Chapter Eight
Face-Offs and First Dates
The next day dawned with the icy rain finally subsiding and leaving only a deep seeded chill that cut to the bone outside. In the small house nestled in the black forest, however, there was a warm and welcome feel that permeated every room. The couch found two figures resting comfortably in slumber, Videl's head rested where it had fallen on her boyfriend's shoulder while Gohan's bare and muscular arms held her close. The young woman sighed as she woke and realized where she was and what had brought her here.
A glance at Gohan confirmed that he slept still, his breath was like a feathered caress against her shoulder and it caused her to shiver pleasantly. Leaning back she smiled and nuzzled a bit closer with a content sigh. It had been a long time since she had felt so relax, the presence of the young man enough to release her tension. One hand moved to catch his gently interlacing their fingers together. She had just about returned to sleep when Chi-chi stepped into the room.
She wore a similar outfit to the one from yesterday and she regarded he two teens in a mixture of shock and anger. With a long breath drawn in she began a rant that caused Videl to cover her ears with a whimper, "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE! HAVE YOU TWO LOST YOUR SENSES! SLEEPING TOGETHER ON THE FIRST DAY THAT'S...THAT'S...I CAN'T EVEN FIND THE WORDS! I KNOW I SAID I WANTED GRANDCHILDREN BUT I DID NOT MEAN THIS VERY INSTANT! GOHAN I EXPECTED MUCH BETTER OUT OF YOU, YOU ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE BUSTER, YOU THOUGHT YOUR FATHER WAS TOUGH TO TRAIN WITH, HE'LL LOOK LIKE A PUNCHING DUMMY COMPARED TO ME!"
By the time she stopped to draw another breath, her son had sat up and gave a resigned sigh as he saw the anger on his mother's face, Videl looked up and he shook his head a bit with a regretful smile, "Mom will you calm down? Videl just wanted to sleep on the couch, nothing happened..." his face was a bit redder and Videl felt a blush creep upon her own cheeks. "We just slept...see...we are both fully clothed..." he drew the blankets off to reveal his pants and Videl's full dress. Though he did glance at Videl a moment which only added to her embarrassment.
Chi-chi blinked, her mouth open in preparation of another tirade, but nothing came as she closed her mouth with a sheepish grin, "Well umm...that's good then..." before she became more flustered there was a knock at the door. Taking advantage of the distraction, Gohan's mother bolted to the door and opened it only to blink in surprise at what awaited her. Two police officers, both wearing their heavy winter coats, stood at her door, with five cruisers forming a chain in front of the cottage and finally a black limousine with a golden 'H' on the door with the championship belt decorating the side marked the world champion's arrival.
The woman took it all in a glance as Videl and Gohan listened from the living room, both looked at each other and spoke as one, "He didn't...he wouldn't..." with a groan they both muttered, "Oh yes he would."
"Ma'am we apologize for disturbing you at this hour, but we had a report that you are holding miss Videl Satan against her will..." Chi-chi's eyes narrowed as Hercule, wearing a heavy coat lined with fur, stepped out of the limo and pointed to the police speaking gruffly...and angrily.
"Videl is a guest here, but she is here of her own free will, that blowhard probably didn't tell you that she had run away last night did he?" her voice was sharp and clipped with her anger and she held the spoon in her hand. The police officers blinked in surprise, they had never heard anyone talk so about Hercule, and she was right in regards to what they had been told by the World Champion.
By this time the man had made his way to the doorway and shouldered past the two cops with a growl, "Where's my daughter! Give her back or I'll tear this place apart!"
He made a move to step forward but Chi-chi jabbed his chest with the spoon, brandishing it like a sword. To the cop's surprise, Hercule was forced back by this seemingly demure woman. As she stepped forward she began laying into him, her eyes glowing with flames of intensity. "You will not take a single step into my house! You may be used to throwing your weight around, but here you will learn that some people know the real you!"
By the time she had finished she had backed him almost to where the vehicles were parked. Finally he gave a frown and shoved the spoon aside in frustration, "You kidnaped my baby girl and I will make you pay for it!"
"Daddy stop!" Videl stood in the open doorway, heedless of the cold against her street clothes. The appearance of the supposed hostage caused the cops to mutter amongst themselves, but she continued with a firm voice, "I didn't get kidnaped and you know it! I ran away from home and they were kind enough to take me in. I am not going back with you until you give me your word not to try to send me to Fayette."
The large champion looked at her in astonishment, but his eyes narrowed as he glanced to the boy who stood behind his daughter, "Did he put you up to this! Turning you against your own father! Officer? I demand you take them in right now!"
The officer in charge tipped the bill of his hat with a shake of his head, "Mr. Satan, with all due respect, if she says she is here willingly, there's nothing we can do. She's a grown woman and competent enough to make her own decisions. So, if there's nothing else..." he tipped his cap towards Videl with a smile, "Take care of yourself Ms. Satan." With that he moved to the line of police cars and soon the World Champion was left facing the stern mother and his daughter's defiant gaze.
"What has gotten into you! I have given you everything, and all I ask is that you do what I tell you..." but he was cut off as she felt her anger boil over and tears of frustration, sadness and anger, were finally released.
"That's the problem dad! All my life has ever been was about what you wanted, you never stopped to think what I or anyone else may want. I want to be a woman, seen for something other than Hercule's daughter...the next World Champion...the future of Martial Arts! And I want to be able to do what I love, not what you want! For once dad...I am going to worry about my happiness."
She blinked her tears back and gently found Gohan's hand, "That's why I love Gohan, because he has never once made me do something that didn't make me happy. He cares nothing for himself, but does everything to make me happy...and I am going to stay with him and his mother...and there is nothing you can do to change my mind!"
With that she turned her back on her father shaking with the strain of keeping her emotions under control and walked quickly inside. Hercule stepped towards her but again found himself blocked by Chi-chi's strong presence. Despite her shorter height she managed to tower over him with the force of her will alone, "I think it's time you left Hercule, she made it clear enough and it's time you understood. Maybe you'll start considering what she said to you and find a way to fix the chasm you've forged. But for now I think it's best if you left her alone and left my home."
He was about to lift the slight looking woman out of his path, but a look in her eyes caused him to reconsider. She looked as if a tank would not move her and with a disgruntled sound he turned and a moment later the limo was barreling away. Chi-chi gave a satisfied sniff and turned to the doorway once more, but her satisfaction faded when she saw the young woman crying in her son's arms. She closed the door and went about warming up some tea to give her a chance to calm herself.
"I am sorry for the trouble I have brought," she sniffed and wiped her reddened eyes, but Chi-chi shook her head gently.
"The apology is not yours to give dear child, that man..." she sighed glancing at the door and shook her head, "...is more stubborn than most I've seen, and it is his place to realize he is wrong."
"I doubt that will ever happen Chi-chi," she said with a sigh of resignation as she gratefully took the handkerchief that her boyfriend offered, Gohan had been silent through the entire incident, and Chi-chi could tell he was weighing something, but what it was exactly she couldn't begin to harbor a guess. For the moment though, all thoughts were on the distraught girl.
"Well, I want you to feel at home here, as long as you wish to stay you are welcome..." Chi-chi smiled gently and took her hand, "I think you'll be a part of my family for a long time, so I want you to think of us as your family."
Videl's smile was bright as she nodded slowly and gave the older woman's hand a warm squeeze, that moment made her feel warmer than she had felt in a long time and she was glad to have the chance to enjoy it. Gohan smiled, he had been afraid of his mother and his girlfriend not getting along, but now it seemed that he needn't have worried too much. Soon they were gathered around the largest breakfast that Videl had ever seen, she wasn't sure what amazed her more, the amount of food or the speed with which Chi-chi had cooked it.
Goten was all but salivating at the table, and even Gohan looked famished as he sat beside her, "This is a lot of food Chi-chi, I mean for just the four of us isn't it a bit...much?" Videl's voice trailed off at the disbelieving looks from the two sayjins who regarded her as if she had just asked what color the sky was.
Gohan's mother simply smiled with a shake of her head, "Gohan's most likely more polite at school than he is at home and doesn't eat nearly so much." Gohan flushed in embarrassment and the two women giggled as they looked at the distraught boy. A moment later he was laughing as well rubbing the back of his head in a mirror of his father's old way. The meal went by uneventfully, save for Videl's amazement when she saw the two boys go to work. For his part, Gohan was glad she was able to be distracted from her worries, he knew that the confrontation between her and the World Champion had been hard to take. As Videl and Chi-chi began to clear the dishes, with his mother asserting that it was unnecessary and Videl equally asserting that she wanted to, Gohan took a moment to lean against the doorway and take in the feeling of...completeness. Videl stopped to look at him and noted his seemingly content smile.
At her inquiry he shook his head with a warm look at his mother and his love, "Just realizing that I feel whole with you, something I have not felt in some long time. I think you were the piece that my family I were waiting to find."
Videl felt her cheeks warm at the words, and she smiled brilliantly her eyes glittering like a million stars had been planted in her eyes, "Gohan..." she barely whispered his name and yet countless feelings were shared between them in a single glance. Chi-chi sighed softly, each moment was making her feel more confident that this was going to be something wonderful. The doorbell rang and she swiftly assured the two that she would get it and not to worry. Stalking to the door she silently vowed to wreak vengeance if it were that blowhard Hercule again.
As the door opened, however, she was forced to school her features as she realized that the young woman before her was most assuredly not the World Champion. The girl was about Videl's height and was wearing a fur-lined coat that fell just to the back of her calves, underneath was a light green sweater and a pair of blue jeans that flattered her figure. Chi-chi took this young girl in for a moment as the woman's green eyes regarded Gohan's mother with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.
"Umm like hi, I think we spoke before on the phone, I'm Erasa...is Gohan here?" the voice confirmed Chi-chi's suspicions and she smiled gently.
"A pleasure to meet you in person Erasa, yes he's in the living room," and she opened the door allowing the girl to come in. The young blonde took in the warmth of the home, it's simple welcoming feel enough to put her at ease. Rounding the corner she gave a little squeal at the sight of Videl and all but tackled her friend. Videl blinked and hugged her back as Gohan chuckled a bit.
"Girl I've been worried sick ever since your dad came looking for you at my place this morning, but I figured I might find you here, now are you alright?" and she took her friend's cheeks in hand looking for all the world like a worried mother examining her child. As they talked together Gohan met his mother's eyes meaningfully before speaking softly to his girlfriend.
"I have to run for a bit Videl, I promised mom to get some things from the store, will you be alright with Erasa for awhile?"
The blonde beamed and winked, "No worries cutie, I'll watch over her for you."
He chuckled and bade them all goodbye as he gathered his coat from the wall, his mother met him in the hallway and placed a hand on his arm, "Where are you really going?" Her voice was worried as she spoke softly not wanting Videl to hear her. Her son gently put a hand over hers on his arm and smiled gently, but his eyes were as serious as ever.
"To try to make things right, I'll be back later though," he leaned close to kiss her cheek and slid his coat on before stepping into the cold morning air. Chi-chi watched from the doorway until he was out of sight into the clouds before closing the door and she whispered to herself, "Good luck Gohan."
His flight was short, through the mountains and north towards the city limits, once he reached the mansion he slowed and hovered over the location for a long moment to ensure the coast was clear. Once satisfied he would not be seen he landed about a block away and walked towards the large house. He noticed the limousine parked outside and his eyes flicked across the four guards that were patrolling the grounds, he made a point of stopping at the gate which was closed for the first time since he had started regularly coming to it. The irony that a supposed kidnaping would cause the World Champion to strengthen his security after it was too late caused him to smirk as he pressed the intercom button at the gate's left pillar.
"May I help you?" the voice on the other end was crisp and all business which caused the boys grin to fade.
"Gohan here to see Hercule Satan," he waited for the voice to respond.
"Do you have an appointment?" again the stoic voice came through the box and Gohan was sorely tempted to just leap over the gate, but he held the temptation down...for now.
"He'll see me, just tell him the boy who Videl is staying with is here to see him."
"One moment sir," a few passed with Gohan growing colder by the second, the sun did nothing to lessen the sharp cold, finally the voice returned, "Come inside and wait by the front door for your escort." A buzz sounded and the gates swung open just wide enough for him to enter. Gohan entered slowly and as he stepped through the gates closed behind him with a menacing bang. The pathway had been cleared of ice as he walked towards the front doors.
As he approached the right side doorway was opened by a servant and he was directed to come inside. Declining to have his coat taken, the young man was led through the first floor to a small study in the west corner near the staircase. Inside was a desk, neatly organized with a leather chair behind it. A tall grandfather clock stood in one corner of the room and two bookshelves framed the window that was immediately behind Hercule's chair. Two chairs sat on the opposite side of the desk and the window on the side wall looked out towards the gardens.
Sitting in the armchair, the World Champion regarded him silently as the servant led him inside, "Gohan to see you sir..." Hercule waved a hand in dismissal and the door was closed leaving Hercule and the boy to face each other. Gohan met his gaze calmly from the doorway, he waited calmly as the minutes stretched by tolled ominously by the clock.
"You have much to explain boy," that voice caused Gohan to turn, and only then did he realize that there was another with them. Standing at a mini-bar, swirling a wine glass in one hand, was a man that was so strikingly similar to Sharpner that Gohan would never mistake them for father and son.
Hercule spoke for the first time, and his voice was calm, but bore a steely edge that would have unnerved most who heard it, "Sit down, and we'll talk."
Gohan slid into the chair as instructed still watching the large man across from him, Sharpner's father was dismissed from his thoughts for the time being. Hercule's eyes never moved from the boy before him and he continued speaking slowly, "I do not know if you can possibly realize the implications of what you've done, Videl isn't any normal girl and as such she cannot be permitted the same luxuries that most girls her age have. From the standpoint of the expectations she must fulfill she does not have time for a relationship, especially when she must consider that her future husband must be someone the public will accept as much as I will. Taking her away will jeopardize her chances of finding a good husband who is on the same social level as she is."
He sighed and spoke slowly, "She's my baby girl, and I am not ready for her to begin slipping away without knowing she is in good hands. Face it Gohan, you're not aptly prepared to take care of Videl, your family is poor what with your father having no gainful employment and your mother living off of the land with only the charity of friends to support her. What kind of life is that for the daughter of a legend?" His voice took on a persuading friendliness that stank of deception as he leaned forward to gaze at Gohan intently.
The young man felt his grip tighten on the arms of the chair, he certainly didn't like where this conversation was going. Before he could speak, however, Hercule nodded towards his cohort who laid a silver briefcase upon the desk and undid the clasp with a loud click. The opened briefcase revealed a square of five columns by three rows of bills. Gohan could estimate it at near a half million dollars. His eyes flicked from the money to Hercule and back again curiously.
"Every man has his price boy," Elliot's voice spoke slowly, "A half million dollars if you walk out of Videl's life forever."
He wasn't sure whether to laugh at the absurdity of the offer or to ki blast the briefcase, desk and the two men into next week. He kept his face blank and forced his grip on the arms to relax, anger was never something he wanted to lose control to, for he didn't know what might happen should his anger get the better of him. Slowly he stood up and regarded Hercule calmly, but his eyes burned with rage.
"You disgust me Hercule, that you would take your image over your daughter's happiness even now, you obviously did not listen to a word she said at my house..." the World Champion moved to speak but Gohan slammed the case closed and silenced him with a look, "Perhaps it's time you asked yourself what's best for her, what makes her happy. I don't expect you to like me, after all you have shown you have no respect for my family, but at least understand that I love your daughter. You think that my love is so shallow that it can be sold like a piece of meat!" He grabbed the case and shoved it towards Hercule causing him to fall back a bit.
"I will not leave Videl's side, and whether you like it or not, we are going to continue to be together..." he turned to leave but stopped at the door, "Someone once told me that the definition of loving someone is when you put their happiness before your own. Maybe you should start thinking about whether you truly love your daughter." With that he walked out and slammed the door behind him shaking the walls and leaving a stunned Elliott and a very shocked Hercule.
As soon as he was outside, the young man walked swiftly around the corner and took to flight before he did something he would very much regret. He returned home after flying randomly for a few hours. As he walked inside he found the two girls in the middle of a board game with his brother, Videl and Erasa laughing together as Goten's face contorted in thought. He knew in that moment that he could not bring himself to tell her about the confrontation between him and her father, it would be devastating and he wasn't sure she could face that now.
Noticing his return they all regarded him, and Videl smiled gently, "I missed you Gohan, come and join us, we were just playing Battleship with Goten here."
"No fair, it's two against one!" Gohan's brother nearly whined and the three older kids laughed as Gohan knelt beside his brother across the coffee table with the girls.
He gave a wink to Videl and Erasa as he looked at Goten's board, "Well I'll be your partner and we'll even the odds alright kiddo?" he beamed at the brother he had idolized and nodded. The game went by, the girls proving victorious and as they played Erasa piped up the conversation with a smile.
"So are you two going to the Homecoming dance on Saturday?" the mirror images of confused faces that met her caused both the blonde and Goten to break into laughter, but Erasa managed to regain her composure with a giggle, "Don't tell me you forgot what Ms. Corwin told us about with Sharpner going to receive his award and everything."
"Well we hadn't really thought about it..." Videl broke off and met Gohan's eyes shyly, it would be the first time she had actually attended a dance, never having much of a reason to do so before. But truthfully she was hoping that he would ask her to go. She looked up and blushed realizing he was looking at her, as their eyes met he grinned a bit and nodded as he answered.
"And miss our first chance at an official date? I don't think so...if you want to Videl, I'd be glad to take you."
She giggled and nodded as Erasa smiled to them both as they settled in their talk turning to the next semester which would begin tomorrow. Gohan just let the time go without worrying about Hercule, Sharpner or anything that wasn't his family and friends. Tomorrow would be time enough for those things. Hours later the blonde bid them goodbye with a promise to see them in the morning at school and the Son household soon fell into slumber as Gohan anticipated the morning.
The next day was like any other school day, other than having to ride with Videl to avoid explaining how he got to school on time every day. They arrived together and were met at the door by their dance teacher who smiled and drew them to a side area of the hallway where Erasa met them. The young lovers blinked in curiosity, but Ms. Corwin smiled gently and began explaining.
"I wanted to ask you three to do me a favor, would you come to my class and perform a demonstration for the new beginner's class? It would be great for them to see what they'll learn."
Gohan blinked as Erasa nodded enthusiastically, Videl gave her assent as well and he shrugged with that quirky grin, "Can't say no to that..." Sharon was ecstatic and told them that they would be welcome to come since their class would be the period following her beginner's class. Gohan bade the girls goodbye as he left for his advanced calculus class. As he walked through the hall, adorned with posters proclaiming the coming dance, he thought about what had led to where he was. It seemed an almost magical journey, and he couldn't think of a more suitable way to celebrate this new beginning than the Homecoming Dance.
His thoughts were interrupted as he rounded a corner and ran into Jessica Linham, the school's ace reporter for the Orange Star Gazette. She pushed the glasses to her nose and gave her brown curls a slight bounce before holding up a cassette recorder and she peered in close causing Gohan to lean back a step. She was more than a little creepy and many students made a concentrated effort to avoid her, she had a habit of mixing up the words she wrote, still he realized that there was little way to get away short of moving her physically.
"Jessica Linham, Orange Star Gazette, I was covering the dance competition this weekend and rumors were abound about the sudden departure of Videl Satan from the competition, any comment as one of the alternates for the competition Gohan?" she grinned a bit, he was willing to bet she knew more than what she had asked and he began walking, but she would not be deterred.
"After questioning the other dancers backstage I heard that you had a very emotional exchange with Videl, afterwards she followed you outside and did not return to the stage...so the question everyone is dying to know..." she stopped in front of the crowded hallway where his class was, with students holding onto the precious moments before the bell rang it was the perfect audience to put him on the spot as she raised her voice, "Are you and Videl truly an item? Is the Princess of Satan City off the market? Give me something Gohan!"
The recorder was pressed so close that it bumped his nose, and all conversation stopped as the students regarded him in surprise, while the would be paparazzi was often incorrect in all the details, the stories still were mostly true and credible. Giving a silent groan the boy sighed and snatched the recorder from her. Resisting...barely...the urge to shatter it, he took a long calming breath and spoke quickly into the microphone, "No comment."
He tossed the recorder back and stepped into his calculus class as the bell rang, but it did nothing to still the whispers that followed his statement as the reporter called after him, "That's not a denial!" The day passed on, with many close calls to avoid the girl, she was a nuisance and he was amazed she was able to keep pace with him. Still he did keep her distant with a generous use of the men's room and the boy's locker rooms to delay her. Finally lunch rolled around and he met Videl and Erasa with a sigh as he slumped into the seat next to Videl.
"Rough day?" she asked, her hand seeking his beneath the table, they hadn't really discussed when to spread the word about their relationship. It was the main reason that he was trying to avoid Jessica until he had asked her about it. More to the point, he didn't know whether his girlfriend would want their relationship to be next week's cover story.
Erasa, sitting across from them, looked worriedly at Gohan as he relayed the story of his day. Then she looked down and spoke softly, "Don't look now Gohan, but I think your stalker is watching us...at the table behind you."
Gohan's hearing just picked up the sound of a shutter from the camera and he groaned again, "What do you think Videl?"
She giggled a bit, "At first I thought about just scaring her, but I suppose we'd best air it out before the wrong things get said. Besides..." she added with a grin, "I kinda like the idea of telling everyone this story."
He nodded and Erasa giggled rising slowly and stepping around carefully and surprising Jessica, "Hi!" The girl, so intent on her targets, jumped about a mile and scrambled to catch her equipment before it was too late, "We were wondering if you'd join Gohan and Videl for the exclusive interview...with myself of course." Erasa winked and giggled as the girl almost fell over again in excitement.
The rest of the meal was spent answering probing questions that told the story, with some side notes attached, of the joining between Gohan and Videl. Some details were passed up, and the situation with Videl and her father was completely omitted, but all in all the story was fairly well told. The girl took frantic notes not wishing to miss a word of what was said and by the end she was a bit misty eyed and had to remove her glasses as she sniffed a bit and smiled regarding her notes.
"Alright...a final question for you three..." she had as much on Erasa as she did anything and planned a complete article about the matchmaker and friendship, "Off the record for this one." And she turned off the recorder before looking at the three.
"I can print the article whenever you like, because I know you haven't told anyone else and out of respect for your wishes I will hold off releasing this issue until you're ready. Plus I'd love an interview with your teacher and even Sharpner...though I doubt he'll be very willing to talk with me." She winked and giggled.
Gohan looked to Videl and Erasa, who merely shrugged, "It's like, your secret to share guys, I'm just the lucky one who knew first."
"And helped it form thank you very much," Videl grinned as she spoke in her best no-nonsense tone of voice. After a moment of consideration she leaned close to whisper to Gohan, her breath caressing his ear in such a fashion that he visibly shivered. He grinned a bit though and nodded once.
"I think that's a great idea," he smiled to Jessica, "Saturday night, I think there's no better date for the release of this story."
Jessica nodded and smiled gently, "You guys are the best, congrats to the both of you. Can you stop by Friday before three, I want to show you the final draft so you can make sure that it is satisfactory. Also I'll need a really good picture for the cover."
They agreed and the girl ran off directly for the press room, and Gohan looked to Videl with that quirky grin, "So, our first date is set then?"
She nodded with a broad smile, "This is going to be a long week, but I can't wait for the next dance." And the three lifted their drinks in a toast to the first date, six days and counting.