Chapter Two

One Week Later

Gohan was certain of it now. That Ki he'd been sensing was definitely Ryo's. Now his only concern was the full extent of his powers. He wasn't anywhere near Gohan's level of course, but his energy was down right remarkable for a human. Though he was afraid to go that far at first, he compared it to that of Vegeta's during his first arrival on Earth, and he still seemed to be masking some of it. Now the only questions that mattered were how high did it go, and how the hell did a human gain that kind of power? And do it so young?! And if he was even human at all? What was his game if any, and just who the hell was he?!

Gohan was delighted with his discovery, but somewhat disappointed he'd discovered him by accident, though he already had a general idea it was him. One thing was clear about him, and that was that Ryo was damn good at controlling his Ki. Even for a Sayian it took a great deal of concentration, on a sub-conscious level anyway, to suppress one's energy. Just the smallest exertion of energy could send your Ki level flying. That's exactly what happened to Ryo.

It happened one day during gym class. They were running the mile when a fairly big boy named Brokowski got a little too carried away with his showboating, and smacked right into Ryo forcing him to raise his Ki to keep from getting plowed. It wasn't a drastically high increase, but it was just enough to tip Gohan off. Gohan knew that little bump probably had little affect on Ryo, probably the equivalent of a gnat flying into his face, but Ryo took a dive anyway just for show. Brokowski was much larger then Ryo after all. Ryo obviously had much more experience handling himself around other people then Gohan did, and knew how to act to make himself seem like a normal teenager when he most certainly wasn't. Gohan thought it best to make a habit out of watching how he handled himself, thinking he could learn a thing or two from him. Gohan had already blundered several times at keeping his abilities secret. Like the one day he lifted the principals car in the air with one hand to retrieve his pen that had rolled underneath… With a good dozen or so of his schoolmates looking on. He'd certainly have to be more careful in the future, and learn to think before he acted. He never had to worry about hiding his powers before he enrolled in school.

Gohan figured if Ryo knew how to suppress his Ki, then he would most likely know how to sense it as well. That might explain all the funny looks and stares he'd been getting from the boy since his arrival at Orange Star High School. Ryo had probably been wondering the exact same things about Gohan that Gohan had been wondering about him. Still, Gohan was unsure, and decided to get to know the boy a little better. There was that lingering concern in the back his mind that Ryo just might be dangerous, or if he wasn't, he may just be someone Gohan could relate too.

So Gohan did just that, he started to get to know this mysterious boy who sat in back of him during first period. Though he was shy and quiet at first, Gohan soon found Ryo to be rather friendly and good natured, and he was taking a fast liking to the young man. Still, he remained just a bit suspicious just in case, but all things considered he had a strong feeling those doubts were ever going to be founded. As it turned out, the two of them had a lot in common. Ryo was in most of the same advanced classes Gohan was in, and was about the only person Gohan had met so far that he could talk to who was on the same intellectual level that he was. Ryo also had been branded with the reputation of being a *Cute Dork* around school much like Gohan had built, meaning cute to the ladies and a dork to the guys. Though Gohan had a slight problem with that, Ryo didn't seem to care at all. In fact, he took it upon himself to explain the social ladder to the relative newcomer to the teenaged world, as they ate their lunch that day.

"You see Gohan, there are three basic social classes that make up the student body of our school. One of course is the Jocs, preps, and etc. The basic *in-crowd*, if you want to use a worn out cliché, that most everyone strives to be a part of or at least be accepted by. Then of course there are your basic nerds and geeks, which I say again there's nothing wrong with being a part of. Then finally, there are people like us, or dorks as I've heard people like Sharpner so cleverly refer to us. We're kind of in between everyone, your typical social outcasts. We're not nerds, but we don't fit in with the so-called cool crowd for one reason or another. Usually we're to quiet or maybe to intelligent, or maybe there's some other little difference that prevents us from being accepted by our peers. At least that's the way I've observed things."

"So I see," Gohan said, as he looked around at some of the people surrounding him. "To tell you the truth I think I'm just fine with being a dork. I have nothing against most of the people I've met here, but some of them seem so strange. What's all that junk in Shay's hair?"

A small smirk attacked Ryo's lips. "Probably more moose and hairspray then actual hair. To tell you the truth I think he bathes in it. There's actually a ten foot hole in the o-zone layer right above the bathroom in his house."

Gohan laughed, nearly chocking on the fork full of spaghetti he had just shoved into his face.

"But you are right about one thing. I'm perfectly happy with being a dork myself. It's a harsh word, but they need to call us something I guess."

Gohan's brow lowered slightly. "Couldn't they have come up with a better name?"

"Don't think of it as a bad thing, and just take it as a compliment," Ryo laughed.

"You always have a unique take on everything don't you Ryo?" A female voice jeered, clearly amused by Ryo's speech. Gohan looked up to find Videl standing next to him holding a lunch tray in her hand.

"Not everything, just what I pick up on here and there."

"You mind if I join you?" Videl asked, as she sat down without bothering to wait for their approval. Luckily for Gohan she, nor anybody else including Gohan himself, noticed him blush as she sat down.

Ryo raised his eyebrow. "Like we had a choice in the matter?"

An evil smirk found Videl's lips. "Now that you mention it no. It's good to see you still know your role Ryo."

"Well of course! No one would dare cross the great Videl Satan! So what prompted you to grace us with your presence your highness?"

"I needed some air, and to swat a few dozen pairs of lips off my butt!" Videl stated flatly, wearing a bit of a frown. "Normally I wouldn't even bother sitting with those guys all the time, but every time I try to move to a different spot they just stalk me to wherever else I might try to go."

Ryo smiled inquisitively. "So, in other words… You figured if you sat with us, they wouldn't bother you right? Even if you are Videl Satan, not a one of them is going to risk being seen near a couple of dorks like us even if it is just to be close to you."

Videl face faulted slightly. "No, I didn't mean it that way! Though I will admit I hoped they wouldn't follow me if I came over here, but I had other reasons! Frankly, I'm looking for a little intelligent conversation for a change. I get sick of hearing everyone going on about their hair or their biceps."

"Well, then you came to the right place. Trust us, we don't care about any of that."

Gohan listened in as they conversed like that for another minute or two, unsure if he should interject himself into their conversation or not. Deciding against it, he simply watched them as they talked, most of his focus on Videl. He didn't really mean to, but he had to watch one of them, and he found Videl slightly easier on the eyes then Ryo was. Apparently he was looking a little too hard, and Videl noticed him. Videl inched her head towards him, wearing what was now her all to familiar half frown. "You need something Gohan?"

"What? Oh, no!" Gohan blushed feverously, realizing he'd been staring. "So you two know each other huh?"

"Sadly, yes," Ryo replied quickly.

Videl shot him a look that bordered along the lines of threatening and playful. "You know if you were anybody else, or if I thought you were serious I would've put your lights out by now!"

"Though I may not show it on the outside, I assure you I'm trembling on the inside."

"Interesting," Gohan whispered to himself. From what he'd observed of him so far, Ryo was a rather quiet individual, and seemed rather uncomfortable when dealing with most people. Now here he was, rather smugly, trading potshots with one of the most popular and most feared girls in the entire school. Strange indeed.

"You better be," Gohan heard Videl say before she turned her attention back to him. "Now what's up with you Gohan? You haven't mumbled more than three words since I sat down, and all you've done is sit there and stare at me."

"Wh-What?!" Gohan went red, unsure if it was because she was talking to him, or because she had caught him staring at her. Either way he decided panicking was the best course of action. Come on, I wasn't exactly staring! I was looking but… Ah, who am I kidding, I was staring! I'm just not sure why…

"Why are you so quiet anyway Gohan?" Videl glared at him almost maniacally as she continued her interrogation. "Your hiding something aren't you? Some kind of deep-seated secret you don't want anyone to find out? I know you are, come on spill it!"

"No, I'm not hiding anything!" Gohan insisted, finding solace in the fact that his initial instinct to panic was founded. It's not possible! She can't possibly have any idea what I really am can she?! Of course not, there's no way! I mean I've done a good job of keeping my powers hidden, of course I did screw up a couple of times, but nothing serious! Get a hold of yourself Gohan, she's got to be kidding you. Isn't she?…

Gohan refocused on Videl, who showed nothing but confidence and determination in her face. "Oh, you are hiding something. I can see it in your face. I know there's something different about you Gohan, and I'm going to find out what. Whether you like it or not, it's just a matter of time."

"If you say so Videl," Gohan gulped, suddenly wanting to be anywhere but there. "Ah, look at the time! Does it ever fly by when your having fun! I better get going, see you guys later!"

"But we still have twenty minutes," Videl informed him. Gohan didn't even hear her as he shot out of his seat, and darted out of the cafeteria. Videl stared after Gohan until he was out of sight, and then looked back at Ryo with a bit of confusion mixed in with her normally stern expression. "Man, I didn't mean to scare him off, I was only kidding. I didn't expect him to freak out like that. Do you know what's up with him?"

Ryo shrugged his shoulders. "I dunno."

"Hmm…" Videl peered back in the direction Gohan had just disappeared and smirked. I knew he was hiding something. You don't sweat that much when your not. Run away all you like Gohan. I'm going to catch you sooner or later.

Gohan was a bundle of nerves for the rest of that afternoon, wondering if Videl did and just what exactly she could sense about him if she did. He spent the better part of the rest of that school day avoiding her at all cost, avoiding any type of eye contact, conversation, or anything else for that matter. It didn't simplify matters much that she was obviously tailing him around, and she was very clearly getting irritated that he was so obviously ducking her. He wasn't sure if she was mad that he was avoiding her, or if she was angry that he noticed her watching his every move.

She can't possibly know anything about you Gohan, Gohan thought, as he fiddled with the combination on his locker. She was probably just kidding with you, and you took it the wrong way. Yeah, that's got to be it, or maybe she really does sense something from you and just doesn't know what it is. She is amazingly strong for a human, so maybe she can sense Ki too? No, that can't be it. I almost forgot who her father was. The only energy Hercule knows how to release is when he farts or burps. I guess I just have to keep one step ahead of her until she loses interest in me. I just have to keep my cool, and try my best not to do anything to show her my actual strength.

Gohan had clicked on the final number of his combination when the exact person he'd been debating himself over just happened to make her presence known to him. "What's up Gohan?"

Startled, Gohan straightened up in attention, effectively tearing his locker door off the hinges. Gohan sweat dropped as he stared at the object in his hand, while Videl gawked at him with a look of pure shock on her face. "Oops… I guess the hinges on these old lockers must be pretty rusty… Ha, ha."

Videl glared at him with her usual half-frown. "This section of lockers were just installed the beginning of this semester!"

"Oh, is that a fact?" Gohan said through thin lips. "I guess I don't know my own strength then…"

"Yeah," Videl said, unsure what to think. "You might want to tell the front office about that, and see about getting yourself a new locker. And try not to destroy that one if you do get a new one. You might want to hurry to, or you'll be late for PE."

"Good idea, I think I'll go do that now," Gohan stammered. He waited until Videl was long gone before slamming the slab of blue metal over the top of his head a couple times out of frustration. He didn't notice, nor did he care if anybody saw him or not. "Way to go Gohan! You tell yourself your not going to do anything to make yourself look suspicious, and then it only takes you five seconds to blow it!" Gohan grumbled, and then examined the now dented piece of metal and plastic, wondering just what he was going to do with it. "I might as well do what Videl suggested. I guess I shouldn't worry about it, what's done is done. All I have to do is get through PE, and this nightmare of a day will finally be over!"

----------

Gohan smiled to himself, as he straightened out his navy-blue T-shirt. He was pleased to discover this school was pretty lax on the regulations for gym uniforms, permitting the students to bring in their own clothes from home. This way Gohan could make sure to wear some loose fitting clothes to hide a physique that was much to well developed for someone his age. Then again, he was starting to miss the point on that entirely now since there were several other students, such as Sharpner, who had even bigger builds then Gohan did. Still, he looked at them as being to bulky and overdeveloped. Gohan's build was much more defined and well-rounded from years of martial arts training and discipline. Then again, he didn't want to have anybody gawking at him regardless.

That wasn't the reason he was smiling though. That grin was plastered there from the knowledge his class would be playing field hockey after stretching and chin-ups, their morning fitness test for the day. Hockey was one of the few sports Gohan was familiar with, baseball being the other from what little bit about it he'd gathered from Yamcha. How could any Sayian, even a half one, not respect a sport where fighting was permitted as part of the rules? Of course none of that would be allowed on school ground, but the thought brought a smirk to Gohan's lips none the less. He frowned a bit as the thought of some of the days previous events pushed their way to the front. With the way this day was going so far he'd have to be careful not to hit the puck to hard, so he didn't send it flying through the goalies chest.

Gohan trudged over to the corner by the pull-up bar, where the rest of the class had amassed. Gohan had taken longer in the office then he had expected, making him late, and apparently morning warm-ups were already done and over with.

"Well, Mr. Son. It's nice to see you finally joined us," Gohan's PE teacher acknowledged his presence, while he watched a husky boy struggle to lift his excess weight over the bar. A second later he gave up, and dropped to the ground.

"Sorry, about being late sir. I had a little mishap with my locker, and had to make a run to the front office. I have an excuse note for being tardy in my bag if you need it."

"Whatever. I'll take your word for it for now, just make sure you get it to me after class. Since you're already on your feet you might as well go next."

"Yeah, sure sir," Gohan said softly.

"Be careful now Gohan," Ryo said, as Gohan walked by him. "You wouldn't want to yank the bar out of the wall or anything."

Gohan stopped and eyed Ryo curiously, who smirked with his eyes closed while looking at the ground.

"Yeah, like that would really happen," Sharpner scoffed. "I'd be surprised to see him do more then one."

Gohan frowned, accepting Sharpner's comment as a challenge. "Gohan, any day now," the teacher said, derailing Gohan's train of thought. The one where he was the conductor, and Sharpner was tied to the tracks. Gohan grinned, determined to show the arrogant muscle head a thing or two.

Gohan peered up at the bar, debating over how to go about this. He didn't want to expose any of his power, but he figured it wouldn't hurt to show off just a bit if it would shut Sharpner up. Just as long as he kept it within the bounds of a normal human's ability, and didn't do anything too out of the ordinary. Gohan smirked, knowing exactly what he was going to do. He grabbed the bar with one hand so his fingers were exposed to the outside, and took hold of his wrist with the other. It wasn't really necessary, but it would make things slightly more believable to the rest of the class. He was poised to begin, when his teacher chose to stop him.

"Um excuse me Gohan. I understand you're new to school in general, and have probably never done anything like this before. It's okay to grab the bar with both hands, and it would be easier if you turned your hands to hold the bar the other way. It's a lot less stress on your wrists, and arms muscles."

"I appreciate the advice sir, but I'm fine. I use to do something just like this back at home with branches on the trees outside our house.

Sharpner chuckled with amusement. "Yeah, and he probably chased squirrels all day, and ate roast rabbit for lunch! Come on, let him try it coach. This should be fun to watch."

"Okay, if you think you can handle it Gohan. Just don't hurt yourself okay?"

"I won't," Gohan said, glaring daggers at Sharpner. There wasn't anyone around school Gohan truly disliked or couldn't stand, but Sharpner was dangerously close to becoming the first. Sure, Gohan had chased around a squirrel or two in his younger days, he didn't have any playmates his own age so he had to improvise, but he most certainly had never once eaten rabbit. Then again, he hadn't a clue what exactly his mother put in that meatloaf.

Gohan shook off any adverse thoughts, and got down to business. With little effort, he pulled his head up over the bar and held himself there for a moment. Just long enough to make eye contact with Sharpner who clearly looked surprised. "One," he rolled of his tongue, leaving little question who that was directed at. Gohan let his body fall back down and pulled himself back up continuing the motion at a moderate rate, a snails pace to the Demi-Sayian, but at remarkable speed for most of his classmates. They gawked at him in amazement, as Gohan pulled his head over the bar over and over again with relative ease.

"Forty-five," Sharpner heard the boy next to him mouth, as he was obviously keeping track of Gohan's progress. Sharpner grunted with a mix of awe and jealousy in his face. He'd given up after only twenty-five when his arms had gotten sore and tired.

"Sixty-two," his teacher marveled. "And all in one minute! This has to be some kind of state record."

Gohan looked over at Sharpner and smiled, satisfied with his expression of amazement and envy. However, that's when Gohan noticed something he'd forgotten to consider. Everyone else was staring at him with similar looks of shock, and a couple of them whistled and called out his name encouraging him to keep on going. It didn't matter what the situation was, Gohan just hated being the center of attention and now realizing everybody's eyes were on him was making him increasingly uncomfortable. Only Ryo seemed to be unimpressed by what Gohan was accomplishing. In fact, he stared at Gohan rather strangely, almost like he was expecting or waiting for something to happen.

There was one set of eyes in particular that caught Gohan's attention, and they were the set of baby blue that belonged to none other then Videl. She watched on probably more intently then anyone, and this was more then just a tiny distraction to the pride driven half-human. In fact, it was just enough of a distraction to cause Gohan to forget not to use too much of his strength for a split second. One split second too many. On his way down the next thing Gohan knew, two loud noises sounding a lot like cement collapsing caught his ear, and his feet were planted firmly on the gym floor. Gohan looked up, and to his dismay the bar was still in his right hand along with two big blocks of stone that use to be attached to the wall. A bead of sweat dripped down his face as he slowly lowered his head to look out into the crowd of students. Just about every one of them was staring at him with their mouths hanging open, most noticeably Videl who was now standing on her feet. Probably alarmed when she heard the stone being ripped out of the wall. The only exception was Ryo who was shaking his head, and if Gohan didn't know any better he could swear Ryo was actually giggling.

"Oops… Sorry about that," Gohan laughed nervously, as he let the bar drop to the floor with a thud.

"Don't worry about it," his teacher said, after recovering from the shock of what he just witnessed. "This old building is falling apart. We need to get somebody in here to inspect this place before the roof caves in on us."

The teacher examined the wreckage on the floor, and then the carnage inflicted on the wall. "Well, I guess we'll have to finish this some other time. How many did you get up to exactly anyway? Somewhere in the high eighties I think."

"Is that good?"

The teacher let out a small laugh. "Yes Gohan. I assure you, you passed."

"That's good to hear," Gohan said, as he rubbed the back of his head, before hanging it in embarrassment. Oh man… Who would've thought keeping my strength secret was going to be this hard?!

---------

The good news was Gohan didn't take out any of his classmates during field hockey that afternoon, though he did consider crosschecking Sharpner through the wall a time or two. On a down note, he did destroy one of the gym's practice basketball backboards with an arrant slap shot.

"Way to go Gohan, you just can't act normal for more then five minutes can you? Well, I guess I might as well make a game out of it or something. Count how many times I goofed up this week, and put it up against how many times I make an ass out of myself next week and see if I improve any. Oh man, I can see it now. Dork with spiky hair blows up Orange Star High School, story at ten."

All Gohan wanted to do right then was head home, and forget this day ever happened. However, fate just did not have that in the cards for him this day. As he inched his way towards the exit, and that much closer to ever-beloved freedom, a rather disturbing scene in the hallway caught his eye that just demanded his attention.

"Just what the heck is he?!" Videl asked herself, as she made her way down the hall. She'd been lucky enough to avoid any of her fame lusting friends to that point. "First he tares his locker off it's hinges like he's ripping toilet paper off the roll, then he rips the pull-up bar right out of the wall along with a couple chunks of the wall along with it, and then he completely destroyed a basketball net with one slap shot! However, I will admit it was kind of funny to see the hoop get stuck around Sharpner's neck." Videl smiled at that image, but her expression grew serious very quickly.

"But all three can't be a coincidence. Now all I have to do is find out what's up with him! Who he is, where he comes from, and just what the heck his game is! I need to find out, or it's going to drive me crazy until I do! Maybe he's trying to destroy the school piece by piece, I don't know. Maybe that's his secret."

Finished with her rant, Videl lifted her head up just in time to catch an unwelcome glimpse of Rico and his friends. They were well-known thugs and trouble makers around school, that Videl had been forced to straighten out and keep in line on several occasions. From the looks of it they were up to their old tricks, harassing some freshmen they had cornered near the boy's room.

"Come on boy, cough off the dough. You remember the penalty for not paying up don't you?" Rico smirked deviously at the boy.

"Yes, I do, but I don't see the point in giving you the money anymore!" the boy retorted. "You usually just beat me up anyway claiming it wasn't enough. Besides, I just don't have any today! My parents stopped giving me allowance because they think I'm blowing it, because you keep stealing it from me!"


"Hey, that's not my problem punk," Rico sneered. "You better find a way to come up with some cash, or we may just have to take you for a ride out by the docks again."

The brown-headed boy quivered in fear, remembering the little game they had played with him, or as they called it anyway. He really thought they were actually going to let him drown the last time. "No, I don't. Look, I swear I'll pay you double tomorrow, just let us go in peace okay!"

While the boy seemed more then willing to deal with the goons, the girl standing at his side didn't seem willing at all. She slapped her brother in the side of the arm, and glared at him for even daring to offer these hoods one cent.

"What is wrong with you?! Don't you have any backbone?! Stand up to them, just don't stand there and let them walk all over you!"

"Shut up sis!" he sneered, knowing his sister had no clue what kind of hell these boys could put him through.

"No, come on kid, stand up to us," Rico laughed, along with his two buddies. "It's a shame you don't have any money though. Maybe we could arrange a different form of payment."

Rico grabbed the girls face in between his fingers, and pushed her up against a row of lockers. "You sure have a pretty sister here," he smirked, as he pulled on the ponytail she had her long brown hair pulled back in. "Maybe we should just take it out of her ass. Tell me honey, are you a virgin?"

"Let her go!" the boy yelled, slapping Rico's hand off of his sister. Rico grabbed the boy by the neck with his newly freed hand, and shoved him up against the locker next to his sister.

"Wrong move punk."

Videl had seen enough to make her blood boil. She threw her bag down, and moved to intervene but stopped when she noticed someone had beat her too it.

"Let him go!" Gohan ordered from behind Rico's broad back.

"Who the hell?" Rico asked, as he turned around. He let go of the boy, but not because Gohan had told him to.

Gohan stared back at the thug sternly. "Well, I have to say I'm not impressed tough guy. You can pick on smaller kids and girls just fine, but why don't you try to mess with me now? Or do your balls suddenly get smaller when someone your own size gets in your face?"

Rico smirked, ignoring Gohan's insult. "Well what do we have here? If it isn't super dork," Rico jeered, as he and his buddies began to size up Gohan. Rico was a big kid, and presumably a threat to most normal humans. Gohan stared him straight in a face that looked like it hadn't seen soap in years, if at all, and a stringy head of brown hair that appeared just as neglected. The two goofs at his sides weren't much better. One was a tall lanky boy with a shaved head, and the other a shorter but well built boy with spiky blonde hair. Needless to say, Gohan was not impressed.

"What's the matter boy?" Rico asked, after Gohan remained silent for a while. "Gohan isn't it? What's the matter? Are you just trying to act tough, or are you looking for a fight?"

Gohan remained unshaken. "Unlike you, I don't have to act tough. No, I wasn't looking for a fight, but I have no qualms with kicking your three or four teeth in if you insist on pushing other people around."

"Well then punk, let's see if you bark is worse then your bite."

"Give me your best shot."

Rico backed off a little, a bit unnerved. He was counting on intimidating the smaller teen, but Gohan was backing down an inch. He showed absolutely no fear of Rico, sending the young goon for a loop. The only other person ever to look at him like that was Videl, and she was the only other person to ever completely mop the floor with Rico. Growing frustrated and angry with Gohan, Rico decided to take him up on his offer.

"Well, if you insist!" Rico wound up, and drove his fist right into Gohan's gut. Gohan didn't flinch, move, smirk, or anything. He just stood there unaffected, and glared back at Rico noting the look of absolute shock in his face. Rico's fist was still pressed up against Gohan's abdomen. Finally, Rico pulled his arm back, and smiled a hideous smile at Gohan. Rico walked back towards his friends grinning like an idiot, as they stared at him in confusion. They looked back at Gohan who didn't seem affected in the least by Rico's blow, nor did he try to fight back in anyway. Then they looked back at Rico who finally just couldn't go on with his little tough guy act.

"OH KAMI!" Rico cried, with tears streaming down his eyes, he grabbed his hand and collapsed to the ground. "AH, DAMN IT HURTS! I THINK IT'S BROKEN! WHAT THE HELL, ARE YOU MADE OF STEEL OR SOMETHING?! SHIT!"

"Rico are you okay?" one of his friends asked in a panic.

"NO, I'M NOT OKAY YOU IDIOT! WHAT ARE YOU MORONS STANDING AROUND FOR?! GET HIM!"

"Oh right!" The blonde guy said, before advancing on Gohan. Gohan had to hold back his laughter at the comical display. "What are you smirking at pretty boy? I'm going to mess up that face of yours!"

"Do you guys make up those stupid lines on your own, or do you just steal them from cheesy old movies?"

"Shut up!" he yelled, as he took a swing at Gohan. A blow he easily dodged. Gohan decided he better make it look good just in case anybody was watching him. Taking a punch in the gut might be believable, but taking several punches in the face without a mark to show for it might be a little much.

Rico's friend continued to swing at him wildly, and Gohan either dodged effortlessly or put his arm up to block just for a change of pace. About ten seconds of that was all Gohan could take. Gohan grabbed a hold of the boy's wrist, stunning him just long enough for Gohan to literally grab his face with the palm of his hand. Gohan shoved him backward, sending the boy flying towards the nearest waste container. The spiky haired blonde stumbled into the trashcan, falling inside head first leaving his legs sticking out of the top kicking wildly.

"Gohan behind you!"

Gohan shot his head around to find Videl was watching the fight from down the hall. Slightly embarrassed, Gohan lifted up his arm to rub the back of his head when his elbow conveniently connected with the jaw of the tall bald guy, who had tried to rush Gohan from behind. Gohan looked up at the guy who was now wobbling around with a dazed look on his face. Everything finally went black on him, and he dropped to the ground out cold, little stars circling above his head. "Whoa, careful there guy. You could really hurt yourself running into my elbow like that."

With his goons out of the way, all that was left was Rico who started to back away as soon as saw Gohan stalk towards him. "Get away from me your freak! I was only playing with him, I swear it! I wasn't really going to hurt him. Just leave me alone okay!"

"People like you disgust me," Gohan spat. "Just because you're a little stronger you think that gives you the right to push around people that are weaker then you. Then when someone comes along who's stronger then you, you try to crawl into some corner and hide like the coward you really are. You want me to leave you alone Rico? I better not catch you pulling that crap I just saw with anybody else, or your going to have to deal with me a lot more often then you can handle!"

"I swear it man, I'll never do it again!" Rico lied, just hoping to get out of this situation as soon as he could. "Just back off, and I swear we won't have any more problems."

For a second it looked like Gohan was going to do just that, but he was just psyching Rico out. He stalked back towards the boy and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him to his feet forcefully. "I don't believe you," Gohan said coldly. He peered deep into Rico's brown eyes before an odd flowing sound caught his ear. Gohan looked down at the crotch of his jeans, and smiled widely at the boy. "Did you just wet you pants?"

"What's going on out here?!" A gruff voice yelled into the air. Gohan immediately dropped Rico back down on his butt, and whirled around to find his algebra teacher standing behind him. An older man in his early fifties with a white beard and matching hair, and a small-framed pair of glasses.

"Um, nothing," Gohan gulped.

"Don't try to tell me nothing," he said, as he looked down at the unconscious boy laying a few feet to his right. "Really, I'm surprised at you Gohan. There are serious consequences for starting frights around here young man."

"But I didn't start it sir!" Gohan yelped defensively. "I was just…" Gohan pointed in the direction he'd dropped Rico only to find the lousy snake had already slithered out of harms way.

"No, excuses young man! Come with me! If you're going to explain your actions to anyone it's going to be the principal!"

"Oh man…" Gohan moaned, as he followed his algebra teacher to the principal's office.

----------

Gohan sat anxiously, listening to the principal as she reprimanded him. This is ridiculous! All I did was defend those two kids from those punks who were threatening them! Yet I'm the one who gets in trouble! They knew there was a fight, so they just grabbed the first person they saw they knew was involved and pinned it all on me! This is kind of like that cop who let's the bank robber slip away and escape, because he's too busy writing out a ticket to someone he pulled over for doing forty-one in a forty!

"Do you understand what I'm saying Gohan?" The principal asked gruffly.

"Yes I understand Ma'am…"

"You've only been attending this school for two weeks, and your already getting into trouble. Normally any type of fighting on school grounds calls for automatic suspension despite the case, but…"

"But?" Gohan asked hopefully.

"But…" The principal's expression softened slightly. "Miss Videl put in a good word for you. She informed me that she saw the entire thing, and that you only got involved to help out those kids they were badgering."

"Videl put in a good word for me?" Gohan asked, completely in shock.

"Indeed she did. When Videl says something we dare not doubt her. Also, we know all about Rico and his friends, and they've never exactly been honor students if you know what I mean. I can understand you wanting to stand up for the younger children, but next time please come to one of the teachers and don't take the law into your own hands okay? It's hard enough having one famous vigilante student on our hands."

"No problem Ma'am, I understand. I wasn't looking to get into a fight anyway, but I didn't have much choice after they attacked me. I'll try better to avoid it in the future."

"See that you do." Her expression hardened slightly. "And make sure you stay out of trouble in the future Gohan. I'll be keeping an eye on you, and try not to destroy any more lockers will you?"

"Oh, yeah that… Sure thing Ma'am." Gohan sweat dropped. Good thing she hasn't heard about what I did to the gym yet.

Gohan released an exasperated sigh of relief, as the door to the office closed behind him. So he couldn't trash bullies anymore. No biggy, there were ways to work around that. For example he could play ping-pong with them across the hallway with a few mere exertions of his energy. Whoa, Videl stood up for me? I have to say I'm more then a little surprised. I'm going to have to find her and thank her. She just saved me from getting my butt kicked out of school.

End.

-Howdy! Once again, not much here but you have to give a story time to build up and develop. I don't like it when authors rush into the plot too quickly, I prefer something that lasts a little while so that's what I'm doing. Am I forgetting something?… Oh, yeah the preview! In chapter three Gohan goes searching for Videl to thank her, but a certain thug and his friends aren't satisfied with admitting defeat or settling for being made fools out of. 'Til next time thanks for reading!