Chapter 9
The next day, when Lime walked into the classroom, she was greeted with Erasa grinning like a madwoman. Erasa gestured for Lime to come over and patted the seat next to her.
In a semi-hushed tone, she whispered, "OMG girl, you finally got a date with him. Well, did he text you after you got home?"
"Yea, we kind of stayed up the entire night."
"EEK, how cute!"
"SHHHH!"
Lime sheepishly looked around and continued in hushed tones as if people were trying to eavesdrop.
The week couldn't fly by slower for Lime. It was especially so because whenever she saw Gohan in the hallway, he would seem more awkward than usual. Which in turn made her feel more awkward. It always seemed like he didn't know what to do with his hands and was more jittery around her.
"Gohan!"
PANG, the sound of a basketball hitting the floor rang out across the room.
"Gohan are you okay? That sounded like it hurt."
"Huh? Yea I'm fine," he said as he looked at the basketball fall to the floor. He had barely even noticed that he was hit by the ball.
"What's wrong with you? You seem so out of it."
"Haha, have I?"
"Yes, you just got hit in the head by a baseball! Coming from you, that's weird."
"Well, I uhh was just kinda lost in my train of thought."
"Is that so, about what?"
"Huh?"
She grinned and decided to have a little fun with him, "Hmm? Was it about me?"
"I, uh, I mean, yes, but like no, but still yes."
"Gohan, you're gonna have to make an actual sentence."
Gohan's face started turning red and he nodded.
Lime broke out into a wide smile, secretly happy about the whole thing and clung to his arm, "so? What
Ms. Hamilton announced to the class, "Class! The World Martial Arts Tournament is happening in two months. We will have a special assembly on that day to watch the tournament."
After she made that announcement, the whole class erupted in conversations. The World Martial Arts Tournament was the biggest event in the world now and thanks to Mr. Satan, it's become even bigger. Celebrities and athletes from every field were going to be attending the event, and in the city named after the World Champion, how could they not celebrate the day?
Ms. Hamilton continued on with her lesson on the history of the World Government.
When it was finally time for lunch, Erasa and Sharpner went out to the nearby deli to get some sandwiches, leaving Videl, Gohan and Lime.
"Videl, you're gonna compete in the World Martial Arts tournament right?"
"Definitely, I'm finally gonna beat my dad, once and for all."
"That's great, we'll definitely be rooting for you," Gohan added.
"Oh really?"
"Hmmm?"
"I mean, don't you want to try fighting yourself?"
Gohan was visibly flustered and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Well, I mean, you are Son Gohan, son of Son Goku, the previous World Martial Arts Champion before my father. Right?"
"What?"
"Oh, sorry did I get the wrong Son Gohan? I don't think there are too many of them."
". . . "
"I'll take your silence as a yes. So Son Gohan, I'd say it's safe to assume you're pretty strong, being the son of a world martial arts champion and all. So, do you want to tell the rest of the story, or do you want me to?"
"Videl! What do you think you're doing?"
"Me? Nothing much, just connecting some dots. Your father's hair was pretty distinctive afterall, I don't think I've seen anyone else with it. It's pretty odd to see it on the little Son Goku who beat King Piccolo and the first Golden Haired Fighter who fought Cell back at the Cell Games. If those two really are the same person, then I'd take it that the little boy back at the Cell Games was you. Then that would make either you, your father or the other two golden haired fighters, the Gold Fighter who popped up a few weeks ago."
At this point, Gohan had clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked and Lime was staring daggers into Videl.
"But, seeing as the Gold Fighter was wearing our high school uniform, it's safe to assume it was the little boy. Now, the Gold Fighter and the Great Saiyaman may seem to be two different people, but the fact that one showed up right after the other is awfully suspicious. But besides that, you're not making it very hard Gohan, snapping a bat at baseball like that, living in the 439 district, and also," she held up her hand, closed one eye and covered the top of his face, "Yep, that's the chin."
Gohan sighed and asked, "Okay Videl, What are you going to do now?"
"Hmmm, is what you do martial arts or are they like super powers?"
" . . . they're martial arts."
"They are?" Lime asked.
"Yea, they are."
"Then teach me, if you do, I'll keep your secret," Videl said.
Gohan contemplated the idea for a few moments before asking, "What exactly do you want me to teach you?"
"Hmmmm, teach me how to . . . fly."
"Okay, should I come over to your house then?"
"No. My father would kill you. How about your place?"
"Err, I guess I don't have a choice do I?"
"No, not really."
"Alright, sounds like a plan."
"Wait, one more thing."
"What?"
"Join the World Martial Arts Tournament. Afterall, I'm beating my father because he's the strongest in the world, but if you're actually stronger, then there's no point in beating my dad."
". . . you promise to keep my secret?"
"I swear to keep your secret safe, if you join the World Martial Arts Tournament and teach me to fly."
"Err, I have to ask my mother before I can agree to that."
"Alrighty then, I'll be sure to have the top secret identity of the Great Saiyaman plastered all over the headlines of every news report in the city."
"Ack! Fine! Fine! I agree."
Videl stuck out her hand. Gohan begrudgingly shook her hand. Satisfied, Videl left to sit down under the tree they normally ate under and opened up her lunch. Gohan sighed and then ran his hand through his hair. Lime held his hand and asked, "are you sure you're okay with this?"
Gohan took a few seconds before putting on his father's grin and said, "yea it will be fine."
Lime scrunched up her face and said, "you might be okay with this, but I'm not. Where does she get off blackmailing you like that? No wonder she barely has any friends. Everyone flocks around her cause she's Mr. Satan's daughter, but she's just some conniving bitch."
Gohan stood there a bit stunned by Lime's comments.
"I think you have the wrong idea about her."
Lime muttered under her breath and said, "maybe, but it was still wrong of her to coerce you like that."
Gohan patted her on the shoulder and said, "it's fine, besides, I have to teach you to fly too right? I might as well teach her too."
Lime paused for a second, "Oh yea, I forgot I asked you to teach me."
Gohan chuckled and said, "Well I didn't forget, and I'm sure you'll be great at it."
After the day was over, Gohan began to patrol the city as Z-Fighter while Lime worked at her job. Before they knew it, the week was over and friday was upon them.
As Lime and Gohan were on the subway to the movie theater, they began talking about what movie to watch.
"Let's see Parasyte!"
"Oh, I've heard of that one, it won a bunch of awards right?"
"Yep! It's about the alien that takes over someone's hand."
"You know, I heard it was a freaky movie, but that is truly odd."
"You're telling me, I saw screenshots from the movie and the CGI for the hand is frankly pretty terrifying."
After they arrived and bought tickets. Lime chuckled and said, "Alright, let's go to the Satanmart and get some snacks. There's 20 minutes before the movie starts."
The duo walked into the Satanmart and headed straight towards the snacks aisle. Lime picked out a couple of her favorite snacks and asked Gohan, "anything you want in particular?"
Gohan looked through the aisle and saw rows and rows of colorfully packaged snack bags and realized he had never had any of these. The only snacks he had really had before were the ones Lime got when they went to the movie theater last time.
"Nope, nothing in particular."
Lime looked at Gohan, ". . . you haven't had any of these before have you?"
"No ma'am I have not."
"I figured as much. Well, I'll just grab my favorites for now, and you can tell me which ones you like."
After sneaking into the theater with the snacks in hand, they made their way to their seats and opened up their snacks.
Midway through the first act, Lime snuck her hand over the armrest and grabbed Gohan's hand. At first Gohan was surprised but held her hand too. The warmth of her hand seemed to course through his arm and straight into his heart.
When the main character's hand revealed the face on his hand for the first time, Gohan felt Lime's hand tighten around his. The aliens in the movie oddly resembled Cell, something which caused Gohan to jump in his seat. As the movie progressed to its main hook, the main character's parents were killed by the alien leading to him declaring revenge on their leader. The moment their bodies hit the floor, Gohan felt Lime's hand go limp. Something that hadn't happened before. He turned to look and he felt his heart drop.
Even seven years after Cell devastated the world, some wounds couldn't heal just like that. Gohan mulled to himself, "they say time heals all wounds, but maybe that's not always the case."
Gohan squeezed her hand tight and she turned her head towards him. A million thoughts were rushing down the tracks of his mind but he knew what he wanted to do most in that moment was kiss her on the cheek.
"Gohan? You're squeezing my hand kinda hard."
"Ah! I'm so sorry!"
A person behind him shushed him and Gohan sheepishly apologized.
Once the movie was over, they left the theater and Gohan started leading the way for once.
"I've got it," he said with a wide grin.
He waited until they reached a relatively empty area before picking her up and flying up into the air. It was a beautiful cloudless night, and from high up, the city dazzled like a sea of stars. He flew off to Satan Tower and they landed on the spire of the tower. They sat down on the ledge and watched the city go about its business.
"Look, there's an office lady!" Lime said as she pointed into a window at the office building next door.
"I wonder how her day was," Gohan replied.
Just as he mentioned it, the office lady leaned out the window and began to light a cigarette. She looked out at the world, just like Gohan and Lime were.
"I feel like she's been having a pretty bad day," Lime said.
"You think so?"
"Yea, I mean, just look at her."
There was a silence between them as they just watched.
"What do you think will happen when we get that age?" Lime asked.
"I don't know."
"Well, what are your plans for after high school?"
"I also don't know."
"You're pretty smart though, you could do anything."
"I guess. I'll probably go to uni."
"Do you know any?"
"I mean, I know a lot of Orange Star High kids go to East University."
"East University is pretty good. You'd probably get in no sweat. I probably wouldn't get in."
Gohan turned and looked at her, "Why not? You're smart too."
"Yea, well my grades certainly don't say that."
"Do you want me to help you?"
"No, it's fine, besides, you would hardly have time to help me considering you've gotta help out as the Great Saiyaman."
"Oh . . . I guess you're right."
From their ledge, they heard nothing but the humming of the city, occasionally interrupted by the honk of cars. The faint chatter of people, making their way home, making plans to meet up tomorrow and deciding what to eat.
"I like photography," Lime said.
"Yea?"
"Yea."
"Do you want to be like a professional photographer?"
"I don't know."
"I don't know if it helps, but I like your photographs a lot."
". . . thanks. The photographs I took at the temple got a lot of notice on my blog."
"Oh really?"
"Yea. I have you to thank for those."
"Well, I don't really think I did much. You're the one who took the photo."
"Yea, but I would've never found that place if it weren't for you."
"I guess," Gohan replied with a chuckle.
Gohan held her hand in his and just sat there.
"I've got an idea. Do you want to use your ki right now?"
"Right now?"
"Is now a bad time? You'd get a head start on Videl."
Lime smiled a little and said, "yea, I guess so."
As Gohan began to teach her how to use her ki, the moon left her home among the clouds and danced alone in the empty city sky. From that ledge, a small buzz of light began to emerge between Lime's palm.
"Hey! I think you've got it!"
Lime snarked and said, "Well of course, I'm what they call, a natural prodigy."
Gohan laughed and said, "Great!, keep trying to control that flow of ki and eventually you'll be able to manipulate it to help you fly."
Suddenly, Lime's stomach growled. Lime's cheeks blushed and she said, "Well, I'm famished. Let's get something to eat."
"Sure! I've got just the place."
"Where?"
"It's a place I heard of from Sharpner."
"Oh. . . You know, I still don't really like him with Erasa."
"I think he's alright."
"We'll see."