Chapter Ten
The East City Heist
xxxx
"So, who's cape man now?"
"Shut up Piccolo."
Sunday morning on top of The Lookout was a quiet affair, mainly because Piccolo had decided that a spot of one on one meditation might help the young saiyan focus on controlling his power, that way he might be able to maintain his ascended state without passing out.
The young saiyan couldn't sleep, so had headed out to The Lookout early, donning his Gold Fighter attire and stopping a few teens from speeding and rescuing a cat from a tree. After flying around for about an hour, Gohan made his way to meet his mentor, where he had instantly noticed his suits new addition.
After bidding a short hello to Dende and Mister Popo, they had immediately set to work. The Lookout was a very peaceful place, with only Mister Popo's butterflies inhabiting the gardens. He and Piccolo were sat beside them, both in a meditative pose.
Gohan breathed deeply, closing his eyes as a slow breeze swept through his spikey fringe. His visor was free of his face and he had powered down to his base form. Piccolo's first instruction was to find his centre, but he just couldn't seem to concentrate. They had sat in silence for a full ten minutes before Gohan yawned for the fourth time.
"You're not concentrating."
The young saiyan opened an eye, only to be greeted with Piccolo's penetrative stare.
"Sorry Mister Piccolo," he grinned sheepishly, "I'm just tired."
The Namekian scoffed, "Tiredness has nothing to with it, your not focussing on your power."
"It seems thats all your making me do at the moment," said Gohan, rolling his eyes, "I'm even starting to miss being used as a punching bag."
"That can still be arranged."
"Oh har har," the teenager mused, his tail thrashing around behind him in annoyance, "Are we done yet?"
Piccolo gave him a stern look, "No, not until you've found where your power lies. Once you've found that then you might have a better understanding of how to control it."
Gohan huffed, "Easy for you to say."
"Not exactly," Piccolo sighed, turning his head away from him and up to the blue skies above, "There's still a lot we don't know about the super saiyan transformations. You've made the ascension twice - and I'm not counting the times where you've barely grasped it before collapsing - why doesn't your body seem to remember?"
The halfling shrugged, "Dunno, maybe I'm not as strong as I used to be."
"Vegeta and I could have told you that," Piccolo snorted.
"Always the vote of confidence," he drawled, folding his arms across his chest. "Transforming into a super saiyan is easy really, once you've got used to the feeling, but the other…"
The strong Namekian turned to him in interest as his voice trailed off.
Gohan sighed, not really sure how to explain it, "Against Cell, I could feel the power, but it was just too far out of reach, I didn't know how to crack it. Everyone was screaming and yelling at me, trying to get me to bring it out, but I didn't know how to."
Piccolo was silent as the teenager continued, "It's different to turning super saiyan. It wasn't like a need. All I felt was… rage. Having nothing else to grab onto I just went with the emotion, and it took me to that power, it was so deep rooted that when I tapped into it, I lost myself in it. It seemed as though I couldn't contain anything anymore, all my power was on the surface, and so was my anger. That's what I felt against Cell… and I suppose when Vegeta pissed me off the other day, he said something about my Dad and-"
"Goku?" Piccolo finally spoke, listening intently.
The young saiyan cringed, "Yeah, er… he just made me think about the last time I saw him."
"And that made you angry?"
The young saiyan didn't look at him, he just shrugged his shoulders and became more interested in the marble tiles.
"Do you think thats normal?" the teen asked after a moments silence, "I mean, using anger to transform like that?"
Piccolo let out a heavy sigh, "I would say that your better off asking Vegeta that, but no saiyan has managed to achieve such a level before. Your power has always been special Gohan, different to anyone's I've ever met. It could be normal, for you."
Gohan scoffed, "Great. Maybe we should rename it to the Super Saiyan Temper Tantrum instead."
"Don't sell yourself short kid," his mentor said with an amused smile, "But I'm sure if having a temper tantrum was all it took to reach the transformation then I don't think Vegeta will be too far off achieving it."
The teenager snorted, his laughter echoing over the temple.
"Sorry I haven't been much help," said Gohan, still smiling, "in training I mean, I know how much you and Vegeta want to get stronger."
"Don't be absurd," Piccolo replied, "These things take time, and you're getting stronger too, as much as you thought it wasn't important. Just because Goku's gone doesn't mean the Earth doesn't need a protector."
Gohan's smile subsided, feeling a little guilty, "Yeah, I s'pose, do you think you and Vegeta will do it?"
His mentor huffed, "Of course we will, don't you have any faith in us?"
"I'm just saying you aren't getting any younger," he teased, earning himself a glare.
"You're forgetting I'm only four years older than you."
The teen yawned loudly, "Doesn't seem like it, your always telling me off and ordering me around."
"Well maybe if you didn't act like such a child I wouldn't have to," Piccolo smirked.
"Ooh your banter game's strong today Mister Piccolo," the teenager grinned, "Seriously, stop it before you give me banter burns!"
"That doesn't even make any sense," his mentor snorted, "Is that something you've learned from that girl? Lime?"
Gohan's grin slipped off his face.
"Ah so I'm right," Piccolo smirked.
"I am not having this conversation with you," he scowled.
The Namekian's smirk widened even further, "Was Vegeta right about what he said about you two?"
"No!" Gohan said hotly, "We're just friends!"
Piccolo gave him a pointed look before turning back to his meditation.
The teenager sat there, fuming, and was about to tell his mentor where he could stick his accusations when -
Bleep. Bleep.
Bleep Bleep.
"Again?" Piccolo sighed, as Gohan's watch sounded, a distress call with an address from somewhere in Satan City flashing over the small screen.
"Well I'd love to stay and chat, meditate and whatever," the halfling smirked, "But duty calls!"
"Gohan…" the Namek growled.
"Piccolo!" Gohan gasped in mock horror, "Do you honestly want the blood of innocents on your conscience? I'm astounded!"
His mentor glared at him, "Alright go. But I want you straight back up here when you've finished - no excuses."
"Thanks Mister Piccolo!" the teenager called over his shoulder, erupting into his super saiyan form and blasting from The Lookout.
As Gohan reached the towering buildings and flashy billboards of Satan City, he noticed that the location of the distress signal was coming from the main high school, situated just a few streets away from the city centre.
Orange Star High School was much bigger than Gohan's local Comprehensive, with acres upon acres of fields surrounding it. It stood around five stories high, with shiny windows that glistened in the sunshine. The building was a pale orange in colour, with a white star painted just below the clock face that was embedded into it's highest point.
Oddly, the young saiyan couldn't see or sense any sign of danger, and was wondering if his watch was just playing up until he caught sight of a figure looking up at him from the rooftop.
Flying a little closer, he was shocked to fine that it was none other than Videl Satan, who was tapping her boot impatiently upon the tiles. She was dressed in jeans and her long white t-shirt, her pigtails blowing in the slight breeze that the young saiyan created as he landed.
"What took you so long?" The girl said gruffly, her sapphire eyes narrowed.
"The distress call was you?" he quirked.
"Do you see anyone else standing around on a school rooftop on a Sunday?" she retorted.
"Stuck are you?" he grinned, "Need a lift down?"
"Shut it," Videl griped, "I meant to be here for your information. And I certainly don't have to be rescued by you!"
"Right well," Gohan huffed, "If you don't need me for anything then I guess I should be going-"
"Wait!" she called as the halfling made to take off.
He stopped, giving her a curious look.
Videl gulped, whatever she was trying to say was killing her, "I called you here because…. because I need your help."
Gohan blinked, "I thought you didn't need me to save you."
"It's not me you idiot!" She growled, "It's for an operation, were planning on infiltrating a heist and it's a big one. We need as much help as we can get."
The halfling broke out into a wicked smirk, "Satan City's golden girl asking help from a vigilante. My my Videl, I'd never thought you'd stoop so low, it's very naughty of you."
"Shut up!" She spat, her cheeks burning crimson, "I'm only asking because of the circumstances."
"And what circumstances are those?" he asked curiously, still grinning madly at her.
Videl sighed, "We've had a tip off about a robbery thats going to take place tomorrow. Apparently lots of gang's are in on it, they're all connected to each other."
"Through The Borbonne Family," Gohan stated, remembering the conversation with Stanley Coyne.
"How did you know?" she asked, giving him a dumfounded stare.
The teen saiyan tapped his nose, "I know a lot more than you think Miss Satan."
Videl scoffed, "Well anyway, these goon's want to break into the East City Bank, steal everything they can get their hands on and exchange it for weapons of mass destruction."
"East City?" Gohan frowned, "Then what's it got to do with you lot?"
"Because, you plonker," she sighed, "East City is the nearest major city to us, the bank holds the all the richest peoples accounts from its nearest smaller towns, including my Dad's. And plus, the majority of the East City police department have quit their jobs, something about some dragon attacking a village somewhere."
Gohan whistled nervously.
"The operation is too much for just one police department to handle anyway," she continued, "That's why they've asked us to help."
"So why do you need me?" asked the halfling, "Seems like you've got it all figured out."
"Who knows what weapons they've already got their hands on," Videl growled, before looking up at him, "I've seen what you can do, tricks or not, you can save people if anything gets too out of hand. You're fast and … I suppose you're not completely useless."
The young saiyan couldn't believe his ears, "Did you just complement me?"
The girl rolled her eyes, "Don't let it go to your already oversized ego."
"Look who's talking," he shot back, causing her to scowl, "Are you sure this isn't just an elaborate ploy to unmask me?"
"No, not yet," she grinned wickedly, "I'll let it slide until after you help me out and catch those guys, then I'll concentrate on finding out whats behind that visor."
Gohan grinned back, "You're getting soft, Satan."
"Hardly," she scoffed, "So, are you going to help us or not?"
"Go on then, you've twisted my arm," he smiled, "So where do you need me to be?"
"345 Regal Street," said Videl, "Tomorrow, outside the bank and the ice cream parlour about three pm. Stay high before I call you."
"You're so bossy," Gohan teased.
"Just be there on time," she pressed, ignoring him and taking out the capsule for her jet copter, "and don't tell anyone I asked you for help, this arrangement is just between you and me, am I clear?"
The halfling chuckled, "Crystal."
As Videl's yellow copter disappeared above the clouds, Gohan couldn't help but shake the feeling that he was forgetting something. Maybe he was just feeling a little odd, due to the fact that Videl had actually asked him for help, she seemed to be disgusted at the mere sight of him half the time.
Yet there was still something niggling in the back of his mind, and he couldn't shake the feeling of unease when he returned to The Lookout, and all throughout the rest of the day.
It was only when he was sat having a quiet meal with his family that evening, did the realisation hit him like a frying pan to the head.
"Bollocks!" Gohan cried suddenly, standing up and causing his mother and brother to almost jump out of their seats.
"Gohan what have I told you about that language?!" His mother scolded, taking out her napkin and wiping away the soup that had spilled onto her dress.
"Sorry Mum," the teenager said quickly, as his brother started to giggle, "can I be excused?"
Chi-Chi blinked, "Well I suppose so, but what ever is the mat-?"
"Thanks!" he called as he bolted from the kitchen and into his bedroom, shutting his door behind him before making a break for the window.
Flying through the skies that were steadily growing amber, he reached Lime's balcony as soon as the sun started to set. Lime and her grandfather always ate dinner early, as Mister Lao would need to get up early to open up shop. Thus, Gohan knew the girl would already be in her bedroom.
He could hear rock music playing from her stereo, the sound of her humming a long reaching his ears. He couldn't help but smile as he caught her shadow from beneath the closed blinds, dancing around to the beat.
She stopped abruptly, as Gohan lightly tapped his knuckles against the window pane.
Immediately, the girl's freckled face appeared at the window, her frown dissipating as soon as it had appeared, giving him a dazzling smile. Her hair was a little wet from where she had gotten out of the shower, and she was dressed in nothing but a black bra and pink and white spotty knickers. She had a hairbrush in one hand, and opened the window with the other.
"What do you want?" Lime asked, looking the halfling up and down.
"You really want your neighbours to hear?" he smirked.
The girl grinned wickedly before stepping aside and allowing him to duck his head through the pane. Lime span on her heel, sitting on the chair near her vanity table that was adorned with pictures of the pair and numerous posters and song lyrics, whilst Gohan took up his usual position on her unmade bed.
"Aren't you supposed to be revising?" Lime asked, brushing through her hair and eyeing him in the mirror's reflection.
"Aren't you?" he asked, shooting her a disbelieving look.
"I am revising," she grinned, putting down her brush and running her fingers through her hair to make it messy again, "Revising what I'm going to wear tomorrow, when I meet Dad."
Gohan's heart sank, though he forced a smile, "Is he taking you to an underwear show or something? 'Cause I have to say that's a bit weird Lime."
The girl scowled, throwing her brush at him, which he dodged effortlessly, "I was thinking of taking something to change into after our exam tomorrow. Maybe a dress or something like that? Something sophisticated."
"Why do you have to dress up?" he asked sceptically as she put a long string of white beads over her head.
Lime sighed, "I just want to look nice is all, make a good impression. He hasn't seen me properly since I was eleven. I just want him to see how grown up I am now, you know?"
"I suppose," he mustered weakly.
"And he is taking me for a fancy meal!" she grinned, spinning around in her chair, "I can't go to a posh restaurant in my school uniform."
"That reminds me," Gohan spoke, trying to get to the point, "Where is he taking you?"
"Dunno," she shrugged, "says it's a surprise, why?"
"Oh I just wondered," he said, urging the conversation forward, "so where did you say you were picking him up from again?"
"Somewhere on Regal Street," Lime informed him, turning back to the mirror and back-combing her fringe, "Near that ice-cream parlour, you know the one by the bank? I need to leave straight after our exam, else I won't make it for three. Dad said I can't be any later, think he's made reservations or something."
The young saiyan began to sweat, it could just be a coincidence right? Lime's parents were just a couple of bandits, albeit notorious ones. Borbonne dealt with gangsters with a lot of connections, there's no way he would recruit the Lao's to do his dirty work for him, would he? Even so, what kind of a father would intentionally put his daughter into harms way?
"Lime," he started dryly, "There's something I have to tell you-"
"What is it Gohan?" Lime asked, turning back to him.
Her turquoise eyes looked towards him, so full of hope. She tilted her head in curiosity, her perfect lips upturned in a heart stopping smile.
The teenager lost his cool, "Just, your hair looks really pretty like that."
She grinned, turning back to the mirror.
Gohan sighed, scolding himself mentally. He just couldn't tell her. What if he was wrong? Lime would never forgive him for accusing her father of such things. She was finally rebuilding their relationship, something that he would never get the chance to do with his father. He didn't want to come off jealous, Edward Lao may have changed for all he knew. Lime could be right, she had so much faith.
But if Gohan's theory was correct, he didn't even want to imagine the outcome.
Later that evening, when he had left Lime to her outfit revision, the teenager thought he should make a start on his own. But with his mind whirring, he couldn't concentrate on his Literature.
Instead, the young saiyan had taken to abandoning his textbook, smoothing his fingertips over the fabric of his Gold Fighter cape. Maybe his alter ego was more trouble than it was worth.
A sudden knock upon his bedroom door broke him out of his thoughts.
"Gohan? Gohan sweetie?"
The teenager leapt from his desk chair, and grabbing his thick textbook, he flung himself onto his bed, opening it up and furrowing his brow in concentration.
"Oh sorry sweetheart, you're studying," his mother whispered as she opened the door.
Gohan looked up from his book with a small smile, noticing she was carrying a tray.
"I brought you a little bite of something seen as you were in such a hurry to revise you didn't finish your dinner, did you manage to get those revision notes from Lime?"
The teenager nodded in affirmation before staring at the food on the tray, "A banana?"
Chi-Chi smiled enthusiastically as Gohan picked up the offending fruit, "Why yes! Banana's are a real brain booster you know, perfect for your test tomorrow."
"Um, thanks Mum," he said dumbly.
"Not a problem darling," she cooed, smoothing a hand over his hair, "It's nice to see you taking your exams seriously again, I was starting to worry about you."
"Don't worry about me Mum," he smiled, "Boy genius, remember?"
Chi-Chi grinned, looking at him fondly, "Well I'd better let my little boy genius get on with it. But no staying up too late alright? I want you to get plenty of rest."
Gohan forced a smile as she left the room, closing the door with a snap. He sighed, putting down his book as soon as the sound of her footsteps retreated across the hallway to Goten's bedroom.
The young saiyan was conflicted. He didn't know whether to go find Videl as The Gold Fighter and tell her he had prior plans, he had all morning before he had to be in school for his Literature exam after all. The forth and fifth years had no more lessons, so they had some free time to revise before their exams that were scattered throughout the week. Then again, according to Videl it looked to be an all out police vs gangster brawl, and he couldn't have Lime getting in the middle of that, whether her father was actually involved or not.
Gohan spent the rest of the night and all of Monday morning thinking of a way around his predicament. It was only when the fourth years were lining up outside the exam hall did he attempt to speak to his best friend in a last ditch effort.
"So I was thinking," he mustered as the students gathered in the corridor, "That maybe you could go see your dad another day."
Lime turned to him with a frown, "What are you on about? This has been arranged for weeks!"
"Its just…" he sighed, struggling, "Its just that me and Goten found this really cool lake the other day and I thought we could go swimming after the exam! Come on, its so stuffy in there, a cold swim will be exactly what we need!"
Lime gave him an amused look, "Oh? and just where is this amazing lake Gohan?"
"Er…"
"Look," she sighed, "I know your worried about my dad not showing up, but I honestly think he's changed. Don't you trust me?"
"Well of course I do," said Gohan, "But I-"
"SON! LAO!"
The two teens swivelled round, as Mister Paisley's voice reached them. "If you weren't so busy canoodling then you would have heard me tell you to get into alphabetical order according to your surnames. I do trust that you've revised enough to know that 'S' and 'L' do not sit near each other in the alphabet?"
"Yes sir," they grumbled, shifting into place.
"That's it Son, next to Shay, thank you, and Lao, next to Lang. Good gracious you're lucky Mister Shu isn't here else he would have banned you both from taking this exam."
"Where is Shu?" Gohan asked, earning himself a stern glare.
"I don't think you should be concerning yourself with teacher's matter's Mr Son," Paisley sniffed, "Now need I remind you again that these are exam conditions? Good. Now then students if you have everything you need then please follow me into the hall and take your place filling up from the left of the room, no the left Mister Akira! Silence please everyone…"
As the teenager's shuffled into the hall, Abigail Shay whispered into his ear, "I heard Shu's gone off sick with stress, apparently he couldn't get that writing off the wall, especially not those big pair of boobs off his painting."
The young saiyan smirked, at least that was something that had gone to plan.
Gohan finished his paper before everyone else, and spent the last half hour of the exam tapping his pencil impatiently upon the desk, earning himself several glares from Paisley.
Unfortunately for the teen, when they were told to put down their pencil's at two, Lime had scurried off as soon as she grabbed her bag and, with a swift goodbye to Gohan, she was already out the school gates.
He knew he would look suspicious if he went after her. Instead, he ran around the back of the gymnasium to transform into The Gold Fighter and followed her above the clouds. He had to admit that she looked fantastic, donning a light blue skater dress with a leather jacket over the top. She had abandoned her gloves, but wore black biker boots upon her feet. Her sunglasses glinted in the sunlight as she rode away from the mountains and towards the city, he couldn't help but wonder just how many cans of hairspray she had used to hold her messy up do as it showed no signs of coming loose as she sped through the valleys.
Gohan landed on the rooftop opposite the bank as Videl had suggested, just as Lime killed the engine in front of the ice-cream parlour next door. His green eyes scanned the streets that were busy with shoppers, but so far could see nothing out of the ordinary. Lime was looking around too, taking out her phone and texting.
The young saiyan checked his watch, it was two minutes past three already. He couldn't see any sign of Videl or the police. His tail flickered impatiently underneath his cape, maybe Videl really was trying to trick him somehow. Maybe Lime's dad was just going to take her for ice-cream and it was all just a big coincidence that Videl had picked the same street to unmask him as Lime went to meet her father.
Maybe.
As three more minutes went by, Gohan decided to stretch out his senses in an attempt to find Videl, when a rapid alarm sounded from inside the bank.
The teenager's heart jumped to his throat as gunshots followed, breaking through one of the windows so that the glass shattered and littered the pavement.
Screams echoed through the street as shopper's fled from the commotion. Gohan's gaze quickly found Lime, who hadn't moved a muscle, her phone had dropped to the ground out of shock and she was staring at a red headed man who had just burst through the large wooden doors of the East City Bank, carrying a duffle bag full to bursting with money.
Gohan's throat ran dry, judging by the look on Lime's face this man was without a doubt her father. They had the same copper coloured locks, though his was much thinner at the back. He had the exact same freckles dotted around his cheeks, though his eyes were a deep brown. He sported a bushy moustache above his lip, and had a lot of stubble lining his jaw. Edward Lao was a short man, with the same shaped face as his father. Stocky, hairy arms clung onto the duffle bag as if it was as precious as a newborn baby.
He looked towards Lime with a feral look in his eyes, his voice muffled as he bit onto the cigar in-between his teeth, his free hand gripping a hand gun.
"Get it revvin' girl what are you waitin' for?!" he shouted, puffing and panting as he made his way over to the motorcycle and dumped the duffle bag on her lap.
"Righ' you look after tha' lass," he said gently, lifting up his gun, "I migh' ave' some shootin' to do."
Lime didn't have a moment to respond, when the sound of siren's filled the air. Several feet below where Gohan stood, the tinkering of breaking glass sounded, and soon enough Videl Satan crashed through the building, handcuffs in hand and a heated look in her eyes.
She was accompanied by several police officers, all adorning bullet proof vests and visors, guns in hand.
"Eddie the L, I should have known," she spoke fiercely, "Where are your accomplices?"
"Pah!" Eddie laughed, "Bastard's deserted me didn't they! Too much for 'em this kind of work. Went running with their tails in between their legs when they found out what Borbonne was really capable of. Too scared for their families see. Bunch of wet cabbages is what they are. Borbonne needed someone with experience to pull off a job like this."
"Well it looks like you haven't managed to pull anything off," Videl said smugly, "Tell me Eddie, what does the 'L' stand for? Loser?"
"Videl, be careful," one of the police officers spoke, "He's a dangerous man."
"Don't worry Colin," she grinned, "That's why I've called for back up."
"Gold Fighter go."
Gohan jumped, when Videl's voice spoke through his wrist watch.
"Gold Fighter? GO!"
She said again, but Gohan was frozen.
"Gold Fighter? HELLO?! WHERE THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU?!"
"What are you mumblin' about?!" Eddie laughed, as Videl positively seethed, yet the distant sirens were getting closer. "Let's go lassie!"
Lime jumped out of her trance as her father addressed her; and Gohan could only watch with horror as his best friend made her decision and revved the engine.
"Stop where you are!" Videl cried, but it was in vain, as the motorcycle gave a magnificent roar, and sped away from the police, dodging the various flashing blue cars that attempted to intercept their path.
Gohan swore loudly under his breath, diving from the roof top and careening after them.
Eddie the 'L' was relentless, grabbing onto Lime's waist and firing bullets in rapid succession behind him. The bike twisted and turned through the streets, nearly giving the young saiyan a heart attack when it almost collided with a whirring police car.
"Looks like you're a natural!" He heard Eddie yell over the roar of the engine, "Knew it was the perfect time to enlist you into the family business!"
"Business?!" Lime cried, panic-stricken "I thought you were bandits?!"
"Not anymore after this gig lassie!" He grinned manically, "Borbonne looks after his own you know! We'll have things we never dreamed of before!"
Gohan couldn't hear Lime's reply over the sudden roar of Videl's jet copter that appeared beside him.
"Where the bloody hell have you been?!" She yelled from the cockpit.
"I was busy!" he shouted back.
"This is your fault!" Videl roared, "He's getting away with billions of Zeni! Do you know how much Borbonne can do with that money? You were supposed to disarm him so we could arrest him as soon as he got out!"
"You said there'd be more gangsters!" Gohan retorted, "You're just as bloody useless as I am!"
The Satan girl shot him a murderous glare, "Oh I am so unmasking you after this."
"I'd like to see you try!" he yelled, when an explosion sounded causing smoke to billow towards them rapidly.
The crime fighter's flew quickly out the way, just as Gohan heard a manic shout.
"Take that! Excellent work lass!"
The teenager gritted his teeth as the burning police car smouldered from were it had crashed into a wall. Luckily, the driver and passenger had escaped, but were strewn on the floor helplessly.
"I'll go and help them!" Videl called, preparing to descend, "You take care of Eddie and that rider!"
The halfling gulped as he watched Videl go. Sighing heavily, his main concern right now was to get Lime to safety, and away from her conniving father.
They were steadily making a break for the outskirts of the city, when another barrage of gunshots reached his ears, accompanied by the sound of heavily screeching tires.
"No!" Gohan yelled desperately, landing clumsily on the pavement and skidding to a halt.
Lime had took a corner too fast, and she and her father had been flung from the motorcycle. They had crashed near a park, and Gohan immediately caught sight of the girl, splayed out on the ground behind a bush, her red hair having come loose and fanning around her face.
He ran to her, as she opened her tearful eyes, a nasty graze upon her cheek.
"Lime -" he started, anger building in the pit of his stomach.
The girl didn't speak, he had never seen her look so frightened.
"Lime, stay here, alright?" he whispered, "I'll make sure nothing happens to you."
She nodded numbly, just as another shower of bullets filled the air.
Gohan turned away from his best friend, his fierce eyes landing on Eddie, who had gotten up from where he had landed, gritting his teeth as he pulled the trigger of his gun over and over. Blood poured unforgivingly from his lip, his cigar had long since been discarded.
Notes upon notes of Zeni littered the street and grass, they blew around in the breeze that was created by the shoot out between him and the officers that had him cornered. Lime's motorcycle lay a few feet away, the paintwork scratched but the rest of it intact, it looked as though it's passengers had come off a lot worse.
The young saiyan allowed a deep growl to escape his chest as Eddie fired another round, hitting one of the officer's in the shin.
The bandit howled with laughter, as the policewomen fell to the floor, "You can't touch me! I'm the greatest bandit in the world!"
His laughter was was short lived however, as he was suddenly confronted with a golden haired teenager standing in his path.
"It's The Gold Fighter!" the officer who had been shot cried.
Eddie growled, as another breeze swept the street, causing The Gold Fighter's cape to flap around him in the breeze.
"Now I wouldn't say you were the greatest bandit in the world," the teenager stated, "I've got a couple of friends that could give you a run for your money."
"Oh yeah?" Eddie laughed, "The Gold Fighter is it? Why don't yeh run along sonny and leave the talkin' to the big boys?"
"Afraid I can't allow you to do that," he seethed, as the Videl and the rest of the officers skidded to a halt behind him. He sighed, his eyes averting to the bush that Lime was currently hiding behind, "Look, if you drop your weapon and leave here quietly without the money, I won't chase you, I won't have you arrested, I'll leave you to get on with your life as if nothing happened."
Eddie stared at him for a moment, before throwing his head back with laughter, "What's this? Lost your bottle lad? Why would someone like you be willing to help a bloke like me eh?"
Feeling Videl's eyes upon him, Gohan gritted his teeth, lowering his voice to a whisper, "I'm not helping you," he stated boldly, glancing over to the bushes, "I'm trying to do the right thing here, so just do as I say."
"Not likely," the bandit scoffed, bringing up his gun once more, "Eat lead!"
The teenager disintegrated the bullets as quickly as they came, yet Eddie kept on firing, getting all the more frustrated when nothing hit the golden boy. All out of rounds, the man growled, throwing his unless weapon to the floor and sprinting towards the bike.
"You're making a mistake!" Gohan yelled in desperation.
But Eddie didn't listen, instead, he picked up the bike and jumped onto the seat, revving the engine.
The young saiyan blinked, looking over to where Lime lay once more when it dawned on him. His boiled boiled over, he had never been so furious in his life.
He appeared in front of the bike before it had even moved an inch, his tight grip twisting the metal handle bars as he spoke over the roar of the engine.
"So thats it is it?" The teenager seethed, "You're just going to leave her?"
Eddie looked over to where his daughter was, but said nothing.
"You used her!" Gohan bellowed, panic rising in the man's brown eyes, "After everything! You used her, put her in danger, hurt her and then what? You think its alright to just leave?!"
Eddie jumped back in shock, as a bolt of electricity ran its way down the length of the teen's arm. His golden aura burst to life, illuminating the street around him.
"What do you think she's going to do without you?!" He continued to roar, "Do you even care how she feels?! You're nothing but a coward. You don't care! You have never cared! All you've ever cared is about getting stronger, and when you can't handle it you piss off and leave me to deal with everything!"
Eddie's fearful and confused eyes didn't leave the teenager for the entire time he was yelling. Yet when Gohan caught himself, he released the handle bars in shock, allowing the bandit to swerve the bike around him and make a break for it.
"He's getting away!"
Videl's sudden shout shook him out of it, and he turned to see Eddie Lao speeding off down the street. The police aimed their guns towards the bandit, ready to shoot him down. Gohan felt like letting them, when he caught sight of Lime peaking her head out of the bush.
Quickly making his decision, the glowing super saiyan outstretched his palm, and with a heavy heart, unleashed a small ball of yellow Ki so that it fired into the engine of the bike. A small explosion sounded, causing it to skid and swerve. Eddie fell to the ground as it toppled over, allowing the officer's to surround the bandit and arrest him.
He watched hopelessly, as the man was pushed, kicking and swearing into the back of one of the police cars. The young saiyan sighed, turning around so he could grab a heartbroken Lime and go home, when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder.
"Good work Gold Fighter," Videl said gruffly, "Now all we've got to do is take all this money back to the bank and find out where Eddie's getaway driver went."
"Oh, she wasn't with him," Gohan said quickly, earning himself a curious stare, "I saw him threaten her and make her drive, she didn't have anything to do with it. Think she ran off when the bike crashed."
The girl eyed him, "And you're sure?"
"'Course I am Videl," he replied, "Would I lie to you?"
Videl didn't have a chance to retort when the pair were suddenly blinded by the flash of more than a dozen cameras.
"Miss Videl! Mister Gold Fighter! How does it feel to have captured one of the most notorious bandits of all time?" One reporter gushed.
"Did you know the robbery was going to take place?"
"How far are you from infiltrating The Borbonne Family?"
"The viewer's at home are desperate to know if your going out on a date after your courageous efforts?"
"Er…" Videl mustered when she was cut off by a cheery laugh from behind her.
"Now now, that's enough questions for today," said a balding man dressed in a smart suit and a ceremonial chain draped over his neck. "I daresay our nations favourite duo are tired after today's exciting capture."
"Mister Mayor?" Videl gasped, along with the paparazzi "Forgive me, but what are you doing here?"
"Oh ho ho my dear child!" The Mayor chortled, "I was on my way to deposit a check when I spotted the commotion going on outside, I must say The Gold Fighter here caused quite the mess!"
Gohan cringed, when he clasped eyes upon the deep cracks in the pavement he had caused when he had powered up, as well as the broken parts of of Lime's motorcycle that littered the ground.
"Want us to arrest him Sir?" The police sergeant asked boldly.
The Mayor held up a hand, "No, no, that won't be necessary."
The halfling looked at him in bewilderment, "What?"
"What?" Videl blinked.
"WHAT?!" came the chorus of press, police and on-lookers.
"You see," The Mayor explained, looking fondly at the half-saiyan, "I have been in contact with our ruler, King Furry, about the presence of our golden haired friend."
"You have?" Gohan asked, bewildered.
"Oh but of course!" the balding man grinned, "The Gold Fighter has been around for a few years now, and although we haven't got a clue where you sprung up from lad, well, us city Mayors couldn't have been more grateful."
Gohan and Videl shared a confused look.
The Mayor laughed, "Of course, the amount damage you've caused with your power has been less favourable, cost us thousands it has! Utter thousands!"
The teenager threw a hand behind his head in embarrassment, "Yeah, sorry about that."
"But despite this, I can't help but think we've been a bit unfair on you lad," he continued, "The public seem to adore you, which isn't surprising!"
To Gohan's horror, he pulled out a Gold Fighter figurine from Kami knows where.
"Get on the ground or I'll stuff so much cotton wool down your throat it'll pop out your arse like a tail on a playboy bunny."
The teenager sighed, he was having a stressful day when he said that.
"Delightful!" The Mayor chuckled, "But that aside my dear boy, the world's leaders, including King Furry himself, have ordered to have your warrant lifted."
A collective gasp sounded over the crowded street.
"That's right Gold Fighter, you are no longer branded a wanted criminal, yes I believe it's time we worked together with you special people, King Furry is all the more for it."
Gohan was blinded with the flashing of camera's again, as the Mayor was bombarded with questions.
Holding up a hand to silence them, the Mayor continued; "And there is another thing. The check I was depositing today, was actually for you my lad, as a thank you. But when I got there I realised, I didn't know your real name!"
With that, Gohan found a check being thrusted into his gloved hand. His eyes widened, "B-But Sir, this is for-"
"One million Zeni yes," he informed him, "Make it out to whomever, my signature is on the back there."
"Wow er-"
"And there is one other thing!"
"Oh no," the young saiyan couldn't help but groan. As much as he and his family could use the money, he really needed to find Lime.
His heart fluttered, as he managed to catch sight of her, standing at the back of the crowd.
"A medal of honour!"
The crowd lost it, cheers drowned out everything the Mayor was saying, something about bravery and protection or whatever. But as the ecstatic citizens began to jump around, Gohan quickly lost his friend amongst them.
"One for Miss Satan too of course," the Mayor chuckled, pinning a golden sparkling medal in the shape of a star on Videl's shirt. The man thought better of pinning the other on Gohan's tight bodice, rather intimidated by his muscular torso. Instead, the Mayor simply handed him his, then cheerily posed for a picture.
The flash of the camera's dazed him from underneath his visor, though in the distance, he could just make out the retreating form of Lime as her red hair disappeared around the corner.
