Lesson #9: Preparing the Assault

Erasa walked through the forest and ended up at the lake where Gohan and Videl had previously been. When she got there she found the campsite abandoned, not a trace remained of them. Sulkily, she walked back into the forest cursing herself for waking up as the sun rose so that she could check on her friend. Not only does she not show up after saying that she will come see me, but she doesn't come to the lesson and now when I come to find her she has vanished, she thought. But Gohan's vanished too, does this mean... Erasa's one track mind could only think of one solution and she squealed in joy.

Erasa arrived back at her all female campsite twenty minutes later to find most of the girls awake and having a breakfast of fruits and nuts. While they had struggled with the whole 'survival' thing at first, they had eventually digressed. However they still forced themselves to be as pretty as they could be and thus had each other do basic things like hair. They had constructed very poor shelters but some guys had felt pity on them and decided to adjust their shelters slightly so that they were better built. Abby and Bianca looked up at their friend as she walked into the campsite.

"Hey Erasa," said Abby. "Where were you this morning?"

"Hey Abby," replied Erasa. "I went to go check on Videl."

"Did she tell you why she didn't come to the lesson yesterday?" asked Bianca. "She 'SO' missed out. That Yamcha guy was 'SO' hot."

"Totally," added Abby.

"Well, I went to her campsite, you know she's been camping out with Gohan," said Erasa.

"Well that is like old news, so what's the new news?" asked Bianca.

Erasa explained, "Well I went there and they were, like, not there. They'd moved somewhere else."

A collective giggle echoed out from all those who had been listening. "So they've gone somewhere more secret?" said one of them.

"I wonder what they are doing?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Like TOTALLY!"

"I am like SO jealous of Videl right now."

"I wanted to date Gohan."

"You did? So did I."

"Me too."

Erasa was happy, she had fulfilled her role as gossip queen and even though she knew most of the stuff being said was likely not the truth she liked hearing it anyway.

"Nerd boy and Videl are missing?" stammered Sharpner as he tried to take this information.

"Not missing, after you tried to attack them they probably decided to go somewhere safe," said Erasa who had decided to share the information with her friend.

"I had every right to sneak up on them, nerd boy's trying to steal my girl," complained Sharpner.

"She's never been your girl Sharpner," Erasa pointed out. "Anyway don't you think they make a good couple?"

"NO! I'm going to go hunt them down and make Videl mine."

"How do you plan on finding them?"

Sharpner struggled to find an answer. He had no leads to where they might have gone and it would take weeks to look through the entire forest. Defeated he said, "Well that Yamcha guy said that the next lesson would be locating someone's Chi. When I learn that tomorrow I'll be able to find them."

"Oh Sharpner you're so smart," admired Erasa.

"I know babe, now I have to get ready to face them," he said going his separate way. Erasa sighed and started walking back to her own campsite. Sharpner grumbled as he walked past the few guys that he had sought refuge with. He hadn't joined a group when the others did because his face was buried in the dirt courtesy of Videl. He knew he had become stronger than then plus he had had an extra lesson then Videl and when the time came he would have had two lessons, he would be more than ready. A few of the guys were also plotting against Gohan and Videl because they too wanted Videl for their own. War was soon going to occur.

"GOHAN, where are you?"

"C'mon Gohan we want to play."

Trunks and Goten were slightly annoyed, they had been hunting for Gohan for ages now but he was concealing his energy and it made it difficult to track him.

"Why do you think he's hiding?" asked Goten to his lavender haired friend.

Trunks thought for a bit. "Well Gohan doesn't hide unless he has a reason."

"So what do you think his reason is?"

"Probably to hide from all the girls," said Trunks as if he had just solved world hunger.

"Yeah, because if he was found by girls he would get cooties," reasoned Goten.

"Goten, there's no such thing as cooties!"

"Why would he hide from them then?"

"So...he...um...wouldn't...get girl flu." Trunks meant it like a statement except it came out more like a question.

Thankfully for Trunks, Goten took the bait. "Yuck, girl flu, that sounds bad."

"Yeah it's horrible so no wonder he is trying to hide from all the girls," Trunks said building on his story. A part of him couldn't believe that Goten was actually falling for this.

"So should we try and find him still?" asked Goten.

"I think we should leave him be," said Trunks as he started running back to their campsite with Goten in tow. He honestly had no idea why Gohan would be in hiding but he knew he was going to find out, his dad would know.

"Why would I know where Kakkarot's brat is?" spat Vegeta.

Both the kids swallowed deeply. Trunks replied, "Well we haven't seen him in ages so we wanted to know where he could have gone. We can't sense his chi anywhere."

This sparked Vegeta's interest. "When was the last time that you saw him?"

"Last time I saw him was when he had been sleeping next to a girl," said Goten.

Trunks' mouth dropped. "You didn't tell me that!"

"Oops, guess I forgot," said Goten rubbing the back of his neck.

Vegeta let out a hefty laugh which left the two semi Saiyans slightly stunned. "I wouldn't go searching for him if I were you," said Vegeta. "If he's sleeping with a woman it means he's in love."

"My Gohan in love," said Chichi as she overheard the conversation. "It's like a dream come true. What's the girl like Goten?"

"I wasn't really paying attention," admitted the young boy.

"Oh that's alright, I'm sure if my Gohan has found a girlfriend that she's beautiful," said Chichi with hearts in her eyes.

"Well there were quite a few hotties in that group," added Master Roshi before a hundred volts of electricity was pumped into his neck leaving him in pain.

"I'm pretty sure it's more than just a girlfriend as well," said Bulma as she added herself to the conversation.

"What do you mean?" asked Chichi.

"Do you want to explain Vegeta?" said Bulma.

Vegeta chuckled. "A Saiyan will only pick one woman in his entire life and after a while they will become one and mate."

There was a silence throughout the entire group until a single word echoed through the forest. "GRANDBABIES!"

Gohan awoke with a start; he swore he heard his mother's words ringing through his head. He looked over at Videl and was relieved to see that some colour had returned to her cheeks. His stomach released a large growl but he pushed food to the back of his mind, at the moment he only wanted Videl to get better. He walked over to the trickling water and with a makeshift bowl made out of leaves he gathered some water. He then took the bowl and poured the water into Videl's mouth, her body taking the fluid but her eyes remained shut.

Gohan had faith that Videl would make it through this situation but he was starting to worry about when Videl would wake. The fact that she had recovered some of her colour meant that she was getting better, but better wasn't enough. He walked out into the small clearing that he had chosen for their base and sat on the ground. He closed his eyes and entered into a deep meditation, it was all that he could do.

Videl wandered aimlessly through the darkness without purpose. She didn't know who she was, she didn't know why she was here, she had lost everything. A blinding light emerged in front of her and Videl had to shield her eyes. Through squinted eyes she looked at the light to see Gohan standing there. "I'll help you find who you are," he said in a calming voice. Videl walked towards Gohan and reached out and grabbed his hand. She felt a sensation running through her body, a feeling she had lost long ago...hope. Gohan smiled as he led Videl towards the light.

Gohan's senses alerted him that a chi was present and he instantly broke out his meditation. He turned around and raced over to Videl and watched as her eyes fluttered open. He gently stroked her cheek with the back of his hand as tears ran down his cheeks. "I'm so happy you're awake," he said.

"Thanks for helping me find the light Gohan," Videl said as she raised her head so that her lips touched his. They deeply embraced one another and shared this moment together in happiness.

Such a touching reunion. Now that Videl is awake her training can resume. Will she be ready when all hell breaks loose and how much pain will Sharpner be put through? Please review and you shall find out.