Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Dragonball series.

Chapter 7

Meet Saruo!

Gohan still had a huge grin on his face the next morning when he woke up. He'd kissed a girl, scratch that, he'd kissed a beautiful girl. He'd kissed a celebrity too and now she was asleep in his bed. Admittedly he was three doors down the hall but still she was in his bed. Then it slowly dawned on him...he'd kissed Vegeta's daughter!

He sat bolt upright. There was a knocking at the front door. He clambered off the couch and staggered into the kitchen. He opened the door and had to blink a couple of times until he recognised the person stood there as Yamcha. "Morning Yamcha," he croaked before coughing.

"Morning Gohan," said Yamcha, "Just stopped by to drop this off." He lifted up a back pack.

"It's got some of Appura's clothes in it and some other bits and pieces in it," he said, handing it over. Gohan still looked confused. "How did you get here?" he croaked, his voice still not completely awake.

"Oh, Bulma," said Yamcha, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder. Gohan looked out the door and saw Bulma's jet. Bulma was at the wheel, Vegeta next to her and Ima was sat in the back with Trunks asleep in her lap. Gohan waved at them sleepily. Vegeta turned his head away, apparently refusing to have anything to do with him. Ima slid her window down. "Hope she's not causing too much trouble," she called over.

"My dad gave her my clothes and my bed," replied Gohan, smiling. Ima laughed.

"See you later, buddy," said Yamcha, squeezing Gohan's shoulder and heading back over to the jet. Gohan went back into the house with the bag. "Who was that?" said a sleepy voice. Gohan looked up and saw Appura stood in the kitchen doorway, one hand in her hair, wearing nothing other than his shirt. Well, nothing he could see anyway. Gohan just looked her over. Her hair was all tussled from sleep, her face relaxed and her legs exposed. She looked gorgeous. Gohan felt the blood in his head rush southwards so he quickly shook his head. "Your mom just dropped off some clothes for you," he said, looking away and handing the bag over. Appura walked over and took the bag off him. Gohan blushed a little. "Maybe you should get dressed," he said, "My mom and dad are getting up soon and if my mom sees you dressed like that, she'll be announcing our engagement in the society pages."

"Yeah, g...g...good idea," Appura stuttered. She turned and headed back towards his room. He followed her just to make sure neither his mom nor dad happened to look out while she was still in the hallway. "Se...See you in a bit," she said, smiling up at him. Gohan smiled back and leaned against the wall on his elbow. "See you in a bit," he said. She shut the door just as his parent's door opened and his dad strolled out, already dressed in his gi. He looked at his son curiously. "She's still getting dressed," Gohan said plainly, hoping his dad wouldn't notice anything. Goku just smiled at him and headed outside to collect some fire wood. Chi-Chi appeared just behind Goku, putting the finishing touches to her hair. "Who was knocking at the door?" she asked Gohan.

"Oh, it was Yamcha, he and Ima dropped off some stuff for Appura," he said. Chi-Chi nodded. Goku had already filled her in on the Saiyan princesses dramatic late night arrival and her plea for Goku to train her.

A moment later, the door of Gohan's room opened. Appura was stood there wearing a pair of black training shorts and a baggy white t-shirt. In her hand were a pair of trainers and she had some white socks on her feet. Unfortunately the t-shirts sleeves weren't long enough to hide the horrific purple bruises that still covered her upper arms. Gohan swallowed the swell of anger that filled him. It was lucky that he'd still been half-asleep when Yamcha had dropped off Appura's stuff or he may have dragged the Saiyan prince from the jet and beaten him senseless. "How are your arms?" he asked.

"They still hurt a little," Appura replied quietly.

"He'll pay for that," said Gohan quietly, his brow furrowing.

"Gohan, don't!" Appura said firmly, "I don't want to be protected by others anymore. That's why I'm here."

"Sorry," he said quietly.

"Thanks though," she said.

Ok," said Goku, hands on his hips, "Hit me."

"Wh...what?" said Appura, stopping dead.

"Hit me," he said, pointing at his cheek, "Right here, c'mon, I want to see what you've got." Appura just stood there. "Gohan, help her," said Goku, not moving an inch. Gohan pushed Appura forward so she was within arm's reach. He turned her so she was slightly at an angle and used his feet to nudge her feet to shoulder-width apart. "Ok," he said, "Close your fist, pull back and then give him everything you got." Appura's punch was the most pathetic thing Gohan had ever seen, she barely even touched Goku. Gohan shook his head. He had an idea. He called his father over and whispered to him, "Taunt her, act like Vegeta does."

"What? You think that'll work?" Goku whispered back.

"Dad, she hit him last night, his cheek was all red this morning when they came by," Gohan said softly. Goku looked over his shoulder at Appura who was looking around the forest clearing, trying not to watch them.

"Ok," said Goku, "We'll give it a go but I don't know if I can pull off Vegeta." The two men turned around and returned to their original positions. Gohan bent down and whispered into Appura's ear, "Pretend he's your dad." Appura frowned in confusion. Gohan just smiled at her. Appura looked back at Goku, who was frowning.

"That punch," he said, still not believing he could do a good Vegeta impression, "Was THE most pathetic thing I've ever seen, young lady! You shouldn't be fighting, you're a princess! You're just wasting my time. You're useless." Appura looked hurt which made Goku feel really bad, but he had to unlock her hidden potential somehow. He kept berating her which was hard given his nature. She looked up at him and tried to picture her father shouting at her instead. Last night came flooding back. The pain of when he grabbed her arms, his venomous words, and the satisfaction she got when she had slapped him.

Goku had gotten so into his impression of Vegeta, he didn't see Appura's fist flying towards him until it was too late. He moved his arm to try to block it but Appura's hand had already connected with his cheek, sending him flying across the clearing. He hit the ground with a thump. He sat bolt upright and saw Appura running towards him. Goku stood up, thinking she was coming to help him. He'd just dusted himself off when he saw her trying to kick him. He quickly blocked her leg and then another punch. This was great, now he knew what she was capable of. He just needed her to be able to channel it and access it without them having to taunt her into a rage. Goku was easily able to keep up with her but she didn't seem to want to stop. "Gohan, a little help here?" he called. Gohan ran over and grabbed Appura, putting one arm around her neck and another around her waist. He pulled her back as she desperately tried to continue to kick Goku. "It's ok, it's alright, you got him," Gohan said, giving her a slight shake. Appura stopped fighting back. Her breath was ragged and the look on her face was scarily similar to Vegeta's expression when he fought. "Ok," said Goku, "So we know you have the power. You just need to access it."

"Err, Dad," said Gohan, "You have some blood..." Gohan tapped his chin. Goku wiped his own chin with the back of his hand and saw a trail of blood on it. "Well, there you go," said Goku, "You will be a warrior your dad can be proud of. You already hurt me." Appura smiled a little.

The rest of the day was spent with Appura throwing punches and kicks as she tried to access her hidden power. She was getting there, but it would take a while. By the time they arrived back at the house that night, Appura was exhausted whilst Goku and Gohan had hardly broken a sweat. Twelve feet from the door, Appura fell to the ground, unable to take another step. She lay on the ground, panting. Goku didn't even stop, he just kept going; he was hungry and not even a collapsed Saiyan princess would stand between him and his dinner. Gohan bent down and pulled one of Appura's arms over his shoulders and half-carried her into the house.

He helped her into his bedroom and sat her down on the bed. She landed rather ungracefully on the bed. She tried to straighten herself out but her muscles screamed in protest at any movement. She cried out and fell face first into the bed. She stayed perfectly still and didn't even open her eyes until she felt Gohan gently lift her legs up. Even then her muscles cried out and she bit back tears. She felt the bed move as Gohan sat down and put her legs in her lap. She felt his warm hands begin to rub her legs, easing the pain in her muscles. It felt nice. He raised his ki to make his hands as warm as a heat pack, gently easing the soreness out of her muscles. "I wish there was a way to speed up this process," she said, "I hate to think it could be years before I reach the same level as you guys."

"You just sounded like your dad," said Gohan, still gently massaging her legs, "Impatient little princess. Roll over." Appura shifted herself until she rolled over so Gohan could massage the muscles in the front of her legs. "I should call him," she said.

"Your dad? After what he did?" said Gohan.

"You make it sound like he beat the living daylights out of me," she said, "All he did was drag me up off the floor."

"I've seen him lift Bulma and Trunks up by the arms before," said Gohan, "And he's never left a mark on them."

"I'm gonna call him," she said, "I need to get my cell phone." She moved to get up but found Gohan pushing her back down. "Goten! Get Appura's cell phone!" he shouted. Goten walked in a moment later, an annoyed look on his face. "I'm not Appura's slave," he said, handing over the cell phone. He then stuck his tongue out at Gohan and left. Gohan returned the gesture to Goten's retreating head and handed Appura her cell phone. She opened it up and dialled a number. Gohan took that moment to take off her shoes and socks and rub her sore feet. He watched as her eyes closed and a smile spread across her face. "Hey Bulma," she said after a moment, "It's Appura. I'm ok. Yeah, I've been training. All frickin' day! It's not so bad, turns out at the end Gohan turns into a masseuse. Without a doubt, the best foot rub I've ever had. Can't believe I used to pay people to do this."

"Your feet stink," Gohan piped up.

"I'm too tired to even care," Appura said, "Look, Bulma; can I speak to my dad please? Yeah, I know he's pissed off. Please? Thanks." She went quiet for a few minutes. Gohan looked at her, her smile had disappeared. "Dad, I know you're there," she said, her eyes still closed, "Please talk to me. Please...Dad...please, I know you're angry with me but please, talk to me." Gohan faintly heard Vegeta reply. He stopped rubbing her feet. Appura put the cell phone down and covered her face with her hands. "Appura?" he said quietly. Appura let out a sniff. She was trying to hold back tears but one leaked out. She sat up and turned her face away from Gohan. "Appura," he said, reaching out. He gently took hold of her chin and turned her to face him. She looked sad. He took his hand away from her chin and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. "What happened?" he asked gently, resting his forehead against her head. Appura sniffed again.

"He said he w...w...would not speak to me or your family whilst y...y...your father is training me and then he hung up," she said, her stutter suddenly resurfacing. Her hands flew up to her face again but Gohan caught her wrists with his hand and pulled them away. "Look at me," he said, "Look at me!" Appura turned her head to look at him. "He's not worth crying over," he said, looking into the beautiful blue eyes looking back at him. He stroked her hair gently. He breathed in through his nose and let her scent fill his mind. Oh how he wanted to kiss her. "You're right," she said softly, "He...he...he's not worth it. I'm going to prove him wrong. I'll be the best warrior this planet has ever seen. Ok, maybe third best after you and your dad." Gohan smiled.

"Damn right you will," he laughed.

Over the next week and a half, Appura had a renewed confidence and determination. She was certainly pulling out all the stops. Her Saiyan genetics really kicked in and she was soon at a level where she could fight some of the strongest human fighters, but she struggled to channel ki energy and subsequently could not yet achieve flight. It frustrated her but it made her push herself even harder. Her strength grew exponentially every day. She was soon able to do a one-handed hand stand with either Goku or Gohan standing on her feet.

On her eleventh day of training, she surpassed Videl. The human girl had been coming over to help train Appura as she was closest to Appura's level. Appura surpassed her by knocking the girl out. Goku was impressed and began considering taking her to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. Videl propped herself up on her elbows, still feeling dizzy from the blow. "That was incredible," she heard Gohan say. Her vision cleared and she saw him, holding one of Appura's hands and talking to her. She frowned. He used to look at her that way. The pair of them had started seeing each other briefly but it hadn't worked out for one very simple reason. She couldn't keep up with him. She couldn't keep up with him whether they were flying, sparring or doing algebra. It still hurt to be around him, but the pain was easing and Videl was treasuring each moment he was her friend because she knew there wouldn't be many more of them for a long time. She was joining the army, based on the advice of a career counsellor and the offer of a job as a hand to hand combat instructor. It would take her far away from Satan City and Mt. Paozu, and far away from Gohan.

She smiled when she saw her former boyfriend smiling down at another girl. He'd taken their 'break-up' the hardest, and had looked miserable for weeks afterwards but he was becoming the Gohan she knew and had loved and still did in a sense, once again. She sighed. Now was as good a time as any. She stood up, her head having recovered from the blow the Saiyan princess had struck. "I'm not gonna be able to come tomorrow," she said as she dusted herself off. Gohan and Goku looked at her in surprise. "What? Why?" asked Gohan.

"I'm leaving Satan City, I...I've joined the army," she said, "I have to report to Central City tomorrow morning. I don't know when I'll see you guys next." Gohan walked over to her.

"We'll see you soon," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders, "Thanks for your help, Videl. I'll keep an eye on the city for you." He pulled her into a hug. She held on tight and closed her eyes.

"Thanks Gohan," she said, pulling away, "Good luck Appura." She turned and left the forest clearing. Moments later they heard her jet lifting into the air. Goku lifted off the ground and floated over the forest canopy. Gohan pulled Appura onto his back and followed him. Videl's jet wasn't far away, they could see her clearly. She waved at them and the three Saiyans waved back. Her jet turned north and headed off into the darkening sky. "Well, it's almost supper time," said Goku, "Time to head home."

Gohan looked over at the girl sat on the other end of the couch, past his little brother who was bouncing around. His mother and father were washing the dishes in the kitchen. She looked so beautiful. She was one of the most beautiful girls he had ever seen. They hadn't spoken about the time they had kissed yet. He was fascinated by her. She kept her tail coiled up at the base of her back, underneath her clothes, even when she could let it show. Gohan's eyes flicked to the TV screen for a moment and froze there when he saw a picture of Appura and his father appear on the screen. "And in celebrity news, the whereabouts of pop sensation Apple Vee were discovered today," said the reporter. The door opened and Goku's head appeared around it.

"The eighteen-year-old singer fled her first TV interview almost two weeks ago and hasn't been seen in public since," continued the reporter, "She has been spotted at the home of former World Martial Arts Champion, Son Goku." Goku stepped into the room completely and crossed his arms. Chi-Chi appeared behind him with a plate still in her hands. Goku was frowning at the screen. The reporter was reeling off something about Goku proposing to Chi-Chi at the Tournament nineteen years before. Appura was horrified. She was terrified that the peace and serenity of Mt. Paozu would be disturbed thanks to her. At that moment a flash went off from the window. Appura blinked. In the moment that followed, Gohan had sped over to her and had placed one arm protectively around her. The camera flashed again. The plate Chi-Chi had been holding flew across the room, smashing through the window and smashing the camera. Appura felt Gohan grab her wrist and pull her from the room, just as a video camera appeared at the window. Appura caught a glimpse of Chi-Chi storming across the room. Gohan pulled her into his room. He slammed the door and quickly closed the blinds. "Shit, Gohan, I'm sorry," said Appura. Gohan stared at her; he'd never heard her swear before.

"What are you apologising for?" he asked, "You didn't do this on purpose. You didn't call the press and tell them where you are." He heard shouting. It was his mother, apparently single-handedly taking on the multitude of press officers and paparazzi that were outside. Gohan looked around the room, trying to get an idea. He needed to get Appura out of the house so his parents could deal with the media. He spotted something lying on the bed. It was a black dress with a hood. "What's that?" he asked.

"Huh, oh that," said Appura, "Mom made me that so I could go into town in disguise if need be while I'm out here." Gohan had an idea. He grabbed the scissors that lay on the desk behind him. He threw the dress at her. "Quick, get changed," he said.

"What?"

"I have an idea," he said. Appura quickly pulled off the t-shirt she was wearing. Gohan blushed slightly and turned around. He hadn't expected her to do that straight away. He certainly hadn't expected her to be bra-less underneath. He looked at his desk just to keep himself occupied. There was a small vanity mirror on it. According to Appura it could take up to half an hour to fix her hair so she didn't look like a female version of her dad. In the mirror, he could see her. Her gentle curves were something to behold. Until he had met her, he'd always thought Saiyan women would be pretty much straight up and down, not remotely feminine. But now he thought about it, his mother, Ima and Bulma were curvy women...perhaps he'd been wrong. She pulled the dress on before she removed the pyjama bottoms she'd been wearing. "Ok, done," she said. Gohan quickly turned around before she realised he'd been watching her. He turned her around. "Stay still," he said. Appura shivered a little as he ran a hand down her back, trying to find the base of her tail. He found it, and snipped a hole. "Thread your tail through," he said before dropping to his knees. Appura wondered what the hell he was up to. He grabbed the skirt of the dress and started snipping at it. Within a matter of minutes, Appura had a hooded dress with a skirt three inches shorter and a hole for her tail. She'd just finished threading it through when Gohan handed her the strip he'd cut from her dress. He'd cut two holes in it, creating a Zorro-style mask. She tied it around her head.

"What are we doing?" she asked. Gohan smiled and pressed a button on his watch, changing his clothes to the Great Saiyaman costume. "We're leaving," he said. Appura pulled on the first pair of shoes she could find, which just so happened to be the heels she'd worn the night she'd come here. Goten had found them half a mile down the road where they'd fallen after Appura had slipped in the rain. Gohan grabbed her hand and pulled her out the room. He went to the room two doors down and on the opposite side of the house, facing out on to thick forest. There was still shouting and smashing coming from the living room. By the sounds of it, Chi-Chi and her crockery had turned into a one woman army. He pulled Appura into the room and quickly slammed the door shut. Appura looked around. The room was very...pink from the walls to the floors to the bed linen. "What room is this?" she asked. Gohan went over to the far side and opened the window.

"My mom and dad's room," he said, beckoning for her to come over. He lifted her up so she was sat on the ledge.

"The world's greatest protector has a pink bedroom," she said, "I can actually believe that." She swung her legs over the ledge and jumped from the window. Gohan followed her. He pulled her into the thick forest. There would be no press here. When they were far enough in, Gohan stopped. "Now what?" said Appura, her heart beating madly. This was exciting. Disguising herself as a hero and sneaking out the house to escape the press. She'd fantasised about this before now. Gohan threw an arm around her waist and pulled her close. "Hold on tight," he said. Appura put her arms around his neck. Gohan bent his knees and leapt into the air. Appura tightened her hold on him and closed her eyes as they flew through the air but couldn't stop smiling.

"Alright, lady, hand it over," said the crook. The terrified old lady just shook with fear.

"Alright you asked for it," he said, raising his arm. He was about to bring it down when it was stopped. He looked at it. A hand held his forearm. The hand belonged to some girl in a hood and mask, a tail flicking behind her. "That's not very nice," she said. He was knocked backwards as her foot connected with his stomach. He crashed into some garbage bins. He was stunned for a moment. He felt someone grab him by his shirt and he was brought face to face with the Great Saiyaman. "Evening," said Saiyaman, "Hey, look out for his friend." The girl spun round and hit the first crook's accomplice, knocking him out cold before he could hit her with a lead pipe. A siren wailed and two police cars pulled up outside the alleyway. Looks like someone had seen either the attempted mugging or Saiyaman entering the alley. Three police officers clambered out the cars. "Good evening, officers," said Saiyaman.

"Saiyaman! We...we haven't seen you in weeks," said one of the officers, "Everything ok?"

"It is now," he said, "I'll leave these gentlemen in your very capable hands." He dropped the first crook back to the ground.

"Who's your friend?" asked one of the other officers, nodding towards the girl. Saiyaman turned and looked at her, smiling before replying, "Her name is Saruo."

A/N: Oh my kami! Four days this chapter took to write! FOUR DAYS! Oh and Saruo is Japanese for Monkey Tail.