Fated

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to Dragon Ball Z

A/N: Wow! I'm surprised by how many people found my first chapter so interesting – alright you've all convinced me! I hope you enjoy the second chapter!! Seeing as though my other DBZ fic isn't really getting any attention I decided to go ahead and write this story... I hope I don't disappoint anyone... ENJOY!

Oh and btw just in case anyone is wondering Trunks WILL appear in this story but much later… for anyone who likes sappy reunions and such you're reading the right story lol

Hqudsi45: I hope you enjoy this!

Mirai Gensao: I'd appreciate your input then :D

James: Thank you! Let's see what I can do with this then...

H-bomber: There you go :P

G. Login: …No… nice idea though but it would be way too AU and would change too many things… what I had in mind was to relieve the depression from Trunks' time-line …I knew it had to be done but I was so sad when everyone died, especially poor Trunks' father-figure!! So sad…

VegetaTrunks: Where there's a will there's a way! And there definitely is a will!! ;)

D: Why thank ya! I will try…

ShadowMajin: Thanks! I know the dream thing was a little far-fetched but they're soul-mates no? Anyway, not sure how you'd want me to elaborate on said feeling…

Linbug: Yes… I do so love writing cliff-hangers lol alright; let's see how this story goes on eh?

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Videl tilted her head to the side as she studied the scars on the man's face; her fingers itched to trace over them but she did not want to wake him after he had finally succumbed to sleep again. It had been about three hours after she and the team of medics found the man lying in that mix puddle of water and blood and they still could not figure out his blood type, no matter how many samples they studied… it didn't even look entirely human. 'Weird… as if he's not human or something…' she thought as she checked to see that the life sustaining liquids were still flowing.

It wasn't as if she was a doctor or anything but she knew enough from the many times she had helped with injured refugees that she knew what to look for. Videl jumped slightly when the man's face suddenly contorted in anguish and he groaned and struggled to move; she frowned in concern and swept her hand across his forehead delicately. His short jet-black hair clung to his forehead as he perspired with what Videl thought was either pain or the nightmare he seemed to be having... or both.

'What battles are you fighting… do you fight the androids even in your dreams?' she thought sadly as he calmed down slightly. On closer inspection Videl frowned, he looked a lot like the "Gold-Haired-Fighter" with "powers" that had fought the androids so many times before… could he and this man be one in the same?

'If that's true he really must be from another world... How wild!!' Videl thought excitedly but her excitement died when the stranger cried out in pain in his sleep and jerked suddenly. Videl gasped and tried to hold him down, keeping him from trashing around and hurting himself or the equipment. The very act of touching him seemed to soothe him for a reason she could not fathom, as if human contact was something unfamiliar to this man's body... or maybe it was just her touch?

When he had calmed Videl sat back in her chair and stared at him in bewilderment. He should be in a coma with the amount of injuries and blood loss he suffered... and yet there he was trying to free himself from the restraints of sleep... "Who are you…" she muttered to herself and was shocked when she got a response from him.

"M-My name…" the man rasped and his eyes fluttered open. Although he was in too much pain to turn his head he watched her from the corner of his eye.

"Please, don't try to speak – save your strength." Videl urged, grabbing a cloth that was soaking in a bowl on the table next to the bed to wipe sweat off the man's forehead. The man seemed to struggle to speak again and groaned with the effort he made to turn his head; when their eyes met once again he finished his sentence.

"My n-name is Gohan…" Gohan said and held in the urge to cough violently. Videl swallowed hard, Gohan's very voice made her shiver; it was husky and held an edge that spoke of years of hardship and maturity at too young an age making him sound almost severe. She frowned and placed the cloth down, gazing into his battle-worn face, resisting the urge to drown in his intense eyes.

"Gohan…" She tested his name, liking how it sounded, how it rolled off her tongue. "What are you? You shouldn't even be awake… you were half-dead just a few hours ago! So what are you?" Videl questioned, kicking herself for sounding so blunt and cruel – the man was practically on his death bed, he didn't need such questions now! But before she can apologize and take back what she said Gohan answered; Gohan smiled grimly but never took his eyes off her.

"I'm… not entirely… human if that's what y-you're asking…" he replied sheepishly, this time unable to stop from coughing roughly and grimacing when his broken ribs scrapped against his bruised lungs.

Videl's eyes widened, 'Not "entirely" human?' had she guessed right before?

Gohan struggled for breath before speaking again, "I-If I'm a-alive… than I'll heal… quicker than… a normal man…" he stuttered painfully and closed his eyes, waiting for her reaction.

"Then you are the Gold-Haired-Fighter! That's incredible!" Videl suddenly realized how loud and obnoxious she must have been and calmed down immediately. "Oh! I'm so sorry." Videl turned red and began to back up "I disturbed you; I'll leave you alone so you can rest and-"

"No!" Gohan gasped, opening his eyes to search for her frantically. "I… don't want… to be alone anymore… s-stay..." he said in a strangled voice, groaning with the effort to sit up. Truth be told Gohan had no idea why he didn't wish to be left alone; in the past he would have longed for solitude and peace to think about his friends and prepare for battle but now… now all he wanted was the company of this beautiful stranger. Videl's eyes widened and she ran back to his side, gently forcing him back down on the bed – he didn't resist.

"Alright I'll stay - just please lay still and try to rest." she pressed and sighed in relief when he nodded and closed his eyes.

"Fair enough…" was all Gohan said before sleep took him once again. Videl sighed again and sat back down next to him, her eye's wandered down to see Gohan clutching the sheets tightly; Videl frowned sadly and reached over to take his hand, blushing when he didn't resist and squeezed her hand back. When she felt his hold weaken she knew he had fallen asleep once more.

'Well… if he's not human and he heals faster than one than he won't need extra blood…' Videl thought. No one would question the daughter of the late Hercule. This had carried on for several more days – Videl would watch over him and make sure he was healing right and Gohan would listen to her tales of how they managed to survive and build underground refugee camps scattered across the land.

A week had passed and Gohan showed signs of healing; he would refrain from telling his side of the cruel lives they each lived but Videl suspected that he would open up in time. Each day they spoke more and each day it became harder and harder for them to stay apart, already becoming fast friends though there always seemed to linger an air of grief or solemn acceptance to the quandary of his situation and that of the world...

Gohan seemed much calmer than she had expected from a man who Videl suspected went through so much, though when he slept he was constantly bombarded with images of the androids killing everything he held dear and thrashed in his sleep. Videl would sit next to him and hold his hand, squeezing it when his dreams turned to the worst and praying that they would leave him altogether and soon, unaware to either of them that their salvation from the hell they lived in would come in a few short years...

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End A/N: Notice how I'm calling Gohan the "Gold-Haired-Fighter" it's different on purpose… sort of to separate the two time-lines? I'm warning you now – I tend to stop for varied periods of time with stories… especially if it seems like people are not finding it interesting and leaving reviews but even though I'm still working on updating the sequel to my other DBZ fic I do have a sort of plan for this story… please review and tell me what you think!