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).

8. Only You Matter

Author's Note: Welcome back everyone! Thank you for the kind words in your reviews again and for checking out the story! Especially now that we're starting to get into a more developed plot line, I hope it can keep you entertained and keep you guessing! As a note, the first several chapters were posted very early Friday morning (just after midnight Thursday), but I think I'll aim for this time now - Friday afternoons. It gives me a chance to give the new chapter a nice once over with a clear mind before posting them and I think it makes for a better product.

Fair warning - today's chapter gets a little intense. But I really hope it resonates with everyone. I think it's the most proud I've been of a chapter so far and I can't wait to write the next one and keep taking you on this journey with me. But for now, without further delay, please enjoy and thank you so much for reading!

---

Chapter VIII – Only You Matter

The wind whispered around Mt. Paozu, rustling the vibrant grass and parting around the large trees. Videl's voice cut through that wind effortlessly, her selfless admission that she felt guilty for what had happened earlier that day echoing on its gentle tendrils. Gohan's eyes widened in surprise as he opened his mouth to speak. It took him a moment to find the words to respond, but when he did, of course he was trying to make her feel better.

"Videl, you don't have to be sorry. I completely understand why you were so frustrated earlier." His voice was gentle but he didn't sound timid or hurt anymore. That was good. She had almost been afraid to face him; she didn't want to see that sad look he'd worn on the rooftop ever again.

"I do have to be sorry…and I am. It's one thing to be upset about what happened at the warehouse, but it's another thing entirely to treat you the way I did. I was really mean to you Gohan…I'm so sorry."

She felt her throat constrict again as she remembered the pain in his eyes, the way his lips had betrayed him by forming an involuntary frown. Gohan approached her, his soft footsteps crunching lightly on the grass. When he finally reached her, he wrapped her up in his arms without hesitation. Videl felt her breath catch in her chest as she looked up at him, guilt and surprise evident in her gaze.

"It's okay 'Del. I know you were upset and I know you weren't trying to hurt me. I promise it's okay."

"B-but I…I yelled at you and treated you so awfully. Even though you were just trying to make sure I was safe…" Her voice was tiny and riddled with sadness; she couldn't help it. The whole flight over she had thought about how she'd feel if Gohan had yelled the same things at her. And it made her feel like scum to look back at the way she'd spoken to him. How could she have spit in his face like that? The face of the boy who treated her like a princess. Who loved her with such intensity and sincerity that it made her heart race whenever she thought about him.

"Videl, I promise you're okay. I was talking to my parents earlier tonight about what happened; they could tell I was pretty out of it," he explained, chuckling lightly. His chest rose and fell against her but she couldn't manage a smile. She had hurt him so much his parents had known something was wrong. They probably hated her now…

"What were you talking about?" she managed, her voice floating upwards on that cool night breeze. Gohan's eyes closed and a warm smile spread across his lips.

"About how to handle fights as a couple. My parents used to argue all the time, usually about whether I was allowed to fight or not. But they still love each other so much. I learned a lot, honestly!" Videl chewed her lip.

"I talked to Papa about that too," she admitted, earning Gohan's warm gaze. "He could see right through me so easily. He gave me a lot of good advice too – that couples have to figure out how to coexist and how to handle arguments when they happen. And the way to actually handle arguments…isn't the way I handled things earlier today."

Gohan reached up with his right hand and placed it against her cheek, his warm fingertips electrifying her skin. "Videl, you really don't have to feel so guilty," he whispered. "I'm not upset with you and I'm not hurt; I really do get it." She shook her head gently, his hand following every motion she made.

"But you were hurt. I saw it before I flew away." Gohan grimaced at last.

"I was kinda hoping you hadn't noticed," he admitted, a sheepish grin spreading across his lips.

"Of course I noticed; I love your smile and I can tell when it isn't real."

"Okay, then let me fix what I said. I'm not hurt anymore. Talking to Mom and Dad put a lot in perspective for me. Sure, maybe we have some work to do on how we communicate when we're angry, but as far as first fights go, it sounded like this one was pretty standard. Not necessarily what we disagreed over, but the way we did it," he corrected himself, laughing lightly. But Videl still couldn't shake the immense guilt squeezing her chest.

"I…still though…I feel so bad Gohan. It's funny. Buu actually made me realize something and I wanted to ask you…you weren't so much scared I was hurt huh? You were scared…that they'd kill me…" Gohan tensed as the words passed her lips, squeezing her just a little closer to his body. Buu had been right.

"Yeah…that was the reason," he admitted softly. Videl hugged him tighter too, clinging to him.

"When you saw me go down like that…you were scared they'd get to me first and kill me for antagonizing them, weren't you?" It was Gohan's turn to chew his lip.

"Yeah…"

"And you couldn't risk my life by letting me fight them again, right? It wasn't that you thought I was weak, but that you were scared they were just too much with their ki blasts."

"That's…yeah, that's exactly what it was."

"And for all your sweet concern and real fear…I just screamed at you and left you all by yourself while I ran home to sulk…I'm so sorry…"

Videl felt her eyes sting suddenly. She didn't want to cry in front of him, not after earlier. It felt manipulative to have treated him so badly and then ask for sympathy with her tears just hours later. But the water welling in her eyes spilled over despite her best efforts, tears rolling down her cheeks as she clung a bit tighter to him.

"Easy 'Del, it's okay. We're okay, I promise," he whispered, reached for her tears with his thumb and wiping them away with a delicate brush.

"I'm sorry for crying too…I don't deserve your comfort after today…" Gohan finished brushing her other cheek before she felt his arms leave her back entirely. He cupped her face and brought her eyes up towards his. There she saw the same warmth as always, but a look of fierce conviction underscored it.

"Videl, I will always be here to comfort you, no matter what's happened. If you think a few words spoken in anger is enough to change that, then you're in for a big surprise. I love you. I've never felt so happy in all my life. And it would break my heart to stand here and watch you cry."

Videl sniffed and nodded, his gentle hands never leaving her cheeks. "Darling," she began, his head tilting in curiosity. "It's kinda hard to talk like this," she managed, sounding like she had a mouthful of food. Gohan laughed lightly and let his hands fall to her shoulders before trailing down her sleeved arms and settling on her own.

"Sorry about that. It was really cute though." Videl felt her cheeks grow a bit hotter and took his hands in hers.

"Gohan…will you forgive me please?" His eyes widened again.

"I'm not mad at you Videl, I never was. I promise." She shook her head slowly.

"I know, but…I just feel so guilty. I want to apologize and know you accept it. So…do you mind if I say it just one more time?" He squeezed her hands and smiled.

"If it'll help you feel better, of course."

"Then…I'm so sorry for how I treated you today Gohan. I promise I'll do my best from now on to treat you as good as you treat me. All the time, not just some of it." Gohan gave her the most serene smile and nodded.

"I forgive you Videl. And I promise I'll do my best to make sure I don't ignore your feelings or put you in a position where you feel hurt or like I don't trust you." Videl felt a smile tug at her lips at long last.

"Deal. I don't know if you need to hear it like I did but…I forgive you too."

"It's really nice to hear it," he admitted, his hands snaking out of her grip and drawing her into a tight hug again. This time she nestled into his chest, warmth emanating from his body and calming her anxious mind and heart at long last. For the first time that night, she truly felt calm again. She hadn't pushed him away or ruined their happiness by acting so impulsively. Given the conversation they'd just had, though, it seemed like Gohan wouldn't let something like that happen so easily.

"Hey 'Del," he began softly, resting his cheek atop her head.

"Mm?" she hummed, her eyes half-lidded in relaxation as all the tension and nervous energy left her body.

"Can I take you flying for a few minutes?"

"Um, yeah, sure. We can fly if you want to," she agreed, starting to pull back. His arms tightened just slightly around her though.

"Not like we usually do. Is it okay if I carry you? I want to show you something." Videl felt her cheeks burn again but nodded as a big, goofy smile spread across her lips.

"Y-yeah, of course you can."

He gave her a squeeze before releasing her entirely. Videl almost pouted at the sudden loss of comforting contact, but a moment later he paced at arm around her back. "Ready?"

She gasped as Gohan swept her from her feet, holding her like a bride, something that made her blush deepen as she thought it. His left arm supported her legs from behind the knees and his right cradled her back. She leaned closely into him and sighed, a wave of deep contentment washing over her. She could stay like this forever and be happy.

"Here we go," he whispered, taking off into the air. The sudden sensation of the ground disappearing beneath her, especially without it being her choice, caused her stomach to flip and she gasped a bit, clinging to Gohan's t-shirt. He smiled down at her. "I'll never let you go 'Del, don't worry."

"I trust you completely. I was just a little surprised," she reassured him, nestling a bit closer into him.

Gohan was flying straight up, slowly but surely. As the ground continued to shrink beneath them, Videl felt her heart start to speed up. It made her nervous still to be so high in the sky. She was much more confident with flight these days than when she'd started, but if something went wrong and she lost control, a fall from this height was more than enough to kill her.

Evidently, he could feel her curl into him because he pulled her against him a little tighter and looked down at her. "It's okay, you're safe with me. I know being up this high makes you nervous. I'd never make you feel uncomfortable up here." She just nodded and took a steadying breath. She tore her eyes from the ground and gazed upwards, noting the cloud cover that had rolled in as the sun set earlier.

"Uh, Gohan? If you keep going, the clouds are gonna soak us," she cautioned gently. He chuckled a bit.

"I thought you trusted me," he teased, winking down at her. Something about that little motion made her blush badly and she buried her face in his chest so he couldn't enjoy his victory as much. "We won't get wet."

"How?"

"You'll see!"

With that, he put on a tiny burst of speed, hurrying them towards the cloud cover. Videl braced herself for the sudden weight of water on her clothes and in her hair…but even once they disappeared into the fluff, it never came. Glancing around, she stared at the inside of the cloud. She'd never imagined what one might look like before. Though to be honest, it was so dark that she didn't have the clearest idea now. But the fact was that she was inside a cloud, something she'd never imagined happening back in April.

They kept ascending and soon they broke through the top, emerging into the clear sky above. Videl felt her sleeves and was stunned that they were as dry as the moment they'd left the ground. Before she could ask how, Gohan gazed down at her, eyes shining.

"Look," was all he said.

Videl turned her head and her mouth fell open in awe. The velvet skyline stretched on infinitely before her eyes, twinkling starlight dancing across its canvas. The silver moon shimmered brightly; it looked different from this high up. Like she could reach out and hold it in her hands. She knew in the grand scheme of life that they were barely any closer to the celestial bodies. But it felt like they'd come closer to them and the wonder in her heart couldn't be suppressed by such trivial things as knowledge.

"Darling, this is incredible! I've never even imagined something like this!"

"I thought you might enjoy seeing the stars again, from a tiny bit closer this time."

"It's beautiful Gohan. Thank you for taking me way up here. How did you know I get nervous flying too high?" He offered her a warm smile.

"I always try to let you take the lead when we fly and we level off a lot lower than I usually do. I just figured it was because you're pretty new to it still. And there's nothing wrong with that!" She giggled lightly in his arms.

"You're right; that's exactly why. Hey, I have to ask: how did we not get soaking wet going through that cloud?" Gohan grinned widely, clearly excited about something.

"That was my ki. It kept us dry." Videl felt her eyes widen in surprise.

"What, like it repelled the water?"

"Not quite," he explained, his eyes shining with joy. "I raised my ki up into an aura around us and vaporized the rainwater. That only works if it's for a short time and not too much water; I couldn't keep us dry in a lake for example. But I thought that might be fun for you to see!"

"Wow, that's really amazing! How did you do it exactly?" Her curiosity had more than gotten the better of her and she wanted answers to her burning questions. Gohan chuckled before flashing her a grin.

"Why don't I teach you tomorrow? I know I said we should start your ki training over the summer, but…I'd like to start as soon as possible now. I figure the sooner I teach you how to manipulate your own ki, the sooner you won't have to worry as much about surprise ki blasts and things like that," he explained. Videl had lit up at his words though and she didn't even need to hear the reasoning.

"Yes please! I'd love that!"

"Great! I wanted to take those gloves by Bulma tomorrow morning so she can take a look at them for us, but we can start just after lunch?" Videl felt herself pout again. It wasn't like he'd said she couldn't come with him, but it just sounded like he was going to go alone. He picked up on her feelings immediately, though.

"I wasn't planning to leave you out 'Del; I'd love it if you'd come with me!" She let a defeated smile cross her lips; he had seen through her feelings so effortlessly. Was this really the same boy who had blushed like a madman the first time she'd kissed him? He was so much more confident and aware of things now than when they'd started dating. It made her heart flutter and sing.

"I'd love to come with you Darling, I missed you today."

"I missed you too 'Del."

A comfortable silence fell between them as they floated in the sky, gazing at the stars and relishing in the other's presence. Soon, another tiny thought crept into her mind and interrupted her relaxation.

"Gohan? Shouldn't it be way colder up here than it actually is?" For how high up they were, above even the clouds now, the temperature should have dropped pretty drastically compared to the summer night on the ground. Her boyfriend chuckled again.

"That's another benefit of me keeping my ki raised around us. It's like a protective shield, warming us up, blocking us from the wind. Watch." She saw his shoulders consciously relax and suddenly felt quite cold. Comparatively frigid air wrapped around her body and, despite her hoodie and sweats, she shivered and clung harder to Gohan. A second later, the cold disappeared again.

"Wow…that's incredible," she whispered. Gohan nodded and smiled at her.

"You'll be able to do it yourself soon!" Videl grinned back.

"I'm sure I will! I have the best teacher I could ever ask for, after all!" As they laughed together, Videl's grin softened into a gentle smile. She felt her heart leap as she nestled into Gohan even closer.

"But for tonight, I'm happy to stay right here in your arms and let you protect me." Finally, Gohan blushed and Videl felt her stomach somersault. He was so indescribably cute when he got flustered like that. And it was about time she got him back for all the times he'd made her turn red tonight. But she was serious too. Sure, she could learn to do this, especially with her Gohan watching over her but it felt nice to be protected by him too. Something she should remember in the future, just in case her frustrations ever threatened to get the better of her.

"I love you," she blurted out suddenly, her cheeks burning scarlet. She hadn't meant to say it out loud just yet; the sudden admission had honestly caught her by surprise. But it was the truest thing she'd ever spoken.

"I love you too Videl." Gohan's words were strong, yet gentle. Just like he was. They washed over Videl the same way the feeling of awe had at the sight of the skyline. She leaned up and kissed his cheek, nestling back into his arms a second later. And finally, a sense of true relaxation and contentment spread throughout her body, chasing all the bad memories of that afternoon from her mind.

"Oh, by the way?" Gohan began, watching her with a mixture of sly self-assurance and gentle adoration. "I'm taking you out for okonomiyaki after midterms."

Videl felt herself light up, both for the enormous smile that graced her lips and the deep blush that colored her cheeks.

---

Gohan found himself standing next to Videl at the Tenkaichi Budōkai. It was almost time for her first match of the bracket. Her opponent was the titanic Spopovich, a man who exuded a strange energy that the half-Saiyan couldn't quite grasp. But with her training, she would be more than ready. Videl had taken to learning ki very well and no matter what her first match brought, she would be able to handle it.

"Wish me luck Darling," she whispered, pecking him on the cheek. He took her hands and gave them a reassuring squeeze, kissing her softly.

"You don't need luck. You'll be amazing because of the hard work you put in." She lit up and gave him a tight hug before spinning on her heel and taking a deep breath. It was time for her match. Gohan watched proudly as she steeled herself and stepped outside, walking towards the ring.

The giant of a man was already waiting for her, his hollow smile not reaching his eyes. There was something unsettling about him. But once the referee called the match to start, it seemed that Videl had the upper hand in every way. She was faster, stronger, smarter, and better trained. She would end things quickly.

She couldn't repel him out of the ring or wear him down enough to knock him out, though. He seemed infinitely durable. How was that possible? Did it have something to do with the perturbing energy Gohan had sensed before? She had taken a heavier hit and was clearly a little exhausted from her constant efforts to unbalance him and so retreated to the air where she was safe.

"Good Videl. Regain your strength where he can't get you," Gohan whispered to himself. She had excellent combat sense. Which made it all the more shocking when Spopovich drew his arm back and began charging a ki blast.

"Look out Videl!"

It was too late though. He launched the purple energy blast at her, laughing a disturbingly cold laugh all the while. That shouldn't be enough to bring her down, though. Gohan had taught her personally how to deflect ki blasts, after all. She could just bat it away and there wasn't a thing he could do about it.

Only she didn't deflect it. The blast crashed into her, her arms crossed in an X in front of her to take the brunt of the hit. Why hadn't she knocked it aside? He had taught her how to do that…right?

The final surprise Spopovich had for the arena came as his feet left the ground, his monstrously large body slowly ascending into the sky. Videl's look of surprise lasted only a moment before his enormous fist connected with her guard. He swung his other arm and knocked her from the sky. She crashed hard to the ground and cried out, trying to rise to her feet and catch her breath.

From there, the match devolved into a nightmare. Gohan was forced to watch as Spopovich tortured and tormented his girlfriend. The sweetest person he'd ever met. He clenched his jaw so fiercely he was afraid his teeth might crack. The anger overwhelmed him further with each blow he landed on her, toying with her now. He even caught her when she was about to fall from the ring and tossed her like a ragdoll back to the center.

What finally broke Gohan was when Spopovich lifted her by her head and began punching her viciously. His fist collided with her stomach and face and any part of her he could reach again and again. Merciless. Savage. The young Saiyan felt his heart thunder in his ears. It was so loud he could no longer hear anything else…not even Videl's horrible screams of agony…

She would be mad at him for interfering. He didn't care though. He had stood by long enough. Spopovich would be lucky if he could still breathe after Gohan was through with him. Before he could blast off though, the giant's fist collided with her face again and several teeth flew from her mouth. And the world went completely silent, heartbeat and all.

Gohan felt his anger overwhelm him like never before. Vegeta hadn't enraged him like this. Frieza hadn't enraged him like this. Even Cell hadn't enraged him like this. But Spopovich? He wouldn't walk out of that ring alive. A furious roar erupted from Gohan and his ki exploded, transforming him to the peak of his power – Super Saiyan 2. The same transformation that had broken Cell would break the disgusting man that kept hurting his Videl.

He began to launch himself forward but suddenly found his body restrained. Enraged and confused, Gohan fought with every ounce of power he had. It was as if invisible hands were holding him back, tighter with each passing moment. There was no one grabbing him though. What was this?"

"I'm sorry Gohan, but this is imperative," a disconcertingly calm voice sounded from his right. Glancing out of the corner of his eye, he saw Shin, the Supreme Kaiōshin. His arms were outstretched and Gohan could tell instantly that he was the cause of the binding.

"What are you doing? Let me go right now Shin!" The smaller being simply gave an empty smile.

"I'm afraid I can't allow you to interfere. This is all a necessary part of awakening your hidden powers, Son Gohan."

"You already have what you want then! My powers are right here! Now let me go! I have to save her!"

"I do apologize but I'm afraid you haven't fully awakened just yet. I can sense more power within you, hidden potential. Our plan will fail if you do not tap completely into it."

"What plan!? You're just going to let her die!?" His voice was rabid as he gazed on in horror at the arena. Spopovich had dropped her to the ground and was now stepping on her head, throwing his whole weight on top of her as Videl shrieked and screamed. The crowd was shouting, demanding the match to be called off, but no one took action.

"If that's what it takes to awaken your true power, I'm afraid it is an unavoidable sacrifice." Shin's voice wasn't cold, but it was calculating. It was as if he and Videl were nothing more than cogs in a machine, parts of an equation whose outcome could only be properly reached if he took these exact actions. Gohan had long since lost all ability to reason however and even the highest god of the universe wouldn't command fear in him.

"So help me Shin, if you keep me here and let her die, I'll show you my true power firsthand!"

"Good Gohan. That's the anger you need to fully awaken and help us all."

"If you want my help, start by saving her! If you can restrain me, you can restrain him!"

"Of course I can. He means nothing though. Neither does she. Only you matter."

"He's right Gohan, you just have to calm down." Gohan felt his heart sink into his stomach as the familiar voice of his father rang out around him.

"D-dad? Why? Why are you saying that?" His anger, momentarily shocked out of him, was replaced by total confusion.

Goku had appeared to his left and was watching the scene with an unreadable expression on his face. He could have been analyzing the situation or wondering what would happen next; Gohan would never be able to figure it out in this state.

"You have to relax and get yourself under control, son. Shin is right; all you have to do is trust him."

"What are you saying!? Help her! If I can't do it, you can, right!?"

"Of course I can. He means nothing though. Neither does she. Only you matter." Gohan's eyes widened as his own father echoed the heartless words of the Supreme Kaiōshin.

"Gohan! Please help me!" A blood-curdling scream drew his desperate attention to the ring again. He felt hot tears streaming down his face. His own father had betrayed him? Left the love of his life for dead? She was begging for him to save her. And he couldn't do anything…

"Goha-" but she never finished his name. Spopovich's foot finally caused her skull to cave, crushing her head beneath his boot, laughing manically as he admired his handiwork.

Gohan felt his heart stop entirely. The world was silent aside from a loud ringing in his ears. His mouth fell open and all the fight left his body. She was gone. Dead. Killed. Right in front of him. Because he couldn't save her. Because he had been held back. No. Because he hadn't been strong enough to reach her.

"He means nothing though. Neither does she. Only you matter. He means nothing though. Neither does she. Only you matter. He means nothing though. Neither does she. Only you matter." The words of Shin and his father tore through the ringing, echoing through his mind again and again, threatening to drive him insane.

Spopovich's smile was evil. Shin's was hollow. His father's was calm. Videl's…was gone. He felt his anger reach an unrecognizable point. Something within him snapped. A furious howl escaped his body, sounding more akin to the Great Apes his Saiyan ancestors had transformed into than the man he was today. They had all stopped him. Had all stood in his way. Had watched Videl die. Had done nothing to prevent it. He felt his energy rising like it never had before.

"He means nothing though. Neither does she. Only you matter. Only you matter. Only you matter. Only you matter. Only you matter. Only you matter. Only you matter..."

---

Gohan woke with a start, gasping for air and sitting up quickly, his blankets flying from atop him and across the room. His hands were trembling; in fact, his entire body was. He was sweating fiercely, his mouth extremely dry and his throat constricted.

'Is she okay?'

He had to know. Right now. Without giving himself time to center or focus his ki, he reached out in a panic. It took him several moments of warring with his frantic mind to finally lock onto her ki signature, but when he did, he found that it was as calm and vibrant as ever. She was sound asleep, right where she was supposed to be. Safe. Alive…

Sighing deeply, Gohan fell backwards into the wall. The tension had raced from his frame so quickly it left him lightheaded. After several moments he managed to sit forward again, leaning his forehead on his palm, feeling the icy sweat on his brow dampen his hand.

'What was that? I haven't had a nightmare like that since Dad died…'

It had felt so real. So horribly real. Had their fight at the warehouses really affected him that badly? And to see Spopovich in his dreams after earlier that day…was it because he still felt guilty that he hadn't protected her back then? Why were Shin and his father the antagonists of his dream?

'That doesn't make any sense. Shin wouldn't hold me back like that in reality, especially not if someone's life was in danger. And Dad…Dad would never let Videl die right in front of us. Never…'

A pair of eerie voices echoed through his mind a moment later. 'He means nothing though. Neither does she. Only you matter.'

Gohan shook his head violently, anger shooting through every nerve for a brief moment. He took several deep breaths and tried to still his shaking hands. Glancing at his clock at last, he realized it was 3:00am. It was far too early to start the day but…could he even begin to go back to sleep like this?

'Stop remembering it. It wasn't real. It was just a nightmare…'

Knowing it was useless, Gohan finally stood, seizing his phone in one hand and a training Gi in the other before quietly exiting the room, careful not to wake Goten. Of course, his little brother had slept through Gohan's sudden awakening; a little movement in the room would hardly be enough to rouse him now.

Gohan decided that if couldn't sleep, he'd meditate. He'd calm his mind the way Piccolo had taught him years ago when he had been fighting nightmares of Cell. Maybe he'd even train some, get rid of the nervous, pent-up energy that was still surging through him. That would help recenter him. As he slipped quietly out of the house, Gohan couldn't help but acknowledge a nagging little feeling in the back of his mind. It was just a lingering memory from the nightmare, he knew. But still…

At the very end…when his anger had finally exploded after Spopovich had killed Videl…it felt like there was something deeper he was tapping into. And even now he wasn't so sure it had all been a dream…

---

Gohan never did go back to sleep. He meditated by his favorite lake in an effort to calm his mind and body. It took several hours, but it eventually worked. As the sun finally started to rise, he returned home and readied himself for the day's outings. First, he and Videl were heading to Bulma's to deliver the gloves and then her ki training would begin.

For the entire flight to the Satan Mansion, he tried to focus on staying relaxed. That nightmare had really gotten under his skin but he didn't want to scare Videl. She was still moving past her own nightmares and they had just gotten through their first fight. He didn't want to put more on her mind. Besides, he was much more used to dealing with these kinds of things than she was; he could get through this and spare her the added stress just before exams.

When they had finally been reunited, Gohan had held her just a bit tighter and closer than normal. She sensed it and asked him if everything was okay. She was incredibly smart…and so very perceptive. It warmed his heart.

"Yeah, I'm fine! Just still missing you after yesterday, that's all," he reassured her. Of course, that wasn't the whole truth, but she seemed to accept it.

After that, they flew out to Capsule Corp. together, meeting Bulma to discuss everything that had happened the day before and see if she could figure out the technology that had allowed Han and his men to use ki when they clearly weren't trained in it.

Bulma brought them down to her lab and Gohan placed the pair of black gloves he had procured on the table. She scrutinized them closely before glancing up towards him.

"So, what are these things? They're certainly not just regular gloves or you wouldn't have come all the way here," she had inquired, eyeing the material suspiciously.

"A group of criminals robbing a warehouse on the outskirts of town yesterday were wearing them. We think it allowed them to summon ki blasts, even though they couldn't manipulate ki otherwise. It came out a really dark, unnatural color," Gohan explained.

Bulma nodded and placed a thoughtful hand to her chin. "That's unexpected. It would take some incredible scientific knowledge to create a device that can force ki out of someone untrained in it. Dr. Gero is the first who comes to my mind that might be able to do it but…well, you all took care of him seven years ago. I can't think of someone else who has studied ki to that same extent, not even myself."

"Do you think you can reverse engineer them?" Gohan asked. Bulma gave a confident smirk.

"You wouldn't have brought them here if you really thought I couldn't."

"Point taken." Gohan laughed lightly and stepped back from the table, leaving the gloves before her.

"Wait, Gohan, you should tell her about the mechanism," Videl reminded him. The scientist eyed them curiously and he stepped forward, pointing to the small button on the cuff.

"This button released whatever it is inside that connected the gloves to their hands. I think it stabbed into them in five places; that's probably how it was able to draw out their ki." Bulma looked concerned as she stared at the objects on her table.

"Hmm…that's a pretty harsh way to force ki blasts out of someone…"

"It sounded like they were in pain when they fired them too," Videl noted. Bulma closed her eyes and considered the information for several long moments.

"I don't think I'll be able to make heads or tails of it today; I'll have to spend a while dissecting these things and reverse engineering them. Thanks for bringing two, though; I can experiment with one and have the other as a backup in case something goes wrong."

With that, she promised them she'd call as soon as she had figured anything out. As Videl and Gohan were preparing to leave the lab though, Videl stopped and turned back towards Bulma.

"Hey, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure Videl, what's up?"

"Have you heard anything from any of your business partners about things going missing recently?" Bulma's eyes widened.

"It's funny you mention that! I got a call from my partner over at Satan Electronics this morning. He said a warehouse of his was robbed late last night. Do you think the police will know anything about it?"

"Uh, I think we might know about it," Videl admitted. She proceeded to explain how the men with black gloves had been trying to rob a warehouse belonging to Satan Electronics yesterday when she and Gohan had stopped them.

"Hmm…seems like they came back to finish the job last night while you two were asleep then," Bulma theorized. Gohan and Videl shared a pointed look. Then had Han's goal yesterday really been to test their strength? Or to test the gloves out against real opponents?

A thought suddenly occurring to her, Videl went on to explain to Bulma how Sharpner – who had confirmed that his father did indeed work at Satan Electronics – had asked them if they had heard about anything going missing from within the company itself. Bulma's eyes narrowed when she heard that information.

"Hmm. He hasn't told me anything about that. If things really are going missing from inside, then it's entirely possible these events are all connected. But why target Satan Electronics? They don't do anything particularly…wait…"

"What's up Bulma?" Gohan asked, curious now what it was she might have realized. She shook her head.

"Nah, it's nothing to worry about. I just have a little theory I want to follow up on. I think I'll give my business partner a call later today and we'll have a little chat."

"If you need any help, let us know," he offered, earning a smile from her.

"Thanks you two! Be safe heading home and I'll let you know once I figure these gloves out!"

---

Upon returning to the Son household, Chi-Chi had made lunch for everyone, which Videl had enjoyed immensely. Her cooking was always spectacular. And soon after, she found herself sitting with Gohan under a large tree closer to the summit of Mt. Paozu. He had proposed they go a bit further away from his house so Goten wouldn't accidentally break her concentration. She was grateful for that; it sounded like her lesson today would take a lot of focus.

But that focus…was a bit hard to come by at the moment. Knowing they were training, Gohan had donned his new yellow Gi, the same one Chi-Chi had given him for his birthday. She had to admit he looked good in that color. Maybe it was less the color and more than she could see every inch of his powerful arms. Or his incredibly well-defined chest. Most of her concentration was focused on not drooling at the moment as she took in his sculpted form…

Shaking her head, she tried to bring her mind back into the moment. He had suggested she dress cooler since manipulating ki apparently made you feel pretty warm at first. So she had opted for the pink t-shirt she'd learned to fly in and her usual cycling shorts and boots, forgoing the baggy tank-top she'd worn back then. It mostly just trapped heat around her anyway. A pleasant breeze blew across the mountain and she smiled, the serenity in the air around them intoxicating. Not as intoxicating as Gohan…but still, it wasn't bad.

"Alright 'Del! Welcome to the first day of your official ki training!" Gohan was excited, clearly, His eyes were shimmering and the joy on his face had been obvious since they left his house a little while ago.

"I'm ready to learn, Sensei!" She giggled as he blushed instantly, rubbing the back of his head.

"D-do we have to call me that?" She grinned devilishly at him.

"I am learning from you. I figure it's only fair to give you the respect you deserve since you're working so hard for my sake." Gohan opened his mouth to respond but couldn't find a way to argue against her words. She let him sweat for just a moment before laughing and pecking him on the cheek.

"Relax Darling, I'm only joking," she reassured him. He sighed in relief and his shoulders relaxed noticeably. "Besides," she continued, winking over her shoulder at him, "I figure I'll call you that if you actually do decide to become a teacher someday. No need to rush it!" The blush that sprang to life on his face was all the reward she needed for some teasing well done.

Soon, they had settled down, standing in the shade of the large tree, out of the direct sunlight. Gohan took a slow breath and closed his eyes, centering himself it seemed. Videl followed his lead and did the same, trying to attune herself to the natural beauty surrounding them.

"Good Videl, just let your mind and body relax into the world surrounding you," he instructed softly. Videl took another slow, deep breath and let her body take in the sensations of nature. Birds, singing softly on the wind. The breeze, lapping over her mostly bare arms, swirling across her face. The rustling of grass and leaves, the gentle white noise of shaking foliage. The calmness of the wilderness on the mountain. The stillness of the world.

"Keep your eyes closed and your mind relaxed okay?" Gohan began. Videl didn't move, instead opting to focus on her state of being. She was relaxed. It was nice to just lose herself and feel the world around her.

"How much do you remember about ki as a concept?" he continued. She fought the urge to turn and look at him while she answered.

"Just what you explained last time. Ki exists in every living being and can be drawn out with training of the mind and body."

"That's right," he assured her, his voice warm. "Then let's go deeper into what makes up ki now. Ki, as an energy, is made up of three different parts: Genki, Yūki, and Shōki. Energy, Courage, and Right-mindedness. Body, spirit, and mind."

"Genki, Yūki, and Shōki," she repeated softly.

"Exactly. Essentially, the power of one's ki is based on the balance of body, mind, and spirit. And each aspect can affect your relationship with that energy." He placed his hands on her shoulder softly. She almost gasped in surprise but managed to still herself enough to remain in control.

"Body. Your ki isn't finite in how much of it you can have. The amount you can produce now isn't all you'll ever have. Of course, it'll run out if you're exhausted or you use it too much, but you can increase it with physical training and strengthening your actual body. Genki." He moved a hand and placed it on the top of her head, letting the other fall away from her.

"Mind. The use of ki is as much a concept as it is an action. Balance between deeper understanding and physical execution. Understanding of your limits and how to exceed them. Understanding of the ways you can use your ki and why it works the way it does. Understanding of the very concept of this energy that allows us to do things that our bodies would otherwise be incapable of achieving. Shōki."

His large palm left her head and she felt a little lonely for a moment. But not a second later, he wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, the way he had done by the lake that day. She couldn't stifle the breath she drew suddenly through her lips, but she didn't move otherwise, intent on preserving the air around them.

"Spirit. The desire and the motivation to understand and execute. The drive to achieve the impossible. The longing to use this power to make a positive difference." His voice lowered and she blocked out every sound save for his resonant tenor.

"Knowing when to step up and protect someone. Knowing when to fight and when not to. Knowing when to ask for help. Knowing you can surpass your limits. Knowing you can achieve the goals you've set. Finding the drive and the courage to embrace the unknown and letting it lead you to your answer. Yūki."

Videl was lost in his voice. She barely even remembered where they were. She was so wholly entranced by the way he was explaining this power of theirs. A power he had understood so much about for so long. How did she get there? By understanding his words first and foremost.

"I'm quick to fly off the handles when I get frustrated or angry," she began softly. Gohan didn't remove his hands from her waist but stayed still and silent. "I don't lose my fighting instinct, but my mind becomes unbalanced. So my biggest hurdle will be remaining calm and centered as I learn how to harness this power."

"Anything else?" His voice was calm and soft, gently guiding her towards her answers without pushing her in any direction. She considered herself for a moment.

"My fighting style. I focus on turning others' moves against them so that means I'm not always outclassing my opponents in raw strength. So even when I'm using ki, my focus will be in fighting smarter, rather than trying to brute force my way through. My balance will be between my strength and my strategy."

"Wonderful. Anything else you're thinking of?"

"The goals I have for this power…I can actually achieve them. By my own hand."

"Very good 'Del. I think you understand the basics well. You can open your eyes now." Gohan stepped back, releasing her, and she let her eyes fall upon the mountain scenery again, squinting a little against the bright sunlight streaming around them. She stretched for a moment before turning to Gohan, a small smile on her lips.

"I've never heard you talk like that before," she said, giggling as his head tilted in confusion. "You were so calm and certain, so…intense, maybe. It was like your voice alone was carrying me to a different world." Gohan laughed lightly.

"That's how it felt for me when Piccolo taught me a lot of this stuff too. Like it was something so completely foreign and strange that I wasn't even in the same reality anymore. But…I dunno! I guess I do find this stuff incredibly fascinating and I want to share every bit of knowledge I have with you."

"Well you're doing an incredible job. So, where do we start?" she asked, a wide smile eclipsing her lips.

"I'm glad you're so eager to jump in; I'm excited too! We'll start with getting you to raise your ki into an aura."

"An…aura?"

"Like this." Gohan took a stance with his feet shoulder-width apart and his arms raised slightly before him, fists loosely clenched. A second later, a rush of wind blew Videl's hair back and a pulsing, white aura burst to life around him. She could hear the gentle swirling of air emanating from him and see the way that one loose lock of hair danced around as the energy pushed upwards and out of his body.

"Wow…so you're stronger like this now?" she asked, unsure of the purpose of the technique. Gohan nodded, letting his fists lower.

"Exactly. What I'm doing is increasing the amount of ki I'm using at once. So by drawing out more of it, I'm making myself stronger than I was a minute ago. Everyone's body has a limit of how much ki it can withstand, but until you approach that point your aura is basically a way of strengthening your body even further. You don't have to keep it raised either." With that he dispelled the aura entirely, his hair falling back into place and the air stilling around him once more.

"See, what I've done is increased the concentration of ki present in and around my body right now. I don't need the aura to use my ki in a fight; I can use what I've already generated freely. If I wanted to increase it further, though, I'd need to power up with my aura the same way. The golden aura that we have when we go Super Saiyan is a similar thing. It's a much more intense concentration of ki so the color changes to that golden hue that you've seen. But most people's auras are white. Yours will be too."

"Wait, can you show me what it looks like to become a Super Saiyan? I haven't seen it up close since the tournament." Gohan considered her for a moment before a bashful smile appeared on his face.

"I, uh…don't really know how to right now," he admitted, laughing awkwardly. Videl was confused but he continued, explaining what he meant. "When the Elder Kaiōshin awakened my hidden potential, I basically found a state where I don't need to spend the energy to turn into a Super Saiyan anymore. I can become as strong as my Super Saiyan 2 form without the need for the transformation. He called it my 'Mystic form.' So my body kinda doesn't remember how to just yet. I want to learn how to tap into that transformation again but…"

"That's okay! I was just curious more than anything else. What you've shown me makes perfect sense to me. So how do you do it?" His eyes cleared and he smiled at her, his excitement reigniting in an instant.

"Well, that's the next big part of your training. Every technique from here hinges on you being able to raise your ki into an aura at will. Until then, each skill I want to teach you won't be possible. So our biggest focus right now is raising your aura. Sit down with me," he said suddenly, easing himself to the ground and sitting cross-legged in the shade.

Videl followed suit and watched him, drinking in the tranquility of the world. It was as if they were the only two people on the planet. Gohan gave her a warm smile and spoke softly, respecting the delicate serenity that encircled them. "I want you to start by drawing your ki out the same way I had you do when you were learning to fly."

"I've been practicing!" Videl sang happily. She steadied her breathing and held her hands in front of her, exhaling slowly. With very little effort, the small golden light flickered to life before her, almost as if she were holding it in her palms. Gohan's eyes lit up and his smile grew wide.

"That's amazing Videl! You're so much more comfortable doing that now than you were back in May! I'm so proud of you!" She giggled and blushed a bit.

"Thanks! I've been working at it since you promised to train me more. I wanted to be ready once we started."

"Well you're definitely ready for the next step then! Okay, you can go ahead and relax again." Videl dropped her hands and sighed, letting the small light disappear.

"So," he began, looking pointedly at her, "the way you generate an aura is very similar in nature to what you just did. You concentrated your ki in your center and drew it directly out into your hands, right?"

"Yes. That's what it felt like just then too."

"Good. Then the next step is letting it fill your entire body. Instead of drawing it out into your hands, you let your core overflow. The energy builds up inside your body and eventually pushes outwards by itself. The way you raise your ki is to keep letting it overflow; that's what generates an aura. You can think of it as extra ki taking form around you and amplifying your strength even more. Of course, your body can only do that so much and for so long, but that's the idea. You'll start feeling exhausted long before it becomes dangerous, so don't worry."

Videl listened intently, trying to visualize the method and feeling of drawing her ki out. It was a different approach to what she knew, but the concepts were similar enough. She felt like she might just be able to do it.

"And remember," Gohan cautioned her, "try to stay calm. If you get frustrated, it won't happen for you. It'll take a few tries and that's okay; don't beat yourself up over it if you need a little while to do it, alright?"

"Okay," she nodded, smiling confidently at him. "I promise."

"Do you want to give it a try?"

"Yes!"

"Great! I'll be quiet so you can focus."

"Thanks Darling."

Videl let her eyes close again and focused her mind on the feeling of her ki. It was a warm feeling deep within her body, a comforting sensation. It reminded her of the way Mama used to tuck her into bed at night when she'd been little. A gentle, relaxing feeling that she could latch onto.

She could see the small pinpoint of golden energy within her mind. It had felt so unattainable at first, so impossible to reach. But she had done it. She could do this too. All she had to do was find that light…and let it grow. Let it shine. Brighter. Brighter. Let the warmth encircle her entire body, her whole being. Focus on the strength she wanted.

She was strong enough physically to do this. She had studied martial arts for years and years. She had been the Junior World Champion even. Her body was more than prepared. She had the courage and the drive to achieve this, too. She never shied away from a fight. She wanted to make this power her own at long last. Her spirit was plenty strong.

Somewhere deep down, she knew her mind had doubted it was possible for her, though. The little voice in the back of her head whispered once in a while that it wasn't something she was capable of. But Gohan believed in her. And she was finally starting to believe in herself. No, she would believe in herself. She would prove that voice in her head wrong.

But after a little time passed, she found that she couldn't make any progress. Sighing, she opened her eyes and scrunched her eyebrows, confused as to where she was going wrong. Gohan still sat before her, his kind, resolute smile set on his lips, eyes twinkling.

"I'm not sure what it is about this I can't quite get," she admitted, frowning. Gohan reached out and took her hand.

"It's okay. I struggled a lot with this at first too; everyone does. Just take your time and don't be hard on yourself. You will get it. I know you will."

"Thanks Gohan."

But after a while longer, she felt herself starting to get aggravated. Why couldn't she make her ki shine brighter? Grow larger? She knew what she was supposed to be doing but she couldn't make her body respond. Why?

"You okay?" Gohan's soft voice interrupted her thoughts effortlessly. She chewed her lip and sighed.

"Yeah. I'm just getting frustrated. I don't know why I can't manage this. I understand what to do…I just can't make my body respond…"

"Do you want to try meditating?" he suggested suddenly. Videl felt her eyes widen in surprise. She knew he had learned a lot about the art from Piccolo, but she wasn't quite sure how it would help her now.

"How come?" she asked, curious.

"It might help get your mind completely out of the way of your body. That's your biggest hang-up, right?"

"Yeah," she admitted quietly, feeling a bit dejected. Gohan smiled.

"That's true for almost everyone. You're more than capable of harnessing this power physically so it makes sense that your hurdle is your mind. It was for me too, so many times in my life. We'll get you there, I promise. So let's try it! It might help!" His enthusiasm was chasing all the frustration she felt from her heart. How did he do it? A smile began to tug at the corners of her mouth.

"Okay, let's give it a shot!"

---

Gohan sat and watched Videl with a warm gaze. She was so focused and intent on success; he knew she would get there soon. The sun had moved noticeably across the sky and yet she remained still and focused. Every once in a while, he felt her ki surge, but her aura hadn't quite appeared. Her determination was something to behold though.

Finally, it happened. He watched her with hopeful eyes as he sensed her ki grow larger than it had so far. She was still so calm and focused she hadn't even noticed. Slowly, a faint white aura came to life around her. It was wispy and small, but it was a start. Just as a smile stole his face, Videl's aura surged forth with greater force. His eyes widened and the vague aura around her burst to life at last. He could sense her ki so much more strongly than ever before. She was truly an amazing person; she had succeeded on the first day of trying.

Still, her eyes didn't open. She was so deep in her meditation that she didn't seem to have realized she had manifested her own ki aura. But he didn't want to disturb her and break her concentration. He decided he would let her sit with the feeling for a while longer before bringing her gently back to reality.

After several more minutes of her aura being entirely stable and surging noticeably around her, Gohan spoke in a very soft voice. "Listen to my voice now 'Del. Keep focusing on your ki and don't let anything change, but slowly open your eyes okay?"

Videl's eyes fluttered as she slowly came back to reality. Gohan's dark gaze met sapphire blue again and she smiled gently. "Hey Darling," she managed softly.

"Hey yourself! How are you feeling?"

"Good. Very calm and relaxed. Normally I'd be a lot more frustrated that I couldn't do it yet but your meditation really helped. I'm sure I'll get it soon."

"Uh…Videl?"

"Yeah?"

"Look at yourself."

A curious look crossed her lovely face as she glanced down at her hands. She gasped and her aura faltered for just a second, but she relaxed her body and allowed it to come back to life around her. Her eyes were saucers when she looked back up at him.

"I…I did it?" A huge smile spread across his lips.

"You did it!"

"R…really!? I did it!?"

"You really did!"

"I did it!" She was so thrilled she threw her arms into the air in triumph, cheering and smiling. Gohan's heart fluttered and flipped a few times. All he wanted to do was hug her and congratulate her. But he didn't want to interrupt until she memorized the feeling.

"This is so wonderful 'Del! Before we stop for now, I want you to take as much time as you need and really understand this feeling. You're a quick study so you won't lose it I'm sure, but it'll be easier for you to raise your aura next time if you try to memorize the sensations and the way you got here."

"Right."

After several minutes more, Videl seemed content with her understanding. Gohan smiled and told her to let the aura go and she did, the white energy vanishing as she sighed, wiping sweat from her brow.

"That was a lot more effort than I thought it would be honestly," she admitted, catching her breath still. Gohan chuckled.

"It always is the first time. A big part of it is because a lot of ki is being wasted since you're still adjusting to how to control your power. It's really hard to perfect ki control; even my dad can't do it flawlessly. But he and Vegeta are closer than anyone else right now to mastering it."

"What happens if you perfect ki control?"

"Your power would probably skyrocket. A little energy loss is natural when you power up like that and when you're fighting. But if you could eliminate all unintentional loss of your energy, you'd be a force like no other."

"That sounds pretty incredible."

"It sure would be! Well…will be, knowing them," he amended, laughing. Videl shifted gears once she looked up and saw the sun's position.

"How long was I meditating like that?"

"About an hour, I'd say."

"An hour?" Her voice was filled with disbelief but Gohan just nodded.

"You were really focused and so close to raising your aura; I didn't want to interrupt you."

"You sat there for a whole hour and just watched me?"

"Of course! It was a long hour too! I was so excited for you to pull it off!" Videl gave a serene smile and scooted closer, her bright eyes sparkling.

"You mean you were sure I could do it from the start?"

"I was. You're amazing 'Del; there's nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it." That comment earned a lovely blush from his girlfriend and she kissed him sweetly.

"Thank you Gohan. You're a wonderful teacher."

"I'm glad I could help you! I think we should stop for today – I don't want to exhaust you too badly with midterms starting tomorrow. But after that, what do you say we start focusing on what all you can actually do with that aura?"

"Yes please!" Videl's smile was so cheerful and satisfied. Gohan couldn't help but grin like a fool as he watched her, so very proud of her accomplishment today.

She had worked so hard and it had paid off. As they rose to their feet and stretched, Gohan began to wonder just how far she could really push her understanding of ki, not to mention her ability to use it. It was entirely possible that, given her background and drive, she would be the strongest human on Earth in a few years. He wouldn't tell her that just yet though; he didn't want to put the pressure on her…or end up causing her to push herself way too hard too fast.

Taking her hand, Gohan began to lead her slowly back down the mountain, watching her for signs of overexertion. He found none. She had done a remarkable job raising her aura for the first time without overdoing it. She had managed to keep it raised for so long too. He pulled her close against him and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She really was something. And as she nestled into his side, her own arm sneaking around his waist, he was reminded of how incredibly lucky he really was to have her.

---

Midterms came and went quickly. Videl and Gohan were, of course, more than prepared and had breezed through most of their exams with ease. The more difficult ones had thrown up a few roadblocks, but it was nothing they couldn't handle. Videl felt quite pleased with herself. Even Sharpner and Erasa felt good about their performances. Erasa had asked if they wanted to go out and celebrate but Gohan, in an uncharacteristic show of confidence, had told them he had already planned to take her out for a date that night. The blondes teased them but ultimately told them to have fun and started kicking around where they should go to grab some food.

"You know, we could have gone with them," Videl teased gently as they left the school hand in hand. Gohan smiled.

"I know. But I promised you okonomiyaki and I'm not going to break that promise! Besides, we haven't had a real date in a little while now." Videl couldn't help the goofy grin that stole her lips.

"You're right! And I'm really looking forward to our date!"

Evidently, it was something she would have to look forward to for a little longer though. Her wristwatch began flashing and, from the corner of her eye, she noticed it. Sighing heavily, she began to lift her arm. "It's the Chief," she groaned, throwing her head back towards the sky and sighing.

"Wait, 'Del. It's red." Her attention snapped to the device immediately. They had never received a red signal from Kaneki before. That meant there was a critical situation playing out. Lives were in real danger.

Darting into a nearby alley, they looked around to make sure they weren't being watched before flying up to a roof quickly. Clicking the watch, Videl spoke with a hurried voice.

"Chief Kaneki, this is Great Saiyaman No. 2. What's going on?"

A moment later, the speaker on the other crackled to life, but no words were spoken yet. Instead, they heard groans of pain from what sounded like a relatively aged man. Was the Chief…

"Ah…thank you for responding," he began, his voice labored and his breathing ragged. Was he the one in danger? Videl gripped Gohan's hand tightly, fear surging through her. Kaneki had been a friend and ally to her for years now. He was almost like her grandfather in some ways.

"Chief, are you okay?" she called, her voice panic-stricken. A derisive chuckle sounded before it gave way to a hacking cough.

"I'm fine. A few of our…friends from the other day got a hold of me."

"Are you safe? Where are you? We'll come help you right away!" The Chief's voice was coming more readily now but it still sounded ragged.

"Thank you. But I'm afraid I was forced to call you as a bargaining chip. The men with black gloves from the warehouse last week – two of their friends have me at an abandoned factory on the north end of town. They want the two of you to come here and in exchange…they'll let me go. Otherwise…"

"There is no otherwise. We'll be right there. Tell them not to lay another finger on you." Her voice was hard and angry. The people who hurt Kaneki would have hell to pay.

"They can hear you. They're asking me to tell you…that no more harm will come to me if you show up in fifteen minutes."

"We'll be there sooner than that, I promise."

"Thank you…Saiyaman No. 2."

A moment later, the speaker went dead and a set of coordinates flashed up onto the small screen. Videl's hand was shaking badly as she clung to Gohan still. He squeezed it and stepped in front of her, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Hey. He'll be okay. I have Senzu Beans to heal him with and it really does seem like it's us they want. Don't panic, alright? If you do, you won't be able to fight them at your full strength." Videl took several deep breaths before clapping her face between her hands and shaking her head.

"You're right. He'll be okay; we'll make sure of it."

"And remember what you promised me. Fight right by my side, but if things get really dangerous for you with their ki blasts and those strange gloves, you pull back and let me handle it for now. It's not because you're weak, it's-"

"Because I'm still learning to handle ki attacks," she finished, finally managing to smile up at him. "I know Gohan. I promise I'll back off if I'm in danger."

"Thank you 'Del. Let's get going."

"Right."

The two transformed into their Saiyaman outfits and blasted off, racing towards the north end of town. Videl couldn't help but chew her lip nervously. He would be okay right? They wanted to fight she and Gohan; he was just collateral…right?

The wind raced past them as they tore through the sky, faster than they ever flew normally. Videl was glad for her helmet right now; it blocked out the wind from her eyes and let her keep a pace that was normally beyond her abilities. And finally, after five minutes like that, she and Gohan descended from the sky towards a large, condemned factory.

The building had certainly seen better days. Several windows were boarded up, the paint was peeling, and the large doors were hanging loosely from their hinges. It was a strange place for a meetup, but at least they'd be able to fight without having to worry about any innocent bystanders being harmed…except the Chief, obviously.

"Let me go in first," Gohan said softly. Videl simply nodded and fell behind him. Now wasn't the time for her pride; Kaneki's life was hanging in the balance. It was the much safer bet that Gohan take point today.

The Saiya Squad entered the factory and found that it was surprisingly well lit despite the mostly covered windows. The sunlight streamed in through the broken glass and the shattered skylight high above. Most of the main floor was empty, devoid of life and machinery alike. The air smelled thickly of dust and cobwebs glinted in the natural light as they looked around, searching for their opponents.

"That's far enough," came a loud voice. Videl snapped into a combat stance and felt Gohan do the same, but no ambush came. Instead, two large men emerged from the shadows of a far corner, Chief Kaneki between them, his arm held securely by one of them.

"Chief!" Videl called out. The man's face was bruised and battered, a cut on his lip noticeable even from a distance. They clearly hadn't cared that he was much older than they were and she knew he wasn't a fighter either. 'Bastards…'

"Thank you for coming, Saiya Squad. I'm ashamed to admit they took me by surprise and overwhelmed me." His voice still sounded labored.

"That doesn't matter now," she reassured him. Her steely gaze turned upwards towards the large men. "Well? We're here. You're going to let him go, right?"

"That depends," came the voice of the man on the left. "You're not just gonna run once we do, are ya?"

"Not a chance," Videl spat, staring them down. "After what you did to him, you're getting a fight whether you want one or not."

Gohan rose to his full height and spoke, the usual theatrical voice he used while in costume nowhere to be found. "Tell you what. One of you take him outside of the factory and we'll both wait here with the other. That way you know we're not preparing to run."

They considered him for a long moment before nodding. "Deal," the second man said, stepping forward with Kaneki in tow. They made their way across the warehouse and Videl watched carefully. She'd drop him right now if he tried anything suspicious.

Fortunately, once they reached the door, the man let go of the Chief's arm and nudged him towards the exit. "Thanks for your help Chief. Hope we don't meet again. If you come back in here, you won't be walking out next time." Videl gritted her teeth at the threat but Gohan spoke loudly.

"Head to the hospital Chief Kaneki; leave everything here to us. We'll be able to fight better knowing you aren't in harm's way."

The Chief sighed and nodded at last. "Understood. Be careful." With that, the Chief walked slowly from sight as his captor turned back and crossed the room again.

"Who are you?" Videl demanded, her voice angry. At least Kaneki was safe. Now she could let loose without concern for anyone being injured who didn't really deserve it. And they really deserved it.

"Name's Juzai," came the voice of the man who had stayed with them. "This's Yu," he gestured at his companion, the one who had taken Kaneki to the door. "No way we'll get your real names, so let's just skip that part huh?"

"Smart man," came Videl's cold voice. "Though not smart enough to avoid making us angry."

"It don't really matter if you're angry or not. We're putting an end to this today," Juzai spoke calmly. His words were very matter of fact. He had the same unfounded certainty that Han and his ilk had at the warehouses.

"Things are definitely going to end for one side," she spat, lowering herself into a combat stance again.

"Make sure you watch their hands Ni-gō," Gohan cautioned from her left. She nodded firmly, never letting her eyes leave the kidnappers.

"Got it. Let me take Juzai."

"He's all yours."

"Then that means I get to fight Saiyaman?" Yu called out, his condescending voice echoing off the concrete walls. "What an honor!"

"What do you say we get started then?" Gohan fired back, his voice far too casual for what most would consider insurmountable odds based on the size difference. Videl fought down a smirk as she imagined her boyfriend's fight playing out. It would probably be over in seconds.

A second later, a black ki blast rocketed from Juzai's hand and flew towards them. Gohan jumped in front of Videl and batted it away, the energy exploding against a wall far across the room. He raced off towards Yu, waving to her as he went.

"A cheap shot; what a surprise!" Videl shouted, lunging forward and taking to the air as she closed in on Juzai. The man crossed his arms before him and took the brunt of her kick, sliding back a bit but otherwise shrugging it off. 'Not bad.'

The fight that ensued was every bit at the level she might find at the Tenkaichi Budōkai, something that surprised her. Juzai was very well trained; his technique was solid, his attacks were quick despite his size, and his endurance was incredible. She lobbed volleys of kicks and punches at him but he blocked them all and never balked.

So what? He had great endurance. He couldn't fly…hopefully. Videl leapt high into the air and prepared to descend with a meteoric kick. 'Let's see you eat this one without feeling it!'

But before she could launch herself downwards, he raised a gloved hand and another dark ki blast rocketed towards her. This time, she was ready for it and flew out of the way, never losing sight of her target. It didn't seem like he could fire them too fast, likely a limitation of the painful technology in the gloves.

Shouting loudly, Videl shot herself towards the ground, before spinning and lobbing a powerful kick at her opponent. He didn't quite react in time and took the brunt of it, her foot connecting with his chest. The large man lost his balance at last and crashed to the ground hard. Videl gave chase but he rolled with deceptive speed to avoid another kick and sprang to his feet. He was nimbler than she'd have thought.

"Not bad Juzai," she called out. "You've got great endurance but your speed hasn't suffered much either." Her grin was widening. She hated these two for hurting Kaneki but it had been a long time since she'd been able to go all out against someone.

"Gotta admit, you're pretty good yourself. It's too bad you're not gonna win." She thought she saw Juzai's hand reach into his pocket for a moment; it was hard to tell in the musty light of the factory. She half expected him to pull a weapon on her, but his hand emerged again with nothing but the black glove. Oh well, it was time to put an end to this.

"Yeah? We'll see about that!"

But before Videl could rush him again, a cry of frustration sounded from behind her. And it sounded an awful lot like Gohan's voice.

---

As he felt Videl launch towards Juzai, Gohan set his sights on Yu. He'd end this quickly so they could get to Kaneki and give him that Senzu Bean. Another regular human, even with those strange black gloves, wasn't going to be able to match up to him. Yu went on the attack and Gohan blocked every punch, trying to keep an eye on Videl's ki. She was putting Juzai through his paces and she hadn't taken a hit yet. Good.

The surprising thing was that she couldn't topple him just yet. Maybe he was an actual fighter. Yu didn't seem to be but that didn't mean Videl's opponent was weak. Deciding to put things on his end to rest, he swatted Yu to the side and the man went sailing across the factory, skidding across the concrete and settling some fifty meters away.

Gohan glanced over his shoulder as he felt that familiar dark ki blast being fired again, but Videl dodged it easily to his delight. She launched a counterattack that knocked Juzai from his feet and Gohan let a smile cross his lips. She could handle this, no problem. He should probably go grab his charge just in case he tried to escape.

"Too late Saiyaman!" came Yu's obnoxious voice from across the factory. Spinning around, Gohan saw the man with a gun in his hand, aiming it at Videl. Gohan felt rage flicker through him at the threat and vanished from sight, reappearing directly in front of the man before he could even come close to pulling the trigger.

Wrenching the weapon from his grip, Gohan bent the metal into a knot before throwing it across the room. "Coward," he spat, staring angrily at the man.

Yu tried to throw another punch but Gohan blocked it, grabbing his fist and squeezing it in his grip, earning a pained cry from his opponent. "You really shouldn't threaten someone whose back is turned. Especially not her."

Unable to completely suppress his anger, Gohan delivered a fierce kick to Yu's body. For just a moment, Gohan thought Yu had given a thumbs up across the factory, but he wasn't sure why. A moment later, the large man sailed through the air, crashing violently into the concrete wall and slumping to the ground, his head lolling to one side. He wouldn't be threatening anyone again today. Still, Gohan wondered what that thumbs up was all about? He could still sense Videl's ki and she was just fine. Turning to scope out the battle told him that she was exchanging words with her opponent.

He got his answer quickly. From somewhere nearby, a strange whirring sound began to fill the room and suddenly Gohan found his body very weak. No…weak wasn't the right word. It was…heavy? It was as if he couldn't keep his muscles activated and slowly he collapsed to his knees, trying his best to fight the sensations. No matter what he did though, he couldn't keep his legs from buckling and found himself stuck to the ground. He couldn't even move his arms from his sides.

Struggling with as much effort as he had, he let slip a cry of anger. He had clearly fallen into a trap, but how? What was being done to him? He hadn't been hit or stabbed by anything so it had to be an external force. What was that whirring sound?

Gohan fought with every ounce of power he had. It was as if invisible hands were holding him back, tighter with each passing moment. There was no one grabbing him though.

Videl glanced over her shoulder and saw him on his knees, seemingly hurt. "Ichi-gō!" Without a moment's hesitation, she blasted off and crossed the factory floor in seconds, Juzai making no attempt to slow her down or even stop her. When she finally reached his side, she knelt down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"What's going on? Are you okay?" she whispered anxiously. They had both believed it to be impossible for the kinds of criminals they dealt with to do anything to him.

"I'm fine, but…I can't move," he managed with some effort. Forcing his jaw to move was even proving to be quite difficult.

"Did they do something to you?"

"They must've."

"It has to be some sort of machine; listen to that sound. Maybe this was an ambush all along. They lured us to this factory because they had some kind of trap set up."

"But one that can…do this to me?"

"That's right Saiyaman," came Juzai's voice. He had strolled closer, incredibly calm. A satisfied smirk was played across his lips and he stopped several yards away. Videl rose to her feet and stared him down.

"So you did do this! How?" she demanded. The man chuckled a bit.

"You're smart, girl. We set this little trap up earlier and used the Chief to draw you two idiots out here; we knew you worked closely with him, after all. Then Yu got Saiyaman right where we wanted him. All he had to do was threaten you," he revealed, pointing at Videl.

Gohan was reeling a bit. Everything had happened the way they'd wanted? How had they been outsmarted so wholly? This had never happened since he started helping the police.

"What is this? How come it's affecting him and not me?" Videl demanded, eyeing the large closely. He never made an aggressive move though.

"It's a special technology. Our boss put it together for us. We figured after last time, the two of you would be nothing but a pain in the ass going forward. Plus, the boss really wants to meet you, Saiyaman."

"Why?" Videl asked, placing herself a bit more between Juzai and Gohan himself.

"He's never had a chance to meet a real Saiyan up close and in person before."

Gohan felt his eyes widen. Someone that backed this group knew what a Saiyan was? And knew he was one? How? They were always so careful to protect their true identities from anyone not in their immediate circle.

"I was surprised," Juzai continued, "that you really are part alien. I guess it makes sense for how strong you are. The boss was spot on with what he figured you were. If you weren't one a' them Saiyans, you'd be up and moving around right now, just like the girl is."

"What does that mean?" Videl shouted, stepping closer to Gohan.

"It means exactly what you think it does. The boss whipped up a machine that can paralyze Saiyan biology. I dunno how it works myself; I'm just the muscle. But it does work obviously, and that's good enough for me."

"What does your boss plan on doing with him?" she asked, her voice soft and angry. Juzai just shrugged.

"Beats me. I just know the boss wanted to get his hands on a Saiyan. Probably has a grudge against one of 'em. I don't care. I get to use these amazing powers because of the boss, so I just do as I'm told as part of the deal."

"Well you and your boss aren't going to do anything to him!" Videl had stepped entirely between Gohan and their assailant now and lowered herself into a fighting stance.

"It's okay, they probably...can't hurt me anyway," Gohan reassured her despite the effort it took to speak. Videl just glanced over her shoulder, smiling at him and unhooking her cape, the coral fabric falling to the floor.

"Shh. Let me protect you this time." The smile she wore was equal parts sweet and confident. She had fought Juzai a bit now and had an accurate gauge of his abilities. She must be convinced she could put him down before anything more happened. Then they could figure out this strange paralyzing technology.

"I trust you," he promised.

Videl wheeled around and faced Juzai again. "Let's finish this then. If you ever want to get your hands on him, you'll have to go through me." The larger man laughed and adopted his own fighting stance.

"I figured as much. You're fiery. It's too bad I been lying to you too."

"Wait, what?"

"You didn't really get a full taste of my power."

Gohan felt the strange energy he usually sensed from the dark ki blasts begin to emanate from Juzai's body. Was he able to control that artificial ki this well? Was that even possible? That was a concern for another day though. For now…

"Be careful," Gohan managed at last, "he's using that dark ki the way we do. Assume he's just as dangerous as one of us."

"Got it," she responded, eyeing her opponent carefully.

"If you can focus your aura in your arms, you can deflect his blasts," Gohan whispered to her. Taking a deep breath, Videl steeled herself.

'She can do this. She only just started learning ki, but this artificial stuff can't be that strong. It's being forced out of him and Videl's is natural. If she can tap into her own powers again, she'll be just fine.'

Videl focused and tried to call forth her aura, but before she could, Juzai raced forward. She swore and leapt out of the way, taking to the skies. Just like what had happened at the tournament, however, Juzai began to follow. His flight was slow and clumsy at best, but she couldn't overwhelm him by flying anymore. At least not by flying alone.

She dodged another ki blast, this one grazing a bit too close to her for Gohan's liking. Still, she wasn't rattled. She was much more skilled with flight than he was and she darted around him, weaving in and out and delivering punches and kicks. Eventually, he retaliated with a powerful punch of his own, but Videl pitched and rolled beneath him, kicking him in the back and watching as the force of his own punch carried him unceremoniously to the ground. Even in the air, she still was able to use her opponent's strength against them.

"Not bad," Juzai called out as he stumbled to his feet again. Videl wasn't in the mood for small talk anymore, it seemed. She stared down at him angrily. Gohan knew she had a temper and could only imagine what she must feel like when he was threatened. If it was anything like he felt when the tables were turned, then she was probably seething with rage right now. Her fighting style never reflected it though. It was calm and calculated, just like she always was in a fight.

"Well, it's been fun. But I've got to end this," Juzai intoned with an air of finality, as if he were finished with a meal and ready to leave. "Got a timetable to keep, you know?"

"Sorry to disappoint you, but you're not going anywhere," Videl called out, staring him down coldly.

Without another word, Juzai raised both hands towards the air and began to launch dark ki blasts with reckless abandon and far more speed than he'd demonstrated himself to be capable of so far. Videl was surprised but began to dodge and weave around them. Gohan tried his best to figure out what was going on. Juzai wasn't exhibiting the same pain as his partners did when they used the gloves. It was possible that he just wasn't showing it outwardly as a sign of pride or intimidation. But he was also the only one who could fire those artificial blasts as quickly as he was doing now.

Videl was starting to tire, but Juzai showed no signs of stopping. Finally, she found a blind spot in the blasts and adopted the same stance he used when he powered up. A powerful shout escaping her lips, Videl tried to force her aura up around her. Gohan tensed as he watched. She was so close. It was almost there. The white energy was starting to take form around her. If she could awaken her aura again, she would be more than strong enough to deal with Juzai.

A blast caught her in the chest before she could fully manage to do it, though. She cried out in surprise and crossed her arms before her as a volley of ki attacks crashed into her. Gohan gasped and watched in horror as she fell from the sky once again, crashing to the ground with a sharp cry.

"Gotta respect the effort. I'll give you praise for that," Juzai said as he strolled across the room towards Videl. She tried to get to her feet but was just too winded and weakened to manage it.

"Ni-gō! Are you okay?" Gohan managed at last, his jaw finally responding.

"I'll…be fine…" she managed between gasping breaths. Juzai finally reached her and seized her roughly by the front of her Gi.

"Sweet a gesture as that is…no you won't. But before that, I gotta know who you really are." He reached out and pulled her helmet from her head, tossing it over his shoulder, the visor shattering against the concrete as it landed. He started for a moment as she glared angrily into his eyes.

"You're…Mr. Satan's girl, aren't you?"

"What's it to you?" she spat, still glowering at him, trying to regain her strength.

"Nothing. Just curious was all. Hope you said goodbye to him this morning."

Gohan's heart plummeted and his stomach turned to ice. Was Juzai planning to kill her? He couldn't let that happen. But…he was still stuck here. Try as he might to move any part of his body, only his jaw would respond.

"Wait," he managed at last. Juzai glanced over at him. "You wanted me right? I'm right here. Let her go home and I'll stay here with you and wait for your boss. I won't do anything to try to escape, even once he's here."

"Ichi-gō! You can't do that!"

"If it saves you, I'll do anything. Now come on Juzai. I'm the one you want. You don't have to take this any further than it's already gone."

The large man glanced between the two and chuckled. "Goddamn, love makes me sick. Sorry, though. Afraid I can't let her go. Boss's orders."

"Why would your boss want her dead!?" He was rapidly losing his composure. Maybe if he stalled long enough, Videl would be able to break his grip and run. Only she would never escape by herself and leave him behind. She'd break free and stand to fight him again…

"Dunno. Never asked. All he said was catch you, kill her. She's not important. Only you matter."

'He means nothing though. Neither does she. Only you matter.'

Gohan felt his heart nearly stop in his chest. Was that it? He couldn't reason with Juzai any further? Couldn't convince him to let Videl go?

"Good luck!" Videl cried out, throwing a powerful kick at his head suddenly. Her boot connected and he cried out in pain, but never let her go. Howling in anger, Juzai drew back a large fist and slammed it into Videl's stomach, causing her to cry out in pain as the air rushed from her body. She held her stomach and curled into herself as much as she could. Juzai let out a sigh.

"I didn't wanna hurt you more than I had to, you know. Just lay down and die. It'll be easier for both of us."

"You…bastard…" she managed between ragged gasps for air. Gohan felt his heart hammering in his chest now. If he could just get out of this invisible prison he'd break Juzai in half for what he was doing to his Videl…what he wanted to do.

"Ain't gonna tell you you're wrong," the man conceded, laughing. "But like I said. Got a timetable to keep. Nothing personal; you just aren't the one the boss wants. Thanks for the fight though. It was a good one."

Juzai reached out with his other hand and seized Videl by her neck, squeezing tightly. Her eyes widened in panic and she gripped his wrist fiercely, trying to throw him off. She was still too injured and weak to do anything though. Her last bits of energy had been thrown into that kick and she had nothing left to fight him off with.

Gohan looked on in horror as the large man choked the life out of her. Why? Why was this happening again? He couldn't even help her. He was stuck here. Trapped by whatever this technology was.

"Don't do this! You already have me! Let her go and I'll cooperate with everything!" Juzai didn't respond though. His hollow eyes just watched his task like he were reading an article – lifeless and bored. He wasn't even the type of psychotic that was delighting in squeezing the life out of her. He was just…empty.

It was as if he and Videl were nothing more than cogs in a machine, parts of an equation whose outcome could only be properly reached if he took these exact actions.

Gohan felt tears or rage and frustration well in his eyes and fought with every fiber of his being to move. His finger managed to twitch a bit and he almost moved his arm somewhat. If he could just direct his palm at Juzai, he could use a ki blast to knock him away. But try as he might, he couldn't move any further. The weight of his body was too much. It felt more crushing than when Cell had attempted to awaken his powers by force.

"Dar…ling…" Videl managed, her eyes barely open. She still fought with one arm, but the other was reaching out towards him. He wanted nothing more than to take it. To reach her. To save her.

"I…love…you…"

'Gohan! Please help me!' A blood-curdling scream drew Gohan's desperate attention to the ring again. He felt tears streaming down his face. She was begging for him to save her. And he couldn't do anything.

'Goha-' but she never finished his name. Spopovich's foot finally caused her skull to cave, crushing her head beneath his boot, laughing manically as he admired his handiwork.

Gohan felt his heart stop entirely. The world was silent aside from a loud ringing in his ears. His mouth fell open and all the fight left his body. She was gone. Dead. Killed. Right in front of him. Because he couldn't save her. Because he had been held back. No. Because he hadn't been strong enough to reach her.

Spopovich's smile was evil. Juzai's eyes are evil.

Shin's was hollow. His heart is hollow.

His father's was calm. He's killing her calmly.

Videl's…was gone. I can't lose her.

He felt his anger reach an unrecognizable point. A furious howl escaped his body, sounding more akin to the Great Apes his Saiyan ancestors had transformed into than the man he was today. They had all stopped him. Had all stood in his way. Had watched Videl die. Had done nothing to prevent it.

Videl's ki was shrinking. She was dying right in front of him. He had promised to keep her safe her from now on. And he was failing again. Just like he always did. He always failed the people he loved. The people he wanted to protect.

Something snapped inside him. It almost felt as if he were losing his mind. One last coherent thought played through his head.

'No. I will not let this happen. Never again.'

"Videl!"

A second later, the ground began shaking violently. And Gohan's power erupted.

---

10/28/2022

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Post-Chapter Note: A few fun naming choices, derived the same way as last time:

Kidnapper in Japanese = Yukai-han = Yu

Felon in Japanese = Juzai hito = Juzai

I really enjoyed writing this chapter (although I never enjoy putting characters I love through horrible situations). But there has to be some drama for the payoffs to really land and I'm very excited to share where the story goes next with your all! I will say, I think the nightmare scenes are some of the most interesting ways to explore the inner psyches of Videl and Gohan respectively. I also feel like fight scenes have always been a weakness of mine, so I've made it a personal goal to make them at least decent for this story. I was pleased with the way the factory battle turned out, but I hope to keep improving the way I write action. And hopefully this story can continue to help me with that.

Delving deeper into ki was a ton of fun too. I did a bunch of research into the ways Dragonball as a series defines its power system and while some of it is up to interpretation, I tried to capture the specifics outlined by the anime and manga as best I could. Also, I know "Mystic Gohan" is a moniker that is pretty much exclusively used by fans and never really in the show, but it sounded better than "Ultimate Gohan" or "Potential Awakened Gohan" to my ear. Plus it'll help something else land well later, I hope. Anyway, until next week, take care and thanks so much for reading! See you next Friday!