Chapter Five

To Make Her Smile Once More

The wind was chill this early in the new year, snow glistened on the ground as the students mingled after the break of their mid-term exams. Tonight was the night of the preliminary round of the dance competition, and the aftershocks of the change were almost palpable to the four students. Sharpner was beside himself with arrogant pride, he never missed a chance to remind everyone who would be in the dance competition tonight. To many he had been barely tolerable before, now there was no living with him, much to Videl's chagrin.

The rehearsals had become depressing and stagnant with the change, gone was the joy and sheer wonder of dancing with the man she had begun to feel was someone she wanted to be with. The fact that Gohan had failed to come for the past three days did nothing to lift her spirits. Everyday she had tried to get him alone wishing to talk about what had happened, but anytime she began to approach he had turned and walked away without a word. By this time she had stopped trying to come near him, and was left only with looking across the expanse of the words that were unspoken. The thought of those words, a great chasm that was unable to be bridged, brought tears to her eyes. So much joy had come because of Gohan, and now she had brought the greatest pain to both of them.

As for Erasa, she could only watch the sadness wash over her friend and suffer with the helplessness of being unable to do more than be a comforting presence. Sharpner received his share of evil looks, but the arrogant man barely noticed. She wanted to do something, and when the three were released from the class she hugged Videl with a promise to see her tonight at the competition. The young blonde gathered her bag and went into the halls of Orange Star High School with a purposeful stride. Green eyes scanned the halls as the students were just beginning to clear out of the school to enjoy the shortened day.

Turning a corner she found what she was looking for, Gohan stood with one of his teachers from another class. Their conversation ended as she approached and called his name, he turned and looked at her for a moment a slight smile on his face. Their friendship had grown with the dance class as well and she had come to welcome his advice and just pleasant companionship, plus his effect on Videl was enough to ensure she would like him. She smiled back and fell into step with him as he began speaking.

"How are you Erasa? It's been awhile since we talked last," he walked to his locker and began sliding books into his bag. She took a moment to marvel at the stack, mostly higher level classes and even two college level courses. The fact that he was smart was known, but the sheer level of his workload was astounding. He glanced at her and blushed as he swung his bag over his shoulder, "Erm, my mother was really strict about my studying when I was younger, so what's up?"

Recovering from her surprise, sometimes she was very much the blonde role everyone thought she was until they got to know her, "Well I was just seeing how you were Gohan, after all you've been like, a ghost or something for the past week. We've missed you in class..."

He made a disbelieving sound as he shook his head, "I doubt I'm missed that much, I've just been busy with the exams and..." it sounded like a weak excuse, even to him and he sighed a bit looking down dejectedly.

"You are! Ms. Corwin and I both miss you, and I know Videl does..." she touched his arm, "The competition's tonight, are you going to be coming."

He shook his head a bit, but she could see he was saddened as he did, "No, I mean I don't think there's much reason to and I don't want to be in the way."

"But you have to come..." she was reaching, trying to find a way to get through, "what if something happens to Sharpner??"

He rolled his eyes as he gave his locker door a hard slam, "Nothing is going to happen to Sharpner, he wouldn't miss this chance for anything. Look Erasa, I know you mean well but I just don't feel like going tonight."

"But Videl..." she stopped as he turned sharply and his voice rose in a mixture of anger, pain and sadness.

"Give it up Erasa! Sharpner! Videl! They're together, just the way everyone wanted! I am not going to have it rubbed in my face, honestly I don't care anymore alright! Forget the competition, dancing and forget about Videl and Sharpner. I no longer care at all!" leaving her in a state of shock he turned on his heel making his way through the crowded hallway with no concern for students in his way. He felt horrible about yelling at her, but he didn't want to be reminded of what had happened anymore than he wanted to feel this way.

The young sayjin did not stop to see if she had stopped following him, he just kept walking through the steadily emptying hallways. Soon he was in an all but abandoned section far from the front doors where everyone had left for home, there he stopped to lean against a wall and his eyes closed as he went over the conversation in his mind. It bothered him that he had spoken without thinking, when he did that he never seemed to say what he had intended. He had lied to Erasa, but what was the difference if he cared about Videl anymore or not.

"I've probably made her hate me now," he mused aloud as he sank to sit with his back to the wall, "First Videl and now Erasa...you're batting a thousand these days..."

"It's really a shame you have no one to talk to but yourself Gohan." the voice was a sneer that matched the expression on Sharpner's face. Seeing him caused Gohan to growl without realizing it, there was perhaps no one else he could desire to see less at that moment as he rose back to his feet and met the shorter boy's eyes levelly.

"Do you want something Sharpner, something else to take from me?" the tension was almost palpable and with a start Gohan realized he was starting to build up energy. He released it but took some satisfaction in seeing the blonde boy back up a step before regaining his composure and smugly glancing at him.

"You're a bit tense bro, you should relax, and hey I've got everything I ever wanted," as Gohan turned he spoke slowly, "She's out of your league anyway, this really is for the best."

Gohan stopped and regarded him slowly, then he took a step forward and again the blonde back-stepped nervously, but Gohan merely spoke slowly, "If this is an attack against me, congrats, you've won, just don't do something to hurt Videl."

Sharpner blinked in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

Gohan sighed, "Just, don't embarrass Videl this way, dance well and do your best to make her happy. I don't know if that's why this happened but whatever the reason, take your shots at me and leave her be."

From where she was leaning around the corner Erasa smiled and nodded slowly thinking triumphantly, 'I KNEW it! He does care about her still!'

Sharpner smirked and shrugged casually, "Hey, no worries bro, after all you keep forgetting that this wasn't my idea, I just went with it. Can't blame a guy can you?"

Rolling his eyes, Gohan turned and continued further down the hallway, either ignoring or unaware of the hatred of Sharpner's eyes following him. As he vanished around the corner, Sharpner tugged his white trench-coat into place and exited outside a nearby door. Walking to the parking lot he spied a white sedan with dark tinted windows. As he approached the car the driver, dressed in a black uniform with silver buttons and a black cap, opened the door and he slid into the leather seats with the door closing behind him.

Tapping his silver headed cane into the floor of the car, his father looked at him from the corner of his eye. His father had a way of commanding respect from his son with nothing but that look and Sharpner's mask of cockiness and ego slid away. He knew better than to be that way here and his father waited until the car was in motion before he spoke slowly.

"What have you been doing Sharpner?" his eyes glanced at his son again and his voice was cool enough to make a glacier feel warm.

"Just getting ready for tonight father..."

"Is that the reason I saw you speaking with that boy...Gohan was it?" the question did not require an answer but his son did try to explain.

"I was merely getting a jibe in, to remind the peon where he belongs...thinking he could be with Videl, no one is going to be with her but me!"

The cane moved and brought stars to the boy's eyes as his father rapped him on the head, "Do not be arrogant, that boy is none of your concern I've already arranged his removal from the equation. Now you, my boy, must fulfill your roll. I do not want you to make the same mistake you did last summer when you moved faster than she wanted and it set us back months."

Sharpner rubbed his head irritably, "That wasn't my fault..." his voice sounded suspiciously whiney and his father raised the cane threateningly again causing his son to shy away.

"Quiet and pay close attention. The Satan's wealth has expanded incredibly from the time of the Cell games, Hercule's influence is incredible and the oaf doesn't notice at all. I am in direct control of what he influences but he'll retire one day and we need to be poised to continue the control that the Satan name brings with it. For that I need you to be in a position to inherit the Satan fortune. For that you need to bring Videl to be more...amiable towards you. So you will dance and sweep her off her feet, you will get within her better graces...do you understand me?"

Sharpner looked at his father for a long moment, much of what had been said was foreign but he did understand the last part, "I'll try...but she's considering quitting, at least from what she and her blonde friend keep talking about, what if that happens."

Glancing at his son's platinum blonde locks his father settled back into the leather seat and shook his head, "I'll persuade her otherwise, you just do your part and leave me to move the pieces." Sharpner shook his head, his father always talked like that, for his part he just wanted to get Videl. To him she was the ultimate prize, the woman every man wanted and none could get. And that was what caused him to dislike Gohan so much, he and Videl seemed to have something between them that he had never had. For that reason alone he was determined to see Gohan would not interfere with his collection of the prize he deserved.

The car came to a stop and Sharpner blinked as he realized they were in the driveway of the Satan mansion. He started to open his door but a look from his father stopped him, the frosty gaze in his eyes could chill the blood. Exiting the sedan his father walked up to the door and entered with the familiarity of years working with Hercule. He was allowed to come and go as he pleased and was often taking advantage when both the Satans were gone to have guests over. He went to the stairwell and made his way up to the second floor, the mansion holding the eerie silence of disuse and even the cold man felt a shiver down his spine.

He turned the corner from the stairwell just as Videl was emerging from her room her hair tied in it's braid down her back. She stopped with a start as she spied him, but her body moved without thought to take a defensive stance. Once she realized who it was she shook her head and turned away muttering, "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to take a moment to wish you the best of luck in tonight's competition," she stopped and looked to him for a moment and he smiled none to kindly, "Come now, did you think it would be a secret with you and my son sharing a class? No need to fear though, so long as you keep in the competition...because if you were to quit your father would most certainly learn of your activities with Gohan. I can assure you when it was over you would be transferred to the West Fayette Academy for Girls, never to see anyone you know again."

He gave her a moment to let that sink in before he spoke slowly, "My car is waiting to take you to your dance...wouldn't want you to get lost along the way.

She looked at him for a long moment, her eyes glittered with held tears and she muttered, "All this because your son can't get that he has no chance with me?" she looked away and gripped the banister of her staircase, her mind reeled with all that had been done like the fates were pushing her from the man she truly cared for and straight towards the man she hated most of all. Her knuckles were white with the strength of her grip as the tears began to fall, "I've got no choice do I?" she didn't need his nod to confirm it, reluctantly she gathered her small bag and took a step down the stairs with all the happiness of a funeral procession.

She didn't look back but she could feel the smirk of Sharpner's father following her every move. Reaching the front door she found the car waiting, the driver stood by the rear of the car where his father had vacated. As she approached he opened the door with a slight nod which she returned gloomily, it wasn't his fault that this was happening and she had always tried to keep herself from lashing out at people who didn't have reason to be.

'Besides,' she reasoned as she slid into the leather seats and shot a dark look towards her new dance partner, 'I've got a perfect target to lash out at.'

Sharpner glanced at her then down as he felt the force of that look, he had seen Videl angry before and she looked ready to tear someone apart. The fact that she was physically capable of such a feet did not escape him in the least. The short drive to the banquet hall was filled with a tense and somber silence where Videl sat with her arms crossed under her breasts. She stared ahead and said nothing even once they'd arrived and were met by Ms. Corwin and Erasa.

The blonde girl could almost see the tense sparks between them and she feared the explosion that may come if someone did not intervene, "Hey guys, we'd better get you two ready to go," and with that simple pronouncement she all but yanked her friend from the car leaving Sharpner standing in the snow with his teacher in front of the banquet hall. Other students, parents, and guests of the competition were filing in as she regarded her student for a moment. He smiled in his usual cocky manner once Videl was gone, he felt he stood on more solid ground with his teacher.

"It's time to get ready Sharpner, but I want you to understand that I do not approve or encourage this partnership, nonetheless we'll do what we must with the hand we are dealt, I'll take you to your changing area."

Her words were clipped and held no more warmth than the first of the snowflakes that were beginning to fall. She turned without glancing to see if he was following and they passed through the banquet hall. The competition dance-floor was centered in a room with round tables set with fine china and white tablecloths. The room spoke of elegance and grace, all the requirements for a night of dancing as even the guests were dressed in their finest attire. He was led through the room to the room set aside for the male dancers to change and prepare.

She waited for him to enter the room and closed the door before turning to the women's readying room. She found Videl dressed, but she stared at the mirror her face emotionless and focused. Looking to Erasa questioningly the two walked away from the girl and spoke in soft tones.

"She's, like, completely shutdown Ms. C, whatever it is she won't tell me," Erasa sounded nearly ready to break into tears at any moment, "I've never seen her like this, it worries me."

Ms. Corwin nodded in agreement glancing at Videl, "Me too dear, but I doubt she'll talk to me if she is silent to you."

The blonde nodded a bit and looked down, speaking more to herself, "Well, I think there's someone she might..." she looked up and smiled, "I'm gonna go Ms. C, since I am not needed here and all, I'm gonna get some things together alright?"

Her teacher blinked, "Certainly Erasa..." before she could get another word out the young girl was running out the door. She ran to a phone booth and made a call to information, glancing across the street to the banquet hall she saw the last people trickling in and made a silent wish for Videl to have good luck. Scribbling down the number from the operator she hung up before lifting the receiver to make the second call. The phone rang for a moment and she was beginning to worry that she might get no answer.

After an eternity she finally got what sounded like a child's voice in answer, "Hello?"

Blinking she hesitated, "Ummm hello?"

Before the voice on the other end could say more there was a sound of yelling in the background, a woman's voice that sounded angry...and loud, "GOTEN! I"VE TOLD YOU A THOUSAND TIMES NOT TO ANSWER THE PHONE!"

Erasa held the phone away from her ear with a wince, apparently the owner of the voice was coming closer to the phone. Drawing it back she heard the same voice speak much calmer than before, "Hello?"

"Hi, umm I'm a classmate of Gohan's I was wondering if I could speak to him please? It's rather urgent." Erasa felt a moment of relief for the lack of yelling, her ears would be sensitive for awhile after that.

The woman on the other end spoke a moment off the phone and then spoke slowly, "I'm afraid he's not here at the moment, I can take a message if you'd like."

"Please, do you know where I could find him...it's urgent that I talk to him immediately."

Chi-chi heard something in this girl's voice, a sound near desperation and she hadn't the heart to tell her to just be patient, "You must be either Videl or Erasa."

She nodded and smiled a bit at the thought that Gohan had mentioned her, "Erasa, and you are his...mother?" she hoped she was right, though she seemed so young that she wasn't quite sure. The woman's confirmation alleviated her fears.

"Yes, it's nice to meet you, as for Gohan he's over at the Brief's house," Chi-chi gave the address and added, "I'll call them to let them know you are coming."

Sighing with relief Erasa scribbled the address down on her paper hastily, "Thank you so much Ms. Son, I have to go but I hope we'll get to speak again sometime."

Chi-chi smiled and bid the girl farewell, Erasa hung up the phone and tugged her coat closer around her. The snow was falling fairly well now and she shivered a bit. It was definitely time to get indoors, haling a taxi she slid into the seat and gave the driver the address, she just hoped that she could convince him to listen to her this time. The cab splashed through the slick roads and came to a stop next to the large home of Satan city's second wealthiest family, behind Hercule of course. Paying the fare, the young woman stepped onto the cleared path and nervously rang the bell her foot moving back and forth anxiously.

Moments passed before the door opened and a woman that seemed little older than Erasa herself opened the door. She was well known for her work as a scientist and as one of the forerunners of capsule corporation. Green hair was cut short and she was dressed in a pair of tan slacks with a white t-shirt under a brown leather jacket. Seeing the girl at the door she smiled genially and stepped out of the way speaking slowly.

"You must be Erasa, Chi-chi said you would be coming by, come in let's get you warmed up..." as Erasa stepped in she took a moment to admire the surprisingly simple home. Plaques and awards lined the walls with pictures of family and friends, she even spied Gohan in one. The floor was smooth wood and a staircase led up to the bedrooms. A sudden boom shook the entire house and Erasa blinked as Bulma calmly reached up and caught a picture before it fell.

"What was that?!" Erasa gripped the banister with a start.

Bulma merely shook her head and yelled, "DAD I thought you were going to reinforce the shocks on the training room." She smiled apologetically to Erasa, "Come with me, don't worry it's just the result of testosterone driven men fighting."

She walked through the hallway and into what appeared to be a cross between a science lab and a kitchen. The sink and refrigerator lined a wall, silver stove and all, but monitors and computers stood against the main wall which overlooked a large open room with black floor tiles. Standing at the wall the blonde looked at one of the screens in surprise as she watched Gohan and a shorter man sparring. Both were bleeding, and Gohan's clothing was ripped in several places, as was his opponent's.

Standing nearby Bulma sighed eyeing the dents in the floor and walls skeptically, "That's going to take months to fix, I wish he'd go easy especially with someone else in there. They've been at it for hours now, wonder what's gotten Gohan so angry?" Erasa met her eyes and sighed.

"Turn your television on to channel eight and you'll understand." She watched Gohan and was shocked to see him so...different from the gentle boy she had known. Vegeta punched him and the taller boy merely shrugged it off delivering a vicious side kick in return. Turning her attention to Bulma she saw the television had been turned on and there was Sharpner and Videl as if on cue. A moment passed as they were introduced and then Bulma turned the screen off with a sound of disdain.

"So, he's upset because he's not dancing?" Erasa nodded, she then explained a general idea of the situation and Bulma sighed looking at the boy she had watched grow up, "I understand why he's upset...he's always been more sensitive then his father and to escape his pain he'll almost kill himself."

"I've tried to tell him what happened, but each time he walks away...that's why I came here..." Erasa sighed a bit and looked down, but she blinked at the touch of Bulma's hand on her shoulder.

Smiling the older woman winked, "Don't worry dear, when this fight's over he won't be going very far...by the looks of it they should be done any minute now."

Indeed as they watched the two fighters were toe-to-toe and had abandoned technique to just swing punches. Blood trickled from a wound on Gohan's temple while Vegeta bore a cut lip. Each punch sent the other man reeling and Bulma reached into a drawer seeking a pill bottle calmly. Erasa winced as they both connected with a punch and both fell with a loud crash. She was shaken from the scene by the feel of a pill being thrust into her hand.

"Come along dear, now is the time when we prove that no matter how strong they are, women will always be the top," they went around a corner and down a flight of stairs to a solid metal door. Pressing a code into the keypad, Bulma hit a red button and the door opened, the tiled floor went to white signaling the return of normal gravity. Erasa stared in wide-eyed fascination as she stepped towards the two fallen men. Bulma pointed to Gohan as she stepped towards Vegeta and Erasa knelt slowly.

"Gohan?" the only response was a slow, wheezing breath as she pushed him onto his back, glancing up she sought further guidance and watched as the other woman broke the pill or bean slightly and pushed it into her husband's mouth. Following suit, Erasa gently pushed the bean into Gohan's mouth. A moment passed and he started to chew, seconds later he sat up with a gasping breath, across the room Vegeta was beginning to yell towards his wife.

"WOMAN! I've told you not to give me those ridiculous beans anymore!"

She rose and met his angry eyes, "If I didn't you'd die from your training you big ape!"

He smirked, "At least it would be a proud and honorable passing, and peace from your meddling."

Gohan smiled a bit, "You'd never know they love each other dearly." Erasa blinked, he seemed almost unharmed now, his wounds were gone save for the blood, and he rose without sign of pain. She stood as well and they left the couple to argue alone. He sat and grabbed a towel to wipe sweat from his face, she stood nervously watching him, idly she played with the sleeve of her coat where it sat on the back of the seat.

"Why did you come Erasa? The competition's close to over by now..." he sighed a bit and watched as she strode to the television and turned it on. There was Videl and Sharpner in a replay where he watched as she stumbled several times. The commentators were analyzing the dance, but Gohan could tell it had not done well. Erasa let it play a moment or two longer before turning it off with a nod.

"She needs you Gohan, no one else can get her to dance like she does with you..." he opened his mouth to speak but she shook her head and tapped his nose with her finger, "Na ah! You've spoken quite enough and ignored me to boot! It's time you listen and let me give you the four-one-one. You think that you are the only one suffering here, but it broke Videl's heart when the change happened and you left. She cried for hours, days, and it hurts me to see her like that!" Tears now glittered in her green eyes as she faced him and grabbed his shoulders.

"Do you know what she told me once? She said she trusts you Gohan, as much as she has ever trusted me...maybe even more, because of what you both have in common, you are both fighters, both have lost parents. She trusts you to be who she wants to be and not who she's expected to be," he looked down a moment but she forced his chin up and met his eyes.

"Don't you understand, she only learned that day that you would not be her partner, Ms. Corwin was forced to change by Sharpner's father. He said she could lose her job if she didn't put Sharpner in the show. Videl had nothing to do with that, she likes you Gohan, she likes you a lot. Hell she told me that sometimes the only joy she has had of late is the time she spends with you. She hasn't smiled in a week, indeed she has barely talked at all, please Gohan..." and she leaned close, "Don't let her be hurt anymore...I can't stand to see her like this...and I know that you care about her whatever you have said to me..." her words were barely discernable through the sobbing, but she continued on.

"I heard you talking to Sharpner, you care about her and dammit..." the young sayjin blinked as her tears fell on his arm and she looked down, "It hurts that she needs someone and it's not me, but if I have to drag you to her...if that's what it takes to make her smile..."

He rose slowly and drew her into a hug, his own tears mixing with hers on his arm, she blinked but hugged him back feeling the warmth surround her. He sighed and spoke gently, "I have been a royal idiot Erasa, and I owe you an apology for what I said." His voice was steady despite the tears that continued to fall.

She sighed a bit, "I know why you were angry, but I won't pretend it didn't hurt."

"I know, but hopefully I can make it up to you?" he smiled hopefully.

She wiped her eyes and met his looking more serious than he had ever seen his friend, "You'll only be forgiven when you make Videl smile again."

He slid into a chair at the table and his thoughts swirled around those words, Erasa looked at him and nodded once making her way towards the door. She felt content now, the wheels were turning, now it was merely a matter of trusting that Gohan would find a way. The young boy sat, alone with his thoughts, for hours after she had gone, his mind constantly circling around one single thought.

'To make her smile once more...'