Chapter VII

"Happy birthday Videl," 18 teased. I had come to her room to visit her but she was making me mad.

"Shut up already I know it's my birthday. You don't have to rub it in."

"No more playing with Gohan, no more sleeping with him either," 18 hissed in my ear.

"I never slept with him," I said shoving her over.

"Oh yeah right. I saw Gohan leave your room that night and you know what night I'm talking about," 18 laughed.

"Whatever 18 think what you want," I really didn't want her to know what happened but it sounded like she already did.

"Don't 'whatever me'. Well anyway today's the day you get your first customer. Good luck with that because Madam always gives you the great people first."

"Great," I mumbled.

"You shouldn't worry too much though, it will prepare you for years of hell to come."

Does that mean your daughter's father was one of the horrible customers," I hit back.

She backed away from me a little and stared at me as if surprised and hurt, "For your information he wasn't a customer. Not that it's any of your fucking business."

"Oh and it's your business what I do?"

"Yes, but that's different because, well I was going to save this as a surprise for later but I'm watching over you."

"Why?"

"Because Madam set me in charge of you, that's why and I get to know every step you take if I want and you have to tell me."

"Says who?"

"Madam, don't you listen!"

"I don't ever have to tell you anything."

"That's where you're wrong. Let me tell you this right now, you'd do best to stay away from that boy now because you'll only hurt both of you more than you already have. It's going to be so hard for you to lay down for that man after what you did with Gohan. You should know better."

"It doesn't matter."

"You'll see when you get there I guess but right now you better go and see Madam because she'll want to get you ready to go for tonight."

18 laughed at me as I went out of the room. I tried not to think about what she said but it was so hard not to. How was I going to do this job the way other girls can? Would I be able to take that kind of treatment? This is the first time it actually dawned on me that I really was a prostitute and I would be one till I was too old to be attractive.

Madam's double room doors were staring me in the face. The doorknockers where watching my every move and I felt as if they were going to attack me if I touched them. Fortunately I didn't have to, the doors flew open almost hitting me in the face, and ChiChi came out yelling over her shoulder, "Alright. Alright already I get the point." She saw me for a second but then chose to look through me and kept on walking.

"Is that you Videl? Come on in," I heard Madam yell.

I stepped in the gold room and awed at everything in it. The bed and walls were draped in gold fabric, sparkling like the sun. Even Madam herself was covered in magnificent threads of gold. She looked at me and smiled, "Happy birthday, are you ready for your destiny?"

"I- I guess," I struggled.

"Great, Come this way and you will meet your first customer," She grabbed my arms and pulled me away to another room. I looked through a little window she pointed to and saw the most unattractive man I could ever imagine. "There you go honey, have fun and don't forget to collect afterward."

Madam left me with that to face the first man I was forced to lay with. When I came in the room he looked up at me and smiled, I tried to smile back but I don't think he expected it from a supposed virgin. He followed me to my room and we made a shameful walk through the hallway. The worst part of all was Gohan was standing in the hallway with his father staring at me, but I didn't have the heart to meet his eyes. I knew part of him had to hate me for what I was about to do but what could I have done, what can I do now. The night was not fun and I got through it by going numb. After he was finished with me he dropped money on my stomach and walked out of the room and I got to spend the rest of my time contemplating what I had just done.

a/n: sorry it was so short but I've been really busy at work. But I have Thursday and Friday off so I'll be writing. Oh and if anyone would like to talk to me or anything you can find me in myspace as kirie300.