Author's little talk: This took me longer than I expected, which I apologize for since you guys are dying to know what happens ;) I shall say that this pulls away from the normal content of this particular story—you may like it ;) So enough from me—except thanks for the reviews kind people! Hehe. Enjoy…

Chapter 8: Doom Battle

Gohan stood with his hands curled into fists at his sides. He looked like he hadn't a string of fear crossing his mind, and I figured that he could probably kill Cell quicker and easier than he had when he was just a kid. I didn't want to see Cell die, but at this point it was probably the best for everyone, including Cell himself.

Kizufumi seemed highly amused by all of this and leaned against his plane like one would when loitering around a pub after hours. He wore a smile of arrogance and it gave me the urge to slap him clear across the face, though with still being trapped in Cell's uncanny embrace that action couldn't be fulfilled.

"Well Cell, are you going to let her go or will you force me into action?" Gohan asked his voice steady and firm.

"My dear boy," Kizufumi said, "you haven't the slightest chance against my android. He's not what you think."

"If you knew anything about history you'd know that Cell isn't as powerful as everyone believed," Gohan replied. "Either way, I'm going to kill him and bring you to justice."

"Go ahead and try," Kizufumi said.

Before anyone could do anything, a girl around the same age as Gohan landed several feet behind him. Of course I knew who she was—everyone did. She was Videl, daughter of the infamous Hercule, another figure that was usually in spotlight that I didn't admire. She was short, thin and had cut her hair in an unfashionable style, but somehow she gained the knowledge that Cell, Gohan and a few select others had achieved—flight without use of mechanics.

"Videl, protect this lady," Gohan said.

"Cell, kill him," Kizufumi ordered.

Without hesitation Cell pushed me aside and lunged at Gohan, who jumped up to meet the fight. I stumbled to the ground, but found a pair of hands trying to pull me back up. "C'mon," Videl urged. "You're safe now."

I got up and followed her back to what she claimed to be a safe spot—a very small little hill that was at a decent distance from the fight taking place. I stopped before she did, practically forcing her to stand there with me and watch what was going on. My eyes searched the area until I found Cell and Gohan locked in an intense battle several miles above the ground. Though I could barely see what was going on, it seemed as if both were holding their own against their opponent.

Several moments later, the fighters returned to the surface and tossed out a series of kicks and punches that made me cringe at the sight. Gohan was starting to throw those little energy balls, but Cell merely knocked them away. Either they weren't trying very hard or Cell was evenly matched against this once-victor.

Videl pretended to punch the air, her brow furrowing in concentration and determination at the fight. "C'mon, Gohan! You can get this son-of-a-bitch," she said, but quickly looked at me after her vulgarity seeped out. "Sorry…I get into these things."

"Do you really think he'll win?" I asked amazed.

"Sure," she replied. "Gohan is one of the world's top fighters—he saved Earth loads of times. He's actually the one who beat Cell the first time, though my father got the credit."

"I see," I said, though I already knew this to be the truth. But that was irrelevant right now—Cell was busy kicking Gohan's ass.

It was true. When I looked back at the two warriors Cell had grabbed Gohan's ankle and started swinging him around. He released him, the teen being flung away, but Cell met him in mid-air and kicked him back. He was acting on pure violence, not taking one moment to reflect on what was going on. He didn't pause, didn't seem to think about his actions, and didn't miss a single defensive move. He was on fire; he was completely out of control. I wondered if the drug Kizufumi has put in him also acted as a form of steroid.

Gohan got to his feet some thirty yards away; he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. Videl and I stood speechless, neither of us sure what to think or expect. I glanced back at Cell; he was standing there as if nothing had happened. He looked in Gohan's direction, but that was the extent of it.

"I guess you've gotten stronger," Gohan said. "I'll have to up my levels as well."

My eyes grew wide immediately; a strange yellow glow surrounded him (though I had seen this part before) but before I could blink his hair had transformed into a radiating gold. He could change his hair color instantly…oh, how I know so many girls that would love to get their hands on that trick.

Gohan, though, didn't seem to care about his hair. He leapt up and flew at an extreme speed across the plain. Cell stood still, apparently ready for any attack that would come at him. I focused my eyes on Gohan, wondering what he planned to do. I couldn't understand, though, what could possibly be going through his mind when he flew directly up. Cell's head, in turn, leaned back and watched him.

I couldn't really tell exactly how far up Gohan was, but I could barely make him out. The only thing I noticed was a little flashing light up there with him. I figured he was doing one of those little light balls, but that was the only guess I could muster. I was right (of course…) and a rather intense fireball came zooming down; Cell deflected it.

The android took flight, his feet springing him easily from the ground so he could sail up to his opponent. Gohan didn't seem to be moving, at first, but suddenly he disappeared. Cell stopped, as did my heart, and everyone looked around. I took a quick second to glance at Kizufumi, but he looked unaltered—he was still very much confident that Cell would be the victor.

Still unsure of how the outcome could be, I looked back—Cell and Gohan were in a fist-to-fist combat. They both flew back down towards the ground, fists and feet jumping everywhere, but then one finally connected.

Within seconds Cell crashed to the hard surface of the ground, the dirt shattering around him and indenting with the extreme force. He sat up in, his face looking…fierce. It was a familiar look I had once seen before—he didn't like to be made a fool of.

"Finish this!" Kizufumi called out. "We have work to do!"

He didn't have to ask Cell twice. The android shot up into the air, his arm reclined back, and then he hit Gohan so hard I'm surprised the kid's head didn't fall off. The golden hair faded away and the young man landed on the ground.

"Gohan!" Videl yelled out and she immediately ran over to him. I looked in their direction, afraid that the poor kid was really hurt or…dead…

Before I could even start going over to aid them, though, I felt an arm wrapping around my waist and hauling me off. I squirmed and yelled at Cell, Videl getting to her feet and looking helplessly at me as I was being taken away, but nothing could be done. Kizufumi was on his way to the capital and I was still his prisoner.