Chapter Eight

Slugs, Snails and Half-Saiyan Tail's

xxxx

He should have known he wouldn't have gotten out of training that easily, honestly, this was Piccolo and Vegeta he was dealing with. He was willing to bet that even if he was dead they would hunt him down in Other World to do two hundred push ups, five hundred sit ups and twenty rounds of Kamehameha's.

So it wasn't surprising that the lack of a gravity chamber didn't stop them from relocating to the mountains near Gohan's home. That way, they could keep a better eye on him in Piccolo's words. Although the teenager was not too thrilled about the arrangement, his mother didn't seem to mind, as long as they were far enough to avoid shaking the house - she had lost enough china in the run up to the androids.

It took some time for Gohan to get used to the near constant presence of Vegeta and Piccolo, the Namekian had decided that it was time he made a commitment to helping the teenager master his transformation, but so far Gohan hadn't managed to contain his power without nearly causing an earthquake. Still, the pair were determined to train until all three of them were able to reach the level equivalent to a super saiyan two, and the halfling had been subjected to spending time with them in the mountains before and after school.

Despite the presence of the two Z-Fighter's, Gohan had gotten used to another constant, that of his tail. After his mother had nearly had a heart attack at the sight and Gohan had managed to get used to his balance, the young saiyan was elated to have it back in his life. It was incredibly useful to have around and he couldn't fathom just how he had gone so long without it. Lime thought it was brilliant of course, when she had gotten over her initial shock, and so far he had gotten away with concealing it underneath his school shirt.

His workload at school had also taken a sudden leap, and the teenager was currently ferrying mountains of practice papers to and from school. Although he didn't really need to study;,his truanting had become a thing of the past, there was no way he would get away with skipping school as easily when the fourth year exams were just around the corner.

Gohan was looking forward to when school broke up for the summer, he would have the whole of August to spend with Lime, that is, if Vegeta managed to ascend in time.

Another gruelling Saturday in the vast valleys behind Gohan's home, and he, Vegeta and Piccolo were making the short flight back when the teen spotted the very girl he had been thinking about all afternoon.

"Oi Gohan!" Lime called from the winding pathway leading up the hill to the Son house. She was waving frantically at him, her hair loose and reaching her waist. Her eyes were shielded by hot pink rimmed sunglasses, the rest of her attire comprised of jean shorts, an old band t-shirt cut at the midriff, biker gloves and converse. She beamed up at him from where she stood next to her motorcycle, that still desperately needed painting, though it was in a much better condition thanks to Gohan.

Avoiding Piccolo's curious stare, Gohan swooped down to greet her.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed. Although it was good to see her out of school, he was rather surprised to see her there. Lime had visited the house numerous times before, though it was always easier for Gohan to visit her. He didn't usually mind, but he was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable with Piccolo and Vegeta watching from afar.

"Isn't she amazing?!" She squealed, gripping tightly onto the handles, "This old girl can really move!"

"Hang on," Gohan quirked, "You rode that thing here?!"

"Of course I did," said Lime, rolling her eyes, "Well that is until about a mile that way when she packed in…"

"Lime," He groaned, "I told you it wasn't ready yet, you could have gotten hurt!"

The girl scoffed, "Well I couldn't just sit around waiting for you forever could I? Where have you been? I haven't seen you for ages!"

"It's only been a week Lime," said Gohan, "and I've seen you at school."

She sighed dramatically, "I couldn't bare it any longer! Not when my poor baby is sitting there without any love or attention!"

"Its not been that bad…"

Lime smacked him across the arm, "I was talking about the bike, not you, you idiot!"

Gohan stuck his tongue out at her, causing her to giggle.

"Oh there you are Gohan!"

The teenager's turned as Chi-Chi came bustling out of the house, an apron tied around her waist and a tea towel in hand.

"And I thought I heard another voice," she grinned as she approached, engulfing Lime in a bone crushing hug, "Oh my dear Lime, its so good to see you!"

"Likewise Mrs Son," Lime breathed after she had been released.

Chi-Chi smiled, "And how many times have I told you to call me Chi-Chi, heaven knows you've known me long enough!"

The red head grinned.

"You must stay for dinner," continued Chi-Chi, "Its been a good month since you visited!"

"Oh I'd love to Chi-Chi, thanks!" she replied.

"Vegeta and Piccolo are staying too, and little Trunks is here, I bet its been a while since you've seen him hasn't it?" the older woman cooed, "Now run along and make yourself at home whilst I set things on the table, then you can tell me all about this death trap that my son's rebuilding for you."

With a wink to Gohan, Lime hurried inside, leaving his mother to round on him and scold him for being caked in mud. He even had to remove a snail that had somehow found its way into his hair.

After he had pushed the motorcycle to the garage, Gohan went for a quick wash before dinner. On his way back downstairs, he bumped into his best friend outside the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" Gohan hissed quietly.

"Er, going to the loo…" she blinked.

"No, I mean what are you doing here - and don't say that my Mum invited you because you know what I mean!" he added as the girl opened her mouth to retort.

Catching on, Lime rolled her eyes, "Oh do calm down Gohan, its not like I'm going to shag you on the dining table."

"Shh!" he hissed frantically, his eyes darting to the kitchen door, "Piccolo's ears aren't just for show you know!"

"Its just dinner Gohan," said Lime, "and don't you think its about time I met Piccolo and Vegeta? You're always going on about them. It'll be fun!"

Gohan stared after her as she scurried off to the bathroom. Maybe he was over thinking it, but with the way him and Lime had been recently, he couldn't help but think that at least Piccolo would notice that something was going on between the two of them.

His mother had outdone herself once again, but Gohan wasn't sure if everything just looked and smelled better because he had spent the majority of the day with his face in the dirt. To the young saiyan's relief, Vegeta had refrained from saying anything vulgar and was eating his meal in peace, whilst Piccolo was sat with his eyes closed and arms folded, occasionally unravelling them to take a sip of water.

Trunks and Goten were inhaling their meals as usual, the occupants of the kitchen used to bits of food flying everywhere and occasionally landing on their cheek. Chi-Chi was too busy gushing over Lime to scold them, she always did whenever the girl came to visit. She would ask of school, how her grandfather was and interrogate her as to why she wasn't around more often. Chi-Chi had taken a shine to Lime from day one. Gohan sighed, if only she knew.

"It's so nice to finally meet both of you," chirped Lime, when Chi-Chi had finally taken a break to have a bite of her salmon, "I've heard loads about you."

"Likewise," said Piccolo gruffly, as Vegeta ignored her altogether, "From what I hear you seem to be spending a lot of time together lately."

Gohan nearly choked on his mouthful of chicken pie, since when did Piccolo realise? He hoped Dende hadn't mentioned anything, he was going to break his springy little antenna off.

"Well I wouldn't say lately," Lime winked, "What with you pair dragging him off training here, there and everywhere. My poor bike still isn't finished!"

"Oh so now your just using me?" Gohan frowned, his tail waving around behind him playfully.

"Awh stop being so sensitive," she smiled, and Gohan found a sudden calm come over him. He relaxed as his tail tingled, sending shivers all the way up his spine.

It took him a moment to realise that Vegeta and Piccolo were giving him an odd look. He jumped, realising what Lime was doing.

"Will you stop touching my tail!" Gohan growled, pulling the appendage out of her grasp, "It's sensitive!"

"But it's so fluffy!" she pouted, reaching for it again.

At the end of the table, Vegeta scoffed, "It wouldn't be so sensitive if you learned to train it."

"Oh give me a bloody break Vegeta," Gohan spat, "It's only just grown back!"

"Watch your language Gohan," his mother warned, "I don't want you to have a bad impression on Lime."

The teen gaped, as Lime smirked at him.

"Why don't we have tails and Gohan does?" Trunks chirped, suddenly interested, "You used to have a tail, and Goten's dad did, its not fair!"

Vegeta sighed, "A saiyan tail is a recessive trait."

"What does re-re-pestive mean?" Goten struggled, his wide eyes awaiting Vegeta's answer.

"It basically means that it was only by a small chance that I was born with a tail," informed Gohan.

"But why can't I have one?" asked Goten, "Gohan's is really really cool!"

Several arguments back and forth later, and it was time for Lime to head home. As her motorcycle was currently knackered, they had called Icarus for a lift. Lime hated Nimbus with a passion as he went to fast and high for her liking. Gohan promised to fix the bike morning and bring it round, but only under the promise she wouldn't use it anytime soon.

"Well you'd better hurry up and get a shift on," said Lime after Gohan had laid down the conditions, "I'm supposed to be picking up my Dad a week Monday from East City."

"Your Dad?" asked Gohan sceptically.

Lime nodded, "Yeah, spoke on the phone all morning to him today, he seemed really nice. He wants to take me out for a fancy dinner."

"And he can't drive to you?" he frowned.

"You know what Gramps is like," she sighed, "Dad doesn't think its a good idea to come to the village, and he really wants to see what you've done with the bike. I told him all about you you know."

Gohan raised an eyebrow, "You have?"

"Well I may have left out the gory details." she winked, lifting her foot onto Icarus' large wing so he could help her up.

"Alright I'll do my best to do it up in time," he smiled up at her, "I might be able to bat my eyelashes at Piccolo to let me off training for a day tomorrow."

"Great!" she beamed, casting her blue eyes up to the sky, "I'd better go before it gets dark. See you tomorrow?"

Gohan nodded, giving Icarus a quick scratch on the snout; "See you."

With a low growl, the young dragon stretched his wing span fully, before tilting his head up towards the amber sky and lifting off into the air.

The young saiyan watched them until they disappeared before heading back inside. When he sat back down in his seat at the table, he realised Vegeta and Piccolo were giving him an amused glance.

"What?" Gohan scowled.

Vegeta, true to form, spoke outright, "Is she your girlfriend brat?"

"What?! No!" he spluttered hotly.

"Well you seemed pretty close," the prince teased, "I thought you were interested in Satan's daughter?"

"Are we really doing this?" Gohan whined. He really didn't want to have a conversation about his love life with Piccolo and Vegeta, especially not when his mother was present. He was more astounded that Vegeta of all people would believe the utter nonsense that had been circulating the news recently. The media were keen to exploit any hint of a love affair between The Gold Fighter and Videl Satan. The most recent picture they had managed to take was of him and Videl at a heist about a week previous. The image showed the golden haired teen leaning casually up the wall of a bank, whilst Videl leaned in close, their noses almost touching.

He couldn't even remember what they were talking about, he was most likely teasing her about something whilst she was preparing to yell at him. Of course that was not what the press had seen at all, and were busy printing the headlines, 'Did Satan City's favourite love birds kiss?! Find out on page 6!'

"Nonsense!" Chi-Chi flapped, starting to gather up empty plates, "My Gohan hasn't got time for girls. What with in between training with you two and studying for his exams, he's not even interested! Are you?"

"Um, no Mum, course not," Gohan said slowly, as all eyes averted to him.

"See?" His mother said smugly to Vegeta, "My baby is too young for girlfriends. I'll have less of you trying to put such vulgar ideas into his head."

xxxx

To Gohan's surprise and elation, Piccolo did indeed let him have the next day off training, giving him the whole day to spend finishing Lime's bike. When Gohan had asked if the Namekian had hit his head or something, he simply replied that he should have a day off now and again, and that Lime was a 'nice girl'. Whatever the bloody hell that meant.

But the teenager didn't question it, instead using all this energy in getting the motorcycle in working order. He was finished by mid-morning, and was thoroughly pleased with his handiwork. He had touched up the blue paint work, replaced the aged leather seat, the engine was now as modern as Capsule Corps. top models, with silver cylinders running along the bodice. The handle bars were free of rust and dirt, and the wheels brand new. He was so pleased with it that he drove it all the way to Chazke Village; which he was a bit apprehensive about at first, he had never driven anything in his life.

It took him a couple of miles to get used to the way it handled, the engine was very powerful and gave an almighty roar whenever he revved it. Lime loved it, and was so pleased she snogged him right outside the her grandfather's shop, luckily Mister Lao came out to inspect the bike after she had released him.

With school in the day and Gohan's training every morning and night; the pair had taken to riding around the mountains in the early hours. They would sneak out and walk with the bike to the outskirts of the city before revving it up and taking off. Lime did most of the driving; it was hers after all and she needed to get used to it before driving all the way to East City.

They had been out three nights in a row since Gohan had fixed it and though they were awfully tired for school the next day; the young saiyan couldn't believe how at peace he felt. The fact that Piccolo and Vegeta were constantly pushing him to his limits didn't matter when he was out with Lime. They would ride miles away from anyone and anything, sit amongst the cool blades of grass whilst sharing a pack of cigarettes; trying to make out the constellations in the stars.

Unfortunately for Gohan, due to the fact that Lime wasn't spending her evenings getting the living snot beaten out of her; she wasn't as tired and irritable as he was when they had to sit through a whole Wednesday afternoon of Shu.

"Sit your five Zeni ass down before I make change!"

"Lime, please get that thing out of my face," Gohan groaned, as his so called best friend tapped her new favourite action figure on his head. "And for the record, I don't think I have ever said that; they're just making stuff up now."

"Oh come on I think its funny!" she whispered, stroking the Gold Fighter figurine on the head, "And you were falling to sleep again."

Gohan failed to stifle a huge yawn, "Well I can't help it that I was up at five am this morning powering up to super saiyan over and over. My energy is drained."

The girl merely hummed, making The Gold Fighter dance around her desk; "Do that again and I'll rip out your eyeballs and piss on your brain!"

"Okay I definitely have never said that one," Gohan stated, causing the redhead to give him a pointed look. "Oh alright I was having a bad day that week," he huffed before continuing, "I cant believe that its actually a child's toy. I can't believe that you actually have one! Traitor."

"My Dad sent it me in the post," Lime smiled, "Turns out he remembered that I was a fan, sweet huh?"

"Yeah, sweet…" Gohan snorted, giving her an amused look, "and your only a fan because you have to be; your best friends with him."

"Thats not true!" she protested, a wicked grin forming on her lips, "It's every girl's dream nowadays to be swept off her feet by the mysterious Gold Fighter you know, who says I don't want that too?"

"You see The Gold Fighter everyday at school," he scoffed, "and nearly every night might I add."

"I know, but it's not the same," she sighed longingly, the figurine resting in her palms.

The young saiyan blinked, "So… you're saying you want me to turn super saiyan when were-"

"Don't be so rude!" She scolded, whacking him playfully on the head with the mini fighter, "You know what I mean!" Giving him one final smack, accidentally hitting the button again.

"Eat Masenko mother-!"

"LAO!"

The teenager's cringed, as Mister Shu's voice bellowed across the classroom. With his beady eyes fixed on the pair, he slowly got up from his chair; the wooden legs scraping painfully on the floor. His shoes tapped on the ground as he approached the back of the room; his bushy brow contorted into a frown.

He outstretched his palm for Lime to regretfully deposit The Gold Fighter figurine into.

Shu sniffed as he stared at the figure, holding it up with his thumb and forefinger by its boot. "Toys, Miss Lao? I would have thought you were a little old for this sort of thing. Then again, one must not judge the simple minded."

Lime opened her mouth in an angry retort, but Shu simply turned on his heel and clonked the mini fighter on his desk.

"Close your papers children," he sighed heavily, "I believe there are more pressing matters to address."

The class shared a worried look, as Shu picked up a piece of chalk and wrote legibly on the board; 'Vigilante'.

"Now," Shu said with a sickening smile, turning back to the class, "Can anyone tell me, what a vigilante is? Come now, don't be shy."

After a moments silence, a small mousey boy at the front of the room raised a shaky hand, "A-a vigilante is a person or organisation acting in a law enforcement capacity without legal authority, sir."

"Excellent Perkins," said Shu, "and do you, or anyone else think that we, the citizens of this nation should condone such behaviour?"

Silence.

"A vigilante, girls and boys; is nothing but a criminal," he continued, "And in the case of this Gold Fighter, a very dangerous one."

Gohan felt Lime grip tightly onto his leg under the table.

"People like this; who have these perceived 'abilities', should not be praised for their behaviour. They should be punished," a sadistic smile crept across his lips, "Yes we've all seen them over the years, I'm sure your parents will remember the great destruction of East City some ten years ago? Then there was The Cell Games, ah yes you all remember that. Monsters fighting monsters is what it is."

Gohan started to shake; he was holding onto the table so tightly that the wood was beginning to splinter underneath his fingertips.

"The Gold Fighter, that you all aspire to; is not a superhero," stated Shu, picking up the figurine in distaste, "He is a primitive child that doesn't understand the ways of normal people. He should be shunned not praised; and should leave the crime fighting to the hard working people of our nation. A monster like that should have never have been accepted-"

"OI!" came a sudden outburst, "Why don't you shut your fat mouth you big ugly shrew!"

"Sit down Miss Lao before I punish you further for bringing this symbol of anarchy into school!" Shu spat at the sight of Lime on her feet.

Gohan had stopped shaking, and was currently staring at the girl in awe. Her turquoise eyes were feral, and her cheeks crimson; she gritted her teeth in anger as she addressed him again, "Its a doll! You bloody ignoramus!"

"Action figure…" Gohan muttered under his breath. But Lime didn't hear over the irate shriek of Professor Shu.

"Ignor-?!" He spluttered, "Wench! Sit down this instant before I report you to the Headmaster!"

"I don't give a flying badgers left nostril!" She growled, "You'd better stop harping on about things you haven't got a clue about before I report you to the Headmaster!"

Shu stared, taken aback, before he broke into a wicked smirk, "Very well Miss Lao, as you continue you be so insolent, you leave me with no choice. You will receive detention with me after school, whereby you will bring your motorcycle to me to be confiscated."

Lime's eyes widened, "You cant do that! Can he? Can he do that?"

Gohan shrugged disbelievingly as she looked towards him.

"Oh I can and I most certainly will," said Shu.

"Well up yours!" she cried, but Shu's smirk only widened.

"The school has already received complaints of the noise that beast makes when you ride through the village to class. You also don't have any insurance for it, and are certainly not old enough to ride it. What you're doing is illegal Miss Lao, and if you continue to be educated in my classroom I will not stand for it."

"H-how did you-?!" Lime gaped.

"All I have to do is write a letter to the council to tell them the contraption on school grounds and they will confiscate for good," said Shu, "That is, unless your grandfather makes enough money from his green grocers to pay to get it back to you, which I highly doubt."

"You bast-!" Gohan yelled, standing to his feet, as Lime looked as though she might cry.

"Ah ah ah, Mister Son," Shu grinned, "I wouldn't want you to end up in detention along with Lao for the rest of the semester. You certainly need all the time in the world to study for your exams. Ah yes, research has shown that children from broken families are less likely to do well in exams you know."

The young saiyan gritted his teeth angrily, as he sank back into seat; he wouldn't want to give Shu the pleasure of having him in detention for the next three weeks. That, and Piccolo wouldn't be too happy that he would be missing vital training time.

Gohan looked over at Lime as Shu ordered the class to get back to work. Her eyes were shining with tears as she hurriedly moved her hair from over her face and picked up her pencil. The young saiyan glared at the front of the classroom, Shu had gone too far this time.