Akutenshi Nakare Kyo

disclaimer: I dun' own DBZ... yeah.

Chapter 8: Omoi Emotions

Gohan walked inside the house as quietly as he could. The lights were off, but a blue glow from the side room told him that someone was watching TV. The teen followed the light and, sure enough, Chichi was sitting on the sofa with a throw blanket strewn across her legs: Chichi had been waiting for Gohan to return. The mother lifted her head as Gohan entered and patted the cushion next to her, indicating that Gohan should take a seat. Fearfully, the teen sat, unsure of what to expect from his mother. He'd never been out so late before and the way he left the house wasn't the most dignified. Gohan sat and waited for the scolding.

"How is she?" Chichi asked while muting the TV. Gohan was confused. He didn't know what Chichi was talking about... didn't she want to yell at him or something? His mother's calm manner only put Gohan more on edge.

"Who?"

Chichi turned and faced her son. "Miss Satan, Videl I mean. That's where you were, isn't it?" Gohan straightened a little and looked at Chichi with that hereditary confused, yet shocked, look. Chichi sighed. "I saw that something happened to Videl on the news. She's in your class, so I knew you'd be worried about her. So, how is she?"

Gohan let his eyes fall to the TV. Some infomercial was on about some sort of special blender. "One arm is broken and she's wrapped up in several places... she's pretty shock up about what happened. I'm not sure how long it will be before she starts acting normal again. She kept dumping on herself... but none of this was her fault..."

Chichi nodded, but stopped and looked at her son closer. "You talked to her?" Gohan nodded. "How did you get in?"

"A nurse slipped me a pass while no one was looking and said to pretend to be Videl's brother." Gohan realized after he spoke that what he did wasn't exactly legal. In fact, a lot of what he had done recently wasn't legal! How did Videl make Gohan lose sight of the rules?

"Sweetie," Chichi started, drawing Gohan back, "how did you know that Videl was at the hospital?"

Gohan flinched slightly. "Oh, well, I saw the ambulance leave Videl's house and I followed it. I was in town because I needed to do more research at the library..." Gohan lied through his teeth, and Chichi knew it. It wasn't like her eldest son to lie, but when he did it was usually for a good reason... Chichi decided to let it slide, this time. She stood up and wrapped the small blanket around her shoulders, smiling a 'good night' to Gohan and headed off to bed.

The room was quiet as different shades of blue lit up the walls and furniture. Gohan didn't know how he knew Videl was in trouble. He didn't know why he had that odd dream or when Videl had become so important to him. He didn't know why it didn't matter. At some point, Videl had acquired the ability to strip Gohan of rhyme or reason. She seemed to enjoy doing that.

The teen leaned back on the sofa and placed a pillow over his face. There was no school tomorrow, so he could try and see Videl again, if that fat nurse wasn't there that is. He hoped that his peer would be released from the hospital soon... he didn't like the thought of Videl being kept in that place. In fact, Gohan didn't like the thought of Videl being anywhere but near him...

Gohan sat up straight and shook his head. 'Where did that come from? Videl's my friend, right? I mean, I don't... do I?' The demi-saiyajin sighed and pressed the pillow against his head again. It had been a tough day... 'I bet it was even tougher for Videl. I wonder if she'll be able to sleep at all tonight... '

In fact, Videl was sleeping, and soundly at that. She was smiling sweetly with her head snuggled in a pillow. After her dinner, Videl's mind had been racing about her meeting with Gohan that day. He had shown up out of no where and saved her when she thought all was lost. He had arrived and cheered her up when nothing seemed like it could. But most of all, he had kissed her. Sure, it was innocent and only on the head, but Videl had never been kissed by anyone save her parents. Gohan was so nice to her, but was he just being nice? The girl had spent hours sorting it out and she was still undecided when she fell asleep so it was no wonder that her subconscious picked the outcome she wanted most and played it in her dream.

Videl turned her head and sighed out a barely audible 'Gohan'.

End chapter 8.

SA: Comments? Critics? Any feedback would be nice!