Secret Heart

Chapter 4

Gohan stared at Videl, wide-eyed. "…What?"

"When will I meet her?" She repeated.

"But… Why would you want to meet my mother?" He asked incredulously.

"She's one of the strongest women in the world! Why wouldn't I want to meet her?"

"Oh… I see…"

"So, when will I meet her?" She asked again.

He scratched his hair. "Well, you can come over this week-end, if you want."

"Great! I could even spend the night over, what do you think? Since my father's away, I can allow it myself!"

He sighed. "If you want… But I have to inform my mother first."

"You still have my phone in your hands; call her!"

"Now?"

"Of course! Come on, call her!"

He sighed again, and dialed his home's phone number once again, then put the phone against his ear.

"Hello?" He heard from the other side of the phone. He recognized his mother's voice without troubles.

"Hello, Mom? It's me again."

"Gohan? Why are you calling again?"

"Well… I have this friend who really wants to meet you. She also wants to spend the night over, this week-end. Is it okay?"

"Wait a second, did you say 'she'? Is she your girlfriend?" Chichi asked, teasing him.

Gohan blushed intensely. "No, Mom, she's not my girlfriend! She's just a friend!" He protested furiously.

"Really, Gohan, you should know that I tease you. But I would really like you to have a girlfriend. You would marry her, and you would make me beautiful grandchildren…"

"Mom!" Gohan yelled, more red than ever.

"Don't you dare raise your voice with me, young man!" Chichi said, her voice stern.

"I'm sorry, Mom." He sighed. "So, can she come over?"

"But why does she want to meet me so much?"

"She heard that you were one of the only women who were finalists at the Tenkachi Budokai."

"Oh, it was so long ago… There are still people that remember it?"

"Apparently, yes."

"Fine, she can come! She can even spend the night over, if she wants! Speaking of which, what's her name?"

"Videl."

"What a lovely name! I'm sure she would be perfect for you!"

Gohan blushed yet again. "Mom!"

"Okay, okay, I'm stopping. Well see you later dear, don't come home too late!"

"Okay, Mom. Bye."

He hung up, heaving a deep sigh. He turned his gaze toward Videl, who was looking at him with an amused expression. Actually, she would never admit it, but she thought that he was very cute when he was blushing.

"Well, now that's settled, we'll be able to spar." She said.

"You're sure it's a good idea? You're hand's hurt; it would disadvantage you."

"Don't worry about it. I don't feel the pain anymore." She assured.

He sighed again. "If you say so…" He said. Then he got an idea. "But I don't exactly have the right clothes to fight in. Maybe we should spar some other day."

"Stop to try and find excuses. And concerning your clothes, I should be able to find a fighting gi in your side."

"Re… Really?" Gohan said. Damn.

"Yes. All I have to do is dig in my father's students' stuff. Wait here, I'll be right back."

While Videl went to find him a gi, Gohan walked around the training room, watching the different bodybuilding equipments that were scattered all over the place.

The only use of all those equipments is to increase the muscular mass, Gohan thought. But all these big muscles only slow us down; it's rather disadvantaging in a fight.

"I think this one should suit you." Videl said, having just arrived.

Gohan took the fighting gi from Videl's hands, and suppressed a grimace when he saw that it wasn't going to hide his muscles much.

"Err… You wouldn't have a long sleeved gi instead?" Gohan asked.

"You want to fight with a long sleeved gi? In this heat? You're going to die from the heat! No, you would be better wearing the gi that I brought to you."

Gohan sighed, resigning himself. "Fine. Where do I change?"

"Follow me; I will lead you to the changing room." Videl replied, starting to walk toward the changing room. Gohan followed her obediently.

She opened a door. "Here it is. Don't be too long."

Gohan nodded, then entered the changing room, as Videl was waiting behind the door. After ten minutes, she started to lose patience, and knocked on the door.

"How long does it take you to change? Hurry up!" She said.

In the other side of the door, Gohan was ready for a while now, but he couldn't make his mind to come out in his current clothes that did nothing to hide his muscles.

"Gohan! What are you doing in here? Come out, already!" Videl cried.

Gohan sighed, and resigned himself to come out. He turned the door's handle, and, slowly, opened the door.

"Finally! It took you… long…" She trailed off, and she felt her cheeks warming up as she saw him without sleeves, and a good part of his muscular chest.

Oh my God… She thought. That's what he was hiding under his long sleeves??

Gohan looked away, a light shade of red covering his face, rubbing his neck, embarrassed by the way Videl was looking at him. It was for that reason that he preferred to wear larges clothes, with long sleeves; he didn't like the attention. Although… With Videl…

He shook his head, then sighed. "Well, are we going to spar now?"

His voice seemed to wake Videl from her torpor, and she blushed even more, realizing just what she was doing.

"Err… Yes. Let's go."

They went back to the training room, Videl glancing at Gohan from time to time, blushing. She would never have imagined that he was that muscular, thought it was kind of logical for someone who did martial arts since he was four.

They got on the ring, facing each other.

"I warn you, Gohan, if you lose on purpose just because I'm a girl, I will never forgive you!" Videl said.

Damn it! I wasn't planning on wining this fight, but now I don't have a choice! Gohan thought.

"Fine." He said. "But you won't be mad at me if I win?"

Videl gave a little laugh. "You can always try."

They got in fighting stance, each one observing and estimating the other's stance.

His stance is perfect. Videl thought. She smirked. I have the feeling that I'm going to have fun.

Not wasting any time, she rushed toward her opponent, trying to punch him, but Gohan dodged without troubles. She continued with a kick, but it was dodged equally with ease. Followed a series of blows from Videl, but Gohan continued to dodge them all, not seeming to put a lot of efforts in it. After a while, Videl jumped back, breathing hard, while Gohan got back in fighting stance, fresh as new.

She's not bad at all. Gohan thought. Far better than her father, in fact.

"Why aren't you attacking?" Videl asked, frowning. "It's a spar! You're supposed to attack, not only dodge my attacks!"

"But… I don't want to hurt you…"

Gohan realized his mistake when he saw Videl clench her fists, a vein beating on her temple. He took a step back.

"You idiot! It's a spar; we're bound to get hurt! Now you're going to fight properly or else I kill you! I still want to, you know; I'm still mad at you for kissing me just so you could escape!"

Gohan blushed, unconsciously thinking about the kiss. "I told you I was sorry, Videl. And anyway, would you be less mad at me if I had kissed you for another reason than wanting to escape?"

"Why, is there another reason?"

"No!" Gohan said hurriedly, his cheeks burning.

Videl frowned. Why was she disappointed by this answer? Did she want that there would be another reason? She shook her head, dispelling those ideas from her mind.

"Anyway, let's continue to spar." She said.

"Couldn't we spar another time? It's getting late, and I promised to my mother that I won't come home too late."

"It's out of question. You will be able to leave only after our spar."

"But Videl…"

"Not buts! Let's get back to our spar, and you better attack me, this time!"

She rushed at him again, sending him a series of blows which he dodged. Then, deciding to attack, Gohan punched her lightly on the jaw. Well, lightly for him. His punch was far more powerful than he would have liked, and he saw in horror blood coming from the young fighter's mouth, who had stepped back a few steps from the force of the blow.

She wiped the blood from her chin, ignoring the pain. "Well you see, when you want."

"I quit." Gohan declared.

"No way! It's just getting interesting!" Videl protested.

"I said I quit. I refuse to hurt you anymore." He said, getting off the ring.

Videl followed him out of the ring. "You can't quit! The spar isn't over yet!"

"I don't care. I don't want to fight you anymore. Never again."

He was going to get out of the training room toward the corridor which leaded to the changing room, but Videl placed herself in front of him, blocking his way."

"Don't you dare leave now! We have a spar to finish!" She insisted.

"No. The spar is over. Now let me pass."

"No!"

He sighed. "Videl, please… Don't make me use the big means."

"What, you're going to kiss me again so you can escape?"

He blushed. "No! That's not what I meant!" He sighed again. "I knew I shouldn't have agreed to it."

"It's too late now. And I want us to finish our spar."

"Videl, for the last time, I won't fight you anymore."

"Why, because I'm a girl?"

"Among other things, yes."

She clenched her fists. "You're such a macho!"

He blinked. "Me? A macho?" He couldn't believe his ears.

"You heard me! You're a macho! And a coward! I hate you!"

Those words still hurt Gohan. She hated him. Whereas he loved her so much…

He lowered his head. "I'm sorry that it's what you feel about me. All I wanted is for us to become friends."

"I could be your friend, if you would accept to continue to spar with me."

He hesitated a few moments, then shook his head. "No. I won't fight you again."

"Fine, suit yourself. I don't want to fight with a coward like you anymore anyway."

She moved out of his way, letting him pass. He went to change in the changing room, coming out from out a few minutes later. Videl was in the corridor, arms crossed, glaring.

"Bye Videl."

For any answer, she "Humphed" and turned on her eels, going back to the training room.

It's even worst than before. He thought, getting out of the Manor. I should never have agreed to it.

To Be Continued…