I won't even make up excuses for being away for so long... thank you everyone who's reviewed. Well, enjoy the chapter and read and review!

Gohan dejectedly walked back home, shoulders slumped. He squeezed his hands into fists as he felt his eyes go misty. The words that he had heard just a second ago still rang in his mind, they likely would haunt him for the rest of his life, he presumed, angrily. Was it his own fault? Was he asking too much? He could ask himself these questions but he still couldn't believe that it was fair, that Videl would never again remember the love they shared.

Shenlong's eyes shone a bright red for but a second before the massive dragon replied to their query.

"It cannot be done."

"What?!" Gohan exclaimed.

He took a step forward furiously, but felt Videl's hand touch his shoulder gingerly and he felt some of his rage ebb away. He looked back at her, she looked scared and disappointed but she smiled at him just the same. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Shenlong.

"The magic used to bind this woman's memories of you precedes the magic used to create me by thousands of years, in fact all of this kind of magic was thought to have been destroyed. That is why this wish is impossible."

All the confident hope Gohan had before hearing these words evaporated, maybe... a small vestige was left?

"And the Namekian dragon?" he asked, dreading the truth.

"This magic was created before both of us." The dragon answered.

"I see... I won't ask for any wish at the moment."

Shenlong disappeared, returning to the dragon balls. Gohan slowly went to the balls, picking them up in silence. Finally the apparent silence got to Videl.

"Gohan, I..." she stopped mid sentence and just went to hug him from behind.

He twitched at her touch and took a deep breath.

"Don't touch me." He said, evenly.

She let go and backed away.

"But..!" She started.

"I don't want to see you anymore, I can't and I won't make you love me like before."

Videl's heart twinged at that sentence, it sounded so hollow, not like the usual Gohan she saw everyday at school.

"G-Gohan, I may not love you but I do like you!" she pointed out.

"And more than a friend... maybe we can start over?" she said hopefully.

Gohan laughed ironically and turned around.

"You like me, huh? You're sure that's not just because everyone's telling you that you used to?"

She felt a tinge of guilt, maybe that conversation with Erasa had influenced her, was that it? She frowned and shook her head. No, that smile, their conversations... she liked him all right.

"No, this wouldn't work, Videl." Gohan said, looking her in the eyes.

She felt the anger well up in her, tears now ran down her face.

"It won't work? You! You act like you love me, but you won't even consider being in a relationship with me again! You're just selfish!" she said, shakily.

A look of sadness passed upon Gohan's face, he went up to Videl, who was now sobbing. He cupped her face with a hand and she looked up.

"You shouldn't cry, Videl, your suffering is temporary..." he murmured.

He paused and kissed her softly on the lips.

"Mine is eternal." He finished.

Videl touched her lips in shock, her tears momentarily stopped, though her cheeks were still wet. Gohan turned away from her and started to walk away.

"Wait-!" She yelled after him, she started to run after him.

He didn't even look back, he just flew off in a flash. Clutching her necklace that she knew Gohan had given her, she let the angry tears flow free once again, and she didn't even stop herself from emitting a yell of frustration.

Sure, Gohan could act all cool in front of Videl, but after he left, he was really torn up. His heart ached from all the things he had said to her, enough to make her cry. But it was okay, she probably hated him now, she would get over it the next day and then... his throat tightened as he thought of it.

'Then... she'll get a new boyfriend and forget all about this lowly guy who loves her.' He thought.

He had been tempted to continue their relationship when she said that she liked him, but it wouldn't work out. Could it ever have? Gohan being more keen on the relationship, while Videl... who knows what Videl might feel for him? But eventually in that sort relationship, Videl would get sick of him, maybe even hate him, and that was a pain he wasn't willing to risk.

As he walked he felt something jostle his leg, it was the bag of dragon balls he was carrying. He glared at the orange orbs, they were useless to him... useless.

"You're useless you friggin' balls!" He suddenly yelled.

He took the balls, one by one, and threw them in different directions as hard as he could. He knew that it was just an excuse to blame the dragon balls, he was really angry at himself, but who really gave a damn.

Videl had sneaked into her room from the window, she didn't want to talk to her dad at all right now. Why did she feel so strongly for Gohan, anyway? Even after all that had just happened, she couldn't hate him, she couldn't hate his beautiful sad eyes. But she could sure get angry at him.

"Asshole! Bastard!" She cursed at him, as though he were in the room with her.

"Stupid self pitying jerk! 'Your suffering is temporary' wow thanks, Gohan, I'm just supposed to get over this easily?!" She raged.

She calmed down a bit and lay down on her bed, trying to rid her mind of Gohan. Her mind flashed her memories of their date, acting as a couple at school, passing notes in class, fighting crime together, and of course, their parting kiss.

'You hardly know him, you don't like him, you don't like him.' She told herself repeatedly, until she drifted off to sleep.

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