Chapter Seven; You've Got Some Splainin to Do

The shower was running in a bathroom a few doors down from where Gohan was sitting. He had figured that perhaps it would be appropriate to give Videl some space instead of waiting right by the door. It would be a strange thing to find that someone had practically been waiting up your butt while you had been taking a shower. So Gohan had pulled up a chair in the hallway and had situated himself at what he considered a courteous distance.

"This is a fine mess you've gotten yourself into Gohan. How on earth did today turn into something like this? How am I going to explain everything to Videl?"

Meanwhile, Videl was unwinding in the shower, washing all the stress of the day away. Such luxuries like showers can often be taken for granted. However, after nearly losing your life in a fight with a greedy and murderous gang, you realize just how great an everyday shower really is. She turned off the water and stepped out of the tube, being plunged once again into reality. Her thoughts turned to Gohan while she was drying herself.

"To think that all this time, Gohan was Saiyaman? All this time of me being humiliated by Saiyaman helping me and hating him for making me feel weak, I was hating Gohan? I know he was probably justified in his reason for hiding it. It just hurts for some reason when I think about it." She put on a comfortable t-shirt and jeans and collected herself for a moment. "I won't blow up. I have to keep an open mind. I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself Gohan. Don't screw up." She walked out of the bathroom once her hair was sufficiently dry to find Gohan waiting a short distance away.

"Videl." He stood up from his chair and looking at her expectantly.

"Gohan, what are you doing?"

"I figured you'd be wanting my explanation for...things." He suddenly found a nearby vase very interesting.

"Well, so far I know that you're Saiyaman, the flying and the lights you shoot from your hands must not be tricks, you're really fast, and you're super strong. Those are the cards we have on the table so far right?"

"Um, yeah."

"Okay. My next question is how, but I don't want to leave Sharpner and Erasa hanging. Our food will also be here soon and they'll come to get us. I think we'll need a more private setting to discuss these things."

"Yeah, I guess. It's just that Erasa saw me stressing out so I explained that you were mad at me for not telling you something, which is relatively true. She took it as me needing to explain and apologize about it so she sent me here." He scratched the back of his neck and looked away from here in embarrassment as he told her this. Videl soon had a blush to match his blush as she took it in.

"I'm sorry Gohan. I think she's trying to hook us up."

"Yeah." An awkward silence ensued.

"But you will stay and explain these things to me when they've gone won't you? Here, I'm not demanding it of you. I'm making a sincere request as a friend." Her eyes matched the words she spoke and Gohan could see that indeed held no air of authority or indignation as she spoke.

"How can I say no to that?" Gohan grinned as he felt the mood lighten all of a sudden. "I'll promise I'll clear up all this and explain things to you. I think you've proven yourself trustworthy enough." Videl blushed at his words.

"Well let's go Saiyaman. It's time to report to our match-maker." She winked as she punched him on the arm, heading for the kitchen.

"Right behind you."

Erasa and Sharpner looked up to see a refreshed looking Videl and a not so stressed out Gohan enter the kitchen. Gohan looked over at Erasa and smiled briefly. She smiled back in response. This was the silent indicator that things were going to be okay.

"Hey guys. You get your problem sorted out?" Sharpner asked them out of genuine interest, but had to hold himself back from letting his comment insinuate something more than the patching up of a friendly spat. The idea that there could be something going on between his two friends was still humorous and unlikely to him.

"Yeah, everything is good. So when's the food coming?" Gohan really only meant to dismiss the topic before it escalated into something awkward.

"Leave it to Gohan to ask about food. It should be here any minute, since we ordered it a while ago." A few seconds later, a doorbell rang. "Well, speaking of food. I believe that's our pizza right now."

"I'll go get it." Videl said as she grabbed the money and headed to the door. "Hello?"

"Your pizzas Miss Videl. You ordered three with three toppings each."

"Yeah, that sounds right. Thanks." She handed him the money and took the pizzas in her other hand.

"By the way, you mind if I got an autograph? I'm a fan of you and your father, but an autograph from you would great too. You do a great work here in the city, helping the police and all." She was taken aback by the request. Usually, all interest in her was simply because of her father.

"Sure, do you have something to write on?" He fumbled for a napkin and sheepishly handed it to her along with a pen. She wrote her name on the keepsake in intelligible letters. Sloppy autographs had always bothered her. "I have to say, this sort of thing doesn't usually happen simply out of my own merit." She handed it to him as she was saying this. "Usually, everyone only cares about my father."

"Nah, you've done awesome stuff too. If I didn't think you were worth noticing I wouldn't have asked for your autograph." He paused to look at the autograph. "Ah yeah! Thanks a lot! Okay, I've got to go. Thanks a lot for this!" He waved and headed back to his car. Videl waved back before taking picking the pizzas up and going back inside.

"Who knew someone would admire me for MY own merits and accomplishments? I guess anything is possible." She walked in with the pizzas. "Sorry guys. The pizza boy wanted an autograph. Who's hungry?" A resounding voice of hunger echoed throughout the room and no words were required. All hands went up and the fate of the pizzas was sealed.

Everything was consumed in the space of less than an hour. After they were done eating, everyone just sat around the table and talked for a while. It was nice just to spend time with one another without a worry or care in the world. Gohan joined in on all the conversations as if he too had been a part of the group for years. He laughed at familiar inside jokes and they laughed at a few of his witty and well-conceived jokes. It felt nice to feel like he belonged with people his own age. It was a luxury he had been deprived of for most of his life.

"Well, the plan was for a movie after dinner too, but it's been a full day." Sharpner stretched in his chair and took a sip from his drink. "I think me and Erasa are heading out for the night. It's been good Videl."

"Yeah girl. We haven't done this in a while. It was great, even if duty calls interrupted us." Erasa stood up and hugged her friend.

"Okay. See you guys on Monday."

"See you. Be good!" This earned a snicker from Sharpner, a sharp glare from Videl, and a clueless look from Gohan.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Catch you later." With a wave, the blonde couple was gone, leaving Gohan and Videl all alone. They looked at each other knowing.

"I guess it's that time now. We can talk here or go somewhere else."

"Let's go to my room. I'll feel like we have more privacy there."

"Alright." With that, the two teens headed to Videl's room. She closed the door behind them as Gohan settled in a chair. "One question first. Why did you feel the need to talk in here if we're alone?"

"Because our staff live here and could come in at any time. This is the best place to talk privately because my walls are soundproof. No one else but my father knows this. His room is the same."

"I see." Gohan paused as the weight of the moment sunk in. "I'm about to reveal probably anything she wants to know. I'm going to tell most of my life story to this girl I've come to care about." He looked at her contemplatively for a moment. "I want you to know that I really trust you. If I didn't, no amount of sweet talking or coaxing would convince me to reveal what I'm about to tell you."

"I understand. I don't take it lightly and I won't abuse your trust."

"Okay, so where do I begin? I guess to explain how I am who I am I would have to go back to the start of everything. You should probably get comfortable. This might take a while."

So Gohan started from the beginning of everything worth telling about his life. He told her about his uncle abducting him and he and his father dying in battle. He told her about how his father's arch nemesis kidnapping him after the fight and training him in the wilderness and how his father was wished back to life by summoning Shenlong. He told her about the harrowing battle with Nappa and Vegeta and how they traveled to Namek to wish back all of their fallen friends. He told her everything up from his childhood up to the most recent events of his masked crime fighting escapades. By the end of his story Videl had been amazed, shocked, confused, outraged, and brought to tears all in the course of an less than an hour. Not a detail was spared until there wasn't a question she had left to ask him.

"Wow." It was all Videl could say as she sat back, breathless from the story. "It sounds like a load of crap, but it also makes sense. I know you weren't lying to me so it must be true. It's just so hard to believe that things so outrageous were actually happening around me. Gohan smiled.

"Welcome to my life. Sometimes not even I can fathom my own story. You understand why I never talk a lot about myself. When I come to school and hang out with you guys, it's my shot at a normal life. However, I would do anything to protect anyone who becomes important to me, so I never stopped training." He looked at her with a longing he couldn't help from showing for second. He shook it off just as quickly as he had felt it come.

"I finally understand you Gohan." She looked at him thoughtfully, not completely missing the way he had looked at her. "You've had a rough life. I'd make my father give you the credit you rightfully deserve, but I understand that would destroy the life you've fought to build for yourself. Now that I can fully understand you, I can apologize with more meaning than before."

"You don't have to apologize Videl. I-what are you doing?" She had risen from her bed and walked over to his chair, bending close to his face.

"I'm sorry Gohan." She planted a quick kiss on his lips and pulled away before he could even react. Both were silent as Videl took in Gohan's reaction and Gohan tried to process what was going on. "You better go before it get's too late." She had a sly smile on her face.

"I, uh, yeah." His thoughts wouldn't form clearly and short answers were probably the best choice at the moment. He rose and prepared to leave but was stopped.

"Just one more thing." This time she wasn't so confident and suddenly found her feet interesting.

"Yes?"

"Teach to me to fly. Not only that, but show me how to be stronger. You said anyone could learn to do these things, right? I want to learn, and I can't think of a better teacher than you." A smiled slowly grew on his face.

"I think I'll keep her." He nodded in agreement to her request. "I'd love to teach you Videl."

"Consider it...blackmail."

"Well, I better not fail you then." He smirked then headed for the window.

"Where are you going?"

"Home. See you Monday." With a farewell wave he opened her balcony windows and took off. She stared at his white aura as it slowly shrank in the distance, mesmerized by his form as he flew towards his mountain residence.

"It's really all true. I knew it was, but to actually see him fly like that was...amazing." She finally closed her windows and prepared for bed. "You better keep your promise Gohan." Her thoughts were filled with him as she drifted off to sleep and a smile formed on her lips.

It was nearly nine as Gohan landed on his lawn. Inside, he found his mother sitting on the couch by the lamp and reading a book.

"Hi mom. How was your day?"

"It was good. Goten and I had a busy day today. How about you? It's still before your curfew, but I didn't expect you quite so late. Did you have fun?"

"A lot of fun mom. It's more fun than I've had in a while. By the way, I'm probably going to have a friend from school over soon. She found out that I could fly and wants me to teach her."

"Oh okay." She went back to her book then paused as his words sunk in. "What did you just say young man!? How did this girl find out you can fly!? You know I've told you to be careful when you fly."

"I know. I'm sorry mom, but it happened while I was helping her out in my Saiyaman disguise. My helmet broke and she recognized me. She asked me to train her after I explained myself." His mother sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I know this kind of thing would happen eventually. Oh well. This is the consequence of your recklessness. You'll just have to face it and deal with it. Wait a second, isn't this that girl that has always been suspicious of you and was mad at you for being secretive with her?

"Um, yes she is."

"I see. Okay. You're free to go." She waved him off to his room.

"Um, okay, night mom." He shook his head as he went to his room. "What was that about?" He didn't see his mother rub her hands together and stare into space with a devious and scheming expression.

"I'll set those two up yet." She let out a slight cackle that Gohan heard from behind his door.

"I don't even want to know." He prepared himself for bed and was careful not to disturb his sleeping brother. As soon as he had brushed his teeth and stripped down to his boxers, he crawled under his covers. His thoughts continued going back to the most recent events of the night and a question kept playing and replaying over and over in his head. "What happened tonight?" As he slept, an attractive, raven-haired girl occupied his nocturnal thoughts.

It wasn't even 5:00 when Gohan woke up the next morning, but something inside of him told him that he should wake up as soon as possible. After putting on his training clothes, he left a note explaining where he had gone. He flew into the mountains and didn't return until just before lunch. The bruises and sweaty smell told his mother exactly what he had been doing.

"Just what do you think you're doing taking off like that young man!? You didn't say you were going to be gone this long! I was worried sick about you! Besides, who says you get to just take off like that when I need help around the house and with your brother?"

"I'm sorry mom. In my meditation I lost track of time." A perplexed look appeared on Chichi's face and Gohan realized what he had done. "Hehe, I was working on that. I forgot to talk normally."

"Umm, okay? Did Piccolo teach you that?"

"Yes mom. It's part of my mental training." He then levitated a glass from the cabinet, manipulated the faucet to fill it up, then floated it to his waiting hand. "That was too." He took a drink and inwardly smirked. "If I freak her out enough, it'll distract her. Ah yes, it's working." By then Chichi turned pale for a moment then shook her head.

"Ugh, why couldn't I have lead a normal life with a normal husband and normal sons?" She walked away as she was too flabbergasted to continue her rant.

"Yes! And he escapes unscathed by her scalding fury once again!" He proceeded to make himself ten sandwiches and satisfy his not so merciful appetite. After cleaning up after himself, he looked around. "If I don't do something productive today, mom will be mad. I guess I can fold those clothes hanging out on the line." He proceeded to do just that and had the laundry folded in less than twenty minutes. His mother walked back into the room to find several stacks of folded clothes, towels, and sheets.

"Well thank you Gohan. I guess I can excuse you for flying off like that earlier, but I'd like you to know that I'm worried about your training. It's well and good to be ready to protect us, but you need to be living in the here and now Gohan. The protector of earth needs to live his life too you know?" Gohan sat in contemplation at his mother's words.

"I was going to wait to tell you this, but something is going to happen in less than a year. I have to be ready to face it or else it could threaten every single thing or being in existence. I would was going to tell you later, but it looks like you should know about what's going on." Chichi looked like she didn't know if he was serious or being melodramatic. She sat down in a chair and for once, in one of those rare moments, she was at a loss for words.

"Is this really true? How long have you known?"

"I found out recently. We recently felt a large and sinister ki for an instant then headed to the lookout to discuss it. Dende had been in contact with King Kai and they informed us of the current situation. It was very serious so I didn't want to add more stress to you when you already go through a lot."

"You knew you had to tell me sometime. Well I won't forbid you from training or facing it. It's in your blood and when you fight it's for a bigger cause than my own wants and desires for you. Besides, you'll be done with high school before it happens!" She pumped her fist in the air as she stood up dramatically. Gohan fell over at her change in demeanor and where her thoughts always were. "Just kidding! I love you and I'm proud of you Gohan. I just don't you to get hurt. I couldn't take it if I lost you or Goten like we lost your father." She pulled him into a motherly embrace.

"I love you too mom. I'm not going to let anything happen to you or anyone else." They parted and she smiled at him like only a proud mother can. "By the way. Part of my training involves my being teleported to Other World so they can finish training me. I may or may not be around for the last couple weeks of school." He waited for the storm to follow his unfortunate news.

"What!? I'm having a word with those Kais! Take me to Dende and get me a connection NOW!" Gohan sighed as his mother ran outside and called the nimbus cloud.

"Well Dende, good luck. Maybe you'll pay attention when I'm need of more favorable circumstances after this?"

"Come on Gohan! You're coming too! It's YOUR education we're talking about here! I'm not going to hold your hand like you're a baby for the rest of your life!"

"No, just a grown man with the rights of a baby." He muttered and flew off to accompany his mother as she doomed the guardian of earth. Or perhaps he was going to accompany the guardian as he received his doom. Goten stood in the hallway as they flew off towards the lookout. He scratched his head as he processed that he had been left alone.

"So Gohan is training to save the world and he might miss school? Cool, now where's that leftover cake? Ah, yes. Come to papa you heap of sweet, crumby goodness."