Videl was caught off guard at the sight of her father. She had never anticipated that he of all people would show up during her stint at Capsule Corp, and he had never mentioned any plans to visit her. What on earth was he doing here? As the trio of Videl, Bulma and Gohan crossed the threshold of the complex into the board room, the Satan girl could practically feel the air of apprehension and tension. All eyes of her fathers business partners and legal team were bearing down on them.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Videl questioned, taking a few extra paces toward her father.

"Videl!" Hercule exclaimed, seeming to be surprised by her presence. "I didn't expect to see you here. What are you doing here?" The man stood from his seat and wandered over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder before embracing her.

Videls set into a look of confusion as she broke away from the man. "What do you mean? I told you I was staying at Capsule Corporation for the Apprentice Program, remember? I'm working here as the junior director. You even signed my permission slip to be here"

Hercule placed his chin into his hand thoughtfully. "Hmmm, I suppose it must have slipped my mind if you did. You know me, always so forgetful these days" He let out a small laugh.

Something wasn't right. Videl could tell that much. The way Mr. Satan was acting wasn't his usual self. Videl couldn't remember a time her father wasn't suffocating her to ensure she wasn't in a place she shouldn't be. In fact, sometimes it was downright infuriating how overbearing he could be. That was one of the reasons she spent her time with the Police force, it was the only way she could get out of the house and see some real action without her fathers intervention. So how was it that he had simply forgotten where Videl would be staying for an entire month? That and coupled with the fact that his tone felt very forced to Videl, made her feel like her father wasn't being entirely truthful. "But dad…" She started only to be interrupted.

"We can discuss all this later" He gave the girl a pat on the shoulder before turning to both Bulma and Gohan, a smug grin on his face. He carefully straightened his burgundy suit jacket and beckoned towards the board table for them to sit. "It really is a strange coincidence that my daughter is working with you, isn't it"

Gohan clenched his jaw, whilst Bulma sent the man an icy stare. "It's almost as if you knew she was working here this whole time. After all, you did ask for myself, Gohan and his assistant for these negotiations" Bulma really didn't like this man. She could tolerate the arrogant showmanship. But for him to assume she was stupid enough to fall for such a childish plot was insulting.

"I assure you I had no knowledge of any of this" Mr. Satan said, his hands up in defence. "I simply wished to speak to the heart of this fine company to perhaps iron out a deal we can all walk away happy with"

"The company isn't for sale" Bulma stated bluntly. Her hands resting on the large table. "And we aren't in the business of partnering either. My father built all this from the ground up, and for as long as I'm around that stance won't change"

With her tone starting to rise, Gohan decided to step in, placing a hand on her shoulder to calm her. He directed his gaze to the suited men across from him. "Is there truly any reasoning to all this? No amount of money or business schemes will suffice to make this deal a reality"

There was a brief pause, and the sound of papers shuffling from one figure to the next, before landing on a middle-aged gentleman seated next to Hercule. The man was dressed just like all the others, grey suit, black tie. He was in the process of balding. He gave the paper a once over before starting. "Mr. Satan and Satan Industries have recently acquired several competitor markets in transportation and technology for a grand sum, as you are aware. What we propose is a triple value offer from our last meeting. As well as a three percent share hold in Satan Industries. We would also be able to offer total funding for any and all future sites of operation worldwide, allowing the company to expand tenfold over the next four to five years. In return, we seek fifty percent share in the company. As well as a total rebrand of the name to 'Champion Capsules' as well as all future products to be labelled as such. We also seek control of future marketing for products" A contract outlining the terms was then pushed toward them.

Gohan and Bulma shared a look. This was certainly a generous offer. Any company or corporation in the world would bend over backwards for a deal like that. The deal alone would be enough to ensure Capsule Corporation would never be short on funds for as long as they stayed in operation. However this wasn't about monetary value, or offers. This was about preserving something great. "I say again. We will not accept any offer. So please leave"

Staying silent this whole time, Videl felt totally out of place. She had little knowledge of business deals such as this. And while she doubted Gohan did either, at least the boy appeared to be smart enough to understand what was happening. It wasn't lost on her however, how lucrative the proposal seemed to be. She knew Bulma was a prideful woman. But surely you needed to be made of stone of refuse such a deal. "Mrs. Brief" A man from the group stated. "This contract is unlike any of our past deals. Mr. Satan is being incredibly generous with his offer, we urge you to at least consider this"

"We will read over this and get back to you" The Son boy spoke up. "In the mean time, why don't we postpone these talks?"

The man beside Hercule however, shook his head. "I'm afraid the negotiations will proceed here. If we cannot work out a agreement right now, this contract will be voided"

"Then void it. There is nothing to discuss" Bulma threw her hands up.

The man then stood from his chair as Bulma made a motion to leave the room. "This is our sixth attempt at negotiations with this company. All we ask for is a moment of your time. If we cannot reach an agreement by the conclusion, then Mr. Satan has agreed to cease all talks from here on"

Gohan and Bulma were shocked. They had tried to rid themselves of Mr. Satan for years now. They of course, were sceptical that he would hold up his end of the bargain, however at this point, they would take all they could get. Bulma took the first seat, whilst Gohan sat to her right and Videl beside him. "Well, lets get this over with then" Bulma waved a hand as if this menial task was beneath her.

"Miss Brief" Hercule started.

"Mrs. Brief" Bulma corrected, eyeing the man with distrust.

"Mrs. Brief then. I must admit, I don't see any reason for you to refuse my offers. From my point of view, your company only stands to gain from all of this. Help me understand all of this" Mr. Satan spoke, there appeared to be some form of sincerity in his voice to the casual observer. However an astute listener would have easily have been able to pick up the malice in his tone.

Bulma gave the fraud a once over. She never had a high opinion of the man before any of the Cell fiasco began. She had seen articles about his performances on the martial arts circuit some years back, and even back then, the man was a total buffoon. These days however she could hardly stand the sight of him. Taking the credit of a young boy for his own personal gain, disrespecting the true heroes of the world and calling them 'tricksters' and 'cheats' to the public. The man was lucky the Z-fighters stood only for justice. Had they truly wanted, they could end his entire scam in a heartbeat. But at this point their secrecy was what they valued most. Calling out Mr. Satan would only end in threats, media frenzies and public outcry. That, and mass hysteria at knowing that there were beings capable of Cells power walking amongst the human population. "How about you explain why it is you went to the media to denounce the accomplishments of my staff?"

Videls was shocked at the reply. She could recall her father talking something about a deal gone bad, and how he planned to front the media about it. But she couldn't remember the specifics. She looked to Gohan for some form of reaction. The boy however wore a stern expression, a stone cold gaze on her father. A shiver went up her spine at the stare, it appeared to hold more emotion than a simple poker face.

"I will admit. My comments may have been a little over the line. For that I apologise" He bowed in his seat. "Which is why to make amends I have lined up this once in a lifetime contract for you"

"Mr. Satan" Gohan found his voice. "With all due respect. Capsule Corporation has been independent since its inception. Some of the greatest minds have flourished here due to a lack of corporate restrictions. This deal, coupled with your recent comments and business ventures do make it difficult to understand your true intentions. Is Capsule Corp simply a cash grab for you and your business, or do you truly believe in what we are creating here? Because I will not allow my team to be subject to a higher power that cares little for their potential, and only for a way to build a monopoly in our field" The boy raised an eyebrow in question and nearly burst into a smirk as he picked up a slight growl from the champ. The raven haired girl beside him was surprised by the statement. She certainly respected what the boy was saying. Even though she had only worked for him for a few days now, she could certainly tell he cared about his team. He definitely had all the makings of a great boss.

"Mr. Son" The man beside Hercule started. "I can assure you, we have…"

The man was silenced by Mr. Satan holding a hand up. "Listen here boy" Hercule began. "If you think that you can disrespect me that way, you have another thing coming. We are here to give you the opportunity of a lifetime, and you have the gall to question my intentions?"

"I was merely asking a question" Gohan shrugged.

"Well it seems you two have plenty to say about this contract" Hercule managed to ground out. "But I for one would also like to hear what it is your assistant has to say about all of this too" He gestured to his daughter. Videl stiffened slightly as her father pointed to her. What on earth was he thinking? First he shows up unannounced, supposedly forgetting she was here. Next he's attempting negotiations to buy out one of the biggest companies in the world, and now he wants her of all people to weigh in on the situation. She opened her mouth to oppose the idea, however she was beaten to the punch by Bulma.

"This is clearly a conflict of interest Mr. Satan" Bulma spoke, standing from her seat. "I would choose your next action very carefully"

"Is she or is she not working here at Capsule Corporation?" Hercule defended.

"She's here on an educational program" Gohan said sternly. "The permission form. Which need I remind you, has your signature printed on, specifically states that any and all corporate decisions pertaining to your daughters designated role, will only be taking into account if approved by the figure responsible for her duties. Which is me" The Son boy sent Hercule a warning. "And I do not permit or approve of her answering any of your questions. She may be here at your request, however she is not obligated to answer anything you ask"

Mr. Satan slumped back in his chair as his business legal team began to take over once more to defuse the situation. 'That little twerp' The champ thought with venom. 'Acting like he's above all of this. He's practically the same age as my daughter and thinks he can tell me what's right and wrong' Sneakily he looked over to his business partner and whispered to him. "What have you managed to dig up on that runt?" He nodded his head over the Gohan. The suited man quickly shuffled through his papers and produced a single sheet, detailing as much information regarding the prodigy as they could find. Most of the information was standard. An extensive resume on his accomplishments, lab reports, science awards and articles outlining his work. However there was a small piece of information located on the lower part of the page that sent a smirk to Hercules face. Usually such information would have been near impossible to obtain, after all, Capsule Corporation were notorious for keeping all personal data of their employees protected. However with worldwide influence such as that of Mr. Satan's, it wasn't impossible to find an ex-employee willing to part with such information in exchange for some extra Zeni.

Family Name: Son

Given Names: Gohan

Date Of Birth: May 18, Age 787

Parents / Legal Guardians: Son Goku (Father), Son Chichi (Mother)

Now that was a name he never expected to see. Being as heavily into martial arts as he was, Hercule knew all the former champs of the World Tournament. Even though all tournaments prior this his were never televised events, he had seen pictographs of several matches. Some of which depicted a young man with spiky black hair. In these photos he could clearly be seen levitating in the air, and shooting light beams out of his hands. Naturally Hercule had made a point of downplaying these former champs, calling them out for using cheap tricks as a method for winning.

Hercule sat back in his chair, allowing to the haggling to continue. He then held up a hand in silence before sending Gohan a wry smile. "I can see that these negotiations aren't getting us anywhere. Why don't we get to know each other a bit instead. Maybe build some rapport, I feel we got off on the wrong foot" Both Gohan and Bulma were immediately on edge. It was clear Hercule wasn't going down without a fight. Whatever scheme he had planned was surely to be filled with bad intentions. He pointed towards the Gohan. "You know, Son is a very interesting name" Hercule began. "Almost familiar, wouldn't you say?" He asked his entourage of suits.

"Alright!" Bulma announced, not liking at all where this was going. "I think these talks are over. I'm going to have to ask all of you to leave here at once"

"But I'm merely trying to find out more about your executive director here. After all, he is taking care of my sweet pea isn't he? I have to make sure she's in capable hands"

"Dad I'm…" Videl started, sensing the growing tension. Trying to work out what was going on.

"There isn't a single person more capable of that job than Gohan I can assure you that" Bulma defended.

Hercules hands flew up in a defensive motion. "All I'm saying is that I'm interested. There aren't many people with last names these days. And Son is an unmistakable one is it not?"

"You have no idea what you are dealing with" Bulma warned. Hercule however remained undeterred.

"I understand how shameful it must be to affiliate yourself with a trickster. But that is hardly my fault"

The moment the words left the World Champions mouth, there was a resounding crack through the conference room. All eyes turned the source of the noise. There stood Son Gohan, his hands balled into a fist, which had forced its way directly through the large wooden table. The Saiyan had his head hanging low, staring at his right hand as he slowly removed it from inside the table. He gave it a small shake to remove the wooden fragments that had attached to his skin. All present in the room fell into total silence. Gohan looked towards the man who had insulted his father. "Be thankful Mr. Satan" The prodigy spoke, his tone ice cold, and sharp as a blade. "Any lesser people would have exposed everything about you long ago" With that he turned towards the exit and left without uttering any further words.

As the door closed behind him there was a long pause. All involved tried to process what had just happened. Especially Videl Satan, who couldn't believe what she had just been witness too. This was the first time she had seen Gohan display a single ounce of malice, apart from his encounter with Vegeta when he intercepted a punch for her. But whereas that was more of a warning that appeared to be easily resolved, Videl could tell this time around there was more at stake. Even though she didn't fully understand what her father was hinting at regarding the Son family name, it didn't take much for her to deduce that there was something behind that name that made it a touchy subject. Her father seemed to know something about it. Her thoughts then switched to the large hold in the middle of the table. She gave it an experimental knock and was surprised at how solid it appeared to be. 'How the hell did he manage to punch straight through it with one punch?' She asked herself. 'And why did he even do it in the first place? What did he mean about exposing my dad?'

"What was that about?" Videl asked aloud to Bulma who had both hands massaging her temple whilst shaking her head.

"We'll talk about it later" The blue haired woman responded with a forced smile. Plainly trying to hide her disbelief at the recent scenes that had unfolded. "Would you maybe mind checking with Gohan and make sure he's okay? I'll finish up here and meet up with you" Hesitantly, Videl nodded slowly. She stood from her seat and slowly paced to the exit before sending her father a confused glance.

The man nodded to his daughter slowly. "I'll be sure to meet up with you before I leave Videl"

And with that Videl left the room in search of her mentor.

Bulma's features quickly turned sour however as she took another glance at Hercule who appeared to be somewhat rattled by Gohan's words. "Mr. Satan, these discussions and any further deals are now completely off the table. Your legal team can leave as well. But you and I still have something to discuss"

"Just because your Executive Director got all upset over nothing? I don't think so" Hercule growled. However Bulma was not in the mood for playing along with this charade.

"Let me explain what's going to happen" Bulma rose from her chair. "Your little group is going to wait outside, whilst I explain something that will make you regret ever stepping foot on Capsule Corp grounds" Their heated glares held for several seconds before Hercule relented and waved his business team away, ushering for them to leave the two. Once the last remaining member had passed through the doorway and closed it behind them, Bulma continued. "You really have no idea what you've just done do you? Thinking you can get away with calling Gohan's dad a trickster. You were going to threaten to front the media about that weren't you? Trying to tarnish our reputation by saying we affiliate with a so called fraud. That's inexcusable"

"But it is true. Son Goku is nothing but a dirty cheat" Mr. Satan defended, unaware he was speaking to someone who knew the details of how energy manipulation worked. "If that boy of yours can't handle it, then that's his problem"

Bulma pointed her index finger in the man's face. "You and I both know Goku was more of a man than you will ever be. He was also the greatest friend I ever had. And you've been dancing on his grave all this time" She slowly edged closer to the man. "And you want to know something else? He died seven years ago, saving the planet. And all you did, while he was risking his life, was cower behind a rock, faking a stomach ache, isn't that right?"

Sweat started to form on the champs forehead.

"I feel you'd be interested in some information I have to share about the Cell games. That Golden Fighter in the orange gi. That was Son Goku"

His mouth started to dry up.

"The two with the body armour. My husband and my son"

Incomprehensible blabbering was the only sounds he made.

"And that young boy. The one they called the delivery boy" Hercule gripped the arms of his chair tightly as Bulma moved closer. "The one who really killed Cell" Bulma gave the man one final look, loving every second of this. "Son Gohan" The words hung in the air. Hercule appeared to have totally snapped. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. That boy, of all people, was the same one he watched fight Cell seven years ago. "You get it now don't you?" Bulma spoke with venom. "You've tarnished the names of our entire group. And we've been watching, listening. And now you come here, and you not only piss off myself. But the very person who is responsible for all those accolades you've boasted about"

"I… I… What…" Mr. Satan stammered. "You mean that boy… He's…" Bulma nodded slowly. "He's going to kill me. It's all over" Hercule placed his head in his hands, almost in the verge of tears as he began to sob.

"Oh cut it out" The Brief woman spoke. "You have no idea how lucky you are. Gohan's too pure hearted to try to kill you, or even expose you" Hercule took a quick peek from his hands. "And the rest of our group have agreed to keep all this to secrecy"

"You mean you aren't going to tell the world about…?" Hercule trailed off.

"No we aren't" Bulma responded. "But you have no idea how difficult it has been to not front the media after all you have pulled. Calling out Goku, shaming all of the true heroes"

"Oh thank-you. I promise I won't speak a word of this to anyone!" Hercule held a clenched fist in front of his heart. Bulma just shook her head.

"We aren't doing any of this for you. Frankly, you're best interests mean nothing to us. The Cell games wasn't the first time our team has stopped the destruction of the world. And it probably won't be the last. All they want is a peaceful life, no media, no fame, no fortune. And as for keeping this to yourself, you better hope you do. As far as I am concerned, you are on your last rope after what just happened. Gohan wouldn't dare lay a finger on any innocent being. But my husband is another story entirely, make sense?"

Hercule nodded profusely. "Crystal clear" He squeaked out. The idea of confronting one of those freaks from the Cell games was a suicide mission.

"Good. Then I'm going to lay down a few ground rules that I expect you to abide by" Bulma then cleared her throat as she produced a piece of paper from her pocket.

"You already have a list prepared?" Mr. Satan asked, perplexed. Surely Bulma hadn't thought this conversation would have taken place beforehand.

"I like to be prepared for all situations" She stated. "I've brought this list with me everywhere there was a chance of bumping into you. And in the event you crossed the line, like you did today, I wouldn't have to waste any time" She shot the man a dirty look before turning back to the paper in hand. "Now, you are free to continue to take credit for the defeat of Cell. As I said, we value our privacy and don't wish to cause a fuss by proclaiming to the world that Gohan was the young boy that fought Cell" Hercule breathed a sigh of relief. "That being said, there are some things that must be rectified. Firstly, no more degrading any member of those who fought Cell. Secondly, Capsule Corporation is to no longer be targeted by Satan industries in the future" She paused a second to see the man nodding along. "And thirdly, we expect a public apology to be made to all the fighters you have called cheats, including those present at the Cell games. As well as an apology for your comments about our company. You have a two week deadline to have that set up"

"I have to front the media and go back on my word?!" Mr. Satan rose from his chair, clearly not liking the idea.

"You dug the hole" Bulma shrugged. "All we want is for the world to at least show some respect for those who risked their lives"

There was a long paused, as Mr. Satan began wringing his hands. "You aren't going to tell my daughter about all of this, are you?"

The blue haired woman regarded the champ for a moment. "I won't go out of my way to tell her" Bulma said. "But if she asks the right questions, I'm not going out of my way to lie either"

Hercule hung his head. "What about that boy… I mean, Gohan? Will he tell her?"

"There's more than a single layer to that boy. So who knows" Bulma gestured to the doorway for Hercule to exit with her. "Oh and one more thing. I expect you to keep your distance from Videl for the duration of her stay here. She's free to leave on the weekends to go back home. But during the week she's here on our time"

Videl wandered the halls, trying to find a trace of her mentor. Several minutes had passed since Gohan had made his exit, and there didn't appear to be any clues as to where he was right now. As she walked, Videl thought back to the scene. She had to admit it was totally outlandish what had transpired. From her dad showing up, to business deals and then Son Gohan of all people punching a hole through the desk. It was odd seeing such a peeved face on the Son boy. Up until this point he had been nothing but courteous and care free. But this new side that surfaced due to the comments of her father was anything but those things.

'Whatever dad meant earlier clearly was intended to rile up Gohan' Videl mentally stated. She knew her father well. And being the insightful, observant person she was, it was easily identified that her Hercule knew what he was doing. 'He said something about a trickster. What does that even mean? Dad has only ever used that word to describe those light users from the Cell games. There must be something more to all of this' As she wandered aimlessly around the complex before noticing a solitary figure in the atrium, sat on a wooden bench under the thick foliage. As she walked closer she was able to identify it as Gohan from the spiky black hair and lab coat. However his face was hidden from view as he was running his face through his hands. Hesitantly Videl approached, stopping a few metres away.

"Bulma sent you to find me?" Gohan spoke, as if knowing she was there without even bothering to look. He gave the girl a weak smile.

Videl nodded.

"Sorry about all that" He said grimly. "If it's any consolation. That's the first desk I've broken with my hand. Usually it's some failed experiment explosion that takes care of that for me"

Videl offered a weak smile and chuckled in response. "I'm sure my school will be happy to learn that I'll be well versed in destroying desks when I get back then"

Gohan smirked in response, however his head still faced the ground.

Slowly, the raven haired girl took a seat beside him. "So… It got pretty tense in there didn't it" The girl was never very good at this kind of thing.

"It did" Gohan responded.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"Emotionally, yes. Mentally, no. I don't get angry very often. But when I do, I always get myself into a slump afterwards"

"That's normal. I usually feel bad after I get mad because someone always gets hurt"

Gohan laughed. "I'll be sure to keep on your good side then"

"Good move" Videl sent a playful punch to the boys arm, surprised to feel her knuckles crack on contact. It was almost like trying to hit a brick wall. Her thoughts then turned to his display of strength. "How's your hand?"

"No damage to report, which is good" He held his hand up, turning it for Videl to inspect. There didn't appear to be even a single bruise or cut evident.

"I'm impressed. Most people would have done some serious damage to their hands after that. What are you made of?"

"Skin, bones and muscle tissue. Just like everyone else I suppose" Gohan shrugged. 'And a healthy amount of Saiyan DNA' He added mentally.

There was another long pause before Videl spoke up, finally wanting some form of explanation. "I'll admit, I'm a bit in the dark here. Do you think you could explain what happened in there?" The Son boy gave his apprentice a brief look, one Videl took as a bad sign. "You don't have to say" She assured. Gohan however just shook his head.

"No it's fine. I did encourage you to be curious didn't I? It's just a bit complicated" He ran a hand through his jet black hair, giving Videl a reassuring smile. It wasn't as easygoing as the typical Son grin, but it was a start.

"Did it have to do with him bringing up your family name?"

"To an extent, yes. Though there is more than just name dropping that aggravated me. There's more layers at play than just that"

"Why would my dad make things personal though?"

Gohan focused his stare toward the girl. He felt incredibly bad for all that she had witnessed. And even worse for the fact that she had no idea what was truly happening due to her fathers deception over the past seven years. If there was ever a victim in all of this, it was Videl. "I'm not sure I should answer that just yet" He stated softly.

Videl, however was not happy with that answer. "Why not?" She pressed.

"Because I think I need time to process all of this. I did just punch a hole in the desk and storm out after all. Something like that can really hinder you from thinking straight" Videl nodded her understanding. The Son boy watched the girl with interest as she looked out towards the group of animals interacting with one another around them. "How are you holding up?" He asked.

The Satan girl gave her mentor a blank stare. "What do you mean? I hardly even know what's happening"

"True. But out of everyone, you're the closest to this whole situation. You're here on an educational program working for us. Then your father arrives and all of that breaks loose. It must be difficult to be thrown into that situation and be on both sides of the fence like that"

Videl shrugged. "Maybe a little. Honestly I don't know how I should feel" She sighed heavily. If there was one thing the girl hated most, it was not having the answers she needed. And right now she had so many questions. The two teens moment of silence was then broken by Bulma who was approaching the pair, a very apprehensive Hercule Satan following several paces behind.

"Feeling any better?" Bulma asked, sending her godson a concerned look.

"Somewhat" Gohan shrugged. Responding with a questioning look of his own in regards to the presence of Hercule.

There was a brief pause where no one spoke. Mr. Satan did however open his mouth several times, before closing it. Bulma just rolled her eyes. "Today would be preferable Mr. Satan. We all have a lot of business to attend to"

The man's lips set into a grim line. Closing his eyes as if he was preparing for the worst pain in his life, he extending an open hand to Gohan. "I apologise for any offence I caused back there. It was wrong of me to bring personal comments into our discussions" He sighed and Gohan remained neutral as he was looking at Hercule. "Mr. Briefs and I spoke after you left. She gave me some insight into matters I hadn't been aware of. She helped me understand I had overstepped my boundaries"

Gohan sent Bulma a glance, eyebrows raised. She simply winked and mouthed the word 'later' to him. The Son boy wasn't totally oblivious. He could tell that Mr. Satan was insinuating that Bulma had spoken to him about the identity of himself and his father. It initially was a surprise. But the more he thought about it, it was the only way to maybe change the champ for the better in the long run. After getting the hint, Gohan stood up and seized Mr. Satan's hand. "No harm done" He stated, giving it a firm shake. He made sure to apply the slightest hint of unnecessary pressure in his grip to allow Hercule to understand what he was dealing with. "As long as we don't have a repeat of that again, I'd say we're square"

Mr. Satan squirmed slightly under the intense stare and discomfort in his hand. He nodded meekly before replying. "I agree" He squeaked out. Videl was surprised by how submissive her father appeared. It was almost as if Gohan was bearing down on him like a predator. Whilst her father played the part of cowering prey, accepting their fate. She had never seen her father without his signature bravado and overconfidence. Usually he would have brandished his title as world champion in the boys face, boasting of how if he were serious, he would have 'tied him into a pretzel' or 'bent him like a board'. In the face of Gohan, however, there was no show of strength or asserting of dominance.

"Good" Gohan finished the handshake, his toothy grin finally reappearing on his face. "Because I don't want to be taking any further docks in my pay-check for breaking company property"

"Right" Hercule said wearily. Still in awe of the fact that this was the same boy he had seen fight Cell seven years ago. And here he was, making jokes despite all that had happened. The man wasn't sure if he wanted to get as far away from Son Gohan was possible, or to be near him.

"Now that all that's sorted. Mr. Satan I think it's best you leave. Gohan and Videl here have plenty to take care of" Bulma stated crisply. Deliberately leaving out the fact that the pair were exempt from working today. "Gohan, can you go fine Goten and Trunks. I'd imagine Vegeta will be at his wits end by now with those two running about. And I think Chichi is organising dinner shortly"

Gohan just nodded. "Not a problem" He then turned to other man in the room. "Take care Mr. Satan" With that he turned on his heels and followed the Energy signals of the two Saiyan children.

"I'll give you two a bit of space to say your goodbyes" Bulma told the Satan pair. "Afterwards meet me in the guest wing. There's some things I believe we need to discuss" She told Videl, sending Hercule a knowing look. As the blue haired woman left the room, both Videl and Hercule fell into an uncomfortable silence.

"That Gohan boy seems…" He paused, unsure of what to say from there. In trying to break the silence, he spoke of the first thing which came to his mind. Which unsurprisingly happened to be the true saviour of humanity. For lack of a better way to finish his sentence, Hercule settled for a simple "Nice" to cap it off.

Videl nearly scoffed. "Funny, it didn't seem like you thought that an hour ago"

Mr. Satan resisted the urge to chastise her for her sarcastic remark. Though he stopped himself, realising it was a fair statement. "No, I don't suppose I did" He stated softly.

"Why not? Why did you say he had an interesting last name?" Videl pressed. Despite his constant vigilance over her. Videl knew her father was a total pushover when it came to her. Despite all the vast amounts of fame, riches and women, Hercule always did right by his daughter whenever he could. In turn that allowed Videl plenty of wriggle room to get what she wanted. It was rare for him to ever prevent her from getting her way.

"Why don't we skip the business talks for now?" Hercule said. "I've had a real long day and don't want to bore you with all the logistics of negotiations. We can talk about all of this once you get home on the weekend"

Normally Videl would have doubled down hard on pressing for answers. But there was something in his tone and demeanour that made her stop. She knew her father better than anyone. Most people would never have spotted the signs, but to Videl, they stood out, plain as day. The hunched over back, sagging shoulders, drooping eyes, twitching lips, clenched jaw muscles. There was no doubt, whatever had happened since Videl had left that room had a profound effect on her father.

"Okay dad" She relented. "You should probably go home and get some rest. I'll walk you to the exit"

The pair navigated the corridor, allowing for Hercule to take in the sights. They passed by several open doors where employees were hard at work, designing, testing and creating the latest in capsule technology. Mr. Satan wasn't much of a science guy, but he had to admit, what he was seeing was impressive. As they walked, he look down to his daughter who was staring straight ahead. "How are things going here?"

"Interesting" Videl replied. This was actually the first time she had thought about the past couple of days and how she felt about it all. It had just been such a whirlwind of information that she barely had time to herself amongst the chaos. "It gives me much more respect for all the work that goes into all of this. Gohan is just non-stop"

"Is he treating you okay?" Hercule asked. He had never been trustful of boys, so to Videl, the question did not come as a surprise. But Mr. Satan was more referring to the fact that Gohan clearly knew who her father was. And he wondered if he had made life more difficult for her as a result.

"Dad, you don't need to be worried" Videl reassured. "Both Gohan and Bulma have been great so far. Gohan really knows his shit, it's hard to believe he's only eighteen as well"

"Language" Hercule reprimanded.

Videl just shook away the comment. "Come on dad. I think I'm old enough to be using swear words"

"Right" Her father sighed. It was difficult seeing his daughter growing up as she was. It reminded him of the days when she was a child, watching her father compete in tournaments with a sense of wonder and admiration. These days his baby girl was nearly a woman, headstrong, determined and stubborn. Just like her mother had been. "I'm glad to hear it. I hope you have some fun"

"Trust me. They're never short of that here"

The last few minutes of the walk went by with Videl recounting several moments from the week. Specifically how she had been involved in new Jet-Copter navigation system, which impressed Hercule immensely. Hercule was quick to chime in, telling her she might have 'found her new calling in life'. Only for Videl to squash the idea with a chuckle.

Eventually the pair exited the front door, where Hercule threw his arms around his daughter. "I'll see you soon" He announced as he pulled back. He then met up with his legal team who were waiting patiently by the street, announcing they were to go back to their headquarters.

Videl watched her father go before making a beeline to the guest wing, where Bulma was waiting patiently for her arrival, sat on one of the sofas, cigarette in hand. "Have a seat" She instructed, allowing for the girl to get comfortable. "Your dad decided to keep his lips shut didn't he?" Videl nodded. "And you're still trying to figure out what the hell happened aren't you?"

"Is it that obvious?" Videl asked.

Bulma chuckled, taking one final puff from her smoke before disposing of the butt in a nearby ash-tray. "To a woman such as myself it is" She winked. "I don't think it's fair that you be left in the dark like this. Your father won't tell you anything and I know Gohan for his own reasons won't, at least not yet. So I think we should clear the air and get you up to speed"

"So can you tell me why my dad brought up Gohan's last name? And why Gohan got so mad? And what you told my father…" She rambled, only for Bulma to cut her off.

"Whoa, slow down there" She laughed. "I know I'm smart. But you need to at least give me some time to answer"

Videl blushed slightly in embarrassment. She couldn't believe she was sitting here with Bulma Briefs of all people, getting such insight. "Right"

Bulma nodded. "I suppose I'll start with the Son name. There's a reason your father called attention to it. Your father wanted to use it as leverage in our negotiations. From my understanding, he wanted the Son name to work as blackmail"

"Blackmail?" Videl repeated, confused. "But what does Gohan's family have that my dad would focus on? And why would he want to blackmail Gohan in the first place?"

"He wasn't just trying to blackmail Gohan. But myself as well" She paused, noticing even more confusion on the girls face. "I've been involved in the Son family's life for years now. I first met Gohan when he was four years old. And I first met his father when I was only sixteen. They're basically a second family to me"

Videl nodded, following along. "But why blackmail in the first place? Is that why you and Gohan got so mad?"

Bulma rocked her head back and forth, signally a two sided answer. "Partly yes. You have to understand that many business deals involve a level of personal interest and discretion. It's common for dirty tactics to be a part of these things. I've been subject to many threats and blackmail attempts in my time. The reason why things got so heated though, is due to what your father was trying to use as leverage"

"And what was that?" Videl asked, leaning forward in her seated position.

"Gohan's dad"

A thousand questions circled in Videl's mind. What on earth did Gohan's dad have to do with this? And how had her father known about him in the first place? "But why would…" Videl trailed off, unsure of how to ask her question.

"It's very complicated" Bulma sighed. "You have to understand that there is a lot that I can't exactly tell you, not unless Gohan tells you first"

This only served to lengthen the extensive list of questions. "My dad called him a trickster. Why would he say something like that?"

"I'm not sure that's something I should be answering. If you really want to know, I would ask Gohan. After all this has cleared over of course"

"Do you think he's still mad at my dad? I mean, if it has something to do with his dad it must be hard to deal with"

Bulma considered the question. "Hard to say really. He told you how his father passed away seven years ago right?" Videl nodded. "As you can imagine that's a touchy subject. He always looked up to his father. So to bring him up as a form of blackmail is never a good look" She then lit another cigarette. "That being said though. Gohan may be the kindest person you'll ever meet. I doubt he would hold that grudge for long. I wouldn't be surprised if he's kicking himself for overacting"

Videl was impressed by the high praise, coming from Bulma Briefs of all people. "What was Gohan's dad like?"

Bulma smiled to herself. "Probably one of the best people I have ever met. Everything in my life I owe to him. All the people in my life were influenced in a way by him. He had a way of changing people, making them be the best version of themselves" There was a vast amount of admiration in the tone Bulma was using. As Videl prepared another question however, Bulma extinguished her lit cigarette and stood from her seat. "Look. I can see you still want further answers. But the only person who can give you those, are Gohan himself"

"Will he even bother to tell me" Videl muttered.

Bulma smiled innocently. "Trust me. He'll come around"

"How can you tell?"

The blue haired woman looked to the high school student. A knowing smile on her features. "He's got a soft spot for you. I can see it. He gave me an end of day report yesterday, detailing his findings. He couldn't stop talking about you though, saying how well you were doing" Videl looked away, embarrassed, but some part of her was flattered. "It's good to see him like this. He's never had someone his own age he can relate too, sometimes you forget how young he is, what with all he has on his plate. He never even had a proper childhood, it was… Chaotic to say the least" Bulma's smile faded to a look of pity. "That boy's been through so much. He deserves to be happy, to have a moments peace to just been around those who love him" The teen was somewhat stunned by the statement. It was clear Gohan was wise beyond his years and that he had missed vital parts of ones childhood. However, she never anticipated for Bulma Briefs to admit such a tragic thing. Had Gohan really gone through such turmoil? Bulma shook the thoughts away. "In any case. I think we should all meet for dinner. It's always an occasion when Chichi come over" She winked.

As they walked in comfortable silence to their destination, Videl reflected on the days events. She wasn't sure how she should feel about everything. After all, Gohan and her father had really gone at it, and they weren't even attempting to hide their animosity. And yet, Videl could sense their was more than just anger in her mentor. Something more akin to pain or loss, she couldn't exactly describe the sensation she felt, but it was unmistakable and she knew first hand what losing a parent did to someone. She simply hoped that Bulma was correct, and that Gohan would eventually be willing to open up to her. After all, Videl Satan was known for being impatient.

- AUS Wild Thing