things. Was Videl finding out things, was she figuring things out?
He needed some peace and quiet to think about that. But he probably wouldn't get any the next couple of days.
At least I have Friday afternoon off. He thought. And then the holidays start. Maybe I can go somewhere to meditate then.
The week was indeed hectic until that Friday afternoon. After school Gohan dropped by his house, before heading out again. While he was in the air he almost automatically made his way to the lookout, he wanted to be alone for a while and he knew that in it's many chambers there was always room to do that. As he landed he was greeted by Piccolo, Dende and mister Popo.
"Hi Gohan." Dende said. "Good to see you."
"Thanks Dende, it's good to see you too. You too Piccolo, and mister Popo of course."
"Nice to see you Gohan." Mister Popo replied. While Piccolo only gave a very slight nod combined with a gleam in his eye.
Gohan didn't need anything more. Piccolo had always been the strong and silent type, even back when Gohan was little those tiny little signs and changes had been enough to start their friendship.
"Dende," he asked, "could I use one of the tower rooms for a while, I want to meditate."
"Sure Gohan." Dende responded. "We'll see to it that you're not disturbed."
"Thanks I owe you guys."
"Don't mention it."
Gohan sat in mid air, his legs crossed, and a small Ki-charge surrounding his body. He'd picked this style of meditation up from Piccolo and it worked well for him, soon his mind was becoming clearer, in preparation for focusing on the problems he needed to solve.
'Hey Gohan.' A voice in his mind called. That voice, Gohan thought, I can't be...
'Dad is that you.' His mind asked.
'Yeah it's me.' His father's voice came in reply. 'I've been keeping an eye on things down there with the help of King Kai. So you really like this Videl girl huh?'
Boy, talk about cutting right to the chase. Gohan thought.
'I guess so.' He replied.
'Come on Gohan, don't be shy, this is your dad you're talking to remember.'
'Okay you're right I like her.' Gohan could feel himself blushing even though his dad was in other-world and couldn't see him. 'But what should I do about it?' He asked.
'Just go with your feelings Gohan, see if she likes you. And if she does, try to find a way to wish me back before your wedding.'
'Are you serious dad, you want to come back?'
For that matter, where is this weddin idea coming from, and why does it feel right? Gohan wondered keeping the thought to himself and blushing even harder.
'Yeah, I figure that if no villains have shown up to come after me in the past seven years it ought to be save.'
'Ok, I'll make sure to wish you back IF we get married, might have to do some thinking about how to get to New-Namek, I'd like to find a way that leaves it possible for Dende to go back there to see his friends when he wants to.'
'I'm sure you'll figure something out Gohan. You always were the smart one in the family.'
'Thanks for the vote of confidence dad, I'll talk to you later.'
//There is some doubt, especially with my sister, about whether or not it's possible to revive someone after a long period of time, in this fic it is, after all if it weren't we'd expect some discussion when in the beginning of DBZ they waited a year to wish Goku back. And the only time there seems to be a time-limit is in the group wish to bring back Frieza's victims and bringing back a group takes more wishing power.
Gohan now had all the answers he needed from his meditation, though actually it hadn't been the meditation that had given him the answers but his dad.
"What happened in there Gohan?" Piccolo asked as his young friend stormed out of the tower.
"I talked to my dad." Gohan replied.
"What...? " Piccolo asked surprised. "You talked to your dad?"
"Yeah, you see there's this girl I like, well not just like, maybe even love."
Gohan blushed as Piccolo made a semi-disapproving gesture. But couldn't quite pull it of. "And," Gohan continued not noticing it, "he said that if we get together and get married he's coming back."
"He's coming back." Piccolo, Dende and mister Popo said at the same time.
"Yeah, I'll have to use the Namekian Dragon Balls though, since ours can't revive him again. But we'll work something out."
"So who is this girl?" Piccolo asked, curious in spite of himself.
"Videl Satan." Gohan replied simply. Blushing a deep red again.
The two Nameks and mister Popo, all just about fainted when he said this. "Isn't she the daughter of that Hercule guy?" Dende finally asked.
"You should know," Gohan answered with a smile, "you're the God of Earth remember."
// This is based on the Japanese version where Kami isn't a name but a title, meaning Spirit or God. Replaced in the English version by Guardian.
"Hey, I can't keep tabs on everyone all the time. That isn't what being God is about anyway."
"I know Dende, just teasing. Yes, she is the daughter of Hercule. But she's really a lot nicer than him."
"I should hope so." Piccolo said in the gruff yet friendly tone that only ever surfaced when Gohan was around. "I've said it before, I don't believe in what humans call love, but if it makes you happy that's good enough for me kid."
Gohan raced from the lookout to the Son-residence so fast that it was almost as if he'd used the instant transmission to get there.
He could just hear his little brother shouting: "Gohan's on his way here." As he stepped inside.
"Hey mom, hey Goten." He greeted stepping in.
"Hi Gohan." Chi-Chi responded. "Done meditating already?"
"Well I didn't really get around to meditating." Gohan replied. "Just as I was starting dad talked to me through King Kai."
"You father talked to you, what did he say?" Chi-Chi asked.
"That's a long story, but he's been keeping up with everything that's going on here I can tell you that. He even knows more about my life than you guys do." Gohan said blushing at the memory of what he'd discussed with his father.
"What do you mean by that, Son Gohan." Chi-Chi, said threateningly. "Have you been keeping secrets from me?"
"Not really, but I don't have time to go into that now." Gohan stated his blush deepening.
And I don't want to get your hopes up he thought to himself.
"I need to make a phone-call." He stated grabbing the cordless phone and going outside so he could have some privacy.
He dug in his pockets until he found a certain little piece of paper, quickly read it, and punched in some numbers.
Soon he could hear the phone on the other end ringing, and a now familiar drawn out voice answered the phone.
"Satan residence."
"Hi, my name is Son Gohan, I want to talk to Videl."
"And why to do you want to speak to the mistress?" The voice enquired politely, yet threateningly. So this is what Videl meant by him making it hard on people that called. Gohan thought.
"That is between Videl and myself." He replied coldly, but politely. "All I can tell you is that it's urgent."
"I will see if the mistress is available." Jeffrey the butler replied.
He'd better really check Gohan thought, using his Saiyan senses combined with the phone, to listen in on what was going on in the Satan mansion. A few moments later, without Gohan hearing a sound, except for breathing near the horn, Jeffrey's voice came again. "I'm sorry but the mistress is not available right now."
"Really." Said Gohan abandoning the false pretence of being polite with this stiff butler. "Why don't you really ask her and find out?"
He smirked as he heard Jeffrey gasp at the other end, and then heard a shout in the distance. "Miss Videl, there is a call for you are you available?"
"Who's it from?" Videl's voice came in answer.
"Someone by the name of Son Gohan I believe."
"Okay, put it through to my room." Videl replied. And Gohan smiled into the horn.
"I'll put you through sir." Came Jeffrey's cold voice.
A few seconds later Gohan heard Videl's voice on the line.
"Hey Gohan."
"Hey Videl."
"So, why are you calling?"
"Well I was wondering if you'd like to come over and train tomorrow. I could use a good spar."
Not that I'm going to get one from you. He added in thought. But it will be a good exercise in self-control.
"Great. Where exactly in the 439 area do you live?"
"I'll e-mail you a map with our house on it. See you tomorrow."
"Ok see you then."
// Okay, so they have e-mail in this story, it was the easiest solution okay.
A few hours after Gohan had called Videl checked her e-mail. There was indeed an e-mail from Gohan with JPEG file attached.
Hmm, she thought as she studied the map, on which one house was highlighted, looks like there's no-one else living there for miles around.
At dinner she told her dad that she was going to a friends house to train the next day.
"Okay. Videl." He replied. "You're my daughter I suppose it's natural that you'd want to train as much as possible. After all you may be just as strong as me one day if you keep it up."
Oh please, spare me. Videl thought. But she knew better than to say that.
The next morning she headed out to Gohan's house where he was already waiting for her in his Gi as she approached.
"Hey Videl." He greeted her as she got out of her copter.
"Hey Gohan."
"Would you like to come in for a while before we spar, I'll introduce you to my mother. You've already met my brother of course."
"Sure."
She followed Gohan into the house. Goten was laying on the couch in his Gi, watching cartoons, while a dark haired woman was busy doing the dishes in the kitchen.
That must be Gohan's mother. She thought.
"Mom, I'd like to introduce you to someone."
The woman turned around and Videl could tell instantly from the look in her eyes that this was someone she'd better try to stay on the good side off.
"Mom, this is Videl Satan." Gohan continued. "Videl, this is my mother Son Chi-Chi."
"Hi." Videl said. "Pleased to meet you."
A strange look passed over Chi-Chi's face before she replied. "It's nice to meet you too Videl."
"Videl came over to spar with me." Gohan stated.
"Oh." Chi-Chi replied. "Anything else I should know about between you two?"
"What do you mean mom. We're just going to train."
"Well, your father and I were just going to fight in the quarter finals of the world-tournament, and we ended up married."
"You fought in the world-tournament?" Videl asked. Surprised by this revelation.
"Yes, the 23rd to be exact when Goku won. We faced each other in the quarter-finals. And then got married after his winning the tournament."
Videl couldn't believe what she was hearing. No wonder Gohan is such a good fighter, if both of his parents made it to the world-tournament finals.
After a few more minutes of chit-chat, in which Chi-Chi started repeatedly mentioning the words marriage and grandchildren. Videl went outside along with a blushing Gohan.
"I guess it's just natural that you're such a good fighter." She said as they made their way to a field, a few hundred yards away. "After all if both of your parents made it past the elimination round, you must be good."
"I guess." Gohan replied. "But let's not worry about that right now, let's just spar."
Their spar was about the same as the one at her house had been, neither of them gave the other an inch. Finally after a few hours of sparring they sat down on a rock together.
Videl didn't know what came over her, but the instant they sat down next to each other, she leaned towards Gohan. Their faces were only separate by a few inches and then he leaned towards her as well. Their lips meeting in a kiss.
As they kissed each other she let her hands run over his shoulders and down his arms, on her way to take his hands in hers.
She closed her eyes and along the way bumped into something on his wrist that seemed to give a little.
Must be a button on his watch she thought to herself as she went on to take his hands.
/*
What's happening here, did Videl really bump in to Gohan's watch, and if so which button did she hit? Find out next time on Life Is Strange.
* Evil Vegeta style smirk * Cliffhanger. I'm evil and proud of it, leaving you like that. Now you'll all have to read the next chapter. As soon as I write it of course. This chapter has come out a bit more quickly than I'd expected. I'm home with the flu right now and writing is one of the few things that help take my mind of it. So you can thank the Virus for this. Unfortunately for you I am starting to feel a bit better so you may have to wait a while for the next chapter.
*/
Disclaimer: DBZ isn't mine, Gohan is, well in my dreams he is at any rate.
Anything between /* and */ is just me budding in, so is anything after // up until the next hard return.
For those of you that realised or were wondering, I'm trying to learn to program in C++ as a hobby, that's the origin of the commentary codes.
Anything between * stars * is an action.
*/
Life Is Strange
Saga: Strange
Chapter 4: The First Kiss
In the morning Videl went through the normal morning rituals of showering and dressing, before heading down for breakfast and leaving for school.
Gohan had arrived at school before Videl and was sitting on a low wall in front of the building when her jet-copter touched down.
"Hey Videl." He said with a smile. "How are you?"
"I'm fine." She responded, but Gohan thought she looked tired.
"Are you sure, you look a little tired to me." He said.
"Yeah I'm fine, just didn't sleep to well last night."
Yeah, like I believe that. Gohan thought. There's more going on here than that, but you're not going to tell me are you.
"Okay." He said out loud. "Do you want me to help you with physics again later on?"
"Yeah that'd be great." Videl replied.
With that the warning bell rang, and they had to hurry up to get to their class on time.
At least I'm not surprised at him keeping up anymore. Videl thought as they made their way to their class. When they reached their seats Videl noticed that Erasa was sitting next to Sharpner.
"Hey girl." Erasa greeted. "I hope you don't mind me steeling your seat, but I wanted to sit next to Sharpner."
Something in her tone gave the whole thing away to Videl.
"No problem." She answered, before adding in a whisper. "Are you two...?"
She left the question unfinished, seeing no sense in wasting words or breath on stating the obvious.
Erasa giggled and nodded, before whispering back: "Don't tell anyone yet ok."
Videl nodded in reply and then turned over to Gohan.
He had an eyebrow raised and was eyeing her in a questioning fashion. It was almost as if she could hear his mind whisper: "Are they...?"
She nodded very slightly, and from the look on his face knew he got the message, they are, but don't tell.
She saw his face turn into a grin as he motioned toward the two behind her with his head. When she turned to see what was going on, she saw that they were holding hands under the table, she just had time to return his grin before the teacher came in and they had to start paying attention to what was being taught.
Three incredibly boring hours, in which Videl hadn't been able to help herself from occasionally staring at Gohan, later. The whole class was waiting for the bell, as the teacher prepared to make a final announcement.
"All right everyone. Now tomorrow we're having a special career-orientation-seminar. This is an official school event so you are required to come. Now our main guest speaker will be Bulma Brief, owner of Capsule Corporation. As I'm sure you all know CC is the largest company in the world, and it's more than likely that at least half of you will end up working for her."
The class seemed awed by the statement. And Videl couldn't help but feel impressed herself, her dad was easily one of the richest men in the world, but he wasn't worth peanuts compared to the owners of Capsule Corp. she returned to listening however as the teacher talked on.
"Now, ms. Brief's talk will end the morning part of our program, which will be followed by a lunch for students and guests. During this lunch some of you may actually come in contact with her and the other guests, so I suggest that you make sure to be on your best behaviour and in your best clothes."
Oh God, Gohan thought, I hope nobody finds out too much. Innocent country-boy knows richest woman in the world, is there anything strange about this picture. YES! And though Videl seems to have softened some I'm sure she still hasn't really given up on finding out what my secret is yet.
Little sweat drops were appearing on his face. At least I can hope that she won't bring Vegeta and Trunks, that way I might have a chance to survive.
Still dazed he walked out onto the grounds with the rest of the students, all of them muttering excitedly about their chance to meet Bulma Brief.
Gohan was shaken out of his daze when he reached the tree they normally sat under along with Sharpner, Erasa and Videl.
"Are you okay Gohan." Videl asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He lied.
Yeah right. Videl thought. But I suppose we all have a way of insisting on that even when we're not.
"So when did you two get together." Gohan asked Sharpner and Erasa softly, preventing Videl from slipping into a daze of her own.
"Did Videl tell you?" Erasa asked, looking at her best friend rather angrily.
"Of course not." Gohan said, before Videl could even protest herself. "But the way you were holding hands under the table did sort of give it away."
Both Sharpner and Erasa blushed at having been caught.
"Uhm, well uh." Sharpner stammered. "Uh, I guess after the party Saturday we felt closer to each other, you saw us dancing, so we decided to have lunch Sunday and the rest as they say is history."
"Fairly recent history I'd say." Gohan said with a smile.
God, Videl thought, why does he have to look so cute when he smiles? Why does he have to look so cute period? Doesn't he know I'm trying not to fall in love with him? And what's up with him anyway? Why'd he look so dazed when we came out of class?
"Say Gohan." Videl said. "Could you help me with physics now?"
"Sure." He replied, but Videl thought there was still something strange about him.
Gohan spend the rest of the day feeling slightly numbed by the fact that Bulma would be at his school the next day. I just hope nothing strange will happen, he kept thinking.
That evening when he came home for dinner. Goten jumped him, telling him that he'd go over to play with Trunks the next day.
Good. Gohan thought. If Goten is there playing with Trunks, that will probably mean Vegeta will stay behind to watch them, so it'll be just Bulma, and she's mentally stable, most of the time at any rate.
After dinner Gohan spend some time on his homework, before going outside to train with Goten. Goten was quickly learning to transform at will, so they had a nice Super-Saiyan spar until Chi-Chi yelled that it was time for Goten to go to bed.
After Goten went back inside Gohan continued to train with himself for a while, using the multi-form technique to be his own sparring partner. Guess I picked that up from Piccolo. He thought to himself.
About an hour later he reintegrated with himself and went to bed.
The next morning Goten left for Capsule Corporation right after breakfast, as Gohan left for school.
Gohan flew next to the nimbus for a little while, before heading of towards Satan city as fast as he could go.
Thankfully Videl wasn't around yet, so he could land in an alley near the school and transform back into his normal clothes.
When he reached the building he saw that he had been mistaken, Videl was around, but not in the air, she was just sitting on the wall where he often sat waiting for her. She was facing away from him and as he walked over to her, he noticed that she wasn't wearing her usual t-shirt and shorts, but a pair of black jeans and a sweater.
Hmm. He thought. It seems like she's decided to go by the well-dressed protocol. I guess I would too if I were about to have a chance to meet the richest woman in the world for the first time, but then, I met her for the first time when I was five and a half and still had a tail.
"Hey Videl." He said causing her to turn towards him.
Videl turned at the sound of Gohan's voice.
Damn I missed him. She thought. I just can't seem to find out how he gets to school every day if he lives in the 439 area.
"Hey Gohan." She responded. "Why aren't you dressed up like the rest of us?"
"Gosh to be honest Videl, I just thought I look decent enough like this."
"Oh, you do, it's just that most people want to make a special effort if they're going to have an opportunity to meet Bulma Brief."
"I just didn't feel like bothering with it."
Strange, Videl thought, he makes it sound as if it's no big deal to him.
I hope Videl isn't starting to suspect something. Gohan thought as he walked inside with her. They would have one hour of normal school first before the seminar would start so they made their way up to their classroom on the top floor. Sharpner and Erasa were in their seats already and Gohan noticed that like Videl they had dressed for the occasion, as indeed everyone but him seemed to have done. Sharpner was wearing a white suit, and Erasa a red dress.
// Sharpner's suit is like the one he wears at the world tournament, except the shirt is light-blue instead of pink, and the tie is black in stead of yellow.
"Hey guys." Gohan greeted as he and Videl slid into their seats.
"Hey Gohan." They both replied.
"Why aren't you dressed up?" Sharpner asked.
Great, Gohan thought, now I'm raising eyebrows all over the place just by wearing my normal clothes.
"Just didn't feel like it." He responded again.
Class started and Gohan noticed that even the teacher had bothered to dress slightly more formal than he usually did. Rather than the usual combination of a different coloured jacket and trousers, he was wearing a black suit.
After an hour the bell rang and all students went outside and gathered in the pavilion that had been set up on the grass behind the school. A few people from various companies talked about their work and the general sector they worked in, before the announcer came on stage.
"Now ladies and gentleman." He said into the microphone. "The moment I'm sure many of you have been waiting for. Orange star high school is proud to present a special lecture by: Bulma Brief."
Gohan nearly gasped in shock as Bulma walked onto the stage accompanied by Vegeta, Trunks and his own little brother Goten.
My god. Gohan thought as he noticed the others. How on Earth did she get Vegeta to come here? Why on Earth would she want Vegeta to come here? For that matter why did she have to bring the two leaders in the global let's make things difficult on Gohan standing, also known as Trunks Brief and my little brother.
Why did she...
At this point Gohan ran out of time to wonder about why, at least for the time being, because Trunks and Goten had launched themselves of the stage, and into the crowd.
Well, it's been a nice life. Gohan thought as the two kids made their way through the crowd to jump him.
What's that black haired kid wearing? Videl thought as she saw the two of them jumping Gohan. It looks like that Gi Gohan used. Didn't he say that was a family thing? Her question quickly answered by the little guy himself as he chirped a sweet little: "Hey big brother."
"Hi Gohan." The other kid seconded.
"Hey Goten, hey Trunks." Gohan answered, sounding somewhat troubled. "What are you guys doing here?"
"Well," the little boy Videl had just discovered was called Goten answered, "because Trunks mom had to go here, and Vegeta said he would go too, they took us along."
Gohan looked over to the stage where he saw Vegeta smirking. The bastard, he thought, he went along because he knew this would happen, and a free lunch not cooked by Bulma is probably also more than welcome to him. 'I hate you.' He thought at Vegeta, using the telepathic part of his Saiyan brain. Normally it was difficult to communicate like this, but he was angry enough at Vegeta to be sure it would come through. 'The feeling is mutual brat.' Vegeta's reply echoed in his head. 'Your pride is still wounded eh, Vegeta. Still can't take it that a half-blood offspring of a third-class Saiyan has more power than you.' 'You wish kid, you may have been stronger than me at the Cell-games, but I've grown stronger since then.' 'Funny, so have I, don't get me mad, or it might unleash my full strength again, and you don't want that to happen Vegeta, I can guarantee you don't want that. I'm a little weaker now than I was when I thought Cell, but that's the power I automatically have, if I push myself harder and get mad, you'll see the same sort of rise in Ki you saw when I faced Cell.'
Gohan smirked as he saw Vegeta's face go from a confident smirk to a confused and angry scowl.
// This is my interpretation of the Gohan / Vegeta power ratio, Gohan still can't tap into his full strength at will, so he seems weaker than Vegeta, but is stronger when he's pushed hard enough.
What's he looking at that guy like that for? Videl thought seeing Gohan apparently engaged in a staring match with the man standing next to Bulma Brief.
"Uhm, Gohan?" She said questioningly.
"What is it Videl?" He whispered back.
"Who are the kids?"
"Oh, this is my little brother Goten, and this is his best friend Trunks Brief."
"Brief as in Bulma Brief?"
"Yeah, she's his mother, and the guy next to her, in case you're wondering, is his father."
"Who's the girl, Gohan?" The boy Videl now knew to be Trunks asked while indicating her with his hand.
"Oh, yeah, this is Videl."
"You mean the daughter of Hercule?" Trunks said. And Videl noticed a rather strange tone in his voice.
"Yeah, she's a friend." Gohan replied. And to Videl's amazement both Trunks and Goten burst out laughing.
"What is it?" She asked nobody in particular.
"Oh nothing." Trunks replied cryptically. "Just a joke for insiders."
Gohan eyed Trunks angrily at that last remark. The boy was walking a very thin line, and loving every minute of it from the look on his face. I just hope my little bro doesn't let anything slip. Gohan thought, as he watched both of them with some concern.
I guess this means I won't be able to hide knowing the Briefs, but that isn't the worst thing I suppose, though I really don't want to give Videl even more mysteries to investigate. I should still be fine if neither of the two kids let's anything slip, Vegeta won't anyway, Bulma'd flip.
"Gohan?" Videl's voice brought him out of his own thoughts, back to reality.
"What Videl?" He asked, hoping on an after thought that he hadn't sounded too harsh.
"Do you know the Briefs?"
"Yeah, Bulma is an old friend of my dad's I think I was about five and a half when I first met her."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
That's a good question, from a normal persons point of view, I can hardly say, 'Cause I was worried you'd find out I was an alien.' Now can I.
"I didn't want to shock you with even more unexpected revelations about myself." Good one Gohan, he thought to himself, that was true, well sort off anyway.
"Still you could have told me." Videl stated, and from he tone Gohan knew that she wanted him to make it up to her.
"Tell you what, why don't I introduce you to her over lunch." Videl nodded happily and Gohan pointed behind him to the disappearing backs of Trunks and Goten. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go see to it that those two don't accidentally set fire to the school or something." Videl nodded again and Gohan ran off after the two younger Saiyans.
Gohan soon caught up with the two kids.
"Are you really friends with her Gohan?" Trunks asked.
"Yeah." Gohan replied with a smile.
"Even after what her father did?" The young member of the Brief family seemed puzzled by this.
"Sure." Gohan said. "After all I'm friends with you, and the first time I met your father he wanted to kill me."
"Good point." Trunks had to admit.
"Do you think her dad told her the truth about the Cell-games?" Goten asked with one of those typical innocent looks that only he and Goku could muster on his face.
"I don't think so squirt." Gohan replied. "I think he sometimes even believes his own version of events. So don't tell her or ask her anything about it. If we remain friends," or more he added in silent thought, "I'll probably tell her at some point, but right now she isn't ready to hear about it."
"Why not." Damn Goten can be clueless, Gohan thought, but that's probably part of his charm.
"It's a bit much to explain now squirt, but would you be able to understand dad defeated Frieza, if you'd been told since you were little that I'd done it?"
"I guess not, did you?" Clueless is a polite word. Gohan thought. As he noticed Trunks slap his own forehead.
"Of course I didn't, it's just that Videl would get the same sort of shock if she found out about Cell."
"Oh I think I understand now."
"Good Goten, so what ever you do, don't mention Cell, or anything else to do with the Cell-games. And I don't think I have to remind you that we can't turn into Super-Saiyans with all these people around."
"Don't worry we won't." Trunks answered in Goten's place.
Figures. Gohan thought. If one can do it so can the other. I should have suspected as much. I'm betting Vegeta doesn't know yet, he'd probably have a heart attack, after all the effort it took him to get to where he could go super his own son manages it as an eight year old. A grin not unlike Vegeta's trademark smirk settled on Gohan's face as he guided the two kids back into the Pavilion with a hand on each of their heads.
"One more thing guys." He said as they were almost within a normal human's hearing range of the pavilion again. "At lunch try not to eat more than humans do, and try not to eat too fast, we don't want people finding out about us, okay."
To his great surprise the two of them kept relatively calm during the rest of Bulma's talk. Gohan speculated that they're unusual rest might have something to do with the fact that they'd just seen him beat Vegeta in a staring contest, something that few people had ever managed.
After Bulma's talk about the many wonders of Capsule Corporation, and it's role in the world economy wound down lunch was announced and Gohan, with Videl and the two youngsters in tow went over to talk to her.
It took a little bit of work to push through the crowd of people but with Gohan's strength it was nothing he couldn't handle.
Bulma was standing near one of the buffet tables with Vegeta, and Gohan could see from the disappointed look on the prince's face that she'd told him, either in advance or through her bond, not to eat so much that it would arouse suspicion.
"Hey Bulma." He said in a casual tone that shocked most students in the area, including Sharpner and Erasa who had made their way to the front.
"Oh, hey Gohan." She replied turning to him, making the already surprised by-standers just about faint. "I see you've been babysitting Trunks for me."
"Well, he and Goten came looking for me, so I thought I'd better keep an eye on my brother, and the last time I checked they came as a package deal." He said with a smile.
"Yes." She replied with a grin. "Partners in mischief, did they give you any trouble?"
"Nah, I can handle 'm. By the way, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine Videl Satan." He said gently pulling Videl forward by her arm.
/*
Since I'm using Son Gohan, Videl Satan seems a bit out of place, as does the order of Bulma Brief, however Gohan Son doesn't sound right to me, and neither do, Brief Bulma or Satan Videl, let me know what you think by reviewing, I may change it, if the vote goes against my current solution, going with what feels right. Note that I may change it, even if you vote the other way, I may not change it, I'll probably have to try it out, to see if it works for me.
*/
"The Videl Satan?" Bulma asked.
"Of course, how many Videl Satans do you think there are?" Gohan replied while glaring at Vegeta who'd started shaking with laughter.
"Nice to meet you. Ms. Brief." Videl said to Bulma, while eyeing Vegeta strangely. From what Gohan had told her that short guy was Bulma's husband, but why did he appear to be laughing?
"Please call me Bulma." Bulma responded. "And the pleasure's mine."
"You're actually friends with his offspring." Vegeta said turning to Gohan.
"Give it a rest Vegeta, or Bulma might make you go shopping." Gohan replied.
His offspring. Videl thought. He must be referring to her father. But why the term offspring, was he just crazy, or was there something else going on here, and what was that tone she'd heard when he uttered the word his? Jealousy, anger? But why?
"Hey." Bulma interjected. "Don't you threaten Vegeta with that, that's my job."
"Well, go right ahead then." Gohan said with a grin.
"Okay." Bulma said. "Vegeta, if you don't give it a rest I'll make you go shopping with me every day for a week, and I won't do any maintenance on the GR for a month."
"GR?" Videl said, raising her eyebrow with the question.
"I shouldn't have mentioned that." Bulma replied. "It's a top-secret project of mine that Vegeta likes to use."
The rest of their lunch went rather smoothly, Videl and Bulma chatted on, while Gohan had his hands full with the kids. And Vegeta just stood there scowling. Occasionally eating something, but clearly pacing himself.
The afternoon part of the seminar was nice. And soon it was over. Videl left in her jet-copter, heading for home with her mind filled with questions.
Why is it, she thought, that every time I find out something about Gohan it gives me more questions than answers. I'm having more trouble figuring him out than I have with the Great-Sayaman, at least there I know I'm not making progress, but here I just seem to be getting more questions as I go.
Gohan flew home with his little brother. Goten was as always chattering on endlessly about his day, but Gohan's mind was on other things. Was Videl finding out things, was she figuring things out?
He needed some peace and quiet to think about that. But he probably wouldn't get any the next couple of days.
At least I have Friday afternoon off. He thought. And then the holidays start. Maybe I can go somewhere to meditate then.
The week was indeed hectic until that Friday afternoon. After school Gohan dropped by his house, before heading out again. While he was in the air he almost automatically made his way to the lookout, he wanted to be alone for a while and he knew that in it's many chambers there was always room to do that. As he landed he was greeted by Piccolo, Dende and mister Popo.
"Hi Gohan." Dende said. "Good to see you."
"Thanks Dende, it's good to see you too. You too Piccolo, and mister Popo of course."
"Nice to see you Gohan." Mister Popo replied. While Piccolo only gave a very slight nod combined with a gleam in his eye.
Gohan didn't need anything more. Piccolo had always been the strong and silent type, even back when Gohan was little those tiny little signs and changes had been enough to start their friendship.
"Dende," he asked, "could I use one of the tower rooms for a while, I want to meditate."
"Sure Gohan." Dende responded. "We'll see to it that you're not disturbed."
"Thanks I owe you guys."
"Don't mention it."
Gohan sat in mid air, his legs crossed, and a small Ki-charge surrounding his body. He'd picked this style of meditation up from Piccolo and it worked well for him, soon his mind was becoming clearer, in preparation for focusing on the problems he needed to solve.
'Hey Gohan.' A voice in his mind called. That voice, Gohan thought, I can't be...
'Dad is that you.' His mind asked.
'Yeah it's me.' His father's voice came in reply. 'I've been keeping an eye on things down there with the help of King Kai. So you really like this Videl girl huh?'
Boy, talk about cutting right to the chase. Gohan thought.
'I guess so.' He replied.
'Come on Gohan, don't be shy, this is your dad you're talking to remember.'
'Okay you're right I like her.' Gohan could feel himself blushing even though his dad was in other-world and couldn't see him. 'But what should I do about it?' He asked.
'Just go with your feelings Gohan, see if she likes you. And if she does, try to find a way to wish me back before your wedding.'
'Are you serious dad, you want to come back?'
For that matter, where is this weddin idea coming from, and why does it feel right? Gohan wondered keeping the thought to himself and blushing even harder.
'Yeah, I figure that if no villains have shown up to come after me in the past seven years it ought to be save.'
'Ok, I'll make sure to wish you back IF we get married, might have to do some thinking about how to get to New-Namek, I'd like to find a way that leaves it possible for Dende to go back there to see his friends when he wants to.'
'I'm sure you'll figure something out Gohan. You always were the smart one in the family.'
'Thanks for the vote of confidence dad, I'll talk to you later.'
//There is some doubt, especially with my sister, about whether or not it's possible to revive someone after a long period of time, in this fic it is, after all if it weren't we'd expect some discussion when in the beginning of DBZ they waited a year to wish Goku back. And the only time there seems to be a time-limit is in the group wish to bring back Frieza's victims and bringing back a group takes more wishing power.
Gohan now had all the answers he needed from his meditation, though actually it hadn't been the meditation that had given him the answers but his dad.
"What happened in there Gohan?" Piccolo asked as his young friend stormed out of the tower.
"I talked to my dad." Gohan replied.
"What...? " Piccolo asked surprised. "You talked to your dad?"
"Yeah, you see there's this girl I like, well not just like, maybe even love."
Gohan blushed as Piccolo made a semi-disapproving gesture. But couldn't quite pull it of. "And," Gohan continued not noticing it, "he said that if we get together and get married he's coming back."
"He's coming back." Piccolo, Dende and mister Popo said at the same time.
"Yeah, I'll have to use the Namekian Dragon Balls though, since ours can't revive him again. But we'll work something out."
"So who is this girl?" Piccolo asked, curious in spite of himself.
"Videl Satan." Gohan replied simply. Blushing a deep red again.
The two Nameks and mister Popo, all just about fainted when he said this. "Isn't she the daughter of that Hercule guy?" Dende finally asked.
"You should know," Gohan answered with a smile, "you're the God of Earth remember."
// This is based on the Japanese version where Kami isn't a name but a title, meaning Spirit or God. Replaced in the English version by Guardian.
"Hey, I can't keep tabs on everyone all the time. That isn't what being God is about anyway."
"I know Dende, just teasing. Yes, she is the daughter of Hercule. But she's really a lot nicer than him."
"I should hope so." Piccolo said in the gruff yet friendly tone that only ever surfaced when Gohan was around. "I've said it before, I don't believe in what humans call love, but if it makes you happy that's good enough for me kid."
Gohan raced from the lookout to the Son-residence so fast that it was almost as if he'd used the instant transmission to get there.
He could just hear his little brother shouting: "Gohan's on his way here." As he stepped inside.
"Hey mom, hey Goten." He greeted stepping in.
"Hi Gohan." Chi-Chi responded. "Done meditating already?"
"Well I didn't really get around to meditating." Gohan replied. "Just as I was starting dad talked to me through King Kai."
"You father talked to you, what did he say?" Chi-Chi asked.
"That's a long story, but he's been keeping up with everything that's going on here I can tell you that. He even knows more about my life than you guys do." Gohan said blushing at the memory of what he'd discussed with his father.
"What do you mean by that, Son Gohan." Chi-Chi, said threateningly. "Have you been keeping secrets from me?"
"Not really, but I don't have time to go into that now." Gohan stated his blush deepening.
And I don't want to get your hopes up he thought to himself.
"I need to make a phone-call." He stated grabbing the cordless phone and going outside so he could have some privacy.
He dug in his pockets until he found a certain little piece of paper, quickly read it, and punched in some numbers.
Soon he could hear the phone on the other end ringing, and a now familiar drawn out voice answered the phone.
"Satan residence."
"Hi, my name is Son Gohan, I want to talk to Videl."
"And why to do you want to speak to the mistress?" The voice enquired politely, yet threateningly. So this is what Videl meant by him making it hard on people that called. Gohan thought.
"That is between Videl and myself." He replied coldly, but politely. "All I can tell you is that it's urgent."
"I will see if the mistress is available." Jeffrey the butler replied.
He'd better really check Gohan thought, using his Saiyan senses combined with the phone, to listen in on what was going on in the Satan mansion. A few moments later, without Gohan hearing a sound, except for breathing near the horn, Jeffrey's voice came again. "I'm sorry but the mistress is not available right now."
"Really." Said Gohan abandoning the false pretence of being polite with this stiff butler. "Why don't you really ask her and find out?"
He smirked as he heard Jeffrey gasp at the other end, and then heard a shout in the distance. "Miss Videl, there is a call for you are you available?"
"Who's it from?" Videl's voice came in answer.
"Someone by the name of Son Gohan I believe."
"Okay, put it through to my room." Videl replied. And Gohan smiled into the horn.
"I'll put you through sir." Came Jeffrey's cold voice.
A few seconds later Gohan heard Videl's voice on the line.
"Hey Gohan."
"Hey Videl."
"So, why are you calling?"
"Well I was wondering if you'd like to come over and train tomorrow. I could use a good spar."
Not that I'm going to get one from you. He added in thought. But it will be a good exercise in self-control.
"Great. Where exactly in the 439 area do you live?"
"I'll e-mail you a map with our house on it. See you tomorrow."
"Ok see you then."
// Okay, so they have e-mail in this story, it was the easiest solution okay.
A few hours after Gohan had called Videl checked her e-mail. There was indeed an e-mail from Gohan with JPEG file attached.
Hmm, she thought as she studied the map, on which one house was highlighted, looks like there's no-one else living there for miles around.
At dinner she told her dad that she was going to a friends house to train the next day.
"Okay. Videl." He replied. "You're my daughter I suppose it's natural that you'd want to train as much as possible. After all you may be just as strong as me one day if you keep it up."
Oh please, spare me. Videl thought. But she knew better than to say that.
The next morning she headed out to Gohan's house where he was already waiting for her in his Gi as she approached.
"Hey Videl." He greeted her as she got out of her copter.
"Hey Gohan."
"Would you like to come in for a while before we spar, I'll introduce you to my mother. You've already met my brother of course."
"Sure."
She followed Gohan into the house. Goten was laying on the couch in his Gi, watching cartoons, while a dark haired woman was busy doing the dishes in the kitchen.
That must be Gohan's mother. She thought.
"Mom, I'd like to introduce you to someone."
The woman turned around and Videl could tell instantly from the look in her eyes that this was someone she'd better try to stay on the good side off.
"Mom, this is Videl Satan." Gohan continued. "Videl, this is my mother Son Chi-Chi."
"Hi." Videl said. "Pleased to meet you."
A strange look passed over Chi-Chi's face before she replied. "It's nice to meet you too Videl."
"Videl came over to spar with me." Gohan stated.
"Oh." Chi-Chi replied. "Anything else I should know about between you two?"
"What do you mean mom. We're just going to train."
"Well, your father and I were just going to fight in the quarter finals of the world-tournament, and we ended up married."
"You fought in the world-tournament?" Videl asked. Surprised by this revelation.
"Yes, the 23rd to be exact when Goku won. We faced each other in the quarter-finals. And then got married after his winning the tournament."
Videl couldn't believe what she was hearing. No wonder Gohan is such a good fighter, if both of his parents made it to the world-tournament finals.
After a few more minutes of chit-chat, in which Chi-Chi started repeatedly mentioning the words marriage and grandchildren. Videl went outside along with a blushing Gohan.
"I guess it's just natural that you're such a good fighter." She said as they made their way to a field, a few hundred yards away. "After all if both of your parents made it past the elimination round, you must be good."
"I guess." Gohan replied. "But let's not worry about that right now, let's just spar."
Their spar was about the same as the one at her house had been, neither of them gave the other an inch. Finally after a few hours of sparring they sat down on a rock together.
Videl didn't know what came over her, but the instant they sat down next to each other, she leaned towards Gohan. Their faces were only separate by a few inches and then he leaned towards her as well. Their lips meeting in a kiss.
As they kissed each other she let her hands run over his shoulders and down his arms, on her way to take his hands in hers.
She closed her eyes and along the way bumped into something on his wrist that seemed to give a little.
Must be a button on his watch she thought to herself as she went on to take his hands.
/*
What's happening here, did Videl really bump in to Gohan's watch, and if so which button did she hit? Find out next time on Life Is Strange.
* Evil Vegeta style smirk * Cliffhanger. I'm evil and proud of it, leaving you like that. Now you'll all have to read the next chapter. As soon as I write it of course. This chapter has come out a bit more quickly than I'd expected. I'm home with the flu right now and writing is one of the few things that help take my mind of it. So you can thank the Virus for this. Unfortunately for you I am starting to feel a bit better so you may have to wait a while for the next chapter.
*/