~Saiyaman Saga~

Chapter 4 – Dead!

Another blood curdling yell shot out of Videl's mouth and right into Gohan's ears. He was all ready at top speed, doing his best to not move Videl that much. Blood was falling back down to the earth to fast. At least she was fighting though. Gohan could see the pillar that lead to the lookout. It wouldn't be long.

Gohan shot up, not caring as trees and earth shot up behind him, just from the shear speed Gohan was moving at. The air cooled as he rose into the upper atmosphere. It was nothing compared to the cold he experience in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber when he was training with his father, but for some reason it felt colder.

Finally reaching the top, Gohan landed near the two Namekians and Mr Popo. They had prepared a small bed rest on the floor of the lookout. Quickly, Gohan set Videl down on her stomach, her life threatening wound on looking up. Getting to work instantly, Dende's hands started to glow green, as his energy started to pass from them into Videl's back.

Gohan took his helmet off and looked down at Videl with a worried look. Her blood was all over his saiyaman outfit, but he didn't care. Not now.

Videl...don't die on me. I'll never forgive myself if I lose another friend...

The wound slowly started to close. Dende winced as he watched the flesh slowly grow back over the exposed bone. "Piccolo, could you take Gohan down to Korin to try and get a senzu bean. She's lost a lot of blood." Piccolo nodded. It was best if Gohan didn't watch.

Gohan was frozen though. His eyes fixed on the wound. I wasn't quick enough...no, I can't think like that. Videl's a fighter. She'll pull through...right?

His trance was only broken when Piccolo placed his hand on his shoulder. "Let's leave Dende to it Gohan. Let's see if Korin has a senzu bean to help things along."

Gohan meekly nodded, following after Piccolo only after setting his helmet next to Videl.

Dende watched as his friends left the lookout. Turning back down to Videl, he closed his eyes. She's slipping. I might not be able to save her...

-DBZ-

Videl blinked. Her whole body felt funny, as if it weren't there. Everything was really bright too, causing her to squint while shielding her eyes with her arm. W..what's going on? Where am I?

A rather long path stretched out in front of her, which lead all the way to a rather large building. Looking around the path, these funny yellow clouds surrounded the area. What's with this? Is this a dream?

She slowly made her way towards the building, peeking her head in. She noticed a huge reddish creature sitting behind a desk in a suit. He looked something like the devil, but something seemed nice about him. He was laughing pretty hard, causing him to seem peaceful. A smaller, more normal sized person in an orange gi was also laughing while rubbing the back of his head, just as hard too.

Then Videl saw it. The man in the orange gi had a halo over his head. Is...is this heaven? This is a weird dream...

-DBZ-

Gohan descended to Korin's tower, still lost in thought. Before he knew it, Korin was standing infront of him. The cat looked about as upset as a cat could look.

"Hello Gohan." The old cat broke the silence. "It's been a few years, you've grown."

Gohan didn't flinch, only offering a nod to signal he heard the words Korin had said.

Piccolo felt almost just as useless as Gohan did. He hated seeing his pupil like this. Turning back to Korin, Piccolo let his worry lace itself with his words. "Korin, would you happen to have any senzu beans? I'm sure you all ready know the details."

The cat nodded slowly. "Yes I do...sadly...the senzu bean bush is still working on making new beans. We used them all up at the Cell games all those years ago. These things take time to grow..."

Gohan flashed back to reality. "Y-you mean you don't have any?"

The cat shook his head. "I'm sorry...but I can't help you."

Gohan felt like Cell had just punched him in the gut. He was useless to help protect his friends again. Why...?

Piccolo took it hard as well, feeling for his student. "I see...we'll have to put our faith in Dende and your friends will to live then." Putting his hand back on Gohan's shoulder. "Dende considers you his best friend. He will do everything in his power."

Gohan forced a nod. He didn't really know what was going on. Everything was moving so fast, his mind couldn't keep up. Slowly he followed Piccolo as he lead Gohan back to the Lookout.

-DBZ-

The red giant looked finally stopped laughing, wiping his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a small girl with dark hair peeking into the room."Sorry Goku, looks like our little reunion will have to be cut short." He waved the girl in.

Goku turned to see the girl as well. "Ok. But man, a lot has happened since that first time I died." Another laugh escaped as he rubbed the back of his head. "Grand Kai said I needed to take a break with my training so my body can heal up before he decides if I'm ready to train under him." Goku then looked like he remember something. "Oh ya! You got any more of those really good fruit things? They were really good!"

The man laughed, shaking his head. "Sure you can, there's a chest just behind you where you can get them, but don't eat them all!"

Videl slowly made her way into the large room, looking all over the place trying to take it all in. This place is huge! But it makes sense, this guy is a giant!

The man looked down at her while pulling out a relatively small book.. "So...what's your name? It's not often that a normal person is allowed to keep their body."

Videl blinked. "M-me? Videl Satan." What does he mean, "keep my body"?

King Yemma looked through his book, slightly confused. "That's strange, you're name isn't here. Are you sure you're checking in today?"

Now Videl was getting more and more confused. "What do you mean checking in?"

"This is the check in station. Where all spirit's come after they die. Some people though, like yourself, keep your body. You special cases give me more paper work than it's worth."

"Wait wait wait. Only dead spirits come here? What are you talking about?" I'm starting to not like this dream...

Ignoring the question, King Yemma turned to Goku. "Goku, could you take her with you when you go back to the Grand Kai's planet?"

Goku had found his food and had not been paying attention. With a whole fruit in his mouth Goku forced out a "What?"

Videl stomped her foot down. "Hey! Don't ignore me! What's going on?"

King Yemma still had his attention on Goku. "Please take her with you when you head back. You are going back now, right?"

Goku nodded. "Ya, I'm headed back. But why would she come with me?"

Yemma blinked. "Cause she still has her body, like yourself."

"But she doesn't have a halo." Goku pointed out.

Yemma looked down, and Videl looked up. Yemma huffed, thinking of the paper work this was going to create. "This hasn't happened in a long long time. No wonder I didn't notice."

Videl turned to Goku, giving up on getting answers out of the big red guy. "Should I have one?"

Goku shrugged. "Well, when people die they get one if they keep their body. You got to keep the body but no halo."

King Yemma piped in as well. "It's only happened two other times in my career here. You said your name was Videl, right? Well, you're in limbo right now. All you can do is wait really. You'll either die, or pull through whatever is causing this near death experience."

The room was starting to spin. This is the most realistic dream I have ever had. Wait...nah. I'll just go along with it till I wake up. Erasa will get a kick out of this crazy dream for sure.

King Yemma looked back to Goku. "Still, Goku I want you to take her with you. Should be good for her. She can't stay here anyway."

Goku nodded. "Morel, our planes gonna leave soon. Hurry up and follow me! Hmmm...I could go for some Morel mushrooms right now..."

"It's Videl!" Without thinking, Videl started to chase after the man in the orange gi.

As they found their spots on the plane, Goku happily took the window spot and plastered his face to it, watching as the plain slowly took off.

Videl, watching him closely, couldn't help but feel like she knew this guy. His personality, style, and just in general reminded her of someone, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Working up the bravery, she poked the man in his shoulder. He turned and looked at her. "Yah?"

"Sorry, but I didn't catch your name. Who are you again? You look familiar."

Goku blinked. "Well, let me thing.... I don't think we've met. I'm Goku Son. Nice to meet ya Videl."

Goku...that name sounds so...wait... "Goku! As in the Goku who was the youngest person to win the World Martial Art's Tournament!"

Goku kept his face flat against the window, but gave a nod as if it were no big deal.

Videl was star struck. The legendary Goku is sitting right here next to me! This is crazy!

-DBZ-

Gohan walked back up to where Videl was laying. Dende was still pumping energy into her. As the Namekian looked up at there faces and he new. "No senzu beans huh?"

Both Gohan and Piccolo shook their heads. Gohan stepped forwards and sat down on his knees, next to where he had left his helmet before. After some silence, Gohan forced the words to come out. "H-how's it going?"

Dende didn't want to answer that question. "Well, the wound has sealed up nicely without any scaring...but she isn't waking up. Her life energy is dangerously low still, and my energy just doesn't seem to be doing anything anymore than just keep her stable."

Gohan winced at the words. "I-is there anything I can do to help?"

Dende thought for a second. "Well, you could lend me some of your energy. I'm starting to get pretty tired." In an instant Gohan was up and standing behind Dende with his hand on Dende's back, energy slowly seeping in at the same pace it was leaving.

Piccolo looked down. "It's up to her now."

-DBZ-

"Goku? The one and only Goku Son?" Videl was still stunned. I can't believe it...the living legend...Videl glanced up at Goku's halo again...well...the legend himself is right here!

Goku turned, trying to figure out why his name was being repeated. "Um...what is it?"

Videl came back to reality and unleashed an onslaught of questions. "What happened to you after you won the Tournament? Is it true that you got married and had a child? How did you die? How come someone like you died without the world knowing? Can you train me?" It would be so cool to learn some moves from Goku Son. Son...Son...nah.

Goku was effectively scared of his new friend now. Turning back to the window looking for a way out, he saw the plane was now landing. "H-hey, look the plane's landing."

Videl blinked, looking outside the window. Sure enough, they were descending down onto a funny looking planet. Just as they landed Goku motioned for Videl to follow. Curious about this new world, Videl forgot about what she was asking and followed.

Just as they exited the plane a small, blue, pudgy man approached the two. "Goku, my star student! How are you, was your vacation nice?"

Goku nodded. "Yup! I got some of that great fruit from King Yemma!"

The blue man snorted as he laughed. "Should have known you'd eat when you're given vacation."

Goku placed his hand behind his head and started to laugh too.

Videl poked her head from behind Goku, and the small blue man stopped laughing when he saw her. "Hey Goku, who's the new girl?"

"Hmm? Oh ya. King Yemma said she was a lambo case and that she should come with me until she lives or dies."

Videl grumbled. "I'm a limbo case. Limbo." Is this guy really the great Goku?

The blue man nodded his head in understandment. "It's been a long time since we've had one of those. Well, I hope you pull yourself back to the world of the living. I'd hate it for you to be stuck with this home wrecker."

Goku whined, "It's been seven years King Kai. I said I was sorry so many times!" Goku flailed his arms in wild motions to emphasize just how many times he had said it.

Videl thought for a moment. "Seven years ago...is that when you died Goku. During the time before the Cell games?"

Goku nodded. "I died trying to save everyone from Cell in his tournament."

"But I thought everyone came back to life after the games. Why didn't you?"

"I chose to stay." Turning to King Kai. "Hey, is the Grand Kai ready to tell me if I can train under him or not?"

Why would he choose to stay? "Goku, wh-" A sudden sharp pain shot through Videl's back. Letting out a yelp, she fell to the ground.

Both Goku and King Kai turned to Videl. Quickly Goku rushed to her side. "Videl! What's wrong?"

King Kai looked down at the girl who was in pain. "Looks like she's at the breaking point. I'm surprised she lasted this long."

Goku looked up. "What do you mean?"

"Most limbo cases sort themselves out pretty quickly." King Kai answered. "The fact that she lasted this long before being effected by this dimension is very surprising."

Videl let another scream of pain escape from her lips. Goku looked over her as a faint, small, golden circle started to form over her head. "Is there anything we can do to help her King Kai?"

The blue man shook his head. "Nope. It's all up to her now."

Goku looked back down with a sad look. "Fight Videl, you can get back."

-DBZ-

Another unconscious scream shot out of Videl's mouth as she lay in pain. It hit Gohan hard. He let go of Dende's shoulder where he had been supplying energy and went down to Videl's side. Piccolo saw the struggle Dende was going through trying to gather the energy to keep working, so he walked over and took Gohan's spot. It had been 2 hours now, with no change. Now it seemed like she was going to slip away in the end. The Namekians focused on their jobs while Mr Popo looked on sadly.

Gohan's mind was racing. I failed again. This is my fault...if I had been faster. Damn it Videl, you just have to pull through. You just have to. I wouldn't be able to stand it if someone else was lost on my watch.

-DBZ-

Goku and King Kai watched on as Videl rolled on the ground in pain. It was to much to watch. The small glow around her head was starting to grow, and no one could help. It would be a battle Videl would have to fight on her own. The light suddenly spiked as Videl gave one last scream of pain and torment, creating a large blinding light that rivaled the Solar Flare technique in shear light power. Both squinted their eyes and held their arms in front of their eyes to shield themselves from it.

-DBZ-

Dende's eyes shot open. "She's flat-lining on us!" Pumping ever last bit of energy he had left, Dende shot it all into Videl's body. Falling to his right knee, he looked over Videl. Piccolo fell to his level and continued to supply his friend with energy. "It's not working!" Dende shouted between breaths.

Gohan's heart was in his throat. Grabbing onto her hand, he yelled at the top of his lungs. "VIDEL!" The lookout shook at the force behind the yell. Tears were running down Gohan's face. Not again...

Authors Annotations:

Hmm. Well, I'd say I'm split on what to do. I have two paths I can take at this point that would still fit within the basic story line I have for T.a.P. The question is...should Videl live or die? Please review!

Special thanks to Jrik23 for saying something in his review to help give me an idea to help make this fic a little bit different than the others. Please continue to review! You never know, even I don't, what could spark an idea in my head to help better the fic.