Disclaimer: I, Goku's Daughter, do not own Dragonball/Z/GT.

Thank you reviewers for your kind support. Without you and your comments, I could not continue this fic. Thanks Rupee for editing again.

Edit December 30, 2008: A correction made thanks to Ryan for pointing it out.


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Sinful

Written by the somewhat infamous Goku's Daughter

Chapter Fourteen: Prayer

1 a (1) an address (as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought said a prayer for the success of the voyage (2) a set order of words used in praying b an earnest request or wish
2 the act or practice of praying to God or a god kneeling in prayer
3 a religious service consisting chiefly of prayers -- often used in plural
4 something prayed for
5 a slight chance haven't got a prayer

--Merriam-Webster OnLine

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He was expecting him. "Hello Gohan." His old face showed no fear, bravery, and no shitting around.

Gohan saw it and he advanced slowly. Intending to kill, his body was naturally relaxed and at ease. The hybrid did notice that Androids Seventeen and Eighteen were not around. "You know why I'm here."

He did not look amused. "Ah yes. The assassination attempt."

His eyes narrowed. "She is your android."

"I do not deny that."

"So you planned it?" His knuckles cracked when his hand fisted, as if to intimidate Gero.

Gero looked at him square in the face. "No."

"Then who?" Gohan had an idea, but he wanted to hear it from the doctor himself.

"Raditz." He voiced the name like it was fact.

Gohan stiffened. "So the android said." His jaw tightened. "Where is Raditz?"

"I already told you. He's out in space."

"He's not back yet?" The tall man turned around. He faced the exit of Gero's cave-like lab. It was not dark inside, yet it was not as bright as outside.

"No." Gero rose from his seat. "So do you believe me?"

He turned around again. Gohan looked up at some of Gero's mechanical equipment. He watched the buttons light up in some fascination. "If he told you to stand at the bottom of an erupting volcano, would you obey?"

Ah, he was testing the old man's obedience. "No. Would you?"

The hybrid's attention snapped to Gero. "I kept Videl, didn't I?"

Now the older man laughed. "Yes you did." Then as sudden as his mood lifted, Gero became serious. He wanted to get through to the boy. "You don't always have to listen to him."

"You're one to talk. Why did you listen to him when I told you not to try anything on her?"

"Simple." He frowned. "I knew you would protect her." His eyes danced a certain humour, as if to say that he knew he was right. Gohan would protect her. He valued her.

A noise that was somewhat of a laugh escaped Gohan's throat. "Eighteen is strong."

"Don't underestimate yourself."

"I'm not," he said defensively, coldly.

"Is she alright?"

Gohan nodded, pausing. "Yes."

Silence filled the air. He was supposed to finish Gero.

"When did Raditz order you to… kill Videl?" He used the word 'order' purposely.

The old man took little time to answer. "Ever since you got her."

His footing shifted. Gohan was thinking heavily and that concerned Gero.

"Gohan…" Gero waited until he had the younger man's full attention. When he received it, he continued. "You may be his son, but you're not his puppet. You have the capacity to make your own choices."

His frown dulled. "I know," he breathed.

"You're smart and strong. It's time to grow up."

"Grow up?" His eyes were icy.

He waved his hand in the air, dismissing the idea. "I'm just saying don't be afraid to put him in his place, like how you intended to do with me."

He almost smirked. "You knew I would come kill you."

Gero gave him a look—something that said "Hell yeah." He tried to hint the half-Saiyan again. "You are a man now. You would have killed me if Raditz was not behind this. What are you going to do with him?"

Gohan shook his head barely. "I don't know. He's gone… I can't really do anything yet."

Gero nodded slowly. He listened carefully. "You have time to deal with him."

The remarkable thing was, he agreed. "In time."

The old man smiled. "Of course."

At that moment, Android Seventeen and Eighteen flew in. Eighteen almost stiffened when Gohan turned towards her.

"Hello Eighteen." He did not appear to be angry, nor did he look happy. But then again, he never looked happy.

"I never knew you were forgiving," she commented. She crossed her arms and rested her elbows on her palms.

"I'm not."

The beautiful woman kept silent, waiting for him to elaborate.

"I would kill you on the spot if I wasn't asked to." He meant that Videl asked him not to murder her, even when this android tried to kill her. He will never understand her good morals. "At any rate, it would be a waste to get rid of you." Gohan gave both androids eye contact that bore through their souls. He walked past them with the same cool grace that he was always able to maintain.

"Where are you going?" the male of the twins asked.

He turned back towards them. "Home."

Seventeen knew he was going to check on Videl. He covered his heart with his hand and sighed. "You're so sweet Gohan." His voice was sugary and he did have fun teasing the half-Saiyans sometimes.

His dark eyebrow rose. "I'm not sweet. I'm concerned."

He smirked. "Whatever you say. I mean, I thought we were going to take care of baldy."

"Not now." A breeze shuffled outside and dirty dust whipped through the air.

"Then when?" There was impatience laced in his voice.

"You'll know when. If you're itching to fight, take care of Piccolo. He is far and does not have a friendship with Kakarott."

Gohan walked away without another word, leaving two annoyed androids glaring at him.

"I need to speak with him!"

The posh butler stared at this long-haired blond for a moment. "One moment please." His English accent was not thick, but it was evident. He allowed Sharpener to enter the grand foyer that was newly painted in a pale gold colour. The decorations had multiplied with various ceramic figurines and vases of flowers. Sharpener wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, waiting for the butler to return. In the next five minutes, he was finally led to Hercule's chambers.

The room was dark, Sharpener first noticed. The plum-coloured drapes were closed, and only a lamp illuminated the room. Sharpener worried for the Champion but pushed his thoughts aside when he found Hercule in front of his mirror, posing.

"Sir, I'm sorry for intruding."

Hercule's eyes drifted to Sharpener's reflection behind him. He turned and took the young man's hand in a healthy shake. "Sharpener right?" He knew this was one of Videl's friends.

Sharpener's eyes widened in some surprise. "Yes, sir."

"What is it?" Hercule asked. The skin under his eyes was puffy and dark, as if Hercule was deprived of sleep.

The blond man took a deep breath in and looked in the older man's eyes. "I saw Videl last night. I'm sure it was Videl."

Tears sprang out from his eyes. Immediately Hercule fisted his collar. "Where?" His eyes lit up in excitement.

It took him a moment to reveal her whereabouts. "She was with Gohan at the party." Of course he did not know where she was now, but he knew she was with Gohan.

Hercule released him and carefully examined him. "Who?"

Sharpener took a step away, his hazel eyes looking remorseful mixed with guilt. "I'm so sorry. I introduced them…"

The old man's eyes narrowed. He waited for him to elaborate.

Sharpener's fingers spread out quickly, before they were into fists again. He took in a deep breath. "I met him at your gym a couple months back. One day, Videl came to the gym as well and she saw me. I was with Gohan and I introduced her to him." Sharpener exhaled deeply. He could smell a faint burning scent. A candle was burning somewhere.

Sharpener continued nonetheless. Hercule looked too shocked to say anything. "I don't know many details. I don't know if Gohan kidnapped her, or if Videl ran away with him. But I saw them together at the party last night."

Hercule took a seat. He snapped his eyes shut trying to intake what Sharpener just said. A part of him wanted to hurt Sharpener. A part of him did not understand. "Which one of them was she?"

"I don't know if you talked with her." He bit the inside of his lip.

Hercule's eyes narrowed down sharply. "Don't underestimate my memory, boy."

Sharpener weakly smiled. "She was beautiful. Her hair was curled and dyed brown; her dress was red and long. Her make-up was done lightly." He scratched his head and then gave the grieving father a more in-depth description to the best of his knowledge.

Hercule's breathing rate accelerated. He could recall talking to someone that night fitting that description. It took willpower to stop himself from crying. "And if it was her, why didn't she tell me?" he thought to his dismay.

Hercule frown became bitterer. "What do you think happened… that she ran away, or… or he truly took her…" Hercule knew it was the latter, remembering the letter.

The blond man combed his hair with his fingers. "Truth be told, when they first met, Gohan didn't act like he was interested in her. He actually didn't care. Initially, he thought she was an airhead."

The older man nodded, and tried to believe what Sharpener was saying. He was having a hard time doing so. "So tell me how Gohan looks like. Did I meet him as well?" At the same time he reached for the phone.

Sharpener gave another description. From what Hercule heard, Gohan did not sound amiable and a man he would consider bad company.

The blond remained silent afterwards. He watched Hercule dial a number, which was to the private investigator.

"Hello?"

Sharpener took a seat nearby. He knew he was needed. Not only did he have information, he was worried about Hercule. The least that he could be doing for Videl is look after her father.

"Yeah, I'm alright."

The blond knew that was a lie. Hercule had bags under his eyes. His hair was messy. Despite that he was a public figure, Hercule neglected to take care of himself lately. Sharpener's eyes tore away from the older man and stared at the portrait of Hercule's family when they were all together. Videl's mother was truly beautiful.

"I think we got a lead."

Sharpener and Hercule held a gaze for a moment. Hercule smiled and boy did he feel good.

God sometimes does answer prayers.

Raditz stood on a cliff with a satisfied smile on his face. His put on his scouter, pushed a couple of buttons, and then he turned around. Before him were seven glowing balls at his disposal. They tempted him, seduced him, but he had the will power not to use them.

"Soon… soon…" he whispered. He called out a command in a foreign tongue and out came three males. They were not human nor were they Saiyan. They were a dark shade of green and had antennas. They were Nameks.

"Make sure nothing happens to them," he commanded. He jabbed his thumb to where the balls were resting.

One of them looked perplexed. "You're not using them now?"

"No. I'll be back though and I trust you guys. Don't let me down." Raditz gave them a cold glare before strolling off to his ship. Inside the pod he murmured something like, "Coming home."

As for the three Nameks, they stood together, towering over the magical dragonballs. "You think he actually trusts us?" one of them asked. He was the shortest between them. He was also the most talkative and fattest.

"Maybe. He never backstabbed us before. Just threatened us a while ago." This one was the tallest. He looked sort of aloof but he was not entirely naïve and foolish.

"Do you know what he's going to do with them?" the short one asked again.

The tall Namek shook his head.

The middle one spoke up this time. He said something in their tongue, which did not make much sense. He was trying to speak properly, but he was so scared. It was as if he had a revelation of some sort. Then finally, he was able to say, "Something horribly wrong." Not entirely bad. Wrong.

The other two looked at him carefully. He concentrated down at them and reached down to touch one of the balls. Within close proximity, sparks began to fly, burning the Namek's flesh.

The tall one said the obvious. "A barrier."

The shorter man's lip went straight in a line. "So I guess he doesn't trust us."

The taller Namek agreed.

This was weeks ago.

Goten held an orange dragonball in his hand, which he endearingly called Gohan. He was out in a bright, cheerful forest, where the animals minded their own business. The birds were chirping, and the bees were busily making honey. All was right and Goten was out on some adventure or another with the orange sphere.

"See Gohan, all we have to do is hop across the stones there to reach the cave!" He did a two footed jump to a stone that stood out in the flowing river. "Yeah we could just fly but… it's more fun this way." Since another grey block was really close for his little legs, his right leg stretched so he could walk to the next. Then he hopped, hopped and hopped all the way to the other side.

"That wasn't so bad…" He looked down at the ball, then up at the cave. The boy was not scared. He had been here before… and he knew nothing bad was awaiting him.

Unbeknownst to him, there was a shadow following him for a good twenty minutes. The shadow stopped however and went back the other way.

With a groan, Videl lazily drew the covers off of her and trotted to the bathroom with no zeal. She did not feel like crap, even though she almost died in the previous night. Her head did not hurt; she did not feel any nauseous from the stuff she drank last night; and her body did not ache as much as she expected. The bruises were vanishing quite quickly but that did not really concern her.

She opened the taps and splattered water on her face. Videl looked at herself carefully and took time to reflect on her night. At the moment, all she thought of was the assassination attempt and the fear that consumed her body.

For the first time in a long while, she prayed, staring intently in the mirror. "Dear God, thank you for sparing my life last night." Her breath came shorter.

"I know I'm not spiritual or anything, but in times of crisis, people do pray and ask for Your forgiveness and protection… because I'm… I was so scared last night… that I was actually going to die."

She was glad that no one was in the room, or else she would have felt foolish. This was a private conversation. "What I'm asking for now is strength to help me get out this." Tears welled up in her eyes. "I was so convinced, so happy, yesterday night when I thought 'Okay, I'm going to go home', but… I didn't. And I'm back at square one now. What do I do? What options do I have left?"

Videl stared down for a moment in short contemplation. Then she looked up in her reflection and her eyes focussed at something that was not visibly there. It was as if she was looking at a deity, God. She knew it was weird how some people do not really trust and believe in a higher power, but when there is chaos and problems people will cry out for their God in desperation. Videl became one of those people.

"The only thing that I can think of is giving myself to him, Gohan. And if I do," she paused and exhaled deeply, "Please help me. Please. If there's another way—which I can't really see right now—show me." She wiped a tear from her eye before it spilled down her face and with her other hand, she rubbed her chest.

"And lastly I pray for my enemy, Gohan." She knew this was stupid. Videl made a strangled laugh. "I know something is wrong with him. Sometimes I can see this sadness flash in his eyes. If it's Your will, help him too. That's what we're supposed to do… love our enemies, right?"

She closed off with a simple, "Amen," not knowing what else to say. Videl took a deep breath out and spit into the sink. Then somehow she made her way to that room of Gohan's Universal artifacts. In such a drowsy state she staggered to odd bottles, and quickly her hand gripped to a bottle labelled, "NeSioP."

Underneath was a translation:

Poison.

"I sense him this way."

"Hmm," she muttered, following her twin to some vast, cold island.

They zipped around quickly, trying not to make too much noise but then Seventeen suddenly stopped. "Wait, what am I doing?" He grinned and started to blast ki balls at the little vegetation living on the island. Eighteen floated beside him and watched; she had a small frown on her face.

"What's wrong with you?" he asked, and his eyes focussed on the destruction below him. "Enjoy this."

She brushed a strand away from her face. "I don't feel like it, right now anyways."

He almost rolled his eyes. "Fine, whatever. Your loss."

Hopefully soon they could do this as much as they want.

"Ah, there he is," Seventeen said out loud and clear so the Namek could hear him.

In the center of Island, Eighteen could see the small speck of a green male. His eyes narrowed at them as he wore an angry face. "Finish it quickly."

Seventeen brushed her words away and he flown down to face the Namek.

He was quick in the battle, defeating the Namek of course. It took less than half an hour and he was not tired after he drowned the Namek under a fury of ki balls. He made sure the Namek could not re-spawn again and he was satisfied with the day's work.

"Are we taking the body?" Eighteen asked. Having them around was handy if a certain Saiyan tried to rip off your arm.

Seventeen shrugged. "I guess, but you take him."

"I don't want to. I'll get dirty." She looked at her nails and ignored her brother.

"I don't want to either." Seventeen was starting to get annoyed of his sister.

Eighteen tried to reason with him. "You're the one who did it so you should take the green guy."

She did have a point, beside he knew Eighteen would not change her mind. Seventeen lifted the dead body and cursed a few choice words under his breath. But he was pleased that he got to kill, again, and knew the days will come when he could go berserk on mankind.

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GD'sNote:

As many of you may notice, this was a short chapter compared to the others. This chapter was originally longer but I had to move some things around. I really can't wait to post up chapter 16 (one of my favourite chapters) but you guys know what to do to make it happen faster –wink-.

Next chapter shouldn't take so long to come out though because it is a short chapter.

Anywho, I have another question for all you wonderful readers. I hate original characters. Do you?

A) If they are introduced well, I don't care.

B) If you must; it's for the plot right? (Though I like the DBZ gang better)

C) I hate original characters too!!!!

D) Whatever! As long as there's Gohan Videl action!

Thank guys for the last poll responses. As usual I'll respond to your reviews (haha that's why it's good to leave a signed review!).

Here's a preview for the next chapter:

Gohan looked at him carefully. "And now you're confirming your suspicions?"

"Precisely."

He stroked his chin for a moment. "What do wish to achieve from knowing my true identity?"

Vegeta returned the attentive stare. He was a fine male specimen. How he spoke and acted—this was not a stupid man. He was so unlike his father, Kakarott. "What are your intentions on Earth and how strong are you exactly?"

"Ah. I never knew you became concerned with the well being of these Earthlings."

"My wife is a human. My son is half," he spoke almost threateningly.

He appeared to understand. "If you mean blowing or wiping out this race, no, I don't plan on doing so. As for my purpose, it's none of your concern. You have no authority over me," there was a short pause, "Prince. As for my power, if you become my enemy you'll find out. That's if you're foolish enough to become so."

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