Torture with Dende

Synopsis: Dende grows tired of always torturing Gohan so he decides to mix things up a little bit and torture someone else for a change. Videl Satan. A Gohan and Videl Fic.

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters.

Chapter 7 - The Deal

Piccolo silently made his way around the large mansion that Mr. Satan called his home. Hovering above the large structure, Piccolo concentrated intently on finding Gohan's ki once more. One second he had it and then the next, lost it. Gohan seemed to be roaming around the house at one time and Piccolo couldn't help but wonder just what he was doing in the mansion. Then the roaming ki had stopped and Piccolo was greeted with an aura of peaceful, extremely happy, content vibes via Gohan. It was then that he knew. Gohan had been on the search for food.

Sweatdropping, Piccolo continued to hover in the sky, sighing at how boring the job of 'watching over Gohan' could be at times and also wondering just how he'd gotten himself into this. After all, it wasn't his fault if Gohan decided to go ballistic on Dende. ...Again.

After a while, Piccolo closed his eyes, soon going into a deep meditation to pass the time. It was only a short while later than he felt Gohan's ki move again and the Namekian opened an eye, looking down toward the house once more.

A few short seconds later, he seen the door to the house open and Gohan step outside with Videl. Piccolo couldn't help but smirk. He didn't know much about love, well actually, one could say he knew nothing of the subject, being asexual, but the Namekian had been around Gohan too long to not know just when the demi-saiyajin shared feelings for someone. Whether it be love or not, Videl surely shared a spot close in Gohan's heart.

Blinking and returning back to his original train of thought, Piccolo continuously watched as the two teens below exchanged a brief conversation then waved goodbye as Gohan began walking off the Satan property.

Following Gohan with his eyes, Piccolo silently mused to himself. Gohan was alone. Would that mean that Dende would torture him too? Or was he simply out to get Videl and break apart the relationship that was slowly beginning to form between the two? Sighing in annoyance, Piccolo crossed his arms. There was only one way to find out. He'd have to follow Gohan as well.

Gohan arrived home happily content as he walked through the door smiling. He had been fed, had a relatively good time with Videl, and best of all, Dende's torturing days seemed to be over for him! But just as he was about to declare this the best day ever, was he suddenly struck across the head with a heavy metal object.

Grabbing his head and crying out in pain, Gohan winced as he looked up into the eyes of his mother who currently stood over him, hands to her hips, and a glare on her face, "And just where were you young man? It's half past four already!"

Eyes widening, Gohan slowly began backing up as Chichi shoved the frying pan at his chest, using it as a 'nagging finger', "You know better than to have me worryin' about you Gohan!"

"I-I'm sorry! I was with Videl is all," Gohan explained, "You see, she had been assigned a detension and-"

"Oh!" Chichi exclaimed happily, her eyes instantly forming stars and her glare disapating into a sweet smile, "You were with Videl! Then that changes everything! Oh...my little baby's growing up!" She suddenly teared up, dabbing a tissue at her eyes.

Gohan stared at his mother concernfully, ready to ask if she was okay when she suddenly looked back up, the stars reappearing in her eyes.

"So where did you go on your date? How was it? You were nice to Videl weren't you? Did you see a movie? Why didn't you wear better clothes than that? Oh, I should have been there!" Chichi blurted out in almost mindless blabble.

Gohan blinked in confusement. If he didn't know any better, he'd say his mother was starting to act like Goten on a sugar high. What was it with people giving him sixty questions all of a sudden?

"Mother, we didn't go on a date!" Gohan finally answered in asperation. Any other day he probably would have exploded from being asked such a question but today was different and he had a lot more patience than usual. "I only went to her house to-"

Chichi's eyes went wide once more, "You were at her house?"

"N-no!" Gohan stuttered, now finding the conversation spinning out of control, "I waited for her after school and-"

The stars were now back in Chichi's eyes, "You waited for her? Oh how sweet...! My Gohan really is growing up!"

"Argh! No!" Gohan yelled. Now he seemed to be feeling on the brink of losing his patience. It seemed that whichever way he put it, his mother seemed to turn it into something 'romantic'. Couldn't anyone see it just wasn't like that?

"Just forget it, I need to get started on my homework anyway," Gohan sighed, retreating into the hallway that led to his room.

From behind him, Chichi stared happily at her eldest son, smiling in amusement at his frustration. Oh how funny love could be.

Piccolo yawned as he stared blankly at the squirrel in front of him. For five minutes now the small creature had been trying to scurry up the same tree but in responce always ending up sliding back down. He really couldn't understand how a squirrel couldn't climb a tree. But then again, he also couldn't understand just why he was staring at a squirrel in the first place!

Snapping his head around and shaking his head clear of his previous thoughts, Piccolo turned his attention back to the window that led into Gohan's room. Just a few moments ago, the Namekian had sensed the demi-saiyajin's ki enter the house in a flight then had felt it rise in light aggression. Piccolo had figured it had something to do with Chichi. That woman could set anyone off. Even if she wasn't trying to...

Carefully concealing himself behind a tree, Piccolo watched as a light flickered throughout Gohan's room, flooding the small room with light. He sighed. He had almost been found out. And no way was he explaining to Gohan or Chichi, or anyone else for that matter, why he was stalking the teen. No one would probably believe him anyway... With the exception of Gohan that is. But then again, he'd probably just get angry at him in responce for following him, arguing that he was perfectly fine in controlling his anger. But then of course, Piccolo would remind him of that time he had almost went ballistic on Dende. And of course, Gohan would probably respond by saying that-

"Piccolo! What are you doing here?" a sudden voice spoke out of nowhere.

Almost falling over in surprise, Piccolo tensed as he peered over to Gohan's window. The light was still on and the demi-saiyajin hadn't seemed to notice. Thank Kami. Growling, Piccolo turned to face the one who had surprised him, "Goten, what are you doing?"

"Well...I was lookin' for my friend Mr. Lizard, but he ran off. So I went to go look for him and then I found you, and then I said, 'Piccolo! What are you doing here?' and then you jumped and then you said-"

"Okay! I get it!" Piccolo interrupted.

Goten nodded, "Okay, okay!"

Sighing, Piccolo looked down to the Goku-look-alike, "Listen, why I'm here is not important. Well, it is but...well, let's think of it this way... It's like a game Goten."

"A game?" Goten's eyes widened, "I like to play games!"

Piccolo smirked at the kid's habit of being easily amused, "Good, then listen carefully. You see, the point of the game is for me, not to be seen by Gohan. He mustn't know that I'm here. AND, it's up to you to make sure that doesn't happen."

Goten frowned, "That doesn't sound like a very fun game."

Piccolo's mouth dropped. The kid could be amused by a lizard but not by his own made up 'game'? "What do you mean 'that doesn't sound like a fun game'?" Piccolo yelled, his voice rising a little higher than he meant it to, "That's a great game!"

"Yeah...but what do you get if you win? You can't have a game without prizes." Goten countered.

Piccolo growled, "Not every game comes with a 'prize' kid..."

Goten folded his arms, "Then I'm not playing." Then grinning, he opened his mouth widely, "Oh BIG BR-"

Reaching over, Piccolo quickly stiffled the demi-saiyajin's mouth, "Okay, okay, we'll have it your way. The prize is...is..." He trailed off, trying his best to come up with a prize that would seem worthy of earning, "...A full day of training with me!"

Looking down in apperension, Piccolo's face faltered to see Goten shaking his head ferviously, ready to open his mouth once more.

Desperately, Piccolo tried once more, "Uh...um, a full day of training with...Vegeta?" He asked. He wasn't sure how he was going to get the prince to abide by it but he'd find some way.

"Nononohe'sameaniebutdon'ttellTrunksIsaidthat," came Goten's muffled responce. (1)

Racking his brain for more ideas, Piccolo bit his lip as one last idea came to mind, "How about this? I bring your father back down to earth for one whole day?"

Seeing Goten's eyes widen to almost scary lengths, Piccolo knew that he had succeeded in winning the kid over.

"Wow! Really?" Goten asked after Piccolo had released him.

Nodding, Piccolo turned around, crossing his arms, "Of course. Kami and I are one now and since he was once god, it's only natural that I have some sort of authority with the afterlife."

"Wow! That's amazing Mr. Piccolo!" Goten exclaimed gleefully, "I didn't know you could do that!"

Neither did I. Piccolo thought to himself with a wince. Boy did he hope he'd be able to work something out...

"I can't wait 'til I get to see my Dad! I've never seen him before!"

Piccolo nodded then leaned down to a level closer to Goten's, "Yes, of course. But, as a part of this game, you also mustn't tell Gohan about this. None of this, including your father coming back."

Goten's face faltered a bit, "Not even the part about Dad? Awww...but he'll be really happy to hear that!"

Piccolo shook his head firmly, "Especially not that part. Just think of it as a surprise Goten."

Goten's face lifted once more, "A surprise! Okay! I like surprises!"

Piccolo sighed as he leaned against the base of the tree at which he stood. He'd been in a tough spot, but at least he'd managed to get out of it. How he was going to get Goku back on earth for an entire day however, was beyond him. Though he was determined to do it. He had made a promise and he planned to keep it.

Closing his eyes, Piccolo focused back in on his meditation, still wondering how he'd gotten stuck with the job of 'babysitting the Sons'. Piccolo sighed once more. The mess he got himself into sometimes...

(1) If you couldn't figure out what Goten was saying it was, "No, no, no, he's a meanie; but don't tell Trunks I said that."

Author's Notes: Hmm...that was sort of unexpected. XD Piccolo's suddenly got a large role in the fic now. Erm...anyway, hoped you enjoyed this chapter! I'll try my best to have the next chapter out soon! Thanks a bunch for the reviews everyone!