Videl found Gohan a second after he entered the place where the championships were held. There was already a sea of people swarming around the edges of the tatami mats.

"God, Gohan, I am so sorry about Fabien. He's just…a very complicated person."

Gohan forced a laugh. "Hey, I get it! No biggie."

The jerk.

"Anyway, Fabien already kinda got us seats up the top, so…"

"Don't worry," Gohan said immediately. "We'll be fine on our own."

Videl seemed to be wavering, so to reassure her Gohan added:

"I don't need to sit with you anyway."

Videl looked taken aback for an instant, then she bit her lip.

"Fine then," She murmured. "See you later." And she disappeared into the crowd.

"'I don't need to sit with you anyway'?" Trunks repeated incredulously. "Do you even want to sleep with her?"

"Quiet, Trunks."

"No- you need all the help you can get."

"Are you going to marry Videl?" Asked Goten.

"No," Trunks replied. "He's just planning to use her for sexual favors."

"I am not!" Gohan cried and a couple of people looked up at them.

Trunks and Goten smirked.

"Ohh," Trunks purred. "So you do really like her."

"He's stealing her from you." Goten pointed to where Fabien was whispering something in Videl's ear.

"She doesn't really like that guy." Gohan muttered.

"Yeah," Trunks said. "Handsome guys with big muscles. Girls hate that."

"Attention everyone!" The loudspeaker crackled into life. "Welcome to the annual Satan Dojo Championships! Unfortunately, Mr Satan himself is currently attending an important event on the other side of town- but he wanted to let you guys know he's rooting for everyone!"

There were cheers from all corners.

"Mr Satan!" One girl almost pushed Trunks over as she danced up and down.

"Fangirls." Trunks muttered, dusting himself down.

"The first fight belongs to the reigning champ of this particular dojo- Fabien!"

Fabien winked at Videl then strutted out to the center of the hall where he commenced his flexing. Again, he winked at Videl.

Gohan's fists clenched. "Huh," He muttered. "I could take him."

"Please," Trunks said. "Goten could take him."

"Ha ha!" Goten said. "Yeah, I- hey! Wait, why did you say it like that? What's that supposed to mean?!"

"In fact," Trunks said. "That's a good idea. Why don't you go up there and beat that guy up? Then that Videl girl is all yours."

Gohan shook his head. "I can't be unnecessarily violent."

Trunks rolled his eyes. "Girls see it as 'passion'. Trust me; they go for the strong guys- the violent ones."

"Please don't apply your parents' relationship to the rest of the world."

"Bu-ut!" Goten added in. "If you fight for her, she'll know you care about her."

Gohan shifted in his seat. "She already knows I care about her."

"Nu-uh. You've been distant with her since we picked her up."

"And she obviously made an effort with the blouse and the earrings and everything and you didn't even comment." Trunks added.

"I…I didn't see it like that!" Gohan looked at Videl in panic.

All this time, he was sure that he was communicating his feelings clearly to her.

He was sure that she was in no doubt that he liked her.

But now…

"What do I do?" He murmured.

Meanwhile, Fabien floored his opponent with one strike and flexed once again for the crowd.

He turned to wink at Videl again- but she had disappeared from her seat.

Gohan felt a hand on his arm and looked up sharply.

"Videl!" He flushed.

"Changed my mind," She smiled with an odd shyness. "Can I sit with you?"

Trunks and Goten subtly moved round the other side so Videl and Gohan could sit together.

Fabien was glaring at the couple.

"Trunks," Goten whispered.

"What?"

"Is that really what sex is? What you told me?"

"Yes. I'm not lying this time."

"And that's how people are made?"

"Yes."

Goten thought, then turned to Videl and Gohan. "Are you two going to make people together?"

Trunks facepalmed.

Videl went pink. "Wh-what?! Do you mean-?"

"He's still learning his words- he doesn't know what he's saying!" Gohan said quickly.

"I'm seven." Goten said, affronted.

"And I think that seven is as far as you're gonna go if you push Gohan any further." Trunks remarked.

Fabien had just taken down his third opponent and the crowd was going wild.

"Wow!" The commentator enthused. "Is there anyone out there who can take on this whirlwind of destruction?"

Videl laughed. "Fabien's pretty amazing, huh?"

"I guess." Gohan forced a smile.

"Maybe one day you two could spar?"

"I'd like that."

Beating him would be satisfying.

Trunks nudged Gohan and tapped his earlobe poignantly.

"Oh! Er, I really like your earrings by the way."

Videl looked up, surprised. A strange pink blush settled on her cheeks. "Er, thank you…I actually just got them pierced. I wondered if you'd notice."

"Of course I did. You look great."

"Thanks." Videl looked away, smiling.

Gohan smiled too, unable to take his eyes off her for the moment.

"'Thanks, Trunks.' 'Oh, don't worry about it Gohan, old buddy, that's what friends are for'." Trunks muttered under his breath.

Goten giggled. "Those two are gonna make people."

"Hey!"

Gohan looked up to see Fabien beckoning to him.

"Me?" He pointed to himself.

"Wow, folks!" The loudspeaker boomed. "It looks like Fabien has selected a member of the crowd to fight against! This is highly unorthodox…but, if the young man agrees to it…"

"Fight, fight!" The dojo chanted.

Gohan wavered. He knew what his dad would say, but if the guy was asking for it…

"Remember: be the aggressor." Trunks muttered.

"If you're not cool, Videl won't wanna make people with you." Was Goten's comment.

But it was Videl who decided it for him.

"It's okay, Gohan," She said quietly. "You don't have to fight him. I mean, he's so strong…"

"Huh," Gohan got to his feet. "Well, we'll see."

"Yay!" Goten clapped.

"It looks like the challenge has been accepted!"

The crowd cheered.

Videl bit her thumb nervously. "I know Gohan's a really skilled fighter, but…Fabien's really good too."

"Please." Trunks muttered.

"Yay! Go big brother!" Goten cheered.

As Gohan stepped up to his opponent, Fabien hissed in his ear: "You'd had better give up on Videl. She's my girl."

Gohan's blood boiled.

But he had been brought up a good kid and knew how wrong it was to use his power for self-gain, especially on a weak guy like Fabien.

Fabien threw a punch at him and Gohan dodged with purposeful slowness- it still missed by yards though.

"Oh wow," Videl breathed. "Gohan's gotten good!"

"And that's not the only thing he's good at," Trunks said. "If you catch my drift."

"Yeah!" Goten chimed in. "He makes awesome paper airplanes too!"

"All you can do is dodge, huh?" Fabien laughed as Gohan ducked yet another hit.

"It looks like our newcomer is too scared to throw a hit at the champ, folks!" The loudspeaker jeered and the crowd laughed.

Gohan glanced at Videl.

She was watching him with a strange look.

Was it…no, was it sympathy?

Gohan bit his lip.

He was tired of being seen like a pathetic peace-maker.

If he couldn't even impress Videl…then he didn't want to be the nice guy.

"Not even gonna try?" Fabien taunted. "You really are pathe-"

He was cut off in mid-sentence as Gohan launched his arm back and jabbed him directly in the face.

There was a moment of silence in the hall as Fabien staggered back a few steps, then fell in a heap onto the floor.

The stunned silence ensued.

It was Goten that started off the cheering.

"Yay! Gohan- you did it! Yay!"

All around him, claps and cheers began to resound.

"W-well," Even the loudspeaker sounded amazed. "Our- our champ is down, ladies and gentleman! With one hit courtesy of this mysterious young man!"

Gohan walked back to the group.

Only now had it occurred to him that he may have ruined Videl's father's tournament and she might be angry.

"Erm," He said, rubbing the back of his neck and studying the floor. "S-sorry, it was just a lucky hit. I-"

Videl stood up and threw her arms around his neck.

"You're awesome, Gohan." She whispered and he felt ice-hot chills run up his spine.

Trunks and Goten high-fived.

"Young man," A crowd of reporters were making their way towards them. "Can we get an interview?"

"Uh-oh." Gohan murmured.

"Let's go." Videl grabbed his hand.

"Where?"

"I know a place."

xxx

It was growing dark by the time they reached the Satan mansion.

Videl, Gohan, Trunks and Goten seemed to be the only people on the property.

"Today dad gave all the servants a day off to commemorate the championships," She said. She looked away. "I don't know why they said dad was at an important event. He's just on a date with some woman. Love is so phony, don't you think?"

"No." Said Gohan suddenly and Videl looked at him, surprised. "I mean…" He amended. "True love isn't. Okay, fly-by-night dates are kinda shallow, but if you really love someone then what could be more special?"

Videl stared at him, then shook her head. "You sure are a weird one." She murmured and walked ahead of them.

"FYI," Trunks whispered. "That's girl language for: 'Come and get me, big boy'."

"There's a limit to how twisted you can be." Gohan muttered.

"Can you and Videl make another person for me and Trunks to play with?" Goten asked.

"I'm not going to make a person with Videl!" Gohan hissed.

"The fans would disagree." Trunks said.

"That doesn't even make any-!"

"Here we are," Videl said suddenly, pointing towards a pool surrounded by deck chairs and umbrella tables. "You can cool off here."

"Alright!" Goten leapt head first into the pool.

"Gohan," Trunks said.

"Not now, Trunks."

"Gohan, he just wants to ask you a question." Videl frowned.

"Yeah, Gohan." Trunks' eyes were poignant. "I just wanna ask you something."

"Hey, Trunks- come on!" Called Goten. "This pool is so awesome!"

"For God's sake, what?"

Trunks beckoned and Gohan got down to his level and listened to his words.

"What?" He pulled away. "I can't say that!"

"Why not? I heard dad say it once and mom didn't let him out of the bedroom all night."

Never again will I be able to look Bulma or Vegeta in the eye…

"Have fun in the pool, Trunks." Gohan said blandly, straightening.

"I sure will!" Trunks smiled, playing up the innocent act for Videl once again and leaping in to join Goten.

"Aww, he's a sweetie," Videl shook her head. "And with that silvery hair and blue eyes- girls are going to be all over him."

"Poor girls." Gohan muttered.

"Come on," Videl said. "There's a place where we can talk inside."

Just beyond the pool, past the French windows was a large, plush brown sofa as big as a bed with a few blankets thrown over it.

Videl sat down with a bounce and Gohan perched nervously beside her.

"I had a great time today, Gohan."

He smiled. "I'm glad."

"I'm happy you came with me."

"Y-yeah…"

There was a moment of awkward silence.

"You sure showed Fabien," Videl continued. "I bet he won't be half as smug now. He might even stop asking me out."

"He asked you out?!" Gohan stared at her.

"I said no." She reassured him. Then smiled. "Why? Jealous?"

"No-!" Gohan begun, then stopped. "Yes." He amended simply. "Yes, maybe I am."

Videl blinked her blue-purple eyes at him. "Wha-?"

"I punched him because I knew he liked you. Maybe it was petty, but I got jealous."

Gohan reached forward and took Videl's hand, looked into her eyes and said it:

"You're mine."

Videl didn't react for a moment, then she leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips.

"Gohan…" She murmured into his mouth and his arms wrapped around her.

Thank you, Trunks.

Gohan fell back and all thoughts left his mind.

There was only Videl and he was just fine with that.

xxx

"Trunks!"

"Shh!"

"Why are you spying?"

"I'm just checking everything's going according to plan."

Goten got out of the water and came to stand beside him. He peeked in too.

"Eww!" He cried. "He's eating Videl's mouth!"

"Shut up." Trunks kicked him.

"But that's disgusting!"

"Grown-ups like to do it."

"Why?"

"I don't know. They just do."

"Do other people's mouths taste good?"

"I don't know. I guess. If you like the other person."

"Well, I like you." Goten thought. "I wonder if your mouth tastes good…?"

Trunks looked down at him, then leaned forward and kissed him.

Goten started and pulled away. "Eww, Trunks!"

"Didn't it taste good?"

"It tasted, well…" Goten thought. "It actually tasted okay, I guess. What about you?"

"I tasted like my dad tearing me limb from limb if he ever finds out."

"Huh? I don't get it."

"You wouldn't."

"Hey, Trunks?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I kiss you again?"

"No."

"Just one more time!"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because," Trunks turned to him. "It would be problematic if I fell in love with you."

"What does 'problematic' mean?"

"Bad."

"But you're my favourite person so," Goten grinned at him. "I already love you, Trunks!"

Trunks stared at him. Then he said: "Hey, Goten, did you know that pool water tastes exactly like tropical punch?"

"Nu-uh!"

"Yu-uh!"

"Really? Oh wow! I wanna drink some punch!" Goten dived into the pool and Trunks smiled.

Idiot. He thought. I guess I love you too.