fate 29

Videl punched the invisible enemy, her movements swift, fluid, and powerful. She pivoted, resting her weight on one foot as she kicked the air. Satan Videl was practicing her forms as everyone trained on the roof. Gohan was taking a break, watching the other four as they double-teamed. Tien and Krillin were working as one team while Yamcha and #18 worked as the other in a group sparring match. Gohan watched the match with mild amusement, knowing that both teams weren't giving it their all, that they couldn't with Videl there.

Had Videl not been there and had the sparring match taken place somewhere very secluded and far away from civilization, Gohan knew that ki blasts would be flying everywhere and he would have to put up a shield just in case any stray ki blasts came his way. But, as things stood at that moment, Gohan was in no danger of stray ki blasts seeing how as none were being fired from either side. Gohan pulled his attention away from the match to look at Videl, who was practicing her forms by herself on the other side of the roof. Gohan noticed how mastered her technique was and how gracefully she moved.

< She must have worked very hard over the years to get as good as she is. I can tell that just from 3 weeks of training from Yamcha and Krillin that her ki has grown tremendously. If she kept it up, she could be as good as Krillin or Yamcha themselves, > Gohan thought, < Then she would be more of an opponent for me. > Videl could feel someone watching her and stopped in the middle of her practice to look over in the direction she felt the gaze coming from. She looked over to see Gohan staring at her. So, in response, she raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that I am. Why, not up for it?" Videl said, unknowingly hitting Gohan where it hurt the most: his Saiya-jin pride. His gaze turned intense as he stood up and walked over to Videl.

"Oh, I'm up for it," Gohan said, assuming a flawless fighting stance, a stance that came from years of practice. Videl slowly smiled, ready for the challenge that Gohan presented, and she, too, lowered herself into a fighting stance.

"Bring it on, tough guy," Videl said. Gohan smirked, his Saiya-jin blood pounding through his veins. Even though he knew that Videl didn't pose any challenge to him, some part of him was still going to enjoy their sparring match. Some part of his mind reminded him to power down so he wouldn't hurt Videl and Gohan complied, bringing his power level way down. The two of them stared at each other, déjà vu washing over them as they remembered their first match.

Everything was the same compared to their earlier match. Gohan was in his navy blue gi and Videl in her fighting clothes, the two of them staring each other down, fire in their eyes as the looked at each other. The two of them were fighters at heart and they both knew it as they looked at each other, both of them ready to dominate of the other, the tension between the two of them building until it was unbearable.

Unlike their first match, Gohan was the first one to strike, coming in with a low punch that almost connected with Videl's mid-section if she hadn't slapped his fist away, moving in for an undercut that landed solidly on Gohan's jaw. Gohan was very taken aback by the move, not expecting it all.

< Well, maybe she's gotten a lot better than I thought, > Gohan thought, surprised at Videl's move. He took a couple of steps back and looked at Videl, reassessing her abilities. Videl smiled confidently and proudly; she knew she had surprised him and she loved every moment of it.

"Well then make me pay," Videl said, her voice equally as low as Gohan's was. Gohan kept his word and charged for Videl, delivering a series of punches and kicks that Videl could barely block. Although Videl knew she was losing, she loved every moment of their match. The feeling of her blood pounding through her body was intoxicating; she could never get enough of the feeling. She felt so alive, so free, like she could do anything she wanted to.

Suddenly, before Videl could do anything about it, one of Gohan's legs swept low through the air in an arc, sweeping Videl's feet out from under her. As Videl's body fell onto the ground, she grabbed Gohan's arm, pulling the shocked teenage male down with her. Videl landed on her back onto the hard surface, grunting at the feeling, as Gohan fell on top of her. Videl didn't even notice Gohan as she let her head rest against the ground, her eyes closed, as she brought her ragged breathing under control.

"I think you lose Videl," she heard Gohan say. Videl opened her eyes and looked up to see Gohan's face hovering inches over hers. Videl nodded and then noticed how the two of them had ended up. Gohan was lying on top of her, one of his legs in between hers, as he propped himself up on his elbows to keep from squishing her completely. Videl could feel her whole body warm with desire as he rested on top of her, but she struggled to reign in thoughts of her and Gohan in the same position minus the clothes as she spoke to him.

"Yeah, I think I do lose. And, if I don't, then I concede. You're just too good for me right now, Gohan," Videl said, looking up at Gohan. Gohan was practically shaking to keep himself from kissing her senseless. Her proximity, and the position that they had wound up in, were driving him crazy. He knew that if he didn't move and soon, he wouldn't be able to control himself. With the greatest effort, Gohan pushed himself off of her, offering Videl his hand so she could get off of the ground too.

"You know, I've come to a conclusion," Videl said as she approached the group. None of them had seen her sparring match with Gohan, so they all looked on with confusion at the sweaty girl.

"I'm not going to stop training until I'm as good as Gohan. I mean, he's really good. He might even be as good as my dad. I want to be able to fight like Gohan," Videl said, her voice full of will and determination. Krillin and Yamcha threw each other sympathetic looks while #18 rolled her eyes.

"Look," Tien said, putting a hand on Videl's shoulder, "I don't want to burst your bubble, but you'll never be as good as Gohan. No one except for his father can be as good as Gohan." Videl looked on with shock.

"None of us will ever measure up to Gohan," Krillin said, "Even though we all may have the determination, Gohan is just special that way. He could beat us easily. In fact, I don't doubt that Gohan could beat his own father."

"We're sorry, Videl, but we can't tell you that," Yamcha said, "That's Gohan's place to tell, not ours." Videl sighed at Yamcha's words and looked off in the direction that Gohan walked off in.

"Gohan really needs to tell her soon," #18 said, "Videl isn't too happy with not knowing what's going on most of the time." All of the men looked at her, confusion written on their faces.

"She doesn't have to. It's obvious whenever one of us mentions something about who we are and what we've experienced. She feels out of the loop and she really wants to be in it. It's not that hard to figure out. Just notice it the next time she talks to us," #18 said before walking over to pick up her bottle of water, taking a sip out of it. The three human warriors sighed; they knew #18 was right.

"Ok, so we still don't know what to do about Videl and how to protect her," Gohan said, sighing as he did so, "And we aren't any closer to figuring out a way to kill Queen Milena." Tien, Chaotzu, Krillin, Yamcha, and #18 all looked on at Gohan with worry; they could tell that he was tired and that his worry for Videl's safety was tiring him out even more. Everyone sat around in the living room in the Satan Estate, trying to think of a way to better protect Videl or to make sure that nothing happened to her. Suddenly, Krillin was struck with an idea.

"No, that idea won't work. The Earth's Dragonballs won't be active again for another 6 months. Vegeta and I used them 6 months ago to bring mom and Bulma back to life, remember?" Krillin looked away sadly.

"That would work, but does Videl really want to be immortal? I mean, the idea of living forever is something that usually only exists and dreams, but have you guys ever thought of what it would be like to live forever? I don't think I want to do that to Videl." Everyone took that into consideration, knowing that Gohan was right.

"Hey guys," Videl said, "What are you talking about?" Videl noticed the serious looks on everyone's faces and figured that it was something really important. Gohan smiled gently and shook his head.

"It was nothing Videl. So, what brings you down here?" he asked, trying to divert Videl's attention away from what they had been previously talking about. Videl was not to be easily swayed.

"Nice try, Son Gohan. You guys were talking about something serious and I want to know what it was," Videl said, looking all of them in the eye, hoping that one of them would lend her and answer. Videl could feel her anger rising as none of them answered. Suddenly, she realized what they were talking about and she gasped, her sharp intake of breath almost inaudible as she looked at them with shock and hurt.

"You guys are talking about how my life is in danger and what you're going to do about it? Well, tell me! What are you going to do about it? You know, because I'd really like to know. Especially considering that this is my life on the line." Nobody spoke, the silence settling over the room, suffocating the occupants. Suddenly, Videl gave a frustrated, exasperated yell.

"What is going on? Why won't you guys tell me anything?" Videl yelled, tears filling her eyes, "I deserve to know what's going on. I don't know anything. I don't know who's after me, what's being done, what'll happen to me, or anything else. All that I know is that I have a group of practically strangers living in this house with me, who are trying to protect me, but aren't letting me know what's going on with me. Why are you so hesitant to tell me? What is this big secret that you all aren't telling me and why won't you let me know what it is?"

Gohan cleared his throat and looked up at Videl, noting the two small tears that worked their way down her cheek and the hurt expression on her face. He had to fight the urge to get up and take her into his arms to comfort her; she probably didn't want his comfort at the moment.

"Look, Videl, we're still trying to figure things out. When we do, then we'll tell you everything. I promise." Videl looked at Gohan and her hurt look turned into one of scorn as her feelings, thoughts, and anxieties about Gohan and his inability to tell her his story came to the surface.

"Liar," she hissed, "You've been promising to tell me everything for a long time, Gohan. When am I going to hear it, hmm? You promise me and promise me, yet you do nothing! You're promises are empty, Son Gohan. You never had any intention of telling me anything about you." With those words, Videl spun on her feet and left the living room, storming up to her bedroom. Gohan sighed as Videl left the room and his head sunk into his hands. Yamcha, who was sitting next to Gohan, put a comforting hand on the young man's shoulder.

"Hey, I'm sure that she didn't mean all of what she said," Yamcha offered, "I'm sure that she's just tired and stressed out. She'll get over it by morning." Gohan stood up, shaking Yamcha's hand roughly off of his shoulder.

"No, she's right," Gohan said, "She does deserve to know everything. It's not fair keeping her in the dark like this. I'm surprised she's held in her feelings for this long. I mean, I have been promising forever to tell her everything, to explain my Saiya-jin heritage, my past, and the new enemy. But, I haven't because I've been afraid, afraid that she'll reject me if she finds out what I am. I've been a coward. But, I won't avoid it any longer. I'm going to give her tonight to cool off and tomorrow..." Everyone stared expediently at Gohan as he trailed off.

"Well, I think I'm going to go up to my room and meditate before going to sleep. Good night, you guys," Gohan said as he walked out of the living room, leaving the group of adults in there by themselves. He made his way quietly up to the guest room that he had been using during his stay at the Satan household, carefully creeping past Videl's room so as not to alarm her to his presence.

He walked into the guest room, still surprised and overwhelmed by the size of it. It was many times bigger than his room at home, the bed big enough to comfortably fit 5 grown adults. As Gohan entered his room, he noticed how emotionally weary he was; he knew that meditating would be close to impossible under the conditions. So, instead, he walked over to the bed and lay down on it, staring up at the ceiling with a blank gaze, his mind elsewhere.

< I owe her a huge apology when I talk to her tomorrow. Videl's obviously been keeping all of this bottle up inside her for a while now. I deserved what she said to me. Maybe my promises are empty. Well, starting tomorrow, I'm going to prove to her that my promises don't have to be empty, > Gohan thought.

With a sigh, he pushed himself off of the soft surface and got dressed for bed, knowing that he wouldn't be meditating at all that night. Climbing into bed after changing into pajama pants and a thin undershirt, he pulled the thin comforter over his body, covering himself up to the waist with the material, his eyes still focused on the ceiling. Somehow, he knew he wouldn't be getting any sleep that night.

Several hours later, at a time Gohan thought was close to 1:00 in the morning, Gohan was still staring up at the ceiling, his position unchanged as he thought through a lot of things, his mind running carefully over the details of his life and what he was. He was preparing himself to tell Videl everything about him and he wanted to make sure that he had everything perfect, the process of preparing himself making him less likely to want to fall asleep.

< Just thinking about Frieza and Cell is enough to give me nightmares. I really don't want to fall asleep with them on my mind, > Gohan said to himself. Suddenly, a small knock pulled Gohan out of his thoughts, a knock so quiet that Gohan wouldn't have been able to hear it if it weren't for his sensitive hearing.

"Come in," he called out, wondering who could be wanting to talk to him at such an early hour of the morning. The door slowly opened just enough to let a person squeeze through. In the dark, Gohan could barely make out who the person was, but there was just enough light coming from the stars to tell who it was...

"No, you didn't, Videl. What's up? Is something wrong?" Gohan asked, having picked up on the scared edge in her voice. Videl walked towards the bed and climbed on, sitting on the far edge of it.

"I had that nightmare again. The one of me being killed," Videl said, choking on a sob, "I've been having it every night since you went to train with Piccolo. Since I found out that my life's in danger, the dream keeps coming back." Gohan could hear the tears in her voice and he felt his heart breaking; it was almost as if he could feel her pain and fear.

"Come here," Gohan said gently, sitting up and patting the area next to him on the bed. Videl immediately complied, crawling over to where Gohan was. She immediately found herself being wrapped in his arms and some part of her smiled; Gohan always knew what she needed when she wasn't feeling herself. Her dream popped into her head again and an unwanted sob escaped her throat as she wrapped her arms around Gohan, her head resting on his chest.

"I'm so scared," she whispered through her tears, "I don't know what to do, Gohan." Gohan shushed her, running the fingers of one hand through her silky, black hair, absently noting that it was down, while the other hand rested at the small of her back.

"I thought my promises were empty," Gohan said as he rested his cheek against the top of her head, turning his head slightly to press a kiss on her hair. Videl took in a deep breath at Gohan's words.

"I'm sorry about what I said. I know you're promises aren't empty, Gohan. I was just mad that I don't know what's going on, that's all. You're not mad at me, are you?" she asked. Gohan smiled gently.

"No, I'm not mad at you. But, don't worry about me. I'm fine. It's you and that dream we should worry about." At Gohan's mention of the dream, Videl let out a small sob and buried her face into Gohan's chest, causing Gohan to only hold her tighter, as if his embrace could protect her from the dreams that had been plaguing her.

"I don't want to die," she whispered. At those words, Gohan pulled away from Videl, looking down at her in the darkness, having just enough light to barely see her face. Both hands came up to gently cradle her face, his thumbs brushing away the tears that stained her face.

"Listen to me," Gohan said gently, yet firmly, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I won't let you die. You have my word on that. I care about you too much to let anything happen to you." Videl gasped at Gohan's words, their sincerity touching her heart in ways she never imagined.

"You...care about me?" she asked, her voice small and hopeful as she looked into Gohan's eyes. Something about Videl's words awakened a part of Gohan that he had been suppressing for far too long. One hand tangling itself into her hair and one hand resting at her hip, pulling her closer to him, Gohan leaned forward, burying his face in her neck as he planted small kisses along her jawbone, gradually working his way towards her lips.

"Oh Kami, yes," he answered, his lungs being filled with her scent, his ears filled with the sounds of her heavy breathing. Videl felt her whole body tingle as Gohan's lips brushed across her jawbone over and over again. Never had she imagined it happening like this. And she couldn't help but find the whole situation perfect nonetheless. Gohan's kisses stopped right before they reached her lips and Videl could feel her lips aching for his caresses. He looked at her, unsure if he should continue or not. She had given no indication whether she wanted to stop or continue.

He pulled away slightly and looked down at her, his breathing slightly labored from reigning in his desire. Even in the dark, Gohan's eyes could make out her shut eyelids, her slightly parted lips, and the light flush that touched her cheeks. When Videl felt Gohan, pulled away, she opened her eyes, revealing her blue depths to him, her eyes silently asking him why he had stopped.

"Videl, I-" Gohan whispered, but was immediately cut off by the feeling of Videl's soft lips being pressed up against his. For a brief, few moments, Gohan was unable to do anything but sit there, shock playing out on his face. Eventually, desire took over and his fingers wound themselves even more into Videl's hair as his other hand slid to the small of her back, pressing her even closer to him as they continued to kiss.

Videl was slightly taken aback by the passion and intensity that Gohan's kisses held, but she easily succumbed to both, letting the feelings wash over her as she kissed him back, her passion rivaling his own in its intensity. The two continued to battle with their lips, their tongues eventually entering the battlefield as well. Each kiss was leaving the two teenagers breathless, yet wanting more, over a year's worth of passion being released bit by bit every time their lips met in a heated embrace.

Gohan couldn't keep his hands still as they kissed. The hand entangled in her hair left the silky tresses to wander down her back, his fingertips dancing lightly over her back through the fabric of her shirt, to meet up with her hand at the small of her back. Simultaneously, Gohan's hands slowly reached under her shirt, caressing and kneading the flesh that his hands found there. Videl broke off their kiss with a gasp as she tilted her head back, letting the sensations wash over her. Gohan took the opportunity to run the tip of his tongue up her smooth, graceful neck, causing Videl to moan lightly in response.

With a small growl, Videl moved her body so that she was straddling Gohan's legs, her hands pressed up against his chest briefly before traveling down to the hem of his shirt. Her fingers wrapping around it, she pulled the shirt up and over Gohan's head, causing him to pull away from her neck and look down at her. He watched her face as she took in his upper body, her fingers running lightly over his chest, causing Gohan to growl low in his throat from the feeling of her fingers on his skin. Videl could feel the vibrations from the growl as her fingers touched his skin. Gohan stared at her amazed face as she inspected him, wondering how one person could get to be so beautiful.

"Perfect," she whispered, "You're absolutely perfect." With those words spoken, she leaned in and kissed him again, her kisses even more passionate and frenzied than before, her hand still wandering all over his upper body. Deciding that if she got to explore his upper body, it would only be fair if Gohan got to explore hers. Underneath her shirt, Gohan's hands wandered up, his fingers lightly dancing over her spine before he brought his hands in, resting them below her breasts, caressing the undersides of the soft mounds of flesh. Videl moaned into his mouth as he touched her and she soon pulled her mouth away, a cry escaping her lips as Gohan cupped her breasts in his hands, his thumbs running over the nipples, his actions being guided by pure instinct alone. Her cries of pleasure reached Gohan's ears, causing him to become more aroused than he was not moments earlier.

He leaned over to press more kisses against her throat, growling as she pressed the warm junction of her thighs against his erection. He could feel her heat distinctly through her clothes and it only made him want her more. Videl's hands wandered down Gohan's back, moving in the opposite direction that Gohan's hands had over her back, her fingers caressing his spine as they went down. She too leaned in, taking in his right earlobe between his teeth, sucking on it gently as her hands moved down his back. She reached the base of his spine and her fingers lightly danced over a spot on the small of his back that was covered in soft fur.

Just the lightest of touches caused Gohan to jump and, mentally, some part of him cursed his luck that she had found his tail spot, the most sensitive spot on his body. Videl seemed to notice how sensitive the strange spot was and caressed it, running her fingers over the spot. Her fingers on his tail spot caused something snap inside of Gohan. He removed his hands from her breasts and wrapped his arms around her, crushing her against him as his teeth sunk into the flesh below the crook of her neck, above her right shoulder.

A loud, deep growl escaped from his throat as he bit her flesh hard enough to break the skin, his tongue gently running over the teeth marks, the metallic taste of her blood on his tongue as he soothed the wound. Videl cried out the moment his teeth sank into her flesh and, for some reason unknown to her, she did the same back, her teeth also breaking his skin as she sank them into him. She could taste his blood on her tongue, its tangy sweetness confusing her slightly, as she too soothed the wound.

Suddenly, the two of them felt strange sensations washing over them. The two cried out as the strange feelings coursed through their body and, before they knew what was happening, they both passed out, their worlds turning to blackness as they collapsed onto the bed.

Gohan couldn't believe what he was seeing. He was seeing Videl's life, all of it, as if he had experienced it herself. And he saw it all. Her childhood, her mother's death, the training she threw herself into as a result, her winning the Junior Division of the Tenkaichi Budoukai when she was 11, celebrating the defeat of Cell by her father, or so she thought, her life in the public eye because of her father's fame, her meeting him. And he felt it all too. He could feel the happiness of her childhood, followed by the grief and anger over her mother's death. What shocked him the most was the love he was feeling from memories having to do with him.

< She's in love with me? > Gohan thought in awe as he watched Videl's memories pour into his mind. He felt her confusion about him too, her wonderment at what secrets he was keeping from her. He also felt the sadness that she didn't know when all she wanted to do was understand him better. He saw and felt everything, the whole experience an overwhelming one.

Slowly, Gohan opened his eyes to see sunlight streaming through the windows of the guest room he was in. He found himself lying on his side, facing Videl, who was curled up against him, the look on her face pained and confused. He heard her gasp in her sleep and he pulled his sleeping angel closer to him, gulping as he realized what was going on.

< She's receiving my memories; all of them. Even the ones I've tried so hard to ignore. When she wakes up, I have a lot of explaining to do. I just hope she can handle the explanation that goes with the memories. I might as well just wait for her to wake up. >