Help, almost every time SIGohan and Videl communicate it turns into an argument

also Goten commits a minor kidnapping

Sadguychet: many thanks, they are fun to write

StormySpartan: understandable. even if you had watched the whole movie, DBZ movies have a tendency to not be all that memorable with their details to me

OnTheTidesOfEvermore: many thanks

ArguableReader (Guest): anything in a first point perspective is always SIGohan, yes.

Qinlongfei: im sorry, the term "casual planet cracker" is so funny lol. especially since it is true. literally any of the fighters blow up the planet, excelt maybe* chiaotsu. And Videl if you're counting her. Other than that, yeah it's a super fun difference lol. If fun is the right word for it

JCINNABAR: thanks!

Time passed. Weeks turned to months, and soon it was the end of the school year. Of course that necessarily meant that I wouldn't be in Satan City as often, however the city still needed a protector.

So, towards the end of the year, as we were eating lunch on the roof, I'd brought an extra of Bulma's watch outfit switching things, which I still have no idea how they work.

"Here, catch." I tossed the watch over to Videl.

"Middle button," I said as she put it on. The outfit it switched her to mostly resembled sportswear. It consisted of dark grey bicycle shorts, and a black cropped top, with a little devil face on it, in reference to her naming scheme. Her pigtails were now tied up with red bands instead of gold ones too.

It had fingerless gloves and matching combat boots. She had guards around her elbows and knees and a mask, just for that mysterious vigilante vibe. Though it was one of those classic superhero form-fitting mask rather than one that covered any facial structure. It did cover the entire top half of her face instead of just around her eyes at least.

And to add just a touch of flair, a bright crimson cape to tie together the dramatic feel.

"This seems like, a bit much," she commented, "It's not bad, but why a cape and mask?"

"Well, you can't be a vigilante if everyone knows who you are."

"I don't want to be a vigilante. Vigilantes shouldn't be promoted as they encourage reckless behavior and civilians taking justice into their own hands, which can easily escalate to wrongful actions against innocents or simply an escalation of violence that could otherwise be avoided. Also why the cape?"

"I mean, it's not like you'd do that. And it's not like you have an issue with me doing it."

"Yes. Yes, I very much did. I just can't do anything about you. You're avoiding the cape."

"Capes are cool. You'll have way more ability to help people without all the red tape. It's great."

"I already don't deal with the red tape. That's the chief's job."

"So you're basically a vigilante already. Glad we agree. This just makes it more official. Besides, this way people won't be able to question you as much about new abilities."

"I don't mind people knowing what I can do. I have nothing to hide."

"Ok but Ki use isn't well known, we don't need random people trying to figure it out and getting themselves hurt now do we?"

"I don't understand why it's such a secret in the first place. If more people know about it they'd be able to defend themselves."

"Except it's very hard for the average person to learn and in all likelihood, it'd just lead to more people getting hurt as random criminals use it for their own gain like Mercenary Tao."

Videl frowned at the reminder. "That doesn't mean the people don't have the right to know."

"Why? It's an individual's abilities. Why do the masses get to know about our personal skills?"

"It's not your skills, it's the existence of energy manipulation."

"We didn't invent the technique Videl. The information's always been out there. It's not our fault if most people dismiss it."

"People wouldn't dismiss it if it was properly explained."

"You'd think that. Individuals might be convinced. But the masses? Nah."

"They still have the right to have the information."

"They do. So they can go find it. It's not our responsibility to do so. How do you think my dad learned? Or Krillin? Piccolo was entirely self taught, aside from residual knowledge from his father. Don't ask."

"Just because the information is technically possible to receive doesn't mean the common person will be able to do so."

"And? I'm all for people having access to things they need but it simply isn't necessary knowledge. If they want it they have to find it."

"People don't know what they don't know. Without a starting point, no one could reasonably find someone to teach them."

I shrugged. "Krillin did. My dad did. Tien, Chiaotzu, they found a teacher. Not a great one, but one."

"Ok- I think we've officially gotten circular in this argument, not to mention completely off your original topic." Erasa finally interrupted. I'm pretty sure it got pretty circular when the Ki conversation started.

I didn't even necessarily disagree with everything Videl said. I just think telling everyone would be pretty reckless.

"Right right, the vigilante thing. I mean, what's the harm in trying it. Worst case is you don't like it and quit, right?"

Videl frowned but didn't necessarily disagree. I took that as a win.

"Great! Press the closest button to your wrist."

Videl raised an eyebrow and did as she was told. An eyepiece landed in her hand, much thinner than the older models.

"That's a scouter. Before you engage with anyone, read their power level. If anyone gets close to your's don't engage, just get me, or someone else who you know is stronger than the person. If someone initially doesn't read as that high but something seems wrong in the fight, read them again, they may have been suppressing their power level."

It was more of a precaution than anything else. I hardly expect there to be many out there to be anywhere close to Videl, but it wasn't impossible either.

"If someone's close to my number that means I should be able to fight them evenly anyway right? Why would I still have to get you?"

"The stronger someone is the more likely they'll be able to suppress their energy, which the scouter would pick up as a lower power level. It's just a precaution."

Videl frowned but didn't argue.

"Krillin mentioned me learning how to do that. I don't really see the point."

"Not being picked up by scouters. Not being noticed by people who can sense energy. Energy conservation, though that's more of a factor when you get to much higher numbers. It's easier to hold back when you suppress your energy first so you don't accidentally hurt someone."

Videl frowned, "I guess that makes sense. More for you guys than me though."

"You're pretty up there Videl. Just because you aren't as strong as me doesn't mean you wouldn't stand out by a significant margin compared to the average person."

I was aware that Videl had been learning some things from Krillin. Though I haven't been keeping up with what exactly. I no longer had a say in what she learned.

"Hey I have a question." Apparently, now that the conversation slowed Sharpener saw fit to speak up. "What's that?" He pointed to Videl's back. Specifically to the back of the cape.

Videl tried to turn to see it before just grabbing the cape and pulling it in front of her. "What." It wasn't even a question. It was a statement in reference to the sun-like symbol seamlessly printed into the fabric.

"The Crest of Courage."

"Is that another Digimon thing?" She asked, annoyed.

"Gotta keep on theme."

"Your theme. What does that have to me?"

"I designed the outfit. My theme."

"Is this even legal? I feel like it infringes on copyright."

"It's not like I'm selling them. It's a personally made product. Kinda." It was bulma-made but close enough.

"If I use the outfit I'd be a semi-public figure, using their symbol as as my own."

"Free advertisement." I shrugged. I mean really. Even if they wanted to do something about it how could they? Ignoring how bad that'd probably look for them, it'd be pretty hard to sue a faceless vigilante who's too strong to capture.

"That is not how copyright works! How could-"

…

Goten

"Man, I can't believe we missed all those dead people fighting," Trunks said as they walked through Capsule Corp.

"Gohan says we shouldn't be messing with stuff like that anyway."

"So? Gohan's a hypocrite. She got involved with that kind of thing all the time when she was our age."

"Hey! That's not very nice!" Goten didn't really know what hypocrite meant but it didn't sound good.

"It's true. How do you think she's so strong? She wasn't that much older than we are when she got that Ultimate form. It's even stronger than either of our dads. I think she's hiding how it works from us so we don't get stronger than her."

"I dunno… I think it has something to do with the tails thing."

It didn't really seem fair that he and Trunks weren't born with tails. But mom insisted it was a good thing since they apparently hurt a lot if they're grabbed wrong. And something to do with some kind of monster? Goten didn't really know much about that. Except that's why Uncle Raditz always had goggles for himself and Gine, and sometimes Clover just in case Gohan wanted to use The Ultimate.

Trunks frowned. "So only Clover would be able to then… let's not tell her…"

"That's not very nice. And it's not like we have anything to tell her. We don't know how it works. Also, Gine could too."

Trunks looked horrified at that. "Don't even joke about that," he said. Which confused Goten. Because it wasn't a joke? It was a thing she could be able to do if it was because of the tail thing.

The hallway they were walking through was going past some of the labs. They weren't supposed to go in them without an adult around.

"Hey, Nephew-" Goten heard a familiar voice from one of the labs.

Inside, Uncle Raditz was trying to get his attention.

"Nephew- cmhere Nephew."

"Don't do it. It's a trap," Trunks said by his side.

"I don't think it's a trap."

"Nephew, come on," Uncle Raditz clicked his tongue, almost sounding like he was trying to call a dog or something rather than a person.

"Don't do it," Trunks warned.

But that didn't seem right. He was supposed to listen to adults. And Uncle Raditz barely ever went to him for stuff! It must have been important!

He entered the lab and walked up to him. Uncle Raditz barely glanced twice. "Here, take this."

He placed Gine in Goten's hands.

A second later he was back working on whatever he was working on.

…oh.

He walked back out into the hallway.

"Hey Trunks, I think it was a trap."

"No. Really?" Trunks said. It sounded sarcastic.

…

As the school year came to a close, I still ended up in Satan City a lot. Both to transition Videl into becoming the main superhero figure rather than immediately just switching out. And also because Erasa insisted on hanging out often.

Sharpener and Erasa were taking a gap year before going into any kind of further education. And Videl was mostly focusing on keeping up with some police work, while also trying out the vigilante gig. And occasionally learning from Krillin. And it's not like she needed to focus on making money anytime soon.

Chico was currently looking for some kind of job, either part-time or full-time, but she didn't really care. It did take up a fair bit of her time though.

At this moment, however, I was being dragged through the mall because Erasa was insisting I needed new clothes. I didn't really care about that. Most of the things she had me try on were uncomfortable, though she never even tried to put me into anything frilly.

Some of the things were fine though, I did like some of the leggings, as long as they had pockets. And I didn't want to say no to all of her suggestions so I got some of the tops she insisted on too. The looser and baggier ones at least.

"I think I need more guy friends," Sharpener commented as we'd stopped to eat.

"What? You don't enjoy constant clothes shopping?" I asked.

"No. I can't say I do."

"To be fair, I'm pretty sure the only one here who actually enjoys it is Erasa," Videl commented.

"You guys are complaining too much. I've been wanting to get Gohan some girlier clothes for months, it just never worked out with school and all."

I picked at my nails, suddenly feeling more awkward about it. "Oh, well, I mean, thanks? You didn't need to worry about it."

"It's not worrying. It's just something fun to do!" She smiled before leaning in closer. She placed a hand beside her mouth as if to hide the words as she spoke into my ear. "By the way, if you had any girl-specific concerns you could always ask-"

"Nope!" I pulled away, pushing her by the shoulder until she was sitting back upright in her seat, "Nope. I'm good. Thanks, no."

Erasa smiled and swung her feet, seemingly unaware of the embarrassing topic. "I'm just saying, there's lots of things girls are taught growing up that boys aren't! You might have missing knowledge that you might need."

"I'm good. Thanks." I covered my face as I felt it was heated.

"So what do you want to do, Gohan?" I looked back up at Videl as she asked.

"Oh, well, I don't really care. I tend to impulse buy so any store I go into is dangerous, particularly if I choose it."

"No, I meant in the future. What do you plan on doing?"

"Oh," I fiddled with a straw wrapper, "I don't know. I don't really have a set plan at the moment. Why?"

"Hm. No reason. Just curious."

Ok then.

After lunch, we went back and Erasa continued her crusade to get me new clothes. Of which I got a couple, but like, the cheapest and most simple of her suggestions. Though the longer it went on the more she started to get things that I'd find more tempting.

I also left with a few random trinkets that I found neat.

…

"Why is there an extra child here?" I asked when I got home and noticed the red-haired demon definitely not chewing on the furniture.

"Oh, Raditz asked Goten to watch her. Which I'm sure was only supposed to be while he was over there," Chichi sent a scolding looking to Goten who looked entirely unbothered. "So now she's spending the night since it's too late for Goten to fly her back now. Which he will do first thing in the morning." Another scolding look with minimal response.

"Gine!" Chichi suddenly exclaimed, "No! Put that down!"

I followed her gaze to see that Gine had made her way on top of the dining room table and had a glass in her hand, looking about ready to throw it.

"Put it down, now," Chichi stated sternly pointing her finger down to the table.

Gine seemed to consider it. I could practically see the gears turning behind her wide eyes. Until finally, she slowly lowered the glass and set it on the table as gently as her little toddler hands could manage.

I could only blink at the sorcery as Chichi picked Gine up off the table.

"Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" Chichi turned to Goten. "I have to make dinner so keep her out of trouble, won't you?"

"K!" Goten went and took Gine back to his room to show her some of his new toys.

"What's in the bags?" Chichi asked as she started setting up.

"Oh, Erasa wanted to go to the mall. Clothes mostly. Also some neat stuff." I pulled out a tiny plant growing kit as an example. I'm not great at keeping plants alive long term, but I like the idea of it. One of these days I'm sure I'll get one to survive longer than a month or two.

Chichi glanced at the small planter unimpressed.

"Well, at least you had fun I suppose."

"Mhmm." I placed the planter back in the bag.

"Go put that stuff away, dinner will be ready in an hour or so."

"Alright, thanks."

I did as I was told. And Gine only caused a minor ruckus at dinner, even if exactly half of her food made it in her mouth and even less stayed on the plate.