Chapter 3- Live Your Life

He watched as she was led into the courtroom and as her hands were unshackled by the police officer. She wore a simple black pants suit and had her hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. He couldn't help but think that even under these circumstances she looked as beautiful as ever. His heart ached for her. The guilt of what he had done was heavy for him to bare, he knew that he was responsible for putting her there.

Their eyes met briefly as she walked independently to sit with her lawyers. Her eyes were always so full of life and determination, but on this day, all he saw was sorrow. They looked dull and reddened as if she had been crying and fine lines etched underneath them indicating that she hadn't been sleeping well.

He looked around at the other faces in the audience, each one of them had lost loved ones because of her, each one hoping that justice was on their said. He couldn't blame them though, they had every right to want justice. He felt awkward sitting among them with his silent hope that the courts go easy on her.

The palm of his hands began to sweat as everyone was asked to rise for the entrance of the judge. Her sentencing hearing was about to begin, he knew it was coming. Gohan wasn't foolish, he knew the law very well. She was facing the death penally, or life imprisonment. He knew that if given the choice, she would choose death rather than live a life being held behind bars. She was far to independant for that.

He had tried to help her, he really did, but now it was out of his hands now, she already pleaded guilty.

He sat back down slowly, holding his breath when he realized that he could not handle it, he could not sit there and watch as her life and freedom was taken from her. He did not want to hear her screams or crys when the judge announced her fate, so he got up and left the court room.

As he closed the door behind him he ran into the Satan City chief of police. "Hey buddy, you leaving already? This is our victory,"

Gohan shuddered at the word victory, to him, this was no victory. "Yeah, I'm not feeling to good, I going to get some rest," he said timidly

"That's ashamed, if it wasn't for you she would have never been caught. Everyone here thanks you,"

"Don't thank me. Just doing my job."

"Either way son, I'm proud of you. The street are a lot safer without her around."

The chief patted him on the back and went inside the room. Gohan shook his head and left Videl to her fate.

Hours later, he sat alone in his lavish Satan City apartment, afraid to turn on the television. He knew there would be news about her and he dreaded it. He sat on his couch with the remote in one hand and a whiskey bottle in another. His mother would be appalled to see his condition, he was a wreck.

He kept replaying the events of the last few months in his mind trying to figure out where everything went wrong. Why had they gone so very wrong!

He was about to take another drink when there was a knock at his door. Not having the energy or the will to get up, he simply yelled "it's opened!"

The doorknob turned and in walked the last person Gohan wanted to see at that moment.

"What are you doing here?" Gohan asked with his teeth clenched.

"I thought you'd be happy to see me. I should have figured, you're never happy to see me are you?"

"Let's get one thing straight, Seventeen, the only reason I haven't killed you yet is out of respect for Krillin and his family. You should be thanking him for your life right now."

"Now now Gohan, is that anyway to treat a guest?"

"Get out,"

"No worries, I'll leave you to your self pity in a minute. I just came by to congratulate you on a job well done. She was sentenced to death."

Gohan's eyes shot up, both the remote and the bottle of whiskey broke as he clenched his fists. "NO! A death sentence?"

Seventeen smiled, "You really thought they would have let her live after what she's done, come on Gohan, I thought you were smarter than that."

Gohan tried to fight back the tears, "GET OUT!"

"Well," Seventeen said as he folded his arms, "I'm glad you realize that this is your doing,"

"She did it to herself, getting involved with the likes of you,"

Seventeen grunted, "Keep telling yourself that, Mr. Saiyaman."

"I said get out!"

"Very well, I'll leave, I wouldn't want you to blow a fuse and destroy this lovely apartment of yours."

And with that Seventeen exited the apartment, slaming the door behind him.

'Damned Android!'

With broken glass in one hand and bits of the remote in the other Gohan got up and washed off.

REWIND 9 YEARS

It had been 2 weeks since the world found out that Hercule Satan was dead, two weeks of ceremonies, candlelight vigils and public celebrations honoring the champ. It had also been two weeks since anyone at Orange Star High School had seen or heard from Videl. Both Sharpener and Erasa had tried to call her but neither got a response. In addition to that, no one was allowed near the Satan mansion where there was an ongoing investigation.

Neither of them had been out of contact with Videl for so long and they feared the worse. Last time she had lost a parent it took months for her to get back to her normal self, and that was 6 years ago. They were only kids then, but this time was different, they were only months away from graduation and Videl could not afford to miss that much school again.

Gohan felt bad for Videl, he too knew what it was like to lose a parent, all the pain, torment, and the guilt of not being there, it can drive a person mad. But at least he knew what happened to his dad, Hercule's death was a complete mystery, that was probably the worst part.

Unfortuately, at that moment Gohan did not think of using the dragonballs to wish Hercule back to life and prevent all the mourning, the idea never popped into his head. Something he'd regret later on in his life.

What he had thought about was going to see Videl to make sure she was alright. All he had to do was sense for her ki to find her location. But like before he talked himself out of it. He barely knew Videl, and Videl barely knew him, it would be inappropriate.

As Saiyaman he flew over Satan City bored that there were no crimes being committed. He assumed that the criminals were laying low until the Satan murder investigation was over.

With nothing else to do, he turned around and went home. He would not see Videl again for another eight and a half years.

FASTFORWARD 9 YEARS

Gohan started pacing up and down in his apartment with a fresh bottle of Whiskey in hand.

The death sentence! The death sentence! How could they give her the death sentence? Why? Those Brainless lawyers! Even if they ask for an appeal there is probably a 5% chance of the sentence being overturned! Stupid lawyers!... Damnit Videl, why didn't you just listen. Why? You could have gotten out, you could have saved yourself! Why!

His thoughts were yet again interrupted by a knock on the door. "God damnit, it's opened!" he yelled, silently hoping it wasn't his mother at the door.

Thankfully it was Erasa. "Hi Gohan"

He put the bottle down on the center table and sighed "Hi Erasa"

She closed the door behind her and walked closer to Gohan. "I just heard what happened. I came to see how you're doing."

"How the hell do you think I'm doing Erasa?" He asked, instantly regretting his hostile attitude towards the girl.

"I'm sorry," She said as she noticed that Gohan was not his usual well put together self. His Glasses were off, his tie was loose, and he was clearly drunk.

"No No I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you."

"Gohan you know, you tried your best to help her. It's not your fault. Some people just don't want help."

"I know I know Erasa, please sit." he said as he guided her to the couch and sat down beside her. "I just feel like I betrayed her,"

"She betrayed herself Gohan. You had a job to do."

Gohan shook his head and started massaging his temples.

"You love her don't you Gohan?"

He grunted, "It doesn't matter now, does it."

"I guess not."

There was silence for a minute until she started again. "I feel the same way as you Gohan, she was my best friend. But lets face it, the girl I knew as my best friend is dead and gone. She died 9 years ago. Gohan, the best thing we can do now is go on with our lives. She's been given the death sentence. We just have to go on living our lives... Just live your life Gohan. You have to forget about her."

"That's easier said than done Erasa. There is no life without Videl. No life at all."

That's All For now. I know it was kind of cheap to simply say that he 'forgot about the dragonballs'... But I had to do it. Story would not be the same if Hercule was wished back.

Anyway, Hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for reading!