| Disclaimer: I don't care anymore. I've said it how many times now? I dare ya to come and get me! I dare ya! Just kidding. *** I don't like this chap but then again I do because of the next one I can write after it... hopefully. I'm a little distracted now as I am begining to plan out my other fic, but I had to have a cliffhanger for Easter! BEST FRIENDS FOREVER CHAPTER SIXTEEN Gohan fell onto the couch wearily and took the phone from his father. "Hello?" Gohan answered tentatively. "Hi, Gohan," Videl said in an annoyed voice. "You wouldn't happen to know what you're coat is doing on my bed would you?" Gohan laughed nervously. "Funny story actually..." "Good, I like funny stories. I also want to here the funny story behind why my blue bear is shoved in my closet." Gohan smiled and chuckled. "Okay." "Meet me at the park in, let's say an hour." Gohan looked at his watch. 11:00. "Fine, I'll be there." "Good." And then she hung up, leaving Gohan listening to a dial tone. The whole Son family looked at Gohan expectantly. "She's in a rather good mood today!" He exclaimed, before walking off to his bedroom. Goku noticed that he seemed to move slow and as if he were in pain. Goku pursued him. �Gohan, why don�t you eat something,� he said quietly. �What do you mean dad?� Gohan asked innocently while his stomach growled at the same time. Goku looked at him sternly. �Gohan, you haven�t eaten enough in the past few days to fill a normal human at breakfast.� Gohan shrugged. �So what? Vegeta does it all the time.� Goku nodded. �And we all know how crazy Vegeta can be!� Chi-Chi heard the conversation. �Gohan, eat.� �I�m not hungry, okay?� Chi-Chi crossed her arms and Gohan knew he was going to be hearing a speech now. �Listen, mister, this whole not eating thing started when you began to feel seriously for Videl and since she�s left you�ve eaten even less� What�s up with you?� �Nothing.� Gohan tried to walked confidently into his room, instead he collapsed before he could shut the door. His vision became fuzzy and he found himself taking a few quick gulps of air. Goku automatically felt Gohan�s distressed ki and was at his son�s side, helping him into bed. �C�mon, just rest, I�ll get food.� �But, I promised Videl-� �I�ll talk to Videl.� Goku exited his son�s room, calling the number on the refrigerator that Gohan had labeled �Videl�s #� the first time she had given it to him. He dialed it. �Hello,� Videl�s voice answered sharply. �Hi, Videl!� Goku said cheerily. �It�s Goku. I was wondering if you could come over. Gohan can�t quite make it.� Videl sighed on the other line. �What�s wrong with him now?� She questioned, almost annoyed. �Please?� Goku asked. �You don�t have to do it for Gohan, just come over for me. As a father I�m just a little worried about him.� Videl paused. Gohan had enough strength to blow up planets and withstand the force /of/ planets blowing up. Why was Goku worried? �Fine. I�ll be right there.� �Thank you, Videl. See you.� �Bye, Goku.� There was a click as she hung up the phone. *** The bell rang and Goku went to answer it. Videl was surprised when she found him, not in his normal training gi, but in p.j.s. It was one o�clock. Something was definitely up. �Come on in, Videl. I�ll tell him you�re here.� Videl nodded and stepped inside. Chi-Chi was no where to be seen, Goku had left to talk to Gohan, and Goten was sitting in the kitchen, eating breakfast. The usually chipper child didn�t say a word but ate quietly. The TV was on and Videl turned to it. It was the news, and Hercule was at a press conference. Videl listened with disgust as her father talked. �-aliens. They should be deprived of free choice and independent judgment. Think of all the harm that they could do? Remember Son Goku in the tournaments? Remember? We don�t know what they�re like. Their natural impulses must be suppressed or blunted. We are not talking about humans. We are talking about /things from another planet./-� Videl ran up and turned off the TV, sick. Just then Goku came out from the hall that led to her former room and his son�s room. �He�s in bed,� Goku stated. Videl took this as a go-ahead and walked into the brothers� bedroom. �Hey!� Gohan said, not really sounding like the usually upbeat Gohan she knew. Videl began to think about just telling him to shutup and explain but decided against it. Now that she thought about it, Gohan was acting pretty strange all around. Since she�d left the Son house he�d been more irritable at school. He had also been eating an incredible amount less. And what about at the bank? She had heard about /that/ from her father. Videl knew that if Gohan had been in his right mind he would have noticed a trap. First, there hadn�t been any hostages, and the report had said that there were. Someone as thorough as Gohan would have recognized that right away. And second, what criminal drops their guns when they�re told? Another clue. Videl was roused from her thoughts when Gohan continued. �First of all, the bear and the coat thing,� Gohan said. �I kind of snuck into your house to see if you were okay and-� �To see if I was okay?� Videl asked sharply, cutting him off. �Yes, I swear!� Gohan winced. Videl frowned. �But that�s not what I wanted to say. I wanted to say that I wish that none of this happened. None of the past few days, I mean.� He took a deep breath. �When I left after the reporters showed up on our lawn that day, the only thing I could think was �how am I going to ever live this down.� �And then I thought about you and how you didn�t care if I was half alien. I thought about that night around November where I told you that it didn�t matter what anyone thought of you because I thought you were awesome for who you were. That�s when I decided I didn�t care what any one thought of me because you like me for who I am - and that�s enough for me - �Well when I got back and talked to my dad about...something... and then when you said - things- I felt that none of what we had mattered because you said that- that maybe I- I- shouldn't-� Videl opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. She wanted to say something but opted to glare at him. �I know what I said!� She said a bit more forcefully then she should have. She tightened a fist. �Now I�m letting you explain, so explain what /you/ meant that night.� Gohan looked down, beat. �No. Videl, Ican't. You have to trust me. Have I ever done anything to hurt you? Lie to you?� �Saiyaman. You didn�t tell me you were Saiyaman.� �I didn�t know you. I didn�t tell anyone I was Saiyaman.� �Gold fighter.� �I didn�t want you to know I was Saiyan until you knew I was a good person� for obvious reasons.� �Cell.� �What about Cell?� �You never told me it was you� who beat him.� Gohan lay down. �I didn�t want you to lose all respect for your father. I know you saw that as his one great accomplishment.� Videl looked forward at the wall across from her, ashamed. Gohan shrugged. �I'm going to have to ask you to just trust me. I know it's hard. But you have to. Trust me to tell you when the time's right. Please? At least forgive me and still be my friend? I can only ask you have patience with me, I can't seem to do or say anything right anymore." �How can I trust you when you snuck in my house?!!!� Gohan waved her off. �I swear I did nothing. You were drunk! Now, I know you want to forgive me because you told me you were sorry.� �I was drunk when I said that!� �You said SORRY!� Gohan yelled, aggravated. He took a breath and composed himself. �And I'm sorry, too.� �I can forgive you, Gohan, just give me time. You haven't really been yourself lately- not to mention my dad's really pissed at you and-� �I'll talk to him later.� �My dad?� �Yeah.� Silence. Videl cleared her throat. �So I guess I should ask why you�re lying in bed. I thought Saiyans didn�t get sick.� Goku�s voice came from the door. �Only when they don�t eat.� Videl�s face showed alarm. �Don�t eat? Gohan! What are you doing not eating?� She asked, her concern fo rhim as a friend reigning over her anger for what he wasn't telling her. Gohan shrugged and rolled over. �Nothing.� Videl gave a tiny startled squeak as she felt Goku pull her out of the room, looking at her seriously. �I need to talk to you,� Goku said under his breath. He pulled her into the kitchen. �So, a Saiyan on bedrest� that�s new,� Videl commented. Her face brightened. �Hey! You know what Gohan�s not telling me! Can you - can you tell me?� Goku shook his head. �I promised I wouldn�t, but don�t worry, you�ll love it.� �Huh?� Videl looked at him quizzically and Goku just smiled. Videl smiled back and looked at the ground, then back up to Goku who spoke. �As a knower of the secret-" "Knower?" "Yeah, someone who knows the secret," Goku said innocently. Videl laughed. "Yeah?" "I wanted to say, don't worry, it's not bad." Videl stood for a second and then smiled bashfully. "I have a question�I guess I shouls ask Chi-Chi but I feel more comfortable asking you.� Goku looked at her expectantly. Videl continued. �When did you know you wanted to marry Chi-Chi?� The reaction she got was not what she expected. First, Goku looked at her interest piqued. Then he started laughing. �Don�t ask me! I thought it had to do with eating!� �What!?� Videl exclaimed, beginning to laugh as well. Goku held his side. �But we love each other very much, so it all worked out. Why are you asking?� Videl blushed and quickly said. �Just wondering.� Goku suddenly stood up straight. �Hey! Dende�s talking to me� and he wants to talk to you!� Videl stopped smiling. The god and protector of the earth wanted to talk to her� that could never be good. �Oh wait a sec Videl!� Goku nodded. �Yeah� uh huh� okay� sure� bye!� He turned to Videl. �He just said to tell you to go back in there and talk to him again.� �Sure,� Videl replied slowly. Goku caught her arm before she could turn around. �And see if you can get him to eat.� Videl nodded. �Um� just do me a favor then, get Piccolo in about ten minutes.� Goku gave her an odd look which she ignored. Videl walked back into Gohan and Goten�s room, sitting on Gohan�s bed. �Hey Gohan,� she said. Getting no response, she placed her hand on his shoulder. She figured he would either flinch and tell her to leave or he would relax a little. She never got to find out, as there was a crash in the living room. Videl wanted to go investigate but turned her attention to Gohan as he sat up. Videl realized her hand was still on his shoulder and quickly removed it. He smiled. �Truce?� She offered her hand. �Truce.� Gohan shook it, smiling. �Are you going to come back?� Videl frowned. �I don�t know yet. I need some time� and you need to get better! You still haven�t explained!� Gohan laughed. �I will in a minute, but first�� �What?� Videl asked in barely enough time before Gohan kissed her. The rational side of her mind thought that this wasn�t too good of an idea, based off of what she had heard from Goten about Gohan wanting to- she cut off her thought as she decided to just enjoy his kiss. And it would have been a great kiss too. Excepting what the cause of the crash in the living room was� �Listen you pointy haired freak! Where�s my daughter!� Hercule said, a little to calm. Goku smiled and shrugged. �She might be around here somewhere. I think I saw her come in.� �Don�t play stupid with me!� Hercule said, getting in his face. Goku lightly pushed him away. �I don�t play stupid with anyone,� he remarked �I just come off that way.� Hercule growled. �Then you�re lying. She�s here.� With that, he turned down the hall and then into Gohan�s room� in just enough time to see the teenage weirdo kissing his daughter. Gohan�s eyes widened and he broke off the kiss. �Hey, Mr. Satan!� He said quickly. �I�m going to kill you!� Was the reply he got. Videl shouted, �Dad stop! He doesn�t feel good.� �I don�t care what that good- for- nothing feels like.� Hercule got into fighting stance. �He was touching you with his unnaturally grotesque alien hands.� He eyed Gohan. �Nobody even looks at Videl funny and gets away with it!� Hercule was positively furious. He found that whoever met this boy or anyone from his family ended up being affected by them. Even he found he felt something, and he didn�t like it. He had to admit they were strong, stronger then himself� of course he�d never say it out loud. Gohan stood up. �Mr. Satan, I need you to help me. Your daughter Videl means so much to me�� Videl smiled. Son Gohan, her friend who still reminded her of a cute little boy, forever fascinated with anything and everything, the one who wore his heart on his sleeve and who possessed those beautiful dark twinkling eyes and that soft, calm voice, had just told her father that she meant a lot to him. She felt genuinely loved. However, her father didn�t see it that way. Instead he cut Gohan off. �I won�t hear it!� Hercule bellowed, changing his fighting stance. Gohan froze for a moment before going into a fighting stance of his own. �You said someone could only date your daughter if they�re stronger than you� bring it on.� �Gohan!� Videl, Goku and Chi-Chi all exclaimed. �Don�t worry, I�m good,� he said. �But you�ll beat Hercule to a pulp!� Goku commented. Hercule laughed and put his hands on his sides. �He doesn�t look very strong!� Gohan winced. �Actually I had a rough night last night and I haven�t eaten well lately.� �Sounds like your own problem to me,� Hercule replied. Gohan exhaled. �Fight me Hercule,� he taunted once again. Gohan who, even under the most trying situations rarely began to yell, was quickly becoming fed up with Hercule. Videl found it was kind of unnerving that he was putting on this much of a show, and his being sick even made it more so. Without warning, Hercule threw a punch, which Gohan easily caught. Gohan quickly bent Hercule's arm back and kicked him gently away. Hercule tried again with a flying sidekick. Gohan stepped out of the way and laughed as Hercule hit the wall behind him. Hercule ran at Gohan again. He found that the half-Saiyan just wanted to block his attacks and not do him any harm. He came at Gohan with a series of punches which Gohan easily blocked until, for some reason unknown to Hercule, he bent over, clutching his stomach. Hercule took the chance and elbowed him to the floor. �I want you never to see her again. That�s final. Got it?� He whispered venomously. �No, because I love her,� Gohan managed. �Damn you!� Gohan grunted and heaved Hercule�s weight off his back easily, now that the pain he had a moment earlier was gone. Hercule stood up. Damn every living breath you take, Son Gohan, Hercule thought. The fact that Hercule had actually gotten Gohan to the ground didn�t embarrass or anger him� he just felt more daring. Gohan hoisted Hercule onto his back. Ignorant of the larger man�s comments, Gohan opened a window, and threw him out. �I win,� he stated simply. Hercule looked up with embarrassment. The whole concept of embarrassment was new to him. He hadn�t really felt it until he had met with a particular group of people who had the ability to change their power and hair color in mere milliseconds. Videl, for one, wanted to jump in the air for joy but instead decided to smile and help Gohan sit down. Goku shut and locked the window with a wide grin and ushered Chi-Chi out of the room. Looking at Videl he put two fingers to his head, miming antennas and gave her a thumbs up. So, Piccolo was here. Videl sighed. �Gohan will you please eat something? For me?� �I don�t want to-� �Well, I�m going to make you.� Gohan looked at her tiredly. �How Videl?� �I got some help.� She ran to the door and pulled in everyone�s favorite green alien. Piccolo looked at Gohan gravely. �What did you do to yourself now? I�m going to force feed you like a baby if I have to, and trust me, I�m going to hate it more than you will.� �Shit,� Gohan commented. �Fine, fine. I�ll eat.� Videl laughed and helped him to the table. She remembered when she was happy just to hang out with him as friends� then she remembered when she began to have a crush on him, her idea of flirting was more annoying him then flirting� and then she remembered when everything came together on Christmas night. And now she just loved to have him near her, though now she had to say she was a little wary. Goku, however, had told her not to worry so she was trying her best. They sat Gohan down at the kitchen table which was loaded with enough food to make any Saiyan happy. As soon as he started to eat he realized how hungry he had been and ate everything. Videl, assured that her work there was done after staying there until ten at night, said goodbye and left. Gohan pursued her. �I never told you why I wasn�t eating.� Videl looked at him and blinked before hesitantly asking, �Why?� �I realized who you were to me.� Videl wanted to pound him into the ground. �Gohan! You�re not helping! Obviously what I am to you is what you won�t tell me! You�re confusing the hell out of me!� Gohan laughed. �I�ll tell you in� about a year or so.� �A year or so!� Videl yelled. �Yeah.� She hit him on the arm and Gohan feigned pain. �But that doesn't amke any sense as to why you were starving yourself.� Videl said, confused. Gohan thought. �Not eating was the way I reacted when I found out. It was a rather scary realization that I came to.� Videl�s face contorted into one of thought as well. �Okay, so you can�t tell me what this �realization� is for another year, you figured it out the day the reporters came, but you had the idea before?� �Exactly.� Videl hit him again. �You�re so annoying!� Gohan put on a hurt expression. �I could tell you now but� it�d scare you.� �But you�re dad said I�d like it!� Gohan laughed. �Later not now.� Videl pouted and crossed her arms, then gave Gohan a smile. �Fine. Just make sure to eat, okay?� Gohan nodded. �But Videl?� �What?� �We�re cool now, right? You�re not upset about what Goten said? Or does that bother you and you don�t really want to see me anymore?� Videl looked at the ground. �It would bother me Gohan, but I think I can trust you.� Videl looked up. �You know I didn�t mean what I said about� that whole � �maybe you shouldn�t be on this planet� thing.� �I know.� At the same time they pulled each other into a bear hug. Videl found it nice just to be able to be in his arms and smell whatever smell that was on his clothes. A cross between laundry detergent and� just the way Gohan smelled. Could I get /any/ more sappy? She asked herself. Gohan on the other hand was just enjoying the feeling of her small body against his. �Thank you, Videl. And, I beat your dad so I guess we�re free to officially go out.� They laughed. �Are you going to come back?� He asked, pulling her away. �Um, I have something to do tonight but, I think maybe. I mean, I moved back because I thought /he/ wouldn�t be there and that turned out to be a big fat lie.� Gohan looked at her puzzled. �Something to do tonight? Keeping secrets from me now, Videl?� �Maybe.� She smiled. �Then I better let you go. Bye.� �Bye.� *** Videl flew up to her security camera in her bedroom. She removed the tape and placed it in her TV/VCR. She just had to check Gohan's story. She rewound to the night before. She watched as she came on to Gohan and covered her face. He wasn�t lying, she thought. And that makes me a horrible person. I am so never getting drunk again! I can�t believe I was even considering doing anything like -that- to him. Videl stopped the tape and hugged herself. She started thinking again. I could never see me doing that kind of thing seriously with anyone� except maybe Gohan. She hit herself in the head. And Gohan�s the only person I could imagine doing that kind of stuff to me. She hit her head a few more times. Videl stop it! Stop it now! She thought over and over. That�s exactly what he wants you to think, with Goten saying what he did. Or maybe not. Dende, I�m going to kill him! Unable to sleep, she turned on her TV and watched infomercials. It could have been minutes or hours later when there was a knock on her window. Had to be Gohan. She looked at the clock. Midnight. Two hours since she had left. What could be wrong /now/? Videl opened her window and let him in. �What�s wrong?� She asked, worry creeping into her voice. �It was terrible,� he whispered. �I�m not going to say anything to Goten and definitely not to my mom, and I don�t want to say anything to my dad-� �What?!� Gohan sat down shakily on the floor before continuing. �It was Cell� all over again.� *** Yeah, I�m a bitch, tell me something I don�t know. People tell me they like when I bring up Cell and an emotionally scarred Gohan so I decided I'd... well... bring it up...in the next chap. So... in the next chapter Hercule decides to hold a press conference with the Z-Senshi that he promises will be fair, no sides. Of course, that's not going to happen. More Z warriors on television coming up in the next chap! ANd liek I said before this chapter, I can't wait to write it! (I love writing that stuff!) Happy Easter! Miraison * * * * * * * * * * Disclaimer: Yeah, I don�t own it. *** Hey! It�s me again! I gots a question� does anyone out there know when Videl�s birthday is, by chance? Anyways, I never quite made it to the press conference in this chapter� but don�t worry, it�s comin� up! BEST FRIENDS FOREVER CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Videl�s heart began to race. Cell was back? But that surely wasn�t possible because Gohan himself had taken care of that problem seven years ago. Gohan had ceased staring at Videl and still sat on the floor, shaking violently. Videl swallowed, not sure of what she should do. She remembered when she had needed Gohan months ago; he had been there for her and had offered her everything that he could, clothes, money, a home� the least she could do was tell him that he wasn�t alone and that everything was going to be okay. Even though she didn�t know what the problem was. Hesitantly, she watched Gohan, still shaking, but not out of fright or anger but because he was crying, hard. Though now his body shook ever so slightly, his face buried in his hands. Videl silently walked over to him, gently pulled one of his hands away from his face and gave it a reassuring squeeze. When she got no response, Videl, still holding his hand, wrapped her other arm around him, rubbing his back, kissing his forehead as she whispered, �It�s okay,� into his hair. It was then that Gohan lightly squeezed her hand back, though it felt unnatural, because his grip, usually so firm and strong, was weak. Gohan stopped crying almost as quickly as he had began and shuddered under Videl�s grip. �I couldn�t do it,� he whispered. Videl wanted to ask what he couldn�t do but decided to keep quiet. A few moments later Gohan ran his free hand through his hair. �I couldn�t move. I stood there and watched.� Videl was now thoroughly confused, couldn�t hold in her curiosity any longer. �What?� She asked calmly. �Vegeta was dead, Yamcha, Tien, Piccolo: all dead. And I couldn�t move.� His voice faltered and Videl tightened her hold on him. �The only thing I could see was dad, and he was fighting Cell. He was putting all of his energy into a kamehameha wave and so was Cell and no one could help him.� Videl frowned. �No, Gohan, you were there and that was you who-� �I couldn�t!� Gohan looked at her, something in his eyes painted a picture of extreme fright. �I just kept thinking that dad was trying to fight Cell,� Gohan�s voice began to escalate. �and he can�t and he�s going to die and I can�t help because I can�t move and I don�t understand why and then-� Videl shook Gohan while shouting his name. �What are you talking about Gohan?� She asked forcefully. �Vegeta�s not dead. When he fought Cell and couldn�t move you blocked Cell�s attack and saved Vegeta�s life, remember? And then you hurt your arm, remember?� Gohan stared at her blankly. �And Yamcha, Piccolo, they were all okay. And you were the one doing the kamehameha wave. What are you talking about?� Gohan�s face lost the blank looked and turned into one of slight anger. �Dad�� Videl rubbed his arm. �You�re dad had already died.� Gohan�s jaw clenched. �He was too soft with me.� Videl looked at Gohan with surprise. �What? Goku? Who?� Gohan clenched his fist. �I was overprotected. I depend to much on everyone else. I was just a whiny kid, watching as my friends were hurt and doing nothing. Just watching-� �STOP IT!� Videl said loudly. Gohan glanced at her, losing the strange look he had in his eyes a moment ago to replace it with a look of normalcy. �Gohan you need to wake up. What the hell is the matter with you? You�re scaring the hell out of me and I don�t know what to do. So unless you plan on telling me what you mean by �Cell�s back, Vegeta�s dead� and the rest of it, just leave,� Videl huffed. Instantly she regretted letting her quick temper get the best of her, as a demolishing look passed over Gohan�s face. �I�ve hurt you, haven�t I?� He whispered. �Huh?� �It must have been a dream, but I could have sworn Cell was-� Gohan looked down. �A nightmare.� He stood up and walked over to the window. �That�s all.� Videl�s heart sank. Was he saying that the whole Cell thing just now was a nightmare he had had? She never remembered him doing anything like this when she lived with him, but she remembered how often he had tried to hide his feelings about Cell. Now she remembered all the times his feelings had happened to leak through, like in the attic when they were looking through the photo album, or on Christmas Eve when he saw his father�s handwriting on the gifts. What about how he always seemed to blame himself? Always saying something about not killing Cell straight away. Videl stood up and pulled him away from the window sitting him down on her bed. �Gohan, it�s okay, really,� she said, once again placing an arm around him. �It must have been a nightmare, like you said. Okay? So don�t worry about it, nothing like that�s ever going to happen again. Things are fine now, your dad�s back, I�m here and-� �I�ve hurt you now?� He cut in, repeating his previous question. He nodded to himself. �I�ve done it again, and this time it was you.� Unable to suppress his tears, he started crying again. �People I love just end up getting hurt,� he stated. Videl�s eyes widened. He had said that to her before� when she was sick. Videl shook her head, swallowing and trying to hold back her own tears. �No, Gohan. How could you hurt me?� She swallowed again, but this time a few tears escaped her eyes. Gohan returned her embrace for the first time, wrapping his own arms around her. �I just did. See? You�re crying now.� Videl knew it would be useless to argue with him and found herself burying her face in his shirt. She wished she could tell him that he was right: she was crying because he had hurt her. That would have been easy. But this was something more. She was crying because /he/ was hurting. Right now she could give a damn about herself. Gohan looked down at her and rested his chin on her head. Shutting his eyes, he sighed. Why? For all the trouble people gave her for just being his friend, why did she have to care so much? Why did she have to understand him /without/ understanding him. Why did she have to /accept/ him so easily? And then it dawned on him. It really actually hit him at that moment. She loved him, and more importantly, she loved him /back/. She returned the love he gave to her. She didn�t want anything to happen to him to make him feel bad. She wasn�t crying for herself or her feelings, she was crying because he was crying. She was crying because she loved him and on some level she could feel the pain that he could feel from that day long ago. �Dende, Videl, don�t cry for me,� he said placing an odd smile on his face. �Please?� Videl returned his smile weakly. �I�m sorry, Gohan. It�s just that- if I could re-live all of your memories- like this one- that haunt you when no one is there for you, I would. I would, so you wouldn't have to. I hate seeing you like this.� Gohan grabbed her arms firmly, surprising her. �Videl, don�t ever say that. I wouldn�t wish what I�ve been through on anyone, and that�s why /I/ was the one who lived those memories, got it? Don�t ever wish that you lived through what I have. Sometimes wishes come true.� There was a brief silence, then Gohan released his grip on her arms. �Remember at the restaurant when I said I didn�t want you to have to �go it alone�?� Videl nodded. Gohan sighed. �That�s because for seven years that�s what I�ve been doing, that's what I've done. Thinking constantly about what happened that day, trying to make up for it, waking up from nightmares wanting to scream, wanting to talk to someone. But I wasn�t going to talk to my brother or my mom. I always tried to hide my thoughts from them. And when my dad came back, I hid them from him, too. And then you. But tonight I just needed someone to talk to and I automatically thought of you, because you know me better than anyone else.� Gohan looked down, obviously unhappy with himself. �And now you�re going to have this lovely night to remember for the rest of your life, and I�m sorry for that. I didn't ever want you to see me like this, I don't know what I was thinking.� Videl smiled at him and ran her hand through his hair, straightening it a little. �I�m not sorry Gohan. Because now you have someone to talk to, okay? I may not be able to live your memories over again, and see them in the detail that you do but I don�t want you to hide them from me either. If you ever need someone to talk to� you know where I am.� Gohan looked up. �Are you sure?� Videl nodded. �Positive. Because for everything horrible I�ve ever learned about you, or anything terrible that you�ve ever told me, there is something else five hundred times better that I�ve learned from you.� �Huh?� Gohan questioned. ��Yeah,� Videl said enthusiastically. �You know what I still think about?� �What?� Videl broke into a wide grin and then a laugh. �The day you taught me to fly.� Gohan smiled. �I remember that.� Videl nodded. �Yup. I had never flown before, obviously, and you showed me how to. Something so spectacular that I couldn�t help but admit that I enjoyed those lessons, even if I /did/ act as if I couldn�t stand you.� She paused. �You know why I cut my hair short?� Gohan shook his head, clueless. Videl continued, �Because you told me to. That�s why I asked if you liked short hair on girls. I thought you did - and I kind of wanted to get your attention.� Gohan laughed. �You�re kidding!� �No! That�s why I was blushing!� Videl and Gohan doubled over, there laugher echoing throughout the house. �But really,� Videl said. �That�s how it always was when I was with you. Even doing the most ordinary things was incredible, just because you made them that way.� Gohan flushed. �You taught me to see things as a little kid would, enjoying every moment and being amazed by the simplest things. But mostly, you, and your family, too, showed me what it was like to /have/ a family.� This time Videl blushed. �Nevermind, you probably think that sounds really funny and I agree with you, forget I said that.� Gohan took her hand. �No, I won�t.� Videl sighed. �I would hate to go back to the subject but I want to tell you once and for all what I feel about you and Cell. You know what I think? I think your dad�s right. A while ago he told me that your worst enemy is never the one in front of you. And I began to believe it, because I found it true with my own self; I've always been my own worst enemy, not my dad, not 'Saiyaman', no... it was me. �Then I thought about you, and how much you doubt yourself constantly. You are one of the most confident people I have ever meant, but he second you think you�ve messed up you begin to question yourself. And when you fought Cell, your mistake was not beating him easily when you had the chance. �You�ve told me before that when you were attacking with that final kamehameha wave against Cell that you said you couldn�t do it. And then for then next seven years you tried to make up for that. I just think that�s the way you are, be it ten years from now or fifty. You�re just that way, and that�s why I want to be here for you, if only to be someone to talk to.� Gohan felt a little ashamed because he found what she had said was the truth. But more over, he felt gratitude. Gratitude that Videl would be willing to talk at anytime of the day or night about something he had kept to himself far to long. �Thank you, Videl,� he managed. �It means a lot to me; you putting me ahead of yourself and all.� Videl nodded graciously. �Hey! Just lookin� out for my best friend. Anyways, isn�t that what you did for five months or so?� Gohan shrugged. �I guess�� and suggested that they get some sleep. Videl agreed and Gohan left after they wished each other a good night. *** Goten and Trunks ran to the door to answer the soft knocking they heard from the kitchen. Trunks looked out the window. �Oh, no,� he said. �It�s that girl that Gohan likes.� He made a face. Goten jumped up and clapped his hands. �It�s Videl!� He hurriedly opened the door. �Hey, Videl!� He greeted. �Hey!� Videl answered back. Spotting Trunks, she added, �What�s up, you two?� Trunks shrugged. �We�re thinking of ways to take over this crummy planet.� Videl laughed. �Sounds important, I should let you two get on with it. But first, where�s your bro, Goten?� Goten pointed to the kitchen. �Gotcha,� Videl winked. �Have fun!� Videl entered the kitchen to find Goku and Gohan setting the table for lunch. �I feel for you guys, really, Goten /and/ Trunks today, I see? I miss having this total and utter chaos constantly.� Gohan looked up and smiled warmly. �Yeah! It�s great!� Videl laughed to herself when she noticed he was wearing his glasses again. Gohan continued, �Not to mention we have a press conference with your dad later in this lovely month of April.� Videl stopped, stunned. �What? What press conference?� Gohan looked at her. �You mean he didn�t tell you? He called us this morning and told us it was all scheduled. He�s even announced it on TV today.� Videl dropped her shoulders, taking on a defeated posture. �No, he /didn�t/ tell me. Anything else I should know?� Gohan thought for a minute before concluding, �Nope, that was pretty much it. Unless you�re wondering what the press is interested in hearing about.� �What�s the press interested in hearing about?� Videl asked carefully. �Cell!� Goku shouted. When he noticed the glance Videl threw to Gohan he laughed. �Don�t feel bad, Videl! He wasn�t to pushy about it or anything. He said to me, I quote, �And YOU I�m fighting on the press conference floor, and we're taking care of all of our business once and for all- especially Cell!�� Videl allowed herself to fall into one of the kitchen table chairs. Goku beamed. �But in better news, Gohan passed the college exams!� �Alright, Gohan! So which college are you going to?� Videl asked. Chi-Chi entered the room and the conversation. �Actually, he passed the /final/ exams, not the entrance exams, so we�re hoping he doesn�t even have to go.� Videl beamed. �Congratu-� Trunks and Goten interrupted the conversation when they came running into the kitchen. �Hey, daddy, do you have any juice?� Videl raised an eyebrow. �Is this part of your plan to take over the world?� She asked, amused. Gohan looked at her strangely and she just smiled. Trunks rolled his eyes. �Of course not, we would ransom the world for a lot more than a lousy cup of juice. What are you, stupid?� �Trunks!� Gohan scolded. Trunks stuck out his tongue as Goten downed a glass of juice. �More, please!� Goku laughed and began to poor him a cup as there was another knock on the door. �Goten, do me a favor and get that, k?� He asked, pausing a moment from pouring the drink. Goten ran over, let out a stifled shout, and slammed the door shut, locking it. He ran back in the kitchen talking quickly. �Daddy! Help! There�s a guy with three eyes outside!!!!� Goku put down the juice and started laughing. �He wouldn�t happen to be with a mime-clown looking thing, would he?� Goten shrugged. �He looked more like one of those china dolls to me.� �Tien and Chatzou!� Goku screamed. �Huh?� Trunks and Goten responded, before Trunks hit Goten on the arm and they both ran back into Goten�s room. Goku quickly opened the door, Gohan right on his heels. �Sorry �bout that!� The older Saiyan said, pulling the large man and his midget friend inside. Gohan laughed. �What are you guys doing here?� Tien smirked. �Actually, we heard of some odd business in Satan city and knew you guys had to be involved. And then I heard something about a Son Gohan and a Videl Satan and just /had/ to see what was going on. So, can I meet her, Gohan? I hear you two are quite the item.� Gohan blushed profusely. �Ah�� �I�m Videl,� Videl said, extending her hand to the strange man. He shook it. �Tien-shin-han, but you can just call me Tien.� �I will,� Videl promised with a smile. Just then Vegeta walked through the still-open door. �I�ve come for my son, the woman has a meeting tonight and wants him back early.� Videl pointed to Goten�s room. �They�re in there, plotting world domination,� she remarked. Vegeta smirked. �I see I�ve taught that child something of value,� he stated, slamming the door behind him. A knock issued form the closed door almost immediately. �Vegeta, could you get that?� Goku asked. Vegeta shook his head and held up a fist. �Of course not, you IMBECILE!� He replied. "I am the pr-" Gohan nervously moved past Vegeta to get the door. Upon opening it, he laughed. �It�s, uh, Yajirobe, everyone,� He stated. Vegeta stopped talking and turned to the short, fat man. �What the hell are you doing here?!� Yajirobe was just about to answer when Master Roshi stepped in front of him. Vegeta let out a strained breath, a nerve in his forehead popping out. �The old perv�s here� smashing,� he commented. Gohan tried not to laugh but couldn�t help it. �This is just like old times, eh?� Master Roshi spoke up, �Not until Yamcha, Piccolo, Krillin and the rest show up. I saw the press conference announcement on TV and found it incredibly interesting. I called everyone and let them know.� Videl allowed her hands to drop noisily at her side. �Am I the only one who didn�t know about this?� She asked no one in particular. Ignoring her question, Master Roshi spoke up. �We came because they said something about having questions to do with Cell? Is that right?� Videl, annoyed, shrugged. �I don�t know.� Master Roshi turned his attention to her. �Hello, pretty thing. I believe we met at Christmas. Would you happen to have some free time later tonight or-� Gohan grabbed Videl�s arm and pulled her away. �We don�t talk to him,� he whispered. Goku laughed and the rest of the people there joined in, except for Vegeta, who found the situation, as always, more amusing than humorous. Videl cleared her throat before loudly asking, �So when exactly is this press conference?� Goku held up one finger. �One week from today.� One week. Press Conference. Cell. The very thing they had known, sooner or later, was going to bite them in their asses. *** Okay yeah, the press conference is coming up next chapter. This one just ended up being longer than I thought so I don�t want to add anymore onto it. Hope you enjoyed. Oh, and if you reviewed BFF and left me a note asking to read and review your story I will. Just give me some time, k? I�d love to read all the stories from authors who like my work, �cause usually I enjoy them, too. So I can�t wait to get some free time to do that. On another note, I want to once again ask when Videl�s birthday is!!!! Over and out, Chris * * * * * * * * * * Disclaimer: Yeah� uh, no. *** It�s me again! BEST FRIENDS FOREVER CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Gohan stood behind the stage of where the press conference was to take place in just ten minutes. Yamcha, Krillin and Tien continued to throw him glances which he nervously returned. Cell Games. He just hoped he wasn�t going to have a nervous breakdown. Gohan glanced at the well-lit entrance into the conference room, seeing Videl�s silhouette against the bright light. His father had convinced her to ditch the baggy shirt look and she now wore a pressed business type suit. It was a dark maroon color and Gohan had to admit that she looked very becoming in it. He shut his eyes to clear his head. He himself was wearing a dark suit and was trying to tie Goten�s tie for him at the moment. Only he kept getting distracted by Videl. He sighed. Tien walked up to Gohan, adjusting the cuffs of his own suit. �So you really like her, huh?� Gohan glanced at Videl again. �Yeah,� he answered, unable to hide his smile, which turned into a wide grin when Krillin and Yamcha laughed. �I like her, too!� Yamcha remarked, in response getting a mock-glare from Gohan. �Definitely hold onto that one, Gohan,� Krillin advised. �And I speak from experience. Can you believe that my wife and Vegeta actually agreed to do this thing?� Goten spoke up in a whine. �Gohan, I hate this suit! Why do me and Trunks need to get all dressed up if we aren�t even allowed on the air?� Gohan ruffled his brother�s hair, earning a pout from Goten. �Because.� �Because why?� Gohan hit Goten gently on the back, making the younger Saiyan stand up straight. �You�re representing us good guys.� Goten smiled grandly and puffed out his chest. �Yeah! �Cause me and Trunks are good guys, too!� �Exactly!� Yamcha told Goten. �Just remember to behave yourselves, okay? We wouldn�t want any mishaps that could get your dad or brother into trouble. And we really don�t want any mishaps that could get your dad ticked at you either.� Gohan laughed, turning around to fix his own tie one more time, only to find himself facing Videl. �Ah�um�� Videl raised an eyebrow. She still found it entertaining that she could make Son Gohan speechless at any time, any where. Videl couldn�t keep a straight face any longer and smiled at him, rubbing his arm. �So, you ready?� Gohan shrugged. �I guess. I mean, I�ll have to go out there ready or not.� �You�ll do fine.� �You sound like my mom.� �Gee, thanks,� Videl remarked sarcastically, ceasing the rubbing of Gohan�s arm and hitting him there instead. Likewise, Yamcha hit Tien in the arm to get his attention and pointed over to Gohan and Videl. Tien hid a laugh behind his hand, as Krillin grinned. Videl motioned towards Gohan�s tie and he jumped. �Um� I was going to fix that when you snuck up on me so� ah� I better be doing that now.� Videl laughed and granted him an, �Okay.� Leaving him be. Yamcha sighed. �Could /anyone/ fall /any/ harder than you, Gohan?� Gohan, retying his tie in a mirror, looked behind him. �Hm?� Tien stood up. �What he means is: When�s the wedding?� Krillin crossed his arms, shaking his head. �Man, you are so in for it.� *** Videl snuck a quick look at her wristwatch. One minute. One minute till noon. One minute till show time. She should have started going over her notes, or some of her argument points, but found herself thinking of Gohan. And then she found herself smiling. No one on this planet, least of all her, would have believed it if someone had said that she was going to fall in love with a half alien who would have an impact on her life for the rest of eternity. A man stuck his head just then behind the curtain. �Videl Satan?� he asked. �That�s me.� �You guys have thirty seconds.� Videl looked at her watch again to find this was the truth. Alright, here we go, she thought. Videl clapped her hand, getting everyone�s attention in the back room. The number had grown from Videl, Gohan, Tien, Yamcha and Krillin, to include Goku, Piccolo, Vegeta and 18 as well. Videl also knew that Bulma and her parents, Chi-Chi and Ox King, Master Roshi, Yajirobe, Puar and Oolong were also out there in the crowd, as well as Goten and Trunks. She knew her father had to be out there already, playing to the crowd. �Alright, people,� Videl boomed. �This is either going to go great, or be a disaster. So, let�s just have fun.� Gohan slouched, exaggeratedly. �Thanks for the motivational and upbeat speech, Videl.� �Anytime.� A voice over a loud speaker was heard calling Hercule to take his seat. And then it called the name Videl Satan. Before Videl could walk out, Gohan grabbed her and spun her around. �Good luck out there, with your dad and all, you know,� he said quickly. Videl smiled. �Good luck to you, too, with my dad and all as well.� She paused. �But I have a feeling that�s not why you stopped me.� Gohan blushed. �Well, it�s not entirely�� �Than just kiss me.� �Damn, how�d you know?� Gohan asked before pushing a few loose strands of her hair behind her ear and kissing her on the lips. Goku smacked his forehead with his hand and began laughing as the rest of the fighters and ex-fighters joined in. �Videl Satan,� the man on the loudspeaker called once again. Gohan ended the kiss and pulled away. �Hey, go out there and kick ass. You look beautiful.� �Same to you, handsome,� Videl remarked before going out to face the crowd and cameras. Yamcha placed a hand on Gohan�s shoulder. �You�re beyond help, I�m afraid,� he joked, as his name was called. Gohan sighed and under his breath remarked, �Don�t I know it.� *** By the time the whole group was introduced, the order of the participants of the press conference went like this from left to right: Hercule, Videl, Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Krillin, Piccolo, Yamcha, Tien, and 18. The old gang from the Cell Games, basically, with the exception of Mirai no Trunks. The first reporter stood up. �Mr. Brief- What do you have to say about your acquaintance Son Goku and his son, and the Cell games?� �You might as well call Kakarott�s son as soft as Kakarott himself.� �So you�re saying that they didn�t beat Cell?� �No, I said they were soft. Not weak. However, their power is nothing compared to mine-� Piccolo cut off the �almighty Prince of the Saiyans� speech. �Son and his son did defeat Cell, and if this is all this press conference is about then we�re all wasting our time, because that�s the simple truth Hercule didn�t, Gohan did.� Videl nodded. Upon seeing this, Hercule argued back. �If Gohan supposedly beat Cell, he would only have been eleven. Eleven years old. How could he have beaten Cell when his father had just gotten his ass kicked super fast a few minutes before?� The question was directed at Videl. �You�re asking me, dad?� Gohan tried to stand up, but couldn�t as his father had grasped his shoulder, forcing him to stay in his seat, �You can�t pull her into this Hercule. She wasn�t even there, this is for only for people who were there!� �Go to hell,� Hercule shot back. Videl glared at her father. �Dad, don�t do this.� Hercule ignored her. �I�ll tell you what happened: You�re father�s a pushover, that�s why he lost, and you defeated Cell only because I wore him down first.� �What did you say about my dad?� Gohan asked as Goku smiled at the crowd and tried to calm his son down. �That� was too personal,� Gohan continued, not waiting for an answer. �Take it back, now.� Hercule adamantly pounded the table. �No! You know you�re just as much of a damn problem as your father is!� Goku, not taking his own advice of calming down stood up. �Don�t talk to my son that way!� He said in an I�m-not-joking-voice type of voice. With that, the rest of the Z-Team there stood up to back up Goku, all except 18 who rolled her eyes. Videl did so too, without a second thought. �My father�s a great man, is that clear?� Gohan asked. He was followed by jeers from Tien, Yamcha, Krillin and Videl. Piccolo just barred his fangs and Vegeta had formed a miniscule ki-blast in his hand, just out for blood. Hercule looked at his daughter. �So in the end, you�re going to side with them?� Videl nodded tersely. �They mean what they say, they�ve already proved to me, the people of the earth, and yes, even to you, that their loyalty to this planet is real. Vegeta formed a fist, holding it up. �And it always came at a high price!� Hercule sighed. �And what would that be?� �I died!� Goku said, holding up his hand. �Yeah, me too!� Krillin added as Yamcha stood up remarking, �Me and him both.� Vegeta simply pointed to himself and Tien smiled. Hercule put his head in his hands. �So the high price was a bunch of freaks being killed off? A few half-alien kids growing up in the woods without a father?� Gohan stepped toward Hercule violently and Piccolo grabbed his shirt, halting him. �Don�t even go there!� Gohan screamed. �I blamed myself for the death of my father- and worse off I wondered if Goten hated me for it. Hated me for being responsible for killing our dad!� Videl looked back and forth between Gohan and her father, while keeping an eye on Piccolo who was still showing his fangs in a very threatening manner. Didn�t her father know he was working with at least two people - Vegeta and Piccolo - who had the shortest fuses on the planet? And Gohan wasn�t going to be too amicable either if Hercule brought up Goku�s death one more time. Everyone kind of paused for a second. And then everyone sat down again, well, everyone except Vegeta who instead leaned up against the wall with his arms folded. The Saiyan prince didn�t like the spotlight and maybe it made him feel more comfortable. Most of the reporters were now speechless. One brave woman stepped up. �Videl- What is your relationship with Gohan? After all the hype is it true that you are romantically involved with him?� Videl calmly moved her microphone in front of her. �If you are asking this question in relevance to the Cell Games, than my answer is that I did not influence him, nor did he influence me as far as what we believe happened seven years ago.� �Yamcha- As a fan of baseball, and a fan of yourself, I�d like to ask exactly what you were doing at the Cell Games?� Yamcha�s eyes widened. �I�fought. What else do you want me to say?� �And all your friends are, in fact, aliens?� Gohan looked like he was going to pull out his hair. He answered the question for Yamcha. �Uh, last time I checked, yes. Stop asking if I�m alien. Stop asking if I beat Cell. Stop asking if I�m going out with Videl. Stop asking if I�m the Great Saiyaman. Stop asking if I�m the gold fighter. The answers to those are all the same as they�ve ever been: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. �You want the abbreviated story of what happened at the Cell Games? Okay, I�ll give it to you! We showed up. Cell knocked Hercule out. My dad fought. I fought. My dad died. I beat his ass.� Vegeta smirked. �Well said, son of Kakarott.� He turned his attention to the reporters. �I heard this was going to be a serious press conference here with some real questions, not this shit. I�ve never participated in anything as lame as this in my life� and I have to go to those damn parties my woman has.� The reporter people began to back off little by little as Vegeta continued his ranting. Piccolo covered his ears, Krillin and Yamcha winced, 18 rolled her eyes again, Tien laughed and said something about missing this, Goku was standing there dumbfounded, and Videl was walking over to Gohan. Bulma stood up. �My parties are not lame, mister!� �Crap,� Oolong remarked, ducking under his chair. Yajirobe opened a pouch on his waist and pulled out a smashed donut, which Oolong grabbed quickly before retreating back under his chair. �Damn pig,� Yajirobe muttered. Master Roshi proceeded to stare at Bulma�s butt as Chi-Chi stood up shouting about �Her boys.� Hercule stood up and walked out. When the press tried to stop them he pushed them away. �No further questions at this time!� Videl exclaimed. Chi-Chi clapped loudly. Gohan hopped off the press conference stage and ran over to his brother to give him a hug. �You were great, Gohan!� Goten stated. Videl, a little behind Gohan because of the skirt she was wearing, jumped off the stage and ran over to give Gohan a peck on the cheek. �Ahem,� one reporter with a camera cleared his throat before taking a series of photos of the couple. �Aw! That�s so cute!� Krillin said in a teasing voice. �Shut UP!� Gohan said, turning around. A lady tapped Videl on the shoulder and remarked that Gohan seemed �very sweet� and that made her smile. Goku, however, was unhappy with the outcome of the short conference. He put two fingers to his forehead and disappeared. He arrived a few seconds later with a pissed Hercule. �I just wanted to invite you over to our house. How about some lunch?� Hercule looked at him, stunned. �Is that all you ever think about, Goku?� Tien asked. �No, there�s dinner, too. And breakfast is the most important meal of the day. My personal favorite�s the midnight snack and-� �Dad!� Gohan interrupted. �Right!� Goku turned to Hercule. �Wha�da�ya say?� He held his hand out. Hercule, forever the showman, shook. �Fine.� �Alright!� Goku said ecstatic. �Everyone�s invited! Lunch at the Son�s!� Chi-Chi humped. �You could of at least checked with me first, Goku!� �Sorry bout that Chi-Chi!� Videl laughed as Gohan grabbed her hand. Videl was just about to lean up against his arm and walk out with him when Krillin stuck his head in between the two, still laughing. �Score, Gohan,� he said simply as Gohan pushed him away. *** So� sorry to ask again but anyone know Videl�s birthday? I also noticed I haven't talked about my Great Saiyaman action figurea lately and I would just like you all to know that he's doing fine. Um... he was in a head cast early this week becasue my brother rammed him through some drywall... or at least tried to. And don't mock him! Even if you were Saiyan you'd have a neck brace too... with all the torture my bro was inflicting on him. * * * * * * * * * * Disclaimer: Yeah, I don't own... you shouldn't sue. *** Hey all! BEST FRIENDS FOREVER CHAPTER NINETEEN Gohan sighed as he pulled on a white ribbed T-shirt to go with the green khaki cargo pants he had just put on. It was time to go to the wonderful cook-out his dad had invited everyone to. Chi-Chi had opened up the house. In the five minutes that they had been home, reporters and people were everywhere. In their immediate front yard, in the living room� anywhere and everywhere. They were drinking, eating, having fun; but most just wanted to get in a word with Gohan or Videl. Videl was changing out of her clothes that she had been wearing at the conference. It was convenient that they had come back to the Son house because she already had tons of clothes and supplies there. Gohan leaned against his wall and shut his eyes, listening to the conversation taking place in his living room. �I�m sure everybody else�s father took them on vacations in outer space,� one reporter remarked sarcastically as a few people began to laugh. Gohan clenched his fists. Just then he heard a few people start to shout, �Mr. Son! A word, please?� Gohan opened his bedroom door to find his father surrounded by a crowd in the living room. He had changed into his training gi and had his hands wrapped around his belt in a confident fashion, flashing everyone present a huge smile. �Gohan!� He shouted, spying his son. Gohan swallowed and walked over. �Hey, dad,� he mumbled under his breath. �I don�t think this was the best idea. What am I suppose to do now, huh?� His dad shrugged. �I dunno, think of something.� Goku ushered his son out the door onto the lawn, the crowd following them. �Mr. Son, I was wondering-� �What do you think of-� �Son Gohan, is it true-� �According to recent reports-� Gohan watched as a �jet copter� landed on the grass. Hercule stepped out and when nobody paid any attention to him he raised up his hand in the victory �V� style. The reporters continued to follow Gohan and Goku. �Great to be here!� Hercule bellowed. Still no response from anyone. �Not,� he mumbled. Goku laughed as he pointed to a pile of cameras and cam-corders. �Gohan, it looks as if Piccolo took care of the media problem!� Piccolo, apparently, had threatened to break any and all recording equipment if anyone had decided to use it. Gohan had to smile. Beating back the crowd, Gohan walked up to Piccolo, thanking him. �Sure, kid,� Piccolo responded, not batting an eye. �But your missing your party, and your friend just walked out of the house.� Gohan glanced up to find Videl, now in light blue jeans and a navy blue T-shirt smiling at the reporters, taking their questions gracefully. Gohan smiled at her from above the crowd. Videl returned the smile and announced in a loud, clear voice, �This is a party everyone, don�t bother asking me anymore questions because I�m going to be hanging out and ignoring anyone who does.� With that said, she grabbed Gohan�s arm and pulled him away as the crowd dispersed. �This is tiring,� Gohan said, wiping his forehead. Videl rolled her eyes. �You�re just not used to the publicity.� Gohan snorted. �You forget that -up until a few weeks ago, mind you - I was the /very/ famous delivery boy at the Cell Games.� (FUNi version, people) Videl laughed. Suddenly, Goten ran full throttle past the couple screaming bloody murder. �Goten, what the-� Gohan began before seeing his father chasing Goten, his head pulled into his gi and arms flailing. �I�m coming, Goten!� He said, messing up his voice to sound like a monster. Videl covered her mouth and erupted into giggles. �It�s the headless Goku!� She shouted, pointing. Gohan put his head in his hands. �If anyone asks, I don�t know him.� �That�s horrible, Gohan,� Videl remarked, hitting him lightly. Gohan jumped away playfully. *** Yamcha, with Tien and Krillin, sat down at a patio table Chi-Chi had set up. Each had a beer and a few burgers. �They�re a cute couple,� Tien pointed out. Krillin shrugged. �Gohan and Videl?� Yamcha grinned. �You missed out, Tien. It�s been a little soap opera around here the past few months.� Tien chewed on his burger thoughtfully and then swallowed. �I don�t doubt it. I mean, the irony of the situation! Gohan is dating the daughter of the guy that stole all of his credit for beating Cell seven years ago.� The other two men nodded. Yamcha took a gulp of beer. �How long do you think it�ll be before they have a kid?� The table erupted into laughter and when it died down Yamcha continued. �No, really though?� Krillin put on a smug expression. �Using my expertise as a married man� I�d give �em� four or five years.� Tien�s eyebrows furrowed. �Gohan would be about twenty-two, twenty- three� right?� Yamcha nodded as Krillin began talking again. �But I bet ten bucks that today something�s going to happen and Gohan�s going to get yelled at. I mean, it always does when we have these little things.� Tien and Yamcha looked at each other. �I don�t know,� Yamcha said. �Gohan should know enough to behave himself when we basically have every reporter here on the premises.� Tien nodded in affirmation. �Fine don�t believe me,� Krillin remarked. �But I bet ten bucks.� Tien and Yamcha grinned. �You�re on.� The three friends sat back in their chairs. After a minute Yamcha spoke up. �Is it just me or do they still seem kind of shy around each other?� Tien laughed. �I was just going to say the same thing!� �Ditto!� Krillin agreed. *** Goten heaved a sigh of relief. So far, he hadn�t been caught by his father, who was playing with him to keep him out of trouble. Now he had gone as far as to outsmart his father. Goten had found a quiet, out of the way area that no one seemed to be occupying at present. No one, that was, except Hercule Satan. �Hey Mr. Hercule!� The boy shouted, smiling. Hercule looked down at the kid. �What do you want?� He demanded. �I�m Goten!� The child said, sitting down on the ground Indian style. �I just want to know if you�re going to be nice to my brother now.� Hercule took a step back. A few people had heard the conversation begin and were now listening intently. �Wha? Listen kid, I don�t know what you�re talking about� I�ve always been pretty nice to your brother.� Goten pouted. �No,� he stated truthfully. �No, you haven�t.� Hercule sweat dropped. �Yes, kid, I have.� He pulled a lollipop out from his pocket. �Now, if you leave I�ll give you this!� He said to Goten under his breath. �Candy!� Goten exclaimed. �Yeah, that�s right. Now� GET IT!� Hercule threw the lollipop as far as he could, with Goten following it like a dog chasing after a stick. �Idiot kid,� Hercule said to himself as Goten came back, chewing on the white stick part of the lollipop. �Got another one?� Hercule screamed. *** Goten was thoroughly bored. The big guy, Hercule, wasn�t being much fun anymore so he figured he should find his brother and play with him� since his dad seemed to have given up chasing him and was now eating and talking to that mime-thing. Spotting Gohan, Goten ran over. �C�mon Gohan! We gots to do something fun! Everyone�s bored and no one wants to eat after watching our dad eat!� �No, Goten,� Gohan responded. �Yeah.� �No.� �Yeah.� �No.� �YEAH.� Goten grabbed Gohan�s arm and pressed the transform button on his watch. �Look everybody! The great Saiyaman�s here!� The child clapped. Gohan put a now-gloved hand on his face. �Yea! It�s me,� the Great Saiyaman said, less than enthusiastic. Gohan transformed back and Goten frowned at the disappearance of his idol. �Hey!� Gohan flashed his brother a smile before running away. Goten wouldn�t stand to let Gohan get away and quickly followed him. It didn�t help when Videl flew out of no where and blocked Gohan�s path. �Get �im, Goten!� She yelled. Gohan looked up and the last thing he saw was his brother's hair flying at him before he shut his eyes and started laughing. Goten was... tickling him? Man how embarrassing was this? Well, might as well fight fire with fire. Gohan reached out and began to tickle Goten as he shrieked at him. Videl wrestled Goten away from his older brother, laughing. Videl nudged Gohan away and Gohan nudged her back. Videl pushed him away harder and he did the same back. Videl punched him. He punched her. Goten stated laughing and pulling up grass, throwing it at the two teenagers as they began to spar. Videl raised her hands. �I give up, I refuse to fight a Saiyan.� �Okay, then I give up, too,� Gohan agreed, raising up his hands as well. Videl used this to her advantage, knocking Gohan back to the ground in a big bear hug. Goku walked briskly towards them. "Could you guys act your age for just ONE minute and stop fighting!" He yelled. The three paused and looked down. Geez, getting yelled at by /Goku/ for acting like a kid was harsh. "I mean, we have people over! /And/ if you two are teenagers you should be smart enough to know that on a lovely day like this hoses are the only way to go!" "Hoses?" Videl asked. Goku nodded, bringing one from out behind his back. He turned the nozzle and a spray of cold water shot out at Goten, Gohan and Videl. �Water Fight!� He screamed as the three on the ground screamed. �Let's face it: I'm the best!� Goku announced. Goten was screaming and laughing. Videl was trying to stand up in the now-slick muddy ground, and Gohan just sat there, wiping the mud off his face from Videl's antics. Gohan laughed at her. "Your attempts are futile!" He remarked in a mock wise and deep voice before grabbing both her and his brother and pinning them to the ground. Yamcha took a sip of his beer and sighed. "Somehow, love's just not what it used to be..." Krillin winced as Videl took a mud ball and hurled it right smack into Gohan�s face "FOUL!" Gohan called, hurling one right back at her but instead Goten chose that moment to sit up and the mud ball hit him in his face. Videl gasped. "How could you do that to your baby brother?" She asked, over exaggerating, throwing two more mud balls at Gohan, one which he ducked and one which he didn't. Hercule was fuming. How dare /his/ daughter act like this in a public gathering? Hercule began speaking to himself again. �Hello, and welcome to the psycho awards. This years winner: The Son Family in all categories!� Videl tried to get up twice more but managed to fall on her butt once and trip over Goten the other. �SON GOHAN TO THE RESCUE!!!!!!� Gohan shouted bravely, picking Videl up in his arms and half flying/half walking out of the mud. Gohan looked down at her and smiled. Videl smiled back. At the same time their smiles faded as Gohan quickly put her down and Videl straightened her clothes. "Thanks, Gohan." �Yeah, sure, no problem.� "Way to go Gohan!" Tien yelled "Woo!" Krillin called. Yamcha gave Gohan the OK sign. Gohan looked sheepishly at Videl. �Ignore them, they're drunk.� Chi-Chi came up to the three younger people, a look of disbelief on her face. �Take a shower this instant! We have company if you didn't notice! How could you-� �Sorry, mom.� �Sorry.� �Yeah, sorry.� �I don�t know what you were thinking, Gohan!� �Hey it was Goten's fault!� Gohan protested. �Na-ah! Videl's the one who knocked you to the ground.� �Excuse me? Gohan who decided to retaliate!� Videl stated. Chi-Chi fumed. �I'm gonna hurt you all if you don't get in the shower!� �Sorry,� the three quickly said in unison. Krillin laughed. �Fork over the ten bucks guys.� *** The rest of the party went without a hitch. Most of the reporters found Gohan, Goku, and Goten to be charming people with a good sense of humor. As Goku was saying goodbye to the last of the reporters, Videl was talking to her father. �Okay, party�s over dad.� �What the hell does have to do with anything?� Videl shrugged. �Nothing. I�m just telling you. I'll be going home now.� �Good.� Hercule looked at her expectantly. �I�m staying with them.� �What?� �Dad, I�m not having this discussion, okay?� �Don't worry, sir,� Chi-Chi spoke up. �Gohan and Videl have completely separate bedrooms.� �WHAT?!� *** Videl sat on the long seat under her window, listening to the radio, looking out across the now-dark Son property. Night had fallen and Tien and Chatzou were setting up a tent outside. Goku had invited them to stay but they had said something about being fine surviving outside. The radio began to play "Why'd You Have To Go And Make Me Love You" (by I don�t know who� this was a submission from FireCat) �There's moonlight on the trees Paintin' silver on the leaves It's so beautiful out here I just had to stop and stare That's unusual for me I had a happy heart of stone No voice to answer but my own Now I want more from the night Since you waltzed into my life You couldn't leave well enough alone� Gohan peered into Videl�s bedroom, opening the door slightly. He watched her through his glasses, her head leaning against the wall, looking out the window. He was surprised by the intense feeling that overwhelmed him at that moment. As he looked at her his mind began to spin. He shut his eyes and briefly whispered �Thank Dende,� to himself as he thought of the day when she had said �I love you, too.� �Why out of all the people in this world Why did you set your sights and single out this girl? Oh, why did you have to go and make me love you? Why'd you have to go and make me Why'd you have to go and make me love you? In an instant sweet and strange Everything about me changed Whether I want to or not I come to you with all I've got And I'll never be the same Why out of all the people in this world Why did you set your sights and single out this girl? Oh, why did you have to go and make me love you? Why'd you have to go and make me Why'd you have to go and make me love you? Tell me why Why'd you have to go and make me Why'd you have to go and make me love you?� Gohan spoke up. �What are you doing?� He asked softly. Videl, slightly startled, answered. �I�m watching Tien and Chatzou set up their �house.�� Gohan chuckled. ��Watching�? You mean spying? Yeah, sorry, Videl, we don�t allow that here,� Gohan joked. �Maybe this is just a dream Or maybe this was meant to be I just pinch myself and wonder why Why out of all the people in this world Why did you set your sights and single out this girl? Oh, why did you have to go and make me love you? Why'd you have to go and make me Why'd you have to go and make me love you?� Videl reached over and turned the radio off, studying Gohan. Was there really such a thing as a guy who was truthful, honest, affectionate and kind? Obviously there had to be because he was standing right there in front of her. Videl realized that she was staring at the demi-Saiyan, but continued to do so anyway. His rumpled up black hair, tall, muscular body; she stood up and walked over to him, resting one arm on his arm, playing with the material that made the sleeve, and put one hand in his, feeling the warm skin there. Dende how much she just appreciated being here with him. The very thought of it was exhilarating, as if this was the only thing, the only feeling, she would need for the rest of her life. "Videl?" And then there was his voice. When he spoke in that voice that he used when talking to her, the low, soft, peaceful voice, her heart skipped a beat. But there was always that underlying insecurity somewhere there, the underlying guilt and pain that he always seemed to feel, even when he was doing everything right. Overall, it was just his personality that got her. That careful way he always treated her. Unlike other guys who Videl found to be assertive, acting as if they had every right in every world to do whatever they wanted to her whenever they wanted; Gohan possessed this shy, well meaning demeanor. A gentleman, that's what he was. Videl was simply startled by how familiar he had become in the last few months. But then again: maybe she was in too deep here. �Videl?� Videl realized that he had called her name twice now. �Hm?� �Thanks for being there for me today.� �Anytime.� Gohan fidgeted slightly. Everything was telling him to run and get out of her room but everything else was saying �hell no, Gohan!� Gohan backed away, clapping his hands together. �So - ah - this is for good?� staying here, I mean?� Videl nodded. �Probably.� Gohan nodded to himself. Videl smiled. �You like that, don�t you? That I�ll stay here again. And don�t lie.� �Curses, foiled again,� Gohan stated before blushing and admitting, �Yeah, I like having you around.� Videl took this as a compliment. �Thank you, Gohan,� she said cheerily before taking a step towards him and kissing him lightly on the lips. �I�m going to bed now and I suggest you do the same thing. You look really tired, like you�re going to fall over any second.� She stepped out of her room and into the bathroom, beginning to brush her teeth. �And the last thing I want to do tonight is lug your snoring Saiyan ass to bed.� Gohan, alone in Videl�s room and listening to her, smiled at the thought and brought his fingers to his lips. Wake up, Gohan, he told himself. Earth to Gohan. He lightly slapped himself before walking to his own room to change. That girl was really going to be the end of him. *** Videl shut off her bedroom lights and pulled the covers over herself, thinking. As always, her thoughts wandered to Gohan: his na�ve composure, his smile� the way he treated his brother. As thoughts usually do, they led to a chain reaction. Gohan�s brother� and the way Gohan had gotten so mad at the press conference when he had gone off about blaming himself for Goku�s death and wondering if Goten hated him for that. The truth had come out and Gohan had broken down inside. What was she supposed to do? She listened to him and tried to understand him. She had found herself crying as reality struck another blow to her. Maybe there was something she could do� How he really felt was something he had never told her. The closest thing had to be when they had been up in the attic looking at that picture of Gohan and Goten a week before Christmas. Actually, he had kind of told her his position on things. He had told her pretty much everything, at one point or another. Her thoughts wandered again. Pretty much everything, that was, except for what he meant by �mate� a month back. He said he�d tell her in a year or so. She had eleven more months to go. Goku had said not to worry about it. After all, Videl, she thought to herself. Isn�t Gohan the one that gave you hope that someone out there actually cares? Isn�t he the one that came into your life right when things were looking like they were beyond redemption? Her thoughts went back to Cell. Maybe there was something she could do� Like make sure that the Cell Games were never brought up again without Gohan bringing them up first. Like maybe making sure her dad never mentioned them again. Videl rolled over, agitated. Tomorrow. *** Videl knocked on the door of the Satan residence. Laura, the maid, answered it. �Oh, Videl! So nice to see you! I�ll tell your father you�re here right away!� Videl interrupted her. �No, Laura. Just tell him he has a visitor, I don�t want him to know it�s me.� Laura frowned and left. A few minutes later she came back. �This way, miss.� Videl followed Laura through the familiar hallways of her house - or, she should say, her father�s house - Videl didn�t really feel as if she belonged here anymore. Laura knocked on Hercule�s gym door. �Sir, your visitor.� �Yeah, yeah, show �em in.� Hercule was alone, punching at a punching bag. At the sight of Videl he stopped. �Videl,� he acknowledged her. Videl respectfully stepped forward. �I�ve come to ask you a favor, dad.� Hercule punched at the bag once. �What might that be?� Videl straightened herself. �I don�t want any mention of the Cell Games ever again.� Hercule laughed. �Now, why would I do that?� �Because it was a horrifying, brutal experience for him and it hurts him even thinking about it and-� �I assume that �him� is Gohan?� Hercule pose the question. Videl nodded. �No,� Hercule answered immediately. Videl clenched her fists at her side. �Then don�t do it for him, do it for me.� Hercule laughed. �Yeah, but the truth there is that I�m doing it for you, which is helping him� so�Isn�t that great?� Hercule began punching the bag again as Videl felt anger boiling up inside of her. �Fine,� Videl began. �Mr. Hercule Satan-� Hercule stopped his furious punching at the sound of his daughter calling him anything but �dad.� �-Out of the respect for all the people that you love so dearly as to �risk� your life to save the world, will you /please/ show Gohan some of that respect and treat him like a normal human being?� Hercule fumed. She was mocking him. -She- was mocking -him-. Trying to place him on the same level as Gohan and his father. Telling him that she believed he saved the world no matter how mockingly she had said it. To say �no� to her request would be admitting he was nothing to those alien men whom she seemed to respect. To say �yes� would only show that he was saying yes to save face. Damn it. �FINE!� Hercule hit the punching bag as hard as he could. Videl smiled. �You won�t regret it, Gohan�s a good guy and you�re helping him out a lot.� Videl walked over to the punching bag, hitting it as hard as she could and breaking it. Smirking, she left her father�s gym. She didn�t catch Hercule�s glare. *** Alright, go me. Go me. Sorry, I don�t know why I said that� ooh, ooh, maybe I do! Is it because I got my hands on a teen Gohan action figure! I didn�t say anything about it at the beginning of this chap. because I wanted to leave you all with an awesome parting note. Yeah so now I have the Great Saiyaman and teen Gohan. What more could a girl want? Well, actually, a lot but it all has to do with the hot guys of DBZ, so� Til later, Chris P.S. Update �bout my site� I may be moving. Whatever. The site is really behind on updates so� DON�T GO THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I FORBID YOU. A little extreme? Maybe. * * * * * * * * * * Disclaimer: If you think I own DragonBall Z you don�t have two brain cells to rub together. So moving on� *** Okay well, I was going to write, then I wasn�t. Then I was. Then I wasn�t. Then I was again and then I wasn�t. And then it was 5:00 on Sunday and I said, �My fans�ll kill me if I don�t� so I did. BEST FRIENDS FOREVER CHAPTER TWENTY Videl sighed, bored, as she walked into the kitchen wear she saw Chi- Chi faithfully making lunch and Gohan, reading at the table. He was dressed in a black turtleneck and dark, dark blue jeans. �What�s with the all blackish-dark look?� Videl asked, grabbing an apple and sitting down. �I�m mourning the death of my poor over-worked brain,� Gohan answered, looking up and removing his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose. �Huh?� �I had that test today.� Videl looked at him quizzically. Gohan snapped his fingers. �That�s right, you didn�t know about it. Okay, well you know how I passes those college exam things, right?� Videl nodded. �Well, they wanted me to take another test to make sure I hadn't just passed on a whim. Like anybody passes a college test on a whim... anyways... I took it today.� Videl smiled. �So what was it?� Gohan allowed his head to drop and then slam into the table. �It was the test from hell.� �What subject?� �Satan�s initiation.� Chi-Chi came over and hit her son in the back of his head. �Ignore him, Videl, he�s being a-� �Smart ass?� �Not my way of putting it but, yes,� Chi-Chi laughed. �He did very well and passed which means-� Gohan cut her off. �I�m also mourning the death of my high school and apparently college career.� �What?� Videl asked, shocked. �Chi-Chi smiled proudly. �They just loved him, Videl! He was taking the test and he got to this one history question. I guess none of the answers seemed right to Gohan so he went up to talk to the proctor. It so happened that the proctor was a history professor and they started debating the answer to the question. Eventually he ran out of time but all of his other answers had been right and he had been so convincing in his argument that they had to admit that he already had a college education and that he really didn�t need to go.� Videl frowned. �But you have to get a degree or something if you�re going to teach, Gohan. Isn�t that what you want to do?� Gohan nodded, raising his head from the table. �Oh, yeah, that�s what I want to do. And they offered me a job as a history professor at the capital starting next term at the college.� �Gohan! That�s great!� Videl got up out of her seat and hugged him. Gohan shrugged. �I don�t know. I kinda feel like I should do the work though�� Videl sat back down. �Okay, whatever. I�d go to get out of five million years of school work.� �But I like school w-� �DON�T finish that sentence!� Videl commanded. Chi-Chi laughed. �Why don�t you kids do something? Get all this stress off you for awhile?� She suggested. �Like go to the beach, or the mall. That�s it, you should go to the mall!� Gohan put on his glasses and looked at his mom. �I don�t know, it�s been a long few days.� Videl straightened in her seat. �Gohan, let�s go! It�s a great idea!� Maybe if I get him out of the house it�ll take his mind off everything, Videl thought. Gohan considered it a moment, looking at Videl. Since when did she want to go to the mall? She looked pretty eager about it too. �Okay, it�ll be something to do I guess. Let me just tell Tien because I told him I might spare with him later on so I�ve got to cancel.� Gohan left the house. He found Tien sitting down, meditating nearby. �Hi, Tien.� �Hey, Gohan! What are you up to?� Gohan sat down near the man. �I�m going to go to the mall with Videl so I have to cancel our sparing session.� Tien smiled. �With Videl?� Gohan felt his cheeks getting hotter. �Not you, too.� �I�m just giving you a hard time, Gohan. Don�t worry. I like her a lot, you know.� Gohan smiled widely. �So do I, Tien. So do I.� He paused. �Why don�t you come inside? My mom�s making lunch and it smells delicious.� Tien stood up. �Offer excepted,� he said. �Chaotzou! Lunchtime!� He turned to Gohan. �So what happened to the fat man, I haven�t seen him since the press conference yesterday. And he wasn�t at the party thing either.� �Fat man? Oh, Yajirobe. Who knows? I don�t know where Roshi went either but I don�t know if I like him hanging around Videl. I think he has the hots for her.� Tien laughed. �C�mon Gohan she�s young and pretty, of course he has the hots for her.� �Thanks.� Tien hit him lightly on the back. �I wouldn�t worry. If she had to pick between you and the old man then I�d say she�d definitely go with you.� �Sure.� Gohan and Tien entered the house to find Trunks and Goten had arrived from the Brief�s. �Hey, Goten!� Gohan said, ruffling his brother�s hair. �Gohan!� Goten screamed, ecstatic. �I�m gonna be smart like you! Guess what Bulma taught me?� He looked up at Gohan. �Uh, I don�t know.� �That the law of gravity says that it�s no fair jumping up unless you come back down,� Gohan said proudly. Gohan laughed. �That�s very good, Goten.� He turned to Videl. �Give me a minute, okay? I�ll be ready in a sec.� Gohan left the room and re-entered thirty seconds later, having changed his pants to khaki�s. �I didn�t think the black work was working for me,� he explained. Videl smiled and was about to comment that anything worked for him but he caught her off guard grabbing her hand and kissing her. Tien grinned, noticing Gohan performed a little jump/hop thing when he was done. Yeah, the kid was definitely in love with her. Unbeknownst to Gohan he was no longer just shyly smiling, he was confidently grinning. Trunks rolled his eyes. �Yuck, he�s holding hands with her. Probably practicing for that Holy Matrickimnoy thing.� �It�s matrimony,� Tien corrected. �Whatever. All I know is Gohan�s getting really gooshy about her.� Goten giggled at Trunks� comment. �Gohan�s got gooshy feelings!� He shouted. �I�m going to get a wife as soon as I meet someone in kindergarten and she�s going to be just as cool as Videl.� Trunks rolled his eyes again. �You�re giving me a headache. We don�t need girls and love, we don�t need the trouble, life is hard enough.� Tien started cracking up as he excepted his lunch from Chi-Chi, still listening to the younger children�s conversation. Now Goten was talking. �I heard somethin� about getting shot with an arrow, Trunks.� �Cupid?� Tien supplied. �Yeah,� Goten affirmed. Videl broke into the conversation. �Alright, let�s go, Gohan. It�s gonna be a blast.� Trunks put on a girly face, complete with pouty lips. �Alright, let�s go, Gohan. It�s gonna be a blast,� he mocked. �Sure Videl, I just have to do one thing,� Gohan answered. �Sure Videl, I just have to do one thing,� Trunks repeated, taking a swig of coke. Gohan reached over and hit Trunks on the head. �Okay, ready to go!� Gohan announced, eyeing Trunks and daring the son of Vegeta to repeat what he said. When the young demi-Saiyan said nothing Gohan waved good-bye ushering himself and Videl out the door. �You�re brother�s a pathetic weakling, Goten,� Trunks stated. �Hey!� Goten shouted, not pleased. �Don�t start, the two of you!� Chi-Chi warned. *** Gohan was having fun, that was for sure. He found that he had really neat powers on every female present. �Hey Videl, look what I can do!� Gohan said excitedly. Videl watched as Gohan looked at two girls, both dressed less then conservatively, one which was talking on a cell phone. �What�s goin� on?� He asked, smoothly. One girl began to giggle while the girl on the cell phone started screaming that THE Son Gohan had just talked to her. �Great Gohan,� Videl commented. �You can get a bunch of hoochies to giggle and swoon over you.� �I know, how /not/ me is this?� They passed a group of girls who were all carrying shopping bags. �Hello, ladies,� Gohan said politely and charmingly. With the same reaction as before some giggled and some recognized him. �Okay, stop that,� Videl commanded, elbowing him. Gohan laughed. �Hey, Videl,� he said, looking her in the eye. She smiled and began to giggle. �Gohan, I�m gonna have you shot!� She threatened, pulling him into a clothing store. Gohan laughed and followed. �I guess I should get a swimsuit since summer�s coming up and all,� Videl remarked. �Oh, no, I am not going swimsuit shopping with you Videl. I refuse to- � Videl grabbed a pale bluish purple one piece swimsuit from a rack. �-although that would look /very/ nice on you.� Videl tucked it under her arm, figuring to buy it. Videl thumbed through the rack a bit more, coming to a thong she mimed a gun to her head. �If I ever wear this, shoot me, okay? I would go crazy.� �You are crazy.� �No, I was crazy first, and then I corrupted you.� Gohan thought about what she had said for a moment. �Ooooooookay. So now it�s my turn to pass on the corruption?� He feigned evil laughter. �I WILL CORRUPT THE WORLD!!!!!!� He bellowed. �Hey, that didn�t sound too bad!� Videl raised an eyebrow. �Shut up.� Gohan grabbed her from behind. �What would I do without you, Videl?� He laughed into her ear. Videl turned to face him. �Very bored. All the time.� She smiled. �Or maybe you would be very sane. All the time.� �That�s more likely.� Videl grabbed a shirt off the rack. �Hey, Gohan you should buy this!� She tossed it to him and he caught it. �Shut up, brain, or I�ll stab you with a Q-tip,� Gohan read off the shirt. �Interesting, Videl, interesting.� (A/N: Yeah okay, my boyfriend bought this shirt for me and I�ve seen other variations, I absolutely love it... but then, you know how I am.) �Stabbing your brain with a Q-Tip,� Videl mused. �That can�t be attractive in any culture.� �Agreed, but I�ll buy it anyway.� The two made there purchases and they hadn�t left the store more than five seconds when Gohan shouted. �Ooh! Culinary store! Let�s go!� Videl and Gohan enjoyed making fun of warning labels while they were there. Videl�s favorite being �Please keep out of reach of children� on a butcher knife and Gohan�s being �Warning: may contain peanuts� on a bag of peanuts. Gohan had said something about how his favorite warning of all time had been at a hardware store on an electric screw driver thing (You know what I�m talking about, you put a screw on a little thing and it spins it for you) It had said �this product not intended for use as a dental drill'. They had a good laugh and left. Currently they were walking past a book store. Gohan nonchalantly commented, �I like really old books. They�re so much fun to read.� Videl looked up at him. �I�ll have to get you some for you. When�s your birthday?� Gohan shook his head. �I really don�t like celebrating my birthday so�� �C�mon,� Videl urged. �No.� �Please?� Gohan stopped abruptly. �My birthday�s a few days before the anniversary date of the Cell Games, okay?� Videl looked down. �I�m sorry, I didn�t-� Gohan continued. �Well, what would you like me to do about it? Wallow in self-pity?� He asked firmly. �No, I- I- I didn�t mean to-� She was still looking down, unable to look at him. Gohan grabbed her arms, as if snapping to life. �I�m sorry Videl I didn�t mean to say that. I don�t know why I said that. I just-� �-don�t like to think about it,� Videl finished for him. He nodded. They began to walk again. �So when�s yours?� He asked as casually as possible. �My birthday? October 2nd.� (A/N again: I made it a month after my birthday, so now that you know mark your calendars, I expect cards, people! Vain? Maybe. Ahem�) Gohan nodded as he made a mental note. Videl mentally slapped herself. Memo to Videl: If Gohan doesn�t want to talk about something, he probably has a reason. Just like �The Secret.� �The Secret� was the name Videl had given to whatever Gohan wasn�t telling her about the word �mate�. Talking to Goku one day about it she had coined the term. Goku said that she�d like �The Secret� and Gohan had said he�d tell her �The Secret� in a years time. Now why wouldn�t he want to tell her �The Secret�? She was still guessing. How bad could it be? Videl had been so deep in thought she hadn�t noticed Gohan and herself were standing in a food line. �I�m getting popcorn,� Gohan explained. �It�s a good nibbling food.� Videl looked at him. �What?� He asked. �A Saiyan �nibbling�. Puh-lease,� Videl stated, smiling. The conversation ceased as Videl watched a small boy eating a piece of candy. Oh, if the world would be as easy as that again. She wondered if Gohan had ever gotten to be that boy. Just sitting there eating candy without a care in the world. She sighed. This trip to the mall was proving depressing. Gohan bought the popcorn and split it with Videl. The two found a table and began to much on the food in silence. Videl laughed. �You�re cute when you eat like a normal human being, Gohan,� she commented. �Huh?� �The way you eat� it�s cute.� Gohan shook his head and smiled. �I�m eating, uh, are there different ways to eat?� Videl nodded. �Yeah you usually eat like a pig, now you�re eating normally.�� �Yeah, normal for you.� �Good point.� Videl furrowed her eyes in thought. �Well, there are always people who are trying to advertise yogurt or something and they�re eating kind of seductively.� �Seductively?� �Yeah, like�� Videl brought the bag of popcorn to her mouth. She grabbed a piece with her teeth and began eating it slowly while watching Gohan who seemed kind of uncomfortable with the whole thing. She smiled. �You try!� �What?!� Videl handed him the bag. �Ah, okay�� Gohan brought the bag to his lips but not before he burst into laughter. Videl started laughing as well when Sharpner and Erasa ran over. �HEY, GUYS!� Erasa screamed from across the food court. �SUP!?� Sharpner yelled. He and Erasa walked over to Gohan and Videl�s table. �We meet again,� he commented. �That we do,� Gohan replied. �So what�s up?� Erasa asked. �I�m teaching Gohan how to eat popcorn seductively,� Videl answered. �I so want to do that,� the group heard another voice say. �Mark!� Gohan laughed. �Mark?� Videl asked. �I thought-� Mark smiled. �We�re cool, me and Gohan, that is.� Videl looked at Gohan who nodded. �Yeah, he tipped me off while I was at the bank, the whole se-up deal.� Videl shrugged. Erasa and Sharpner sensed the tension between Mark and Videl. �We gotta go, catch you at school tomorrow, Videl, Brains,� Sharpner said heading off. �Bye� Blondie,� Gohan added to Sharpner. Brains? He wondered to himself. Mark eyed Videl. �I better be going, too, man,� Mark said to Gohan. �Sure.� �See ya!� �You, too!� Gohan looked over at Videl. Videl sat down. �I just don�t� trust him.� Gohan stood by her. �I don�t blame you, I still get bad vibes off of him. I don�t like the way he looks at you.� Videl stood up and grabbed the remaining popcorn. �C�mon, there�s a cool electronics store and I want to see some of the CD players they have here.� �Where is it?� �Other end of the mall.� �We better get going.� Videl stood up, still nibbling on the popcorn. Gohan walked beside her noticing she seemed thoughtful. �Okay, Videl, what are you thinking about?� He asked her. Videl ate another piece of popcorn. �You�re going to think this is stupid but� I want to help you fight crime. I mean I fight crime and all but I dunno� I guess I�m kind of asking if I can be a Great Saiyaman-type person to� ya know, help you out.� �You are a Great Saiyaman wannabe,� Gohan said. �That�s a rude thing to say,� Videl stated throwing a handful of popcorn at him. Gohan laughed. �If you want to help me fight crime how come you never really have before?� �Um� I like to see you suffer dealing with all those cops and criminals on your own?� �Wrong answer.� Videl smiled and before she knew what she was doing she unconsciously grabbed his arm and leaned into him, walking down the mall. Gohan blushed but smiled. Then he frowned. He didn�t really want her being anywhere /near/ the Great Saiyaman when he fought. There was guns and machine guns and bullets and faster bullets involved. And she was human. �Here we are,� Videl said, walking inside a store and going over to a CD player labeled �Try Me.� She hit play and the song �You Get Me � began to play. Videl laughed. �I love this song!� She began singing. �You are certifiably insane,� Gohan stated. LYRICS: So I'm a little left of centre / I'm a little out of tune Some say I'm paranormal / So I just bend their spoon Who wants to be ordinary / In a crazy, mixed-up world I don't care what they're sayin' / As long as I'm your girl Hey, you are on my side / And they, they Just roll their eyes You get me / When nobody understands / You come and Take the chance, baby You get me / You look inside / My wild mind Never knowing / What you'll find And still you want me / All the time Yeah, you do / Yeah, you get me So what if I see the sunshine / In the pouring rain Some people think I'm crazy / But you say it's okay You've seen my secret garden / Where all of my flowers grow In my imagination / Anything goes I, I am all you want / They, they just read me wrong You get me / When nobody understands You come and / Hold my hand, baby You get me / You look inside / My wild mind Never knowing / What you'll find Still you want me / All the time Yeah, you do / 'Cause you get me Hey, you are on my side / They, they Just roll their eyes / Yeah, yeah, yeah 'Cause you get me / When nobody understands You come and / Take the chance, baby You get me / When none of The pieces fit / You make sense of it You get me / You look inside My wild mind / Never knowing What you'll find / And still I want you All the time / Yeah, I do 'Cause you get me / Yeah, oh, yeah, oh �So you going to buy it?� Gohan asked, indicating the CD player. �Nah, already have a swimsuit, that should hold me over, you know I�m not a big shopper.� She offered her arm. �Want to walk a pretty lady back to the food court so we can get you a proper dinner? We�ve been here for over four hours just hanging out.� Gohan smiled and linked his arm with her. �I�d b e happy to.� They had just began on there way when Sharpner, Erasa and Mark ran up to them. �I�m so glad we found you!� Erasa said, panting and scared. Sharpner spoke up. �There�s some jewelry store� robbery�� He was out of breath, too. �Machine guns and-� Videl turned to Gohan. �Let me help you on this one, Gohan. I mean this used to be my job.� Gohan thought. Machine guns? �Uh� that would be a no Videl, sorry.� With that he transformed and flew, literally, to the jewelry store. As soon as he got there he laughed. Three guys. No problem. �The Great Saiyaman�s here!� He heard a few people shout and sigh with relief. He smiled to the crowd before turning to the men. �I�ll have to ask that you men put your weapons down and-� he stopped speaking and phased out as they fired at him, reappearing behind one of the men, knocking him out with ease. He moved quickly to the second, pinning him against the display case countertop where he became distracted by� engagement rings. The third man came up behind him and hit him on the head with his now empty machine gun. This only served to anger the Great Saiyaman and he elbowed the man into the other side of the mall. He lifted the man pinned against the counter into the air. �Don�t rob stores when I�m shopping,� he suggested, flipping the man to his arms were behind him. The Great Saiyaman smiled. �Cuff �em,� he ordered the nearest policeman. Videl laughed and clapped her hands. �My hero!� She said, running over to him. �Cuff �em,� Gohan said again. �I always wanted to say that.� Videl laughed. �Now all I have to do is kick a door down and do one of those swipey things where you brush all the stuff off a table without regard for what it-� He was cut off as Videl impulsively brushed a soft kiss against his mouth. Gohan hit the transformation button on his watch and grabbed her, returning the kiss. When a few people began to �ooh� and �aww� over it he went super Saiyan� just for dramatic flair. Videl broke the kiss and Gohan placed his forehead against hers. She opened her eyes and they seemed to shine at him, completely demolishing his self-control. �Like I said, the Great Saiyaman is cool-� Videl began. �but- � Gohan frowned. �But?� �-but you�re much cooler.� Gohan smiled and she kissed him lightly again. Dende, she loved that smile. Gohan broke the kiss. �Wait a second, did I ever permit you to come into my personal space?� He joked. Videl laughed as the store owner approached them. �Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. If there is anything I can ever do for you Mr. Son Gohan I-� Gohan looked at Videl, wide eyed. �He knows my name!� Videl couldn�t help but start laughing again. �Yeah, you�re quite popular now Gohan,� she said, laughing harder at his naivety. �Like I said if there�s anything you ever need-� �That�s quite alright, sir,� Gohan said, holding up a hand. �We�re fine.� �Thank you again.� �No problem.� *** Gohan and Videl returned home to find the rest of the Son family and Tien and Chatzou waiting expectantly. Gohan sighed. �You guys, I�m eighteen. You don�t have to wait for me to come home every time I go out.� �Yes, we do,� Goku said. ��Cause we want to hear about everything, especially after seeing you on the five o�clock news.� Videl smiled. �Sure. But before we go into that I got this bathing suit,� she held up the material. �And Gohan bought this shirt.� She held it up as Goten, Goku, Tien and Chaotzou began to laugh. Chi-Chi just grinned and shook her head. �What is that?� She muttered. *** Hey! My action figures are doing groovy, although they are jealous of each other - must have something to do with the fact that they�re the same person. Anyways� hope you liked. Review. Um, three things: 1) If you want to be put on the mailing list, (which was deleted when my computer crashed three weeks ago) email me at [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>. Email me even if you�ve emailed me before �cause I lost the list, like I said three weeks ago. That�s why I didn�t email those of you who asked. 2) I may not be able to get out another chapter for awhile due to the fact that I am taking two AP test and they are coming up quick and I reeeeeeeeeeeeeally need to study. But if you email me I�ll try to write you back at least. 3) I don�t know how the hell to spell �Chaotzou�. That�s probably totally wrong. I�ve seen so many variations like �Chaozu� and �Choutzu� and WHATEVER. I know that the Japanese version is something like �Chiaotzu� maybe I�ll just use that. Anyway work with me here. I could just call him �mime-boy� if any of you have a problem. I am planning my next chapter, not enough to say I know exactly what I�m doing so� See ya next chapter, which, remember, may not be for a while. I worked my ass off to get this one out. But hey, you guys are worth it. Love ya�ll, Chris. |