Halcyon Days of High School

by Jrhall2

Following Majin Buu's defeat, Gohan and Videl are reunited at last and decide not to waste any more time. After a dual confession that leaves them both terribly embarrassed, the young couple sets out to enjoy their time together, learn more about each other, and forge their path in life. Where will their love lead them in these peaceful times? (M rating for later chapters).

5. Strong Enough to Overcome Yourself

Author's Note: Welcome back everyone! Thank you all once again for the reviews and favorites/follows! I'll keep this one very brief as I actually have a bit I want to say at the end of the chapter this time. Apparently my new average is 25 pages...so I'll try not to let it get any longer than that. This one actually looked like it would be a little shorter, but then I kept expanding on the last scene so it wound up being the same as Chapter IV. Either way, I always try to keep these from dragging or being dull so I hope it flows well! Now, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

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Chapter V – Strong Enough to Overcome Yourself

Videl turned the corner and rushed towards the police formation. She had landed on the other side of a nearby building so the officers weren't startled when she suddenly descended from the sky. Very few people knew she could actually fly, after all. Better to keep surprises like that for when there weren't innocent lives hanging in the balance.

"Chief Kaneki, I'm here! What's going on?"

An aged man, grizzled and stern, turned his eyes from the entrance of the bank and met Videl's gaze. His were eyes of hardened green, eyes that had gazed on many hardships during his long lifetime. But they were also the eyes of a man whose kindness was nearly limitless. During her times aiding the Satan City police, she had seen the fear in his gaze as innocent bystanders were used as hostages, seen worry fill the long lines on his face as bus-jackings or other robberies-gone-wrong had transpired. He was one of the reasons she was always willing to help out in situations like these. His honest empathy was plenty to warm her heart, even on the coldest of days.

"Videl, thank goodness. We've managed to get a count; there are five criminals inside the main lobby of the bank and one getaway driver in a truck behind. Two of them are armed, the rest seem to be there simply to help carry money. I suspect the hostages were taken with the intent of exchanging them for their unpursued getaway."

His voice was tired, but the passion he had for saving the people who got caught up in other's wrongdoings was evident. In all the calls she'd ever responded to, Videl had never once witnessed Kaneki delegate the job to someone else. He was always personally at these cases. Even though she had her annoyances about the fact that the vast majority of the Satan City Police Department were relatively useless in these moments, the Chief was not one of them.

"Sounds like things are a little dicey," came a theatrical voice from nearby. Videl snuffed a smile before she and Kaneki glanced upwards, following the voice. Gohan, disguised of course, descended from the sky and landed easily next to her.

They had decided for simplicity's sake to arrive separately. Videl had insisted; if they were too obvious about being together when he was disguised, it wouldn't take long for people to figure out the connection between Saiyaman and Videl's new boyfriend. Silently, she wasn't thrilled about having left him behind though. She wanted to be his partner, not pretend like they weren't close when there was work to be done.

Kaneki spoke softly, relief in his voice. "The Great Saiyaman. Thank you for coming to help us, too. With the two of you, I'm sure we'll be able to save all those people inside."

"Just leave it to us," Videl reassured him as Gohan gave a firm nod.

"If we can find a way for me to slip in, I can take care of the guns before anyone gets hurt." The melodramatic Saiyaman voice took a backseat as the three spoke quietly, unwilling to be overheard.

"Are you sure? We don't want bullets raining around the civilians, much less being fired at them," Kaneki cautioned, worry twisting his calculating gaze. Gohan nodded again.

"I guarantee you I can remove the weapons from the situation entirely before they even have a chance to raise them, much less pull a trigger."

"You can trust him Chief," Videl promised. She tried not to look at Gohan. If she caught sight of that sweet smile, she'd blush for sure. Kaneki was a little surprised for a moment.

"Videl, I thought you didn't like…never mind, that's a topic for another time. All right Great Saiyaman, I'll trust you with the weapons." Gohan gazed at the building for several moments before speaking again.

"I can move into the building basically unseen if there's an opening for me, but we'd need to get them to open the doors to have the best chance of surprising them. Any ideas 'De -uh, I mean, Videl?" She stifled a laugh; he was so adorable and obvious. It was hard to believe it had taken her so long to discover his identity in the first place.

"What if we…convince someone to come negotiate with us? When they come outside, that would give you the opening you need to get in, right?" After Gohan gave her a thumbs up, they turned to the Chief to await his input.

Kaneki considered the idea, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "That might work. They told us they needed certain assurances before letting the hostages go. If we come to them with an offer to hear their terms, maybe they'll fall for it."

"As a last resort, I can break through the door too. It'll scare the hostages and make a bit of a mess, but if that's what it takes to save them, I think that's a price worth paying."

"Agreed," the gruff man conceded.

"Then how about I take point for the negotiations?" Videl suggested.

"You're probably the only one who will be able to get a response from them. They haven't shown any interest in speaking with us out here; it's likely they were waiting for you to arrive," the Chief murmured, his eyes hardening at the thought. He was clearly worried for her safety, but Videl gave him a confident smile. She had nothing to worry about from these petty criminals.

"Leave it to me, then. We'll put a stop to all this."

"We're counting on both of you." The Chief called for an officer and a young man appeared, carrying a megaphone. Videl took it from his hands and prepared herself as Gohan slipped away to find a suitable spot to infiltrate the bank from. She wasn't all that worried; it only mattered if she could convince someone to come outside. After that, the delicacy of the situation would vanish as quickly as the guns inside would.

As she moved through the police cars, she noticed a rather large crowd gathering down the street. She grimaced, glad that the officers keeping the perimeter secure had done a better job this time than some of the earlier cases she'd assisted them with. Sometimes the civilians were so excited to catch a glimpse of her in action that they strayed into the situation and made themselves nuisances. Despite the size of the crowd, it didn't look like that would be the case today.

She stepped to the center of the police formation, walking several steps forward and leveling the speaker at the doors. "This is Videl, I'm speaking on behalf of the Satan City Police Department. I was told you wanted to negotiate your escape. Is anyone inside willing to speak to me about it?"

Silence, unsurprisingly, greeted them. Videl stood tall and proud, unwilling to balk at the unresponsiveness. It was an intimidation tactic at worst and panic stalling at best. Either way, it would all be over soon. She resisted the urge to doublecheck Gohan's position. He'd be ready; she trusted him entirely.

Finally, the doors before them began to open slowly. A large man with a handgun stepped out onto the cement steps, but he wasn't alone. A young woman, perhaps a few years older than Videl herself, was trapped against his body by an enormous arm, positioned lightly around her neck. He wasn't choking her, but there was no chance of her escaping either. He positioned the handgun near her head.

"Nobody do anything stupid and she'll be just fine," he called into the formation. Videl chewed her lip.

'That bastard…he didn't open the door wide enough for Gohan to slip by either. I'll have to improvise.'

Videl lowered the megaphone and called loudly across the expanse to the man, just as he was doing. "Nobody in this formation is going to move, you have my word."

"Good, then I won't have to paint the sidewalk with this pretty little thing, will I?" The woman shuddered, squeezing her eyes closed.

'Hang in there. I promise we won't let anything happen to you.'

"We all want to avoid that. Tell us how we can get all those people out of there safely."

"How about a little exchange?" he called, a devious grin appearing on his face. Videl's eyes narrowed.

"An exchange of what?"

"Hostages. You take this girl back and we'll take you."

A sudden murmuring spread across the police formation and expanded into the nearby crowd. She noticed his eyes starting to dart around suspiciously and drew his attention back as best she could.

"Fine."

Gasps of surprise followed her agreement and the robber's eyes snapped back to her, his grin replaced by utter surprise.

"Fine?"

"You're not trying to kill me, right? I'll be your hostage if it means the others can go free."

"You've got guts girl, I'll give you that. All right then, here's how this is gonna work. You come up these steps alone and I'll let this little lady go. She can go to the police and I'll take you inside. Once we're done loading up, you'll get in the truck with us and we'll leave all the other hostages behind. Then, once we hit the city limits, we'll dump you on the side of the road and be on our merry way. And not one single police car better follow us. How does that sound?"

"Deal." There was zero hesitation in her voice. Many more hushed whispers sounded but before they could distract him, Videl put the megaphone down entirely and began to walk slowly towards the steps.

"Don't make any funny moves, got it?"

"I won't move at all aside from walking forward," she reassured him. The man grunted and nodded at last.

Videl crossed the short distance and carefully ascended the steps that led to the main entrance, keeping her arms still at her sides. Once she was level with the ring-leader – at least, she was fairly convinced he was the one in charge – she stopped, turning slowly to face him. The large man finally removed his arm from the young woman and pushed her gently towards the formation.

Before she'd even taken a single step, Videl found the silver pistol trained on her, though he didn't try to grab her. He was probably very cautious of her martial arts prowess and didn't want to get too close. Videl heard several officers run forward to grab the hostage and take her to safety. She couldn't help but smile.

"What are you so happy about?" he spat, glowering at her.

"Just glad to see an innocent woman taken to safety. So, we're going inside, right? Should I lead or follow?"

"You go first. I'll follow. No funny business or you'll be dead before you know it," he snarled.

"You won't have any reason to worry about me." Videl stepped forward slowly. This was it, the moment they'd needed. She pushed the door open as wide as possible and crossed the threshold.

Within seconds, she felt a gust of wind blow past her ear and a phantom hand squeeze her shoulder. She almost couldn't suppress the triumphant grin that threatened to steal her lips but bit down and remained stoic. She didn't want to give anything away just yet.

"Hey, where's my gun…?" It all clicked in an instant. Gohan had grabbed her captor's pistol as he'd vanished past them; the shoulder squeeze was to let her know it was safe to fight. A second later, Videl saw two separate guns, both bent entirely in half, fly across the lobby of the bank and clatter to the ground. A short, pained cry from deeper in the lobby was the signal for all hell to break loose.

Without a moment's hesitation, she leapt into the air and spun, putting all of her strength into the maneuver. Her foot collided hard with the ring-leaders neck, a sputtering sound escaping his lips before he was sent crashing hard into the nearby desk. A hollow thunk sound rang out as his head bounced off the mahogany finish and he crashed to the ground, unmoving.

Turning hurriedly, she took stock of the lobby. Seven hostages were lined up on the left side of the room, their captor (and presumably the other gunman) already unconscious on the floor. Gohan was facing down the other three men at once now. He could easily have taken them out but seemed to be trying to lead them away from the hostages, just in case.

She smiled at his tact before jumping from the ground and flying in place. Her footsteps would give her approach away, but they'd never hear a sound until it was too late if she closed the distance like this. Gohan dodged and weaved effortlessly through their sloppy punches, managing to get all their backs turned to the civilians. Perfect. Videl threw on a burst of speed and flew forward, throwing her knee out in front of her. Seconds later, she collided with the side of one man's head. He went sailing into a nearby support pillar and slumped to the floor, out cold.

"Nice one 'Del," Gohan called out to her, the smile evident in his voice. She grinned, touching down next to him.

"Looks like I'm one up on you," she teased, eyeing the remaining thieves.

"And we're both one-hundred percent for one hit knockouts."

"I bet we can keep that record, don't you?"

"Easy."

"Hey, are you two serious?" one of the men across from them spoke with a mixture of indignation and fear. Her gaze never left them, but she allowed a confident smile to spread across her lips.

"Do we look like we're trying yet?"

The two men glanced at each other before turning tail and running as fast as they could. Videl sighed, rolling her eyes. "You know, it's your fault they run. You and those superhuman powers," she chided playfully.

"Hey, I only got one of them. I think they're running from you this time," he shot back, a grin of his own obvious from beneath his orange helmet.

"Shall we take them out?" she proposed at last. They had almost reached the edge of the lobby, but they wouldn't be getting away. Gohan nodded before considering the situation for a brief moment.

"How about we do an aerial kick?"

"What, like synchronized?"

"Yeah! It'll look amazing!" Videl laughed at her boyfriend's comment. Even now, he was such a ham. Then again, this was nothing compared to the things he usually dealt with. It might even be fun for him as long as no one innocent got hurt.

"Sure, I'll follow your lead!"

Gohan leapt into the air and Videl followed a moment later, the two shooting up towards the high ceiling, setting their sights on the fleeing criminals.

"Let's let 'em have it! Three, two, one, go!"

The couple shot forward like rockets, Gohan matching her speed flawlessly. She felt him start to pivot his body and followed suit, each extending their legs towards the men they were rapidly closing in on. Seconds before their attack landed, the Saiyaman voice reappeared, ringing loudly around the bank.

"No evildoers can escape our combined might! Justice Arrow!"

Videl snorted in laughter as their feet collided with their targets. The men flew through the air, crying out in shock before crashing painfully into the wall. They fell in a heap and groaned but didn't move again.

"Looks like that's all of them!" Gohan called triumphantly, wheeling around and giving a V-sign to the hostages. They all started to applaud from the other side of the room. Videl couldn't help but giggle, the tension of the situation diffusing altogether.

"'Justice Arrow,' huh?" she asked, equal part incredulous and amused. She delighted in the sight of his cheeks flushing beneath his helmet.

"It…it felt right in the moment," he offered, rubbing the back of his neck and causing her heart to skip. It always happened when he did that; it was so indescribably adorable. Videl leaned close and lowered her voice to a whisper.

"I love you so much, you big goofball." She smiled widely as his face turned an even deeper shade of red and decided to take one last teasing shot at him. "And I like the name, let's keep using it."

If she splashed his face with cold water right now, she was confident steam would actually come off his cheeks. But she'd have more time to tease him later. For now, they had a job to finish.

"We should make sure the hostages are okay and get the police in here to arrest these guys," she suggested as she jerked her thumb back at the leader, still unconscious by the door. It was better to be safe than sorry, though it didn't seem like there would be much need to rush. All five of them were down for the count. Wait…five?

Just then, Videl's ears picked up the sound of tires squealing outside. The getaway driver. She had no idea how much money they'd already managed to load up, but it was currently driving away from the crime scene.

"Damn, I completely forgot about him!"

Gohan reached out and grabbed her shoulder softly. "You help the hostages and get the police all caught up, I'll take care of it." Videl nodded and without another word, Gohan flew off towards the back of the bank.

She moved to the front door and gave the all-clear to the police, who immediately started running towards the entrance. The hostages, one by one, were escorted to the door by some of the officers while the rest cuffed and carried the unconscious criminals to the squad cars. As the last civilian, a little old woman, passed Videl, she turned a spoke to her.

"Videl, you're such a blessing to have around. You and that Great Saiyaman were really amazing, you worked so well together! Thank you both for rescuing us today."

Videl smiled and shook her head. "We're just happy you're all safe."

"What happened to that poor young girl that was taken outside when you first wanted to negotiate with them? Is she okay?"

"She's perfectly fine, I traded places with her and the police took her to safety."

"Wow, you're so brave! I'm glad she's okay too."

The woman finally allowed herself to be led from the bank and Videl emerged into the sunlight again, the crowd nearby erupting into cheers and applause. She didn't love the attention helping the police brought her. The real reward was the kind words people like that sweet old woman gave her after all was said and done. Swallowing her disdain for the spotlight, she smiled and gave everyone an animated thumbs up. She might not like it much, but it did make people feel safer, knowing that someone was there to protect them when things got bad.

Kaneki walked out of the bank from behind her, having finished canvasing the scene evidently, and spoke quietly. "Thank you for taking care of everything as usual Videl. Looks like their driver escaped with the money, but that's a small price for the safety of those eight people. Say, where did the Great Saiyaman go? I wanted to thank him personally."

"Oh don't worry Chief, I'm sure he'll be back any second now."

Just then, several gasps washed over the crowd and the chatter of curious voices erupted around them. Videl glanced up and laughed; Gohan was carrying the getaway truck above his head, flying down towards the street. He stopped about ten feet off the ground, glancing towards she and Kaneki.

"Here's the last one and all the stolen money! Where would you like him, Chief?" His exaggerated voice rang across the street and the crowd began to cheer and applaud once more. Gohan blushed under his helmet and Videl suppressed the urge to cheer too. It was difficult not to; she really wanted to see just how red she could make him if she did.

"Uh…just on the other side of the squad cars is fine…thank you…" It seemed the Chief wasn't entirely used to Gohan's strength even still.

Before he could move, a terrified voice sounded from just above Gohan. The driver had leaned his head out the window, staring at Kaneki and Videl with panic in his eyes.

"Can you please get this lunatic to put me down!? I'll come quietly, I just want to be back on solid ground again!"

---

The sun was setting after their planned meetup with Sharpner and Erasa. Following the hostage situation earlier, Videl had called them as promised and they had all agreed to meet at a little dessert shop in the center of town. It had been a lovely outing; Gohan wasn't used to spending such relaxing time with people his own age. Before Buu, he had been avoiding them all, mostly so he could keep his secrets. It was a really nice change of pace.

Gohan had marveled at the speed with which Erasa ate ice cream. He had watched his father and brother eat with unrivaled velocity his entire life but watching a regular human do it was new for him. He had to wonder how she could eat so much without getting a terrible brain freeze. Her sweet tooth almost put Majin Buu's to shame.

Sharpner, conversely, was a cheesecake man. He didn't have much of an affinity for sweets, he had explained, but cheesecake was always an exception. Videl hadn't wanted to get anything since she'd promised her dad she would have dinner with him that night, so Gohan had ordered a parfait and split some with her, something that earned the fawning gaze of Erasa.

Now, they were headed home, or at least to the Satan Mansion. Erasa and Sharpner had parted ways with he and Videl at the shop and the couple had walked slowly, hand in hand, through the city. They could have found somewhere to take off and fly home from, but it was much more relaxed this way. Besides, they wanted to enjoy a bit more time together. When they finally reached the empty stretch of road between the main city and the Mansion, Gohan brought up something that had been weighing on his mind for a few hours now.

"I feel like I haven't really been Saiyaman in too long, I was so out of practice today," he grumped aloud. Videl giggled and leaned up against him.

"Why do you say that? I thought you were amazing."

"Well, it's just…I hardly did any monologues at the bank and I didn't do any poses at all!"

Videl laughed loudly next to him. "I knew you had fun doing those! There was no way you just did it to throw people off your trail!"

Gohan felt his face redden a bit but laughed all the same. "I was pretty embarrassed at first to be honest, but it really did become kinda fun after a few tries! Obviously I do the voice to hide my real one, but the poses and monologues make it feel like I'm in a superhero movie!"

"Hmm, do you think I could try sometime?"

"What, posing?"

"Yeah! Or is that a one man show?" She stole a glance upwards and winked at him.

"Not at all! I'd love it if you'd pose with me! …though, it might be a bit awkward for you, huh? I get to hide who I am while I do it, but everyone in the city knows who you are."

"Yeah, I guess that's true. Maybe we can just do some on our own time then?" she suggested, smiling easily.

"That sounds like fun! Whenever you like!"

"I'd love to do it as soon as we get home, but I wasn't lying when I said I promised Papa I'd have dinner with him tonight."

"That's okay, we can always do it tomorrow or the next day! But is something going on that your dad wants to have dinner?"

"Sort of, he's leaving tomorrow afternoon for a two-week media circuit: The Man who Saved Us from Majin Buu." She faked a gagging sound and Gohan laughed.

"I take it you'll still be in school with me tomorrow then?"

"Of course! I'm not leaving you for two weeks! Besides, I've missed too much school as it is. That and I hate the attention his news shows bring. After Cell, there were reporters lined up around the house for miles."

Gohan pondered that for a moment. "You know, I've never so much as seen a reporter near you since we met. How come they don't bother you anymore?"

Videl let out a nostalgic laugh. "Papa threatened them."

"He did?" Gohan was shocked. The man seemed to enjoy his fame so much.

"I made him. I told him if I had to walk to school one more time and be harassed by reporters, I was going to punch one of them. I think that kinda woke him up. After that, he called a special press conference and said if reporters didn't stop coming to his house and harassing me, he'd never save the world from anything ever again. It actually worked."

"I don't think there's a single thing he wouldn't do for you, 'Del."

"Probably not. For as much as we've butted heads in the past, he's a great dad and I love him."

"I judged him wrong, to be honest. After Cell, I didn't think too highly of him but getting to know him these past few days has really changed my opinion." Videl eagerly responded, almost as if she had been waiting for this opportunity.

"What, you mean his constant grandstanding didn't win you over?" She stopped walking and adopted as close an impression of her father as she could. "'Ladies and gentlemen, the Earth is safe! I, Mr. Satan, have defeated the monstrous Cell! Those blonde people with their light shows and mirrors made for good television, but at the end of the day, someone had to get the job done. And that someone was me!'"

Gohan snorted and tried to hold back his laughter; he felt a little bad about laughing. The way she had snapped into the same pose her father always stood in during press events, the over-the-top thumbs up, the imitation of the roar in his voice, every little detail of her impression was fantastic. But the way she lightly crossed her eyes as she delivered the monologue was an amazing little touch that almost made him crack.

Videl began giggling as soon as she finished and fought to speak through it. "You can laugh, I do! I think only the members of his dojo wouldn't be able to find the humor in that showboating!"

Videl gave in entirely and laughed without a care in the world, struggling to catch her breath as she fell against Gohan. He finally allowed himself to let loose and laugh right alongside her. They had cuddled, cried, comforted, and so much more since they'd started dating, but this was the first time they'd laughed with raucous abandon like this. It was an intoxicating feeling.

Eventually, they managed to catch their breath, Videl wiping tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes. When they set off walking again, she threaded her fingers between his and gave his hand a warm squeeze that sent jolts of satisfaction racing through his body. He was so lucky to be with her like this every day.

They hadn't made it very far when a thought occurred to Gohan. "Hey 'Del, what's Buu gonna do while your dad's gone?"

Videl's face scrunched up a bit in disgust. "Well, he certainly can't go with Papa, so Gill is in charge of taking care of him during the days. Nights will be like normal, so it'll just be me, him, and Bee. But I pretty much keep to myself in the evenings anyway, so it's not like I'll have to entertain him. Papa taught him how to work the TV after all."

"Are you gonna be okay?" He hoped he didn't sound condescending; he was just worried about her after the nightmare. If she was offended, she hid it exceptionally well, offering him a relaxed smile.

"I'll be okay, yeah. Most of the time I'll be with you anyway! Besides, maybe I could come over for dinner one night? Or you could come over and we can learn how to cook something ourselves!"

"That sounds perfect! I'll see if mom has a preference of which night I invite you. Otherwise, I'd love to try cooking something with you! Wanna try it this week?"

"Yes please!"

They finally arrived at the Satan Mansion, walking down the path that led to the familiar entrance. Videl leaned her head against his arm, a content sigh passing between her pink lips.

"I could spend every waking moment with you and I'd never get tired of being together," she told him, a softness to her voice that reminded him vividly of being with her on the mountaintop.

"Me too 'Del. I already can't wait to see you tomorrow."

"Are you picking me up again in the morning?"

"I was planning on picking you up every day from now on."

"Then every day will be just perfect."

The couple finished their walk to the steps and Videl turned to face him, her bright eyes sparkling, that dazzling smile stealing his breath away. "Call me when you get home?"

"Always."

"I love you so much Darling."

"I love you too 'Del. Enjoy dinner with your dad! Tell him to have a safe trip for me."

"I will," she promised before stepping closer.

Gohan could feel her ki pulse as she prepared to float up to him and decided to surprise her for once. Before she could ever leave the ground, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her up against his body, her face flushing deeply. He leaned down and kissed her, feeling her breath hitch in her chest before she gave in to his embrace, her supple lips caressing his with an addicting softness.

When they finally parted, Videl had a shy smile on her face and her cheeks were an adorable shade of pink. 'Looks like the surprise worked.'

"H-have a good…night," she managed, her eyes shimmering. He felt his stomach flip at the sight. She was just too cute right now…not that she wasn't always.

"You too. I'll see you in the morning."

Videl only managed a dazed nod as she smiled up at him, wringing her hands together. He wasn't entirely sure why, but that had really gotten to her. She had been the one to initiate most of the kissing. She was probably just adjusting to him being a bit more confident with her.

Leaving the ground, Gohan waved back to Videl and smiled widely as she did the same. He wished they could be together all night, but they'd have plenty of time going forward. Especially if she had nothing to keep her busy in the evening for the next two weeks. They could have all sorts of fun, just the two of them. Grinning to himself, Gohan put on an extra burst of speed as he returned home, idly wondering what Mom had planned for dinner.

---

"Hey, do you wanna come with me to the Lookout this afternoon? I wanted to go see Piccolo and ask him about some meditation exercises," Gohan explained.

Videl considered him for a moment. Of course she wanted to spend time with him, but this was a perfect opportunity, too good to pass up. "Actually Gohan, I have an errand I need to take care of today. Is it okay if I pass this time?"

"Absolutely 'Del, no pressure! …can I see you a bit later though?" His eyes were hopeful and she couldn't fight the wide smile that stole her face. It made her heart soar to know he wanted to spend time together as much as she did.

"Yes please. I'll be home by 7:00 at the latest, can you come over then? We can try our hand at cooking if you're up for it! Or we can try some posing!"

Gohan's face lit up. "Let's do both! And yeah, 7:00 is perfect!"

They had promised to see each other later – Gohan being the one to initiate their farewell kiss yet again – and set off in their separate directions. That was how Videl found herself flying alone to her destination. She was still dazed and a little distracted from their goodbye. Gohan had been kissing her much more assertively lately.

She thought back to the night before, the way he had pulled her against his body before she'd been able to fly up to him. Feeling him hold her so closely and kiss her so sweetly had sent her mind into a whirlwind. She remembered all the fantasies she'd had while she was showering. She didn't have to imagine anymore what it might feel like for him to take charge, at least; it was even better than she'd dreamed…

Focusing on the kisses they'd been sharing was a welcome distraction, too. It kept her from dwelling on the morning she'd had. She had been awakened by another nightmare. This one had been of the tall, lanky Majin Buu that had found them on the Lookout. He had eaten everyone around her, saving her for last, when Gohan had appeared to save her. Just like the night before, however, Buu killed him right before her eyes. Then he turned her into chocolate. She had been forced to relive the sickening, agonizing feeling of his teeth ripping through her as he feasted. Videl had woken up shaking and sweating again.

What had followed the nightmare was different, though. Knowing Gohan was okay this time, she channeled her nervous energy and anger into an aggressive morning workout. She only stopped once she had destroyed another punching bag in the home gym without meaning to. She did manage to enjoy breakfast with Papa before school though. She later told Gohan about that dream too, albeit more calmly, but she was still put off by how real it felt. And she wasn't sure what to do about it. Gohan would support her completely, she knew, but how could she stop having these nightmares?

She shook herself from her reverie; she had almost arrived. It had taken a while to get here, though not nearly as long as it would have been by jet, of course. She scanned the horizon and her eyes fell upon the large yellow building she was looking for: Capsule Corp.

It had just been a passing comment from Gohan that had inspired her idea: 'everyone in the city knows who you are.' That was true, but it didn't mean she couldn't disguise herself like he did. She had thought of the idea lying in bed the night before. Gohan had told her that Bulma was the one who had made his Saiyaman suit and she wondered if the inventor might be willing to do the same for her. Then they could pose and be goofy together. She could arrive at crime scenes with him and nobody would be any the wiser. They could be together as complete equals instead of the charade they'd had to put on yesterday. Videl could only imagine the look of joy on Gohan's face if she materialized her own superhero outfit right before his very eyes. It was all she could do not to shout from excitement…though she had kicked her feet giddily in bed last night at the thought.

Touching down at last, she approached the front gates of the compound, pressing the intercom button. She could have flown to the front door, but she didn't want to be rude. She only knew Bulma and Trunks because of the Buu fiasco and had never officially met Vegeta. When she thought about it, they'd really only just met; maybe she was being too familiar. Before she could spend too much time wondering if her presence was even welcome, the intercom clicked and the familiar voice of Bulma Briefs greeted her.

"Hello? This is Bulma."

"Hi Bulma, it's Videl."

"Oh, hi! How are you? What brings you all the way out here?" Her voice was light and good-natured. Videl relaxed a bit; maybe she wouldn't be annoyed by her request.

"I was actually wondering if I might ask you for a favor. Not for free, of course! But you have some special experience where this particular request is concerned."

"Ooh, I sense some scheming and I love a good scheme! Come on in! You can fly right? Just hop the gate and come to the front door, I'll meet you there."

"Okay, thanks Bulma!"

A minute later, Videl found herself face to face with the blue-haired woman. She wore a sly smile as she pondered what she was about to be asked, gesturing for Videl to come in. The two sat down on a nearby couch and Videl explained her plan, how she wanted to surprise Gohan with a Saiyaman suit of her own.

"Videl, that is the sweetest thing! Of course I'll do it! It only took me about an hour to make Gohan's suit back in April and I'll probably be a bit better at it this time, so it won't take very long at all!"

"Thank you so much Bulma, you're amazing! How much would you expect for something like this?" Bulma shook her head quickly, though.

"Nothing. I'm not taking a single Zeni from you Videl."

"B-but…I should at least give you something for your time…"

"Tell you what; someday, tell me how Gohan reacts when he sees you in the suit for the first time, okay? That'll be more than enough!" Videl blushed but managed a smile too.

"Okay, if you're sure."

"I am! Now come on, I need to take your measurements and get the basic idea of the design you want!"

---

Bulma was hard at work in her lab, leaving Videl to wait idly outside. She didn't want to disturb the work being done, so she had left the room voluntarily, earning a smile. Evidently, it had been the right decision.

Apparently Trunks had been invited over to play with Goten, so he wasn't there, which was unfortunate since he was the only other person she knew there. Bulma had explained that her mother and father lived with them and she was welcome to head upstairs for some snacks – her mother was always more than happy to prepare snacks – but she had just felt too awkward to do it. She was imposing enough already; she didn't want to ask for free food too.

Which only made it all the more awkward when a man with black hair that rose into an impossible spike descended the steps to the area just outside the lab, a commanding aura resonating from him. He wasn't extremely tall, but his presence was overwhelming, as if she were being squeezed out of the room by his existence alone. This was Vegeta, she recognized, the Prince of the Saiyans who had masterminded the plan that killed Majin Buu.

"Is Bulma working?" he said tersely. He wasn't glowering or anything, but she felt herself instinctually draw back at his words. Why was she so intimidated by him? Nobody ever made her feel this way, not even Buu himself.

"Um, yeah, she's been in there for almost half an hour though. I think she'll be done soon."

"Mm. I'll come back later then." Without another word, he turned and headed back to the stairs. Videl wasn't sure why but she called out after him, stopping him in his tracks.

"Uh, wait. You're Vegeta, right?" She was finding her voice a bit easier now.

He glanced over his shoulder. "That's right." Videl fought the grimace that tried to appear on her face. He certainly wasn't one for polite conversation.

"I…I'm Videl, I was at the tournament last week with Gohan." That was probably the best way to remind him.

"I remember you; you were at the Lookout the other day too. You're the runt's mate." Videl felt her face flush badly. That was something she hadn't expected to hear. Considering the fact that he was an alien prince, maybe it wasn't that surprising. Still, she hadn't been prepared for the word 'mate.'

"Uh…um, yeah."

"So? Was there a reason you stopped me?" Straight to the point. Blunt didn't even begin to describe this guy.

"Well, we hadn't really met yet and I figured I'd introduce myself to you since I already know Bulma and Trunks and I'm intruding in your home for the afternoon. I'm sorry I'm keeping her busy right now." There, that was pleasant and cordial enough.

"It doesn't bother me at all. I just wanted to see if Bulma would repair a broken target in the gravity room. It's hardly anything important."

"Still, sorry for being in your way."

"Do you always apologize this much?" She didn't react quickly enough to hide her grimace this time. Why was she struggling so much to say anything to him? It was so rare for her to feel this way, a complete bystander in a conversation that involved her.

"I don't, actually," she began, throwing her hesitation to the wind. "For some reason, I find you intimidating. Maybe it's because I know you're the Saiyan Prince." Vegeta's eyes widened just a touch at her words and he finally turned to face her directly.

"Hmph. You have good instincts if you're intimidated. You didn't strike me as the type to cower from a challenge though. Your fight at the tournament was proof enough of that." She looked dejectedly at the ground. She hadn't wanted to remember that moment any more than she already had.

"Yeah it…wasn't my best performance, I admit."

"That wasn't what I meant. You stared death in the face and never backed down. Most humans are far too cowardly to do something like that. Even when your back was to the wall and you had no outs, you still refused to give in. You have pride in yourself! That's why I remember you."

"T-thank you. Honestly though, it didn't feel all that impressive at the time," she laughed derisively. Vegeta's eyes narrowed and a knowing spark appeared in them.

"Do you regret staying in the ring?"

"No."

"Then the pain in your voice comes from the fact that you lost." It wasn't a question. Videl simply nodded and Vegeta continued.

"You hate that you're weak, don't you?" Videl was shocked by his candor. He wasn't just blunt, he was brutally direct. Not a single word of pretense was ever uttered.

"I do," she admitted softly. It was something she tried not to dwell on, but she did resent the fact that she was so easily tossed aside by Spopovich. That all her hard work had amounted to nothing in the face of a superhuman opponent.

"Humans are weak creatures, there's no shame in that truth."

Videl met his gaze again. "Compared to the level of fighter I've seen since meeting Gohan, you're absolutely right. But I just can't accept that the best my strength got me was...that..." Vegeta's eyes flashed in recognition for just a moment.

"It's important to know your limits as a warrior," he cautioned, "but you shouldn't be controlled by them." Videl opened her mouth to respond but couldn't find the words. Sensing this, he continued.

"Just because you're human doesn't mean you have to settle. There was a time I was told that Saiyans were pathetic and weak, and yet here we stand, the pinnacle of power. Never allow your circumstances to limit your potential." Videl just eyed him in wonder. It sounded like he was encouraging her.

"That...that makes a lot of sense. I think I've gotten a bit too caught up in that one fight and I've lost sight of how to keep improving."

"Then you must forge your own path forward. You can learn more from your losses than your victories." She nodded. It was something she'd been told all her life. It was good to hear it again though, if only as a reminder.

"Thank you, you're absolutely right. I want to get stronger for a lot of reasons. But honestly, one of the biggest is so Gohan doesn't have to worry so much about me," she admitted without even realizing it. Vegeta scoffed.

"The runt is the softest out of us all. He'll always worry about you." Videl felt her face heat up again at his words. Hearing them from the gruff, aggressive Saiyan Prince made her more embarrassed than usual. She bit the inside of her cheek and continued to meet his piercing gaze.

"I know he will. That is another reason I hate feeling weak, though. I want to stand beside him, not behind him." Vegeta laughed lightly. It wasn't condescending though.

"You should accept that your power will never rival his. A human can never match the abilities of a Saiyan, half-blood or not, no matter how much potential they have." He wasn't admonishing her, but his voice was stern. It was so hard to get a read on him.

"I know. You and Gohan and the rest are capable of far more than I'll ever be. But what about the other human warriors, like Krillin or Yamcha?" Vegeta let slip a short, barking laugh.

"Yamcha? He's a washed-up idiot who hasn't been relevant in a fight since before I came to this planet. The short one isn't much better, though I'll admit he held his own against Frieza for a very short time. Admittedly, Krillin is likely the strongest human on Earth at the moment."

"He always seems so laid back though, I never would have picked him as the strongest." She hadn't ever known him before Eighteen and Marron though; he must have been quite the formidable fighter back in the day. Maybe he still was.

"You'll have to ask Kakarot if you want to know more about him, I only know that group in part because of Bulma. Though I don't see why your abilities couldn't surpass his." Videl's eyes widened as she nodded her understanding. She had gone from feeling intimidated by him to feeling encouraged by him and the disparity between the two sensations was dizzying. A silence fell between them. It looked like Vegeta was going to leave, but Videl spoke suddenly.

"Have you ever had nightmares about the fights you've been in?" Vegeta's eyes narrowed at her question. It was probably the wrong thing to say. He was prideful and would never admit to having nightmares like that, even if he had experienced them. But she felt some kind of connection with him. Perhaps it was the fact that he recognized her pride and desire for strength.

"What?" was all he replied with, terse and tinged with warning.

"Because I've been having nightmares about Majin Buu recently. I saw him kill Gohan and then relived the moment he killed me." She fought down a shiver as she remembered the teeth again…

"And why are you telling me this? Go tell the brat if you need someone to comfort you."

"I did tell him and he always does. Actually…I mentioned it because I don't know how to move past these nightmares. And I figured someone as strong as you would have been able to, if you've ever had them."

Vegeta considered her for a long moment. His eyes were so narrow she could barely make out his pupils. Had she pushed too far? Finally, he spoke again, his voice quieter than she'd heard it so far.

"If you ever repeat a word of this to anyone, I'll destroy you and everyone you told. Is that understood?"

"Perfectly."

"I've seen nightmares like that as well. Frieza, Cell, even Kakarot. Let me ask you: you feel weak in those moments, don't you? Like nothing you do makes a difference." Videl nodded and let him continue.

"The nightmares I've seen all began with the same feeling: I wasn't good enough. I wasn't strong enough. And those thoughts enraged me. They pushed me to surpass my limits time and time again. I wasn't strong enough so I became stronger. I bent the universe to my Saiyan will and destroyed those visions." Videl considered him for several long moments.

"Becoming stronger let you move past the nightmares then?"

"In a sense. I stopped having them at least."

"So because you became stronger than Frieza was, you stopped reliving the times when you weren't?" Vegeta grimaced himself this time.

"If it helps you to think about it that way, then yes. For me, the answer was overcoming who I once was with my current strength alone. Nothing else would have made a difference." Videl hesitated, not certain she wanted him to answer this next question.

"But…if you can't get stronger than what your nightmares are about…then what? It's not possible for me to become stronger than Majin Buu, is it?"

"No. A human will never be able to topple a monster like Buu." It was just as Videl suspected, though the answer still galled her.

"Then how do I overcome something if I can't be stronger than it?" She was genuinely perplexed. Vegeta had almost given her the answer to her questions. If she could get stronger than Buu, she wouldn't have to worry about him killing Gohan anymore. But she would never achieve that level of strength, no matter what she did…

"If you can't become stronger than your enemy, become stronger than yourself."

"What?" It was an automatic response. She hadn't even considered that.

"Just because you'll never surpass Buu doesn't mean you can't surpass yourself. Physical strength is only one measure of a warrior. There are plenty more. Strength of mind, being able to concoct plans or battle strategies. Strength of heart, knowing you can never win but refusing to back down because of your own pride and belief in yourself. Strength of bonds, fighting for something other than yourself, to protect the ones you care for. I'll admit, that one is new to me."

"So…I have to figure out a way to surpass myself, to overcome my fears. And that'll make the nightmares go away." She was speaking more to herself than Vegeta at this point. It did make sense though. How could she overcome her fear of Buu? What kind of strength did it take that she clearly lacked at the moment?

"If you want coaching on things of an emotional nature, you're find no guidance here. Gohan is your better bet by far."

"Thank you for the advice. I really appreciate it; it helped a lot." Vegeta's eyes widened the slightest bit and he allowed a satisfied smirk to cross his lips.

"Hmph. If you got something out of it, then that's to your credit, not mine. I must admit, though, you remind me somewhat of myself. The pride in yourself, the desire for strength, the force of will to bend the world to your wants. If you undertook serious training, you might surprise yourself with how far your strength goes."

"Do you really think so?" Videl knew she couldn't rival Gohan or Buu, but could she actually fight closer to the ways they did?

"It doesn't matter if I think so. It matters if you do."

Just then, the entrance to Bulma's lab opened and she emerged, a triumphant smile on her face. "It's finished! I absolutely love the way it came out; you have to come try it on Videl!" Her eyes fell on her husband and she glanced between the two, confusion evident on her face. "Vegeta, were you bothering her?"

He scowled at Bulma and opened his mouth to retort but Videl waved her hands, much the way Gohan did, and spoke quickly. "Not at all! We were actually having a nice chat together." Bulma's eyes widened in shock as her gaze moved slowly between the them.

"…with Vegeta?"

The Saiyan Prince huffed indignantly and turned to leave. Before she could stop herself, Videl called after him.

"Why do you think my father brought Majin Buu back to Earth?" It was a question that had burned in the back of her mind since that day. She knew Papa would just say it was because he was helping a friend, the way he always did, but she got the sense there was more to it than that.

"Because he's a fool."

"Vegeta!" Bulma admonished him immediately. Videl quickly intervened, trying to diffuse her temper.

"No, it's okay. I have to admit, I didn't think too highly of the decision either." Vegeta turned back and met Videl's eyes, eyes that were set and determined to get information. The ghost of a smirk crossed his lips.

"After the final battle, we found the fat Buu critically injured. I wanted to destroy him right then and there, remove him from our lives entirely. But your father threw himself on top of the beast and protected him." Videl's eyes widened. He had gone that far for Buu?

"Kakarot eventually sided with him and the Guardian healed Buu. As Gohan said, he's much weaker now than he was initially so he's not much of a threat to us. But as for the reason your father would stand before me and face my attack? I have no idea." Bulma interjected quickly.

"Do you think maybe it had something to do with what Piccolo said on the Lookout? Your father befriended Buu and convinced him to stop killing. Maybe he just liked the idea of a friend who knew the real him, you know? Buu doesn't care about Cell or martial arts tournaments or anything else we humans know your dad for. They just became friends because…well, because they clicked."

Videl pondered Bulma's words for a moment. A friend who knew the real him? It was true; Buu didn't think of him as the savior of Earth. He was a buddy to watch TV with, to chat and joke with, to play with Bee. Majin Buu allowed Papa to be himself because he didn't have to pretend or hide when they were together.

"Of course." Bulma watched her curiously as the puzzle pieces started to fall into place. "Of course! That makes sense! After years of living a huge lie, Papa found a friend who doesn't care about all that. It really is that simple." Bulma smiled before her husband turned again to leave the floor.

"Vegeta," Videl called after him. He glanced over his shoulder, slightly annoyed to be stopped yet again. "Thank you for everything." The man simply grunted and proceeded up the stairs, disappearing from sight.

"I have to admit, Vegeta isn't really the talkative type, so I'm impressed you got so many words out of him! He doesn't even talk to me that much sometimes." Bulma let a derisive laugh escape her lips.

"It was a nice conversation honestly," Videl admitted, smiling as she thought back on it. It had started a little rocky, but his directness had been refreshing. She did want a long cuddle session with Gohan later after confronting that much intensity for that long, though.

"I'm glad! Okay, come on! I have to see you in this outfit! You're going to love it!" And with that, Bulma grabbed Videl's arm and pulled her excitedly into the lab. Vegeta had given her a lot to think about, but for right now it was time to focus on her original reason for coming here: her surprise for Gohan.

---

"I thought that might be you."

Piccolo's smooth voice rang out as Gohan touched down on the Lookout, confidence in every syllable. The large Namekian was standing just in front of the main building with a smile on his face.

"It's good to see you Piccolo," Gohan told him, his voice filled with warmth. Even though it had only been a few days, it was always nice to see his first friend, no matter the occasion.

"How've you been, kid?" Gohan grinned as Piccolo used the word. It wasn't really true anymore, but it had always been how the Namekian showed his affection and he never minded it.

"I've been great, honestly. It's wonderful to have Dad back at home, school is going really well, everything's good!"

"And Videl? Things with her are good too?" Gohan picked up just a hint of teasing in his mentor's voice and felt his cheeks heat up just a bit.

"Things are amazing," he admitted, a goofy little smile stealing his lips. Piccolo approached and placed a large hand on his shoulder, squeezing slightly.

"It's good to see you so happy Gohan."

"Thanks Piccolo."

"So what brings you all the way up here today?" Gohan had to remind himself why he'd flown up here to begin with; it was so easy to get distracted when he thought about Videl.

"I was actually hoping you might be able to help me out with some meditation exercises. The powers the Elder Kaioshin unlocked in me are amazing but I was thinking it might be useful to conceptualize them a bit better. It all happened so fast with Buu I didn't really have time to get fully in tune with them, you know?"

Piccolo nodded, a serene smile on his face. "I'm glad you approach your strength from the mental side as well. That's a rarity among Saiyans." They both laughed, fully aware that he wasn't joking. "Of course, I'd be happy to go through some meditation with you. I can guide you through some methods I know then you'll be able to use them on your own."

"Thanks Piccolo! Where would you like to go?" His mentor gestured to the landing around them.

"We can just stay out here for today. Dende is deeper inside the Lookout performing his usual duties as Guardian and Mr. Popo is attending to him so we'll have the area to ourselves."

"Perfect."

They wasted no time in getting started, each sitting down cross-legged and closing their eyes. Piccolo began to guide Gohan into a more relaxed state of mind, his deep voice resonating through the young Saiyan's mind. But the more focused he tried to make that mind, the more it started to wander. There were whispers interrupting his thoughts and drowning out Piccolo's voice. Haunted memories of his past kept cropping up, things he hadn't dwelt on in a long time. Maybe it was telling Videl his story Sunday night that had rattled things loose in his brain, but now it was as if all these quiet thoughts that were murmuring in the back of his head had suddenly been amplified by his attempts to block them out.

Regret. That was a feeling he'd had for most of his life, but especially since Cell. His own father had died to make up for his arrogant mistake. Goten had been born without a father and had spent seven years of his life not knowing him. His mother had been widowed because of him. Krillin had lost his best friend. Piccolo, his staunchest ally. Vegeta, his greatest rival. It was impossible to truly fathom the effect the loss of Goku had on the lives of everyone he knew, much less his own family.

Frustration. This one encompassed Videl and it stung even more. He wanted to make her nightmares go away. He hated that she had to deal with this. She had never asked to be traumatized by Majin Buu, had never wanted to live under the same roof as him, yet she had to deal with it. He tried his best to support her, but he wasn't sure how much of a difference he could really make. He hadn't made a difference with Spopovich after all…

She had told him again and again that she would have been mad at him if he'd intervened, but Gohan truly believed that he'd rather earn her ire than have stood by and watched her be tortured right before his eyes. Perhaps time had dulled the potency of his memories, but he couldn't recall ever being angrier, even compared to what Cell had done.

"Gohan!"

His eyes snapped open at once and he gazed upon Piccolo's stern but somber face. He released a sigh and realized his entire body was incredibly tense. He hadn't even noticed.

"Sorry Piccolo, what's up?"

"You tell me kid, you're clearly focusing on something else, something that's bothering you. What's going on?" Gohan glanced dejectedly down at the ground.

"I just got caught up in a lot of past regrets, I guess. I told Videl my life story the other night and I guess it reminded me of some bad feelings and moments I thought I'd put behind me. I haven't really been dwelling on them though, so for them to interrupt now definitely wasn't a conscious choice."

Piccolo hummed in understanding. "Meditation can bring thoughts we've been trying to ignore to the forefront of our minds, even if those thoughts aren't being consciously suppressed. Your subconscious ability to repress thoughts is often underestimated."

"So I've been dwelling on this for days without realizing it?"

"Perhaps. It might help clear things up if you feel like talking about it." Gohan took a moment to collect himself, drawing a slow, deep breath.

"I have a lot of regrets about the way I handled situations in the past."

"Cell, right?"

"Among others, yes. Recently I've been reliving that moment again, when Dad sacrificed himself to save us…to save me."

"He didn't do it because you're a failure, Gohan; I've told you that before. He did it because he's a selfless man who would throw himself into danger's path to save anyone he loved. He did the same thing when you were kidnapped as a little kid."

"I know you're right, but…I just can't help but wonder what things would have been like if I hadn't messed up the way I did, you know? Maybe Goten would have grown up knowing his father. Maybe I wouldn't have become as weak as I did before Buu was revived. If that had happened, maybe I could have killed him before he had the chance to kill Videl and Mom and everyone else." Piccolo met his eyes directly, waiting for him to finish speaking before taking over.

"And perhaps if Goku had lived through our fight with Cell, something else would have killed him before Goten was old enough to know him. Maybe you would have focused on your studies the way you always wanted to and nothing would have changed with regards to your training. It's possible that without his Other World body and the extra time on his hands to train, Goku wouldn't have achieved Super Saiyan 3 when he did. If that were the case, Majin Buu would have annihilated everyone and everything before we even had the chance to react. See? I can do it too."

Gohan laughed a little in spite of himself. "Point taken."

"You take too much on your own shoulders kid. You always have. You blame yourself for Cell, but remember, Vegeta could have killed him before he became Perfect. I had the chance to do the same when I first encountered him. We've all had our share of failures and half-successes; it doesn't make you a monster. It just makes you a person."

"Thanks Piccolo. That really does help."

"Now what are these other regrets? Certainly a fight from seven years ago isn't solely responsible for distracting you like this." He always saw right through Gohan so easily.

"No, you're right, there's more. It's about Videl."

"What about her?"

"She's having nightmares about Majin Buu. Please don't tell her I told you, she'll be upset. But I don't know how to help her." Piccolo nodded and closed his eyes for a moment.

"So she's experiencing something similar to what you went through right after Cell then," he mused. Gohan vividly remembered coming to Piccolo for help and advice. He'd given him all the reassurance he could ask for and several meditation exercises which had helped, but ultimately the problem had just needed time to resolve itself.

"I made the decision to fight Cell. I went to that arena by my own choice. But Videl didn't ask to be caught up in that nightmare with Buu. She didn't ask for him to live with her now. I just wish I could do more."

"You're not giving yourself enough credit," Piccolo spoke suddenly. "You weren't here when Goku told us you and Vegeta were dead. I've never seen people look more broken than your mother, Bulma, and Videl did."

"I wish I'd been able to let you all know…"

"You can't blame yourself for that. We all had our roles to play. We on Earth occupied Majin Buu long enough that you could complete your training with the Grand Kaioshin. And you focused on becoming strong enough to kill Buu, just like you should have."

"I know. I just wish I hadn't left Videl so hurt and alone."

"I didn't bring that up to make you feel bad about it. I mentioned it because I wanted you to know how much of a difference your presence in her life makes." Gohan watched him in wonder for a moment. It was rare for Piccolo to speak like this. He stayed quiet and let him continue.

"If you think your being at her side doesn't make a difference, you're out of your mind kid. I saw her face when she heard you were dead. But I also saw her face when you came back to her. She was more thrilled and relieved than your own mother was." Gohan laughed lightly again. She really had been.

"Then you think I'm helping her even if I don't have the answers?"

"No one has the answers, Gohan. It's different for everyone. The nightmares you had needed to run their course until you didn't dwell on the memories so often. I imagine Goku would handle them differently. So would Vegeta or even myself."

"Is there anything at all I can do for her directly though?"

"I guarantee you this: just being there for her is more than enough. Videl's strong and resilient; incredibly so. She'll get through this too, however she needs to. I'm sure of that. After all, she was the only one of us who truly believed that you weren't dead, and she was right. She looked the mightiest warrior on Earth dead in his eyes and told him he was wrong about his own son being gone."

"Yeah, sometimes she can be even more stubborn than Mom or Bulma," Gohan admitted, smiling warmly at the thought.

"That's honestly terrifying," Piccolo muttered. The two of them began to laugh together, the tension in the air dissipating.

"Thank Piccolo. That helps more than you might think. I'll keep being there for her, always. Not that I was planning on doing anything differently." Piccolo offered a smile and nodded.

"She's lucky to have you, Gohan. Though there is another way you might be able to help."

"What's that?"

"You could try leading her through some of these meditation exercises too. It may not be the answer, but it doesn't hurt to give it a shot."

"That's a good idea, I'll suggest it to her later!"

"But," Piccolo continued, eyeing him stoically, "in order to lead her properly, you have to learn them properly. And in order to learn them properly, you have to stop blaming yourself for things that aren't your fault. You take too much regret on your shoulders."

"…I know I do."

"Then your assignment during these exercises is not to use them to focus your powers yet, but instead use them to focus your mind and accept that as the truth. You can always repurpose them to your new power later." Gohan smiled and gave a firm nod.

"You're right Piccolo. Then that's what I'll focus on for today."

"Good. Now let's try again. This time, stay focused on my voice and don't get lost in your own thoughts."

---

Gohan landed in front of the Satan Mansion, eager to see Videl again. They had barely had any time alone today, aside from their quick walk to school that morning. It was just after 7:00pm as he rang the doorbell. It only took a few moments for Videl to throw the door open in excitement, an enormous smile on her face.

"Gohan!" She leapt up a second later and threw her arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. He laughed in delight and wrapped her up in a tight embrace, swinging her around on the porch.

"It's good to see you too 'Del!"

"I missed you!" She kissed him on the cheek several times. Gohan couldn't help but think that Piccolo had been absolutely right; that she was in this good a mood after two nights of nightmares was a testament to her resilience for sure…and maybe him being there really did help.

Gohan set her down gently and kissed her forehead. "I missed you too. How was your errand?"

"It was perfect, I got exactly what I was looking for!"

"That's wonderful, I'm so happy to hear that!" Her excitement was contagious; Gohan felt all the inner peace he'd achieved on the Lookout starting to be entirely replaced with electric joy.

"Thanks! How was Piccolo? Did he teach you what you wanted to learn?"

"Yeah, we even had a really helpful conversation. Even after all this time, he's still such a kind and understanding mentor." He was truly glad that Piccolo was his friend and teacher. Gohan was convinced he wouldn't be half the man he was today without the Namekian's guidance.

"I'm really glad Gohan."

They stood on the porch for a few moments longer, taking in the comfort of the other's embrace, the sights, the sounds, the scents. Gohan had noticed in the last few days that Videl's hair always smelled faintly like mango. It wasn't very strong, but whenever he kissed the top of her head he could always tell. It was a smell he now associated with calm bliss.

"So!" Videl began, stepping back and clapping her hands. "If it's okay with you, would you mind doing something with me real quick? After that I have a huge surprise for you! Or we can make dinner first, your choice!"

"Of course 'Del, I'm happy to help you with anything. What's up?"

"I…wanted to talk to Majin Buu. But I'm a little skittish still and I'd like you to be there."

"Absolutely, I'll be right next to you."

"Thank you. I'm just a little nervous still, that's all. I'll be okay though."

"What brought this on? Is everything okay?" He was worried that maybe Buu had made her uncomfortable without Mr. Satan in the house. She just smiled up at him, running her hands up and down his back as she did.

"Everything's fine. I had a really interesting conversation earlier today and I learned a lot from it. So I want to try something to make my nightmares go away, or at least calm them down a little."

"If you think it'll help, you know I support you completely, no matter what."

"You're the best. Let's get inside then." She pulled back and took his hand, guiding him into the ornate foyer and leading him to the entertainment room. It felt like weeks ago he had chatted with Mr. Satan in this very room before his first official date with Videl, but it had only been two days. It was unbelievable how much joy he'd experienced in the last few days alone. It was almost enough for an entire lifetime.

Despite Mr. Satan's absence, one thing remained the same as the other day. Majin Buu was sitting on the couch, watching television with Bee curled up in his lap. The creature had evidently found a love for chocolate chip cookies as he had two boxes of them open on the end table next to the couch. He would occasionally grab a fistful and drop them into his mouth, chomping and crunching contentedly as he stared unblinking at the TV.

"Gohan, would you mind staying over here? I…I need to do this myself. It's important that I don't rely on you or anyone else this time." Gohan nodded and waited by the hallway, watching as Videl crossed the room and approached the focus of her nightmares. He wondered what she was going to do. She seemed convinced it would be for the best, whatever it was. So he would support her, a quiet, unfaltering presence that never left her side, just like Piccolo had suggested.

---

"Hey Buu, can I talk to you?" Videl asked. She made her voice loud enough to be heard over the television but gentle enough that he didn't think she was being hostile. She wanted to have a conversation with him, not a screaming match.

"Hoh?" He made a curious noise and turned to Videl, tilting his head to one side and watching her, unsure of what was happening.

"Uh, do you mind muting the TV? It won't be long," she assured him. Buu nodded and shuffled his things around until he found the remote. Videl wondered for a moment how he possibly pressed the right buttons with those enormous gloves on, but silence filled the room a second later so he'd obviously figured it out.

"Thanks. Um, I…wanted to talk to you for a minute."

"Okay! Buu like talking to Mr. Satan! Buu probably like talking to you too!" So childlike. So…innocent. It was nearly impossible to believe this was the same creature that had been released from the wizard's spaceship last week.

"You know I've had my doubts about having you here. I was against it at the Lookout the other day and I know you can tell I avoid you a lot," she began. Buu nodded and gave her a tiny smile. It wasn't all the disconcerting this time. It almost looked friendly.

"Buu know! Mr. Satan's daughter worries that Buu might kill people again. But Buu promise, no more killing unless Buu need to protect Mr. Satan or you." Videl took a deep breath and took the plunge. This was the point of no return.

"I…want to trust you, Majin Buu," she admitted. The pink creature tilted his head the other direction, clearly confused. From behind her, she thought she heard Gohan nearly gasp. He must've been shocked. She continued before she lost her nerve.

"Papa cares a lot about you. Some very wise people made me realize it's because you're his first real friend. You don't care that he's the World Champion, you don't care about his legacy or achievements at all. You just like him because of who he is."

"Yes! Buu like Mr. Satan lots!" Videl actually caught herself chuckling. Because of Buu?

"I realized something earlier. I want Papa to be happy and have you as a friend. And I want you to keep being his friend. When I thought of things like that…it made me think that I was glad you were here with us." Buu made a small sound of surprise, his mouth rounding into a perfect circle.

"I can't say I'm entirely comfortable around you yet. I hope that doesn't insult you too much. But…I would like to try being less distant with you. I can't promise you we'll ever have television nights like you and Papa do, but I'm willing to try being friendlier with you if you'll let me do it at my own pace."

Buu smiled again. It was really more of a grin, one of childlike excitement, the kind you would usually see when school was closed for a holiday. "Buu like that idea! Buu okay if you take time, but Buu would be very happy to be friends with Mr. Satan's daughter!"

"…Videl."

"Hoh?"

"You can call me Videl. I don't mind."

"Buu can call you by real name?"

"Yeah."

"Okay! Buu hope he can be good friends with Videl too!" The creature was smiling widely, the picture-perfect image of happiness. Videl couldn't help but let herself smile too. Maybe if she actually managed to become friends with him, the nightmares would go away. If she could trust him a bit more, she wouldn't be nervously looking over her shoulder every time he was around.

"Me too. But like I said, it might take a little time for me to get comfortable. So give me that time and I'll give you my best effort to be friends."

"Okay! Buu do!" He gave an eager nod before reaching for a nearby box and holding it up. "Videl want cookie?" She laughed lightly.

"No thanks, Gohan and I are actually going to make dinner here in a little while so I shouldn't snack now. Thank you though."

"Videl welcome! Buu eat for you." Videl laughed again; maybe he wasn't so horrible anymore after all. Vegeta had done terrible things once too and he had been the one to give her advice.

Become strong enough to overcome yourself. She had thought about it all afternoon and this was the answer she had come up with. She could never surpass Majin Buu in physical strength alone so she would surpass herself in emotional strength instead. She was suspicious of the creature and angry that he lived in the Mansion with her and Papa. But Papa cared about Buu and had risked his life to protect him. The way Videl would become stronger was accepting her father's feelings for Buu and doing her best to overcome her negative emotions where he was concerned. Maybe she'd even manage to befriend the pink giant.

"Anyway, thanks for hearing me out Buu. You can turn your show back up, Gohan and I have some things to do. Let me know if you need anything okay? Gill should still be around until 9:00 tonight too."

"Okay!" Buu pressed the remote with his giant fist and somehow the volume roared to life again. She might have to solve that little mystery someday. But for now, she had more important things to focus on.

Turning back to her boyfriend, she saw a look of pure disbelief on his face. His mouth hung open and his eyes were wide. She approached him, grabbing her forearm and rubbing it shyly.

"I thought this was the best way forward. If I become friends with Buu, I won't be so scared of him and the nightmares might go away." Gohan shook himself from his daze at last and looked at her, his deep onyx eyes twinkling.

"I think you're absolutely amazing, Videl. What you just did isn't easy; I know the feeling myself."

"It wasn't entirely my own idea; I got some advice earlier that helped a lot." Gohan watched her, curiosity evident in his warm gaze.

"Who gave you an idea like that?" Videl grinned and shook her head.

"I'll tell you later. I can't say right now, it'll spoil part of the surprise!" Gohan laughed and nodded.

"Got it, I won't pressure you then. I have to say though, Piccolo was right; you're more resilient than anyone I've ever met."

"You and Piccolo were talking about me?"

"He asked how you and I were doing and it just kinda snowballed from there."

"Tell him thank him for the compliment next time you see him!"

"I will! Really though, that took so much bravery and strength. I'm incredibly proud of you 'Del. I hope it works. And I'm here to support you no matter what."

"I know Gohan. Thank you." She reached out and seized his arm, starting to pull him from the room. Once they were in the hallway again, she met his eyes. The night was just getting started and she was so eager to surprise him with her gift from Bulma.

"Okay I know I said you could pick what we do next, but can the surprise be first? I'm so excited for it!" Gohan laughed and grabbed her hand, squeezing softly.

"Of course it can! I'm so curious what it is!"

"Okay, let's go up to my room then!"

---

Gohan felt his heart skip several beats then begin to race when she said those words. A surprise up in her bedroom? Was she going to…? No, no, it was far too early for something like that. Videl was confident but she got flustered so easily when it came to romantic things that there was no way she would propose that so casually and giddily…right?

As she began to lead him upstairs, he shook his head hard while and tried to collect himself. 'Come on, this is Videl we're talking about. There's no way that's what she's thinking. But…she did kiss me first on the Lookout the other day. And she confessed first. Who's to say she wouldn't be the first to make a move with something like this too? But this soon?'

"Hey Gohan, you okay?"

'I mean…it's not like I don't think she's attractive. I just didn't expect she'd be ready to take our relationship to that level just yet. I'd like us to get to that point too, but I always thought we'd date for a while before this. Are we ready? Am I ready?'

"Darling?"

'Just relax Gohan. You still can't be sure that's what she has in mind. She seems way too relaxed about it; there's just no way she wouldn't have blushed at all if that's what she was really thinking about doing tonight. You just gotta stay calm. Don't let your mind run away with you. She probably just has something fun to show you. Yeah, that's it...'

"Hey, Gohan!"

Videl's voice, tinged with worry, broke through his thoughts and brought him roughly back to reality. He realized he'd been walking without watching where he was going, his eyes unfocused and allowing Videl to lead him. She had stopped on the second floor landing and was staring at him now, eyes analyzing everything about his face. There was no way she hadn't seen signs of the nervous debate he'd been having with himself.

"What's going on? You look really jittery right now, is everything okay?" She wasn't eyeing him with suspicion the way she once would have. No, this gaze was soft and sweet and caring. But she was worried, that much was obvious. Gohan did his best to reassure her without giving himself away. It didn't go well.

"O-oh, it's nothing 'Del, just uh…just remembering something Piccolo told me earlier, that's all." Videl smirked and shook her head.

"You're gonna have to do a heck of a lot better than that if you want to deceive me, Son Gohan." He grimaced and felt his shoulders slump forward. She had caught him again.

"I'm sorry Videl, you know I never mean to lie to you. It's just…I got inside my own head about something and it was kinda silly of me."

"About what? If something's on your mind, you know you can always tell me." Her cerulean eyes shimmered with love, a desire to support him through anything.

"That's so sweet and wonderful of you. I promise I know that and I trust you. But uh…I'd rather not mention something that'll embarrass you..."

"Embarrass me? Come on, I'm your girlfriend. You can tell me anything at all Darling." Gohan could see the determination in her eyes. She wouldn't stop until she found out what it was he wouldn't tell her. If he resisted hard enough, she might even get a little frustrated with him and the last thing he wanted to do was ruin their evening by upsetting her. Damn that resilience. It really did put Mom and Bulma to shame sometimes…

Gohan tried to meet her eyes but found he couldn't, his face flushing as he gazed towards the tiled floor. "Um…well, when you said that you had a surprise for me…um…in your room…I kinda got a little nervous that, that you, uh…wanted to…"

Videl tilted her head and watched him, clearly not understanding what he was implying. He couldn't blame her; he was stammering and hesitating almost every other word. She couldn't resist her curiosity any longer and spoke, unaware of how delicate his composure was at the moment.

"Wanted to what?" Gohan felt his entire face turn bright red as he blushed harder than he ever had.

"…y-you...you know…"

'I know? What do…I…oh." Her voice had become incredibly tiny as the realization dawned on her at last. Chancing a glance at her, Gohan saw her own face burning scarlet, understanding why he had been so hesitant to say it out loud.

"Sorry, I know that wasn't your intention! Just…the way you said it made me a bit nervous that maybe I was misunderstanding things. I-I wasn't expecting it from you! I...don't want you to think that's all I was thinking about or anything!" He was stammering and panicking, trying his best to make sure she didn't think he was a complete jerk. His racing heart calmed slightly when she spoke a moment later.

"I don't think that at all," she said, her soft voice barely above a whisper. "I know you Gohan; there's no way you came here tonight expecting that from me so early. You're way too sweet. It's my fault," she admitted, grimacing as she finally managed to turn her gaze up towards him.

"You didn't do anything wrong 'Del."

"Not really 'wrong' I guess, but I could have phrased it better. 'I have a surprise for you up in my room' just screams se-" she stopped abruptly, turning her face down to the ground again. Her ears and neck were as red as her cheeks were.

"It's okay, I...I get what you're saying. I'm sorry I embarrassed you so badly." She shook her head, laughing lightly.

"Don't be, it's mostly my fault anyway. Um, the surprise I have for you tonight isn't that…but, uh…"

"Go ahead, like you said, we can tell each other anything." He tried to sound confident, hoping it would get his flushed cheeks to calm again. It was starting to work, though just slightly. His embarrassment was blessedly coming back under control. He might be able to look her in the eyes in a few moments.

"I…well, it's…it's not like I don't see you that way. And while I don't think we're ready just yet…someday…I want to…"

'So much for feeling less embarrassed.'' Face burning anew, Gohan rubbed the back of his neck on instinct. It was something to do that wasn't stare awkwardly at the floor while he and Videl burnt up in front of each other. He owed it to her to answer though; he could imagine how embarrassing it was for her to admit that out loud to him.

"I, uh…I feel the same way you do. I want that for us too…but it's definitely still early, you're right." After a few more moments of trying to collect himself, Gohan managed to gaze at her again, her sapphire eyes waiting for his. Her blush was a bit more under control now though she still looked very timid and shy.

"I wonder if we'll ever be able to talk about stuff like that without dying from embarrassment," she muttered, her eyes still shimmering with nervous tension. A wry smile appeared on her lips though and Gohan managed a chuckle.

"Maybe someday but knowing us it's gonna be later rather than sooner."

"We do tend to get a bit flustered when it comes to romantic stuff, huh?"

"Congratulations 'Del, I think you actually just made the understatement of the century." Videl started giggling at his comment, her smile widening. Gohan couldn't help himself and began to laugh too, her mirth far too contagious to resist. Seconds later, the young couple was laughing as hard as they had the day before when Videl had impersonated her father. He felt the tension evaporating from the air around them at long last, a welcome gift.

Eventually their laughter calmed and Videl wiped the corners of her eyes, catching her breath again. "You know, maybe it's good this came up. I know we're really embarrassed but it's also nice to know where we both stand on this," she reasoned. Gohan couldn't help but agree.

"I think you're right. So for now, why don't we let that conversation sit until we're ready to bring it up again and you can show me this surprise?" Videl smiled as the calm air between them was restored.

"That sounds perfect."

With that, she led Gohan the rest of the way to her room. It was in the east wing of the Satan Mansion, the furthest point out on the second story. Gohan was curious what her room actually looked like. All he knew was his familiar little bedroom that he shared with Goten. It was the same small space he had grown up in and it had a warm familiarity to it. He wondered what room Videl had grown up in since the Cell Games. Once she opened the door and invited him in though, he couldn't stop his mouth from falling open.

Videl's bedroom was enormous. The walls were a cozy shade of blue, similar to her eyes though of course lacking the lively shimmer. The carpet was fluffy and warm, sinking beneath his feet like a pillow might. It was white and gave a brightness to the space that made it feel open and welcoming.

There were large bookshelves lining the walls with all manner of texts contained within, ranging from martial arts theory to applied mathematics. She even had some children's books, no doubt still there from when she had been a kid. There was a dresser with a multitude of drawers, a television mounted on the wall, a large desk with a home computer set up, even doors that led out to a balcony. The glass panes that made up those doors surely offered the most gorgeous view of the sunrise in the mornings.

Through a nearby open door, he could see that she had her own private bathroom, catching a glimpse of a grand and spacious shower. He envied her a bit for that; the tiny shower he'd been using since he was little had not once changed in all his years growing up, no matter how much bigger he got. He spied another door and surmised that was the closet, no doubt a large walk-in with tons of space for modeling clothes and changing unencumbered.

Finally, his eyes fell upon her bed. And what a sight it was. The vast majority of the available floorspace was used to house the titanic bed. 'Titanic:' it was a word Gohan had never truly had the opportunity to use before, yet here it was, the perfect chance. A large canopy covered the mattress and the mass of pillows that decorated the deep blue bedding. He tried to count the pillows quickly but there were just too many to keep track of without picking them up one by one.

The thing that surprised him most was the collection of stuffed animals that sat on the bed too. There were little stuffed bunnies, kittens, even tigers – he suspected those were a later addition to the group. The one that stood out most, though, was a large teddy bear that was almost bigger than Goten. It looked like the oldest of the bunch, its fabric worn from years of love and care. It made Gohan smile, seeing this little window into Videl's private life. Her bedroom was…'softer' than he'd imagined. It was as if he were seeing a whole new side of her, one that no one else got to see or know about but those closest to her. And that made him feel luckier than he'd ever imagined.

"What do you think?" Videl asked at last, her voice sounding a little timid again. Gohan grinned widely at her.

"This is amazing! I'm honestly a little jealous of all the room you have. I didn't take you for much of a stuffed animal girl though," he noted. He was delighted that she didn't blush or get angry the way she might have a month ago if he'd found something like that out. Instead, she just gave him a serene smile.

"When I was little, Mama got that giant teddy bear for me. His name is Kuma-kun. I loved the show he's from and I loved that big fluffy guy and snuggled with him every day. I think that's what started my love for stuffed animals. After that, I collected every cute one I could find...as long as I was alone or only with Papa or Erasa. You three are the only people in the world who know about these guys," she explained, gazing at the stuffed group with adoration in her eyes.

"That's really sweet 'Del, and they are cute! I like them! Doesn't the tiger stick out just a bit though compared to the rest?"

"You don't think tigers are cute? They're so adorable!" Videl looked at him like he had something growing out of his ears. Was she really so shocked that he didn't think the tiger entirely fit the collection? Gohan couldn't help but laugh lightly.

"I never really thought about it. But if you think they're cute, then they're cute." Videl smiled and floated upwards, pecking him on the cheek.

"You're just the sweetest, you know that?" Gohan turned his head and kissed her softly, their lips meeting for just a moment.

"Only for you. And always for you."

"Anyone else saying that would have sounded unbelievably cheesy. But it just makes my heart melt when you do it." Her eyes shimmered as she touched down gently, the soft carpet almost swallowing her feet. She spoke again before could even respond.

"Okay, I'm so excited to show you the surprise! Come sit! The bed's the comfiest spot!" Gohan allowed her to seize his arm and pull him across the room, spinning him around and pushing him gently onto the end of the mattress. She was right; it was incredibly soft. He'd probably sleep like a baby on a mattress like this. Even better if she was next to him...

"Are you ready?" she asked him, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet.

"Yes! I'm so curious what has you this excited! Should I close my eyes or anything?"

"Nope! You should watch me the whole time!"

"Okay, I'm ready when you are!"

Videl pulled a small, silver object from her pocket and began to fasten it on her wrist. Had she gotten a new watch? Was that what she was so thrilled about? Now he thought about it, that watch looked awfully familiar. Before Gohan could put it all together, Videl pressed a button on the side of it and, in a moment, her clothing had transformed entirely.

Where she had worn her usual school clothes before, now she wore an aqua-green combat Gi with a lavender bodysuit underneath. White gloves and boots matched the belt fastened around her waist, accents of gold coloring the toes and buckle. A long coral cape was draped from her shoulders and a helmet covered her head, visor obscuring her eyes. Its accents matched the cape perfectly and an adorable yellow heart sat centered above her eyes. It was almost as if Gohan was looking in a mirror and his eyes widened at the sight.

"What do you think?" she asked, her voice brimming with elation. "It's my very own Saiyaman suit! We can be real partners out there now!"

Gohan felt the most uncontrollable smile spread across his face. This was Videl's surprise. And what a surprise it was.

"You look incredible!" He stood without even realizing it, still unable to rein in the smile that ruled his lips. Videl removed her helmet and held it under her arm, looking delighted, a slight pink blush dusting her cheeks.

"Really?"

"Really! Wow!"

Videl ran to him and jumped into the air, tossing her helmet onto the bed and wrapping her arms around his neck. He caught her effortlessly and pressed his forehead to hers as she laughed. Her joy was infectious and Gohan felt his smile stretch to the point his cheeks actually began to ache. She was truly an amazing woman. She had done all this just to be able to fight alongside him and protect his secret identity while she did.

She pressed her lips to his and he felt jolts of excitement race through his body. He hadn't even thought it possible; in that moment, Gohan fell even more in love with Videl than he already was.

---

10/7/2022

---

Post-Chapter Note: So to explain a couple little things, Chief Kaneki is named as such because the Japanese word for policeman is "keikan," so I mixed up the letters and came up with "Kaneki," which is also a Japanese name. I took as much inspiration from the way Toriyama-san comes up with his names as possible, so I hope you liked the name choice and the character!

Vegeta respecting Videl enough to remember her and have a conversation with her was an idea I had a few chapters ago. I always thought that if they had a chance to interact, they would click in a few ways, which I tried to illustrate here. Vegeta was hard to write. It's very easy to make him be aggressive or dismissive. It was much harder to walk the tightrope between post-Buu Vegeta and DBS Vegeta. I wanted him to come off serious and prideful as he always has, but soften his edges enough to make the impact of his sacrifice against Majin Buu noticeable. After all, this would be the timeframe between the Vegeta that willingly aimed for Babidi to turn him evil again and killed half a stadium of innocent people and the Vegeta who assaulted Beerus for slapping his wife. All that is to say, I hope I didn't write him poorly and I hope I did manage to make a convincing version of him that's slowly learning to fight for and love others as much as he fights for himself.

On a side note, it's difficult to write convincing dialogue for Majin Buu. At least in the English dub, his broken speech patterns were such a huge part of his first form that you almost can't write him without them. But it becomes awkward when you try to make him have a real conversation rather than just interjecting with random asides. Let me know what you thought of his dialogue with Videl!

Lots of challenges this chapter, but they were fun to undertake and hopefully rise to. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it! Take care and I'll see you again next week for Chapter VI! It's going to be a special one!