A/N: So, apparently I bungled my own math? I'm home 28 days during which I don't write, and I'm at work 28 during which I do, and I only upload the first day I'm home unless I get lucky with signal for my phone so I apologize, not that I actually think anyone has been enjoying the story considering I've not gotten any reviews, so I can know how I'm doing. Either way on with the show!
Obligatory disclaimer, I own only my shirts and box set not the show.
Gohan felt the fluid flowing around his outstretched limbs, the familiar feeling of the vicarious liquid creating a moment of calm. He already knew why he was in here. He kept his eyes closed because the fluid wasn't the most comfortable thing in his eyes. He knew he could open them, and the slight sting would be gone soon.
The only issue was the fluctuations in the Ki right outside his tank, he could feel it pacing back and forth, he knew he was in for it when he discovered Videl's Ki. He cracked open one eye minutely, keeping his eyes shut enough to appear unconscious but wide enough to take in her expression to decide just how screwed he was.
He glanced at her, her hands weren't on her hips as he had kind of expected, but then again, her Ki was more fidgety than the minor flaring of annoyance. One of her hands had the elbow of the other in its grasp, her thumbnail in her mouth as she chewed. An expression torn between anger and worry causing an amusing conflict of emotions to play out on her face.
His mind went back to his brawl in the Gravity chamber, just before he headbutted Vegeta and got sent to the land of slumber after he was beginning to lose his temper. The shorter man's voice grating on a nerve he didn't know he had, "Your mental state is all over the place boy," the prince of all Saiyans began, "And I'm almost positive you can't tell me why even if I've already told you this before." His voice hit a growl at the end note as Gohan shook his head.
"And I'm telling you Vegeta," His own voice hit an uncharacteristic growl normally reserved for people far worse than the man in front of him, "Nothing's changed!" He threw his arms up, "I started school but that's it," He shook his head, "Nothing else has changed." Vegeta growled, "Boy you're lucky the woman is your emergency contact!" Gohan stood stunned for a moment, an honest confusion flashing past his eyes.
"What do you mean Vegeta?" He asked earnestly, not knowing what could've been the reason for such an odd statement, "The school couldn't reach the harpy you call a mother, so they contacted Bulma," A odd look of pride flashed across his face something that could've been mistaken for pride in almost any other circumstance, "Do you recall threatening a puny human?"
Gohan searched his memory, "No?" No memory of doing anything like that rose to the forefront of his mind, Vegeta groaned, "That place you weaklings call a school contacted her after some boy accused you of threatening to kill him." He rolled his eyes, "I've told you before the only reason you could lose control of something like your temper that easily boy... You are near your potential mate." He pointed towards him, "With your child here, it's even more likely you'll be more unstable, you will feel your mates Ki in your child."
Gohan didn't even realize his voice was beginning to raise, "Vegeta, I'm NOT unstable!" Vegeta gestured towards him with one gloved hand, his own voice raising in return, "Boy, you are far from stable! Your harpy of a mother has more control over her emotions than you do right now." That turned out to be the wrong thing to say and Gohan's form blurred out of existence, a sharp left hook crashing into Vegeta's stomach. The return fire crashed against his jaw, turning his head sideways as he turned his head back to look at Vegeta, and then the melee started.
Gohan mentally shook his head, he didn't remember much more than that, the timer on the chamber rang out a small alarm going off. He watched Videl pull a sheet of paper out of her pocket and walk towards the console, taking a quick glance at the paper as she pressed keys in order. The liquid began to drain out and his body dropped to his feet on the floor.
A short whoosh and the glass slid around freeing him from its confines, he reached up behind his head and undid the strap holding the mask to his face. He took a half step out and grabbed a robe hanging from a hook beside the chamber. He tied the string around his waist and finally looked towards the console on the opposite side of the room. His eyes met a pair of stormy blue eyes. Her voice rang out, breaking through the short silence, "Well?"
He looked at her calmly, her eyes never leaving his gaze as he saw her rest one hand on her hip in his peripheral vision, "Well what?" he responded, "When were you going to tell me Gohan?" She took a few steps towards him shortening the distance between them to a few short paces, "Tell you what Videl?" He asked genuinely confused. He racked his brain trying to figure out what it could be she was agitated about. Truthfully it could be a lot of things.
She pinched the bridge of her nose with her free hand, "Alright... I'll give you a hint..." She dropped her hand and stood directly in front of him, her eyes darting back and forth between hers and spoke two words, "Gold Fighter." It wasn't a very loud two words, more whisper than a roar, but their impact was no less than a giant hammer, Gohan's heart began to pound. Those simple words weren't spoken with a question, they were spoken with conviction like she had irrefutable evidence behind them.
He groaned, running his hand through his still damp locks. He wasn't entirely sure he had expected it, but neither was it unexpected all things considered, so he decided to answer her question with another question, "Why." It was by all means a simple question, but seeing her face scrunched up as he locked eyes with her, it was far more.
She didn't break eye contact, "I only want the truth, Gohan. I know you're hiding something, " She paused and rested a hand on his chest, "It may not even be something bad, I..." She looked down at her hand, softly gripping the fabric in her dainty fist, "I just want to know..." He looked down at the top of her head, "Why do you want to know Vi?" He asked, his head tilting to one side.
"I remember seeing the fighters at the Cell Games," She spoke softly, "I've always asked my dad what happened after the cameras shut off," She looked up at him, "But he never gives me a straight answer, and it infuriates me." She released her grip turning away from him, walking over to sit on a chair, "I can always tell when he isn't being completely honest with me." She clenched one fist tight enough to whiten her knuckles, "He's hiding something from me, and I don't know what, you could answer some of the questions I have that he refuses to."
Gohan sighed softly, and sat beside her, "I can't tell you right now Vi," Her eyes snapped to him, anger causing her skin to take on a reddish tinge, "And why not?" She snapped, he took this in stride for Videl, "They're not just my secrets Videl. I have to talk to a few people first before I can answer your questions." Her mouth dropped open, preparing to refute his words, "If I asked you to tell me all of Erasa's secrets, would you?" He posed the hypothetical question, taking the wind right out of her sails.
She nodded her acceptance of his words, "No, I suppose I wouldn't." She accepted, with a slight shrug, "When will you be able to ask them," She looked up at him with bright eyes and he shrugged, "It'll be tomorrow." A minute look of confusion appeared on her face, "Why can't you just call them?" He laughed, "A few of them don't have phones." There was a moment of 'Ah...' where her mouth gaped open in a circle, "Then how will you get in contact with them tomorrow?" She asked.
"It's time for the monthly get together," He explained patiently turning to face ahead, "When there's no real danger in the world we get together at least once a month to see how everyone's doing," He decided to take a chance, "You can come too..." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye, "A plus one of sorts." She chuckled, "Gohan Son..." She poked his shoulder, "Are you asking me out on a date?" There wasn't a more perfect time to tease the onyx eyed teen, he paused, "Maybe? Are you saying yes?"
He decidedly had his own reasons for answering like he did, if the rest agreed, he knew she'd be drawn into their world, and while he'd prefer her not to, he knew she'd honestly do it anyways with her investigations. He'd prefer to be able to have her nearby for safeties sake, plus he admitted to himself, watching the wide array of emotions playing on her face... That he did find her attractive, and having just recently sensed Pans' ki, he had figured out where the other half that he wasn't quite sure of came from.
He watched the gears turning in her head as she processed his question, "Are you serious?" She finally responded; his only reply was a terse nod that caused her cheeks to redden. He noticed her Ki fluctuating, the familiar warmth it provided being the other half to his... their future daughters' Ki. "I can't believe I'm saying this but yes, I'll be your date." She decided to ask, "Is there a dress code?" He shook his head, "Nothing overly formal, most of us will be in street clothes, or in Vegeta's case his training outfit." He shrugged.
"Just so you know Gohan, my dad has a rule about the boy I date having to be stronger than he is." He chuckled, "I highly doubt that'll be a problem Vi." She looked at him with disbelieving eyes, "Tricks don't count Gohan." He raised a hand in front of her, pulling out a small glowing yellow ball of ki, barely enough to power a halogen bulb, "Who said it's a trick?" He held it out to her for her to examine, the light casting shadows over her face as she pressed a hand against it.
She half expected her hand to pass through the ball, but to her surprise, it was tangible. Completely and fully tangible. It was also warm, not quite hot but definitely not cold. Gohan watched as her eyes lit up in wonder, "What is this, Gohan? She asked as her cerulean eyes took in the ball like a brand-new toy, "It's called Ki, it's essentially life energy." She looked up at him, eyes glinting, "Life energy? Do I have it?"
He nodded, "Everyone and every living thing has Ki, bugs, animals, people. Just nothing inanimate like rocks of streams." He took a moment, "It's what we use to fight, fly... Just harnessing it increases your physical abilities. Its never been a trick, it just requires more discipline than most people have to master." She grabbed him by the hand, "Anyone can learn right?" Her eyes taking on a near manic glint. She pulled herself towards him as he began to the side with her invading his personal space.
"Yes, anyone can." He decided to point out something though, "It doesn't mean everyone will be able to though." He rolled the chair to the side a little bit and turned to fully face her, her hand still wrapped in his robe. He glanced at her up and down though, "You should be able to though." She slid closer and released her grip. "What do you mean?"
He decided to explain a little bit, "Normally Ki is easier to access for fighters, it will test your patience, I won't have you unlock your Ki like my sensei did." He grimaced as he recalled Piccolo's iron grip on his Gi before he was sent flying towards a mountain. "You don't want to know." He cut Videl off as her mouth began to pop open, "Now I'm curious Gohan, what'd he do?" In her mind it couldn't be that bad.
"He threw me at a mountain Videl, off a cliff and at a mountain and told me 'Do it or die brat.'" He shrugged, "And well I'm here." Her face went white with terror, and she asked, "How old were you?" He thought about it for a moment, it was just after Raditz died, "Four." The white faded from her face as outrage took hold, "Who the... WHY THE HELL WOULD SOMEONE THROW A FOUR-YEAR-OLD AT A MOUNTAIN!?" She screamed, causing Gohan to wince and cover his ears, "Indoor voice Vi, indoor voice... gahh... my sensitive ears..." He bemoaned. She took a deep breath, "You didn't answer my question." She continued at a slightly more reasonable volume level.
"There was a fight set to happen in a year, and we needed all the help we could get." She stood up, "Let's walk and talk, you're probably hungry by now." She said, and no sooner had she said it than his stomach let out a titanic roar, "Just a little bit, let me get changed really quick." She nodded and stood outside the door, him joining her in a moment in a fresh Gi. "Anyway, big fight help needed?" She refreshed his memory.
He nodded, "I had gotten kidnapped not long before all this for the first time," She paused in her steps for a moment, before catching back up to his lengthy strides, "The first time?" He nodded "I got kidnapped twice in one week." Taking her silence for a motion to continue his story when in reality it was her being dumbfounded, he decided to continue, "My uncle came and took me from my dad, telling him to kill a bunch of people to get me back from him, I think it was a hundred?" He shrugged, "He didn't and ended up getting a tight hold on him before my teacher killed both of them."
She tugged his arm, "I thought your dad died fighting Cell?" He nodded, "He did." She paused for a moment again, "How does someone die twice?" He decided to answer her with another shrug, "There's a way to bring someone back, they're called the Dragonballs." She matched her stride to his again, "Didn't you have to ask for permission to share these secrets?" He nodded and then shook his head, "The Dragonballs are sort of common knowledge, they're not some secret, they're an old tale but they're real." He held up seven fingers, "There are seven balls, scattered all over the world, gather all seven and you are granted two wishes, it used to be one but that was changed a few years ago."
"Anyways, dad died, and so did my uncle, but then we found out there would be another couple of fighters just like Raditz showing up in a years' time, so I had a year to get as strong as possible." He shook off a tremor, "I wasn't much help, and we ended up losing a few people during the fight, they're alive now, but they've only got one more do over." She looked over, hope beginning to blossom in her eyes, "Are there any restrictions?" He nodded, "Unfortunately, natural deaths can't be undone, if someone died of heart disease or something similar, they couldn't be brought back."
"But we did end up winning and then the survivor left and well we had more problems, that gets into the more secretive side of things." He held up a hand to stop her complaints, "I'd like to tell you Vi, I would but again, not just my secrets." She nodded, content that she'd get her answers soon enough. "I'll respect that this time." He simply chuckled and stepped into the last door he needed to, and went over to the machine, filling his massive pile of plates to fill the perpetual black hole of his stomach.
A certain pair of blondes and time travelers following their footsteps shortly, a fairly heated argument between the blondes taking place. "Sharpener, I thought you knew where you were going!" Erasa growled as she walked into the kitchen, throwing her hands into the air. Sharpener following closely behind her pointed at her, "I thought you wanted to know where the pool was!" He tried to defend himself.
Erasa turned on her heel, digging the point of one finger into his chest, "I said that we should work on our project, how do you get 'Where's the pool' out of that?" She dropped her voice to imitate him for the last sentence before turning and getting a plate of food, turning to join Gohan and Videl at a table. Plopping down beside her best friend, she let out a low "Ugh...men..." with an eyeroll directed towards Sharpener, taking a small bite of her salad she turned to Videl and said, "Well? How was your day?" She asked, the low hanging cloud of annoyance dissipating when she was faced with her best friend instead of her irritating partner for the project.
Videl knew well enough to not mention anything about the get-together while in the same room as other people, 'I'll ask for her help picking a decent outfit out later, when it's just us girls in the room...' A small niggling thought appeared and wormed its way into her thought process, 'Maybe I should invite Pan...' With that small thought added she decided she had a feasible plan for a few hours from then.
"It was alright, I spent a good portion of the past couple hours waiting on someone to get out of a regeneration tank..." She side-eyed Gohan who was inhaling his meal, "I wonder who that could've been..." She said with faux annoyance, a small scowl appearing on her face, but without annoyance reaching her eyes. The person in question didn't even slow his mass consumption, and she simply rolled her eyes, and faced Erasa, "This doofus," She hitched a thumb over at Gohan, "Got in a spar with Coach Vegeta, and well neither was in much shape to do much but coach refused to go get cleaned up."
Sharpener dropped down beside Erasa's other side, his plate containing a simple burger and fries with a large glass of tea to the side, "Look E, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it..." She rounded on him, her normally lacsidasical mood dropping like a stone, "Didn't mean to what? Get us so lost that the only reason we found the cafeteria is because we happened to bump into Mirai and Pan?" He simply nodded, knowing anything he said could and would be used against him in the court of Erasa.
Videl laid a hand on her forearm, "Don't be too upset, I got so lost Trunks had to help me find Gohan, speaking of which." She slapped him on the arm, catching his attention. When he turned to face her, she held out her phone, "I want the map, Gohan." He looked befuddled for a moment, and asked "What map?" One chicken leg is still in his hand. She pinched the bridge of her nose with her free hand, "What map he asks... The map of capsule corps Gohan, the one so I don't get lost for an hour again."
Realization dawned on his face and he wiped his hands clean on a napkin and held his hand out, so she unlocked her phone and placed the phone in his significantly larger hand, he pulled up a private browser for the capsule corps website and logged in using his personal credentials remembering to not save the password and downloaded the internal map and closed the secure connection to the internal database for Capsule Corps, "How'd you know about the map?" He asked, he didn't recall telling her about it, so his curiosity was piqued.
She took her phone back and put it in her pocket after assuring the map was located on her home screen, "Trunks told me, when we went hunting for you this morning." He nodded, "A quick note though Vi, you have to have your location on though." She turned her eyes to him, "Ehh? Why's that?" He chuckled "The map detects your location via gps, it's how it tracks where you are, how else would it be a functional map?"
She nodded and turned to Erasa, who had a strange look on her face, somewhere between ecstasy and amusement, "Oh, no. None of that Erasa." She intoned, attempting to cut her friend off at the pass even if she did have a technical date with Gohan for the next day, she'd save that bombshell for the blonde bombshell when they were alone, and she could cover her ears. She thanked God that for the most part their rooms were away from the rest of the general population.
"But Vi, you two would be so cute! I mean your kids would be adorable!" Her voice hit a fever pitch and Gohan choked on his food, slamming his fist into his chest to dislodge his food. Videl looked over at him, "That'll teach you not to chew your food, Gohan." She chided gently, "Seriously though, are you okay?" She swept her bangs out of the way to look at him more directly, Erasa's voice chiming in behind her caused her eyes to dim, "Seriously? How can you two not be together? I mean, you're already looking after him!" Videl turned to look at her friend instead after seeing Gohan give her a thumbs up and take a large drink of water.
"He was literally choking Erasa, of course I'm going to make sure he's okay. It's the human thing to do." Gohan's mind was still on the statement that caused him to choke on his food. 'I mean technically we do make a cute kid...' he thought to himself, 'they've seen her and they just don't know it... not sure how long Videl will get around with not knowing it' His eyes darted to the two time travelers sitting opposite him, both of their eyes catching his, Pan's flashing away and Trunks locking with his.
Videl, being close as she was, caught a slight burst of movement. She followed the direction his eyes moved and saw who he was looking at, thoughts running rampant in her head. 'Why did he look at those two? What do they have to do with anything?' She decided she'd follow that train of thought again later when Gohan wasn't right in her face, deciding he was fine she began to dig back into her food, watching the blonde dynamo continue her rant in an attempt to get her to admit that she'd make a cute kid with Gohan.
Videl continued to be obstinate and vehemently denied it, Pan had slowed her consumption of her food, dropping to a just above normal human rate, watching with awe in her dark eyes as she finally got to see her mother acting like a teenager instead of the scarred woman she would've inevitably become in her time line after watching the world burn courtesy of seventeen and eighteen. She had never really gotten to see a relaxed version of her mother; she was always doing something at Capsule Corps or the mountains by her grandma's home.
And she hadn't seen her even then in about six years, she'd been stricken with illness while working and that with the lack of food even though she and Trunks tried their hardest to cut down on their consumption meant less food for the rest of them, albeit with their only being five living beings at Capsule Corps. Trunks in turn watched his young charge, knowing what was going through her head. he nudged her with a short elbow, "Why don't you ask her for a spar?" He murmured between bites.
She turned to him with an expression of surprise, "Ehh? But wouldn't that be unfair?" She was referring to their strength difference which although great was much less noticeable than if her father were to fight with her mother. Trunks shrugged one shoulder carelessly, "Consider it a form of training Pan, keeping your power level low. Match your level to hers." One blue eyebrow raised into his hairline, "You should be able to do that shouldn't you?" He knew the challenge in his voice hadn't gone unnoticed when he saw the faint tinge of red appear on her face. He also made a mental note, 'Work on Pans' temper, she gets super emotional easily...' He looked over at the two dark haired teens sitting on the opposite side of the table, 'Although considering her lineage, that's not entirely unexpected...'
He had seen Gohan go absolutely ballistic, the last time in the GR notwithstanding, since the building was still in existence, and her mom? Well... He only had to look back at the past couple of days to see her control of her emotions in action, or rather a lack thereof. Finishing his meal about the same time as his charge and friend, he stacked his plates, taking them to the window and sliding them through for the robots to deal with. The other demi's following behind him, he decided that he'd break the ice for Pan.
"Hey Gohan." He called out, catching the tall teens' attention, his head cocking towards his friend, "Up for a spar?" His lips curling up into a smirk, as he noticed the other dark-haired teen turning his way just as he'd expected, her bright eyes locking onto Gohan's' back. Seemingly with eyes in the back of his head he felt the stare burning holes into his spine, "Mirai, I just got out of the rejuvenation chamber, I don't think either of us wants to be in there again today..." He began, his eyes flashing a teal blue for a moment, "But if you're wanting a beating, I might be able to oblige you the day after tomorrow."