Final Lesson: The Power of Love

Sharpner breathed heavily, smoke blocking his view of Videl. He had poured a lot into that attack but he didn't care. If Videl wasn't his then she would belong to anyone. The fact that she had her heart set on mountain boy was an insult. If Videl had perished he would hunt down mountain boy kill him and say that he had killed Videl and he had gone after him in a lover's rage. That would gain some favour with her father, even if Videl perished in the long run this would be the best path to undergo.

Since Sharpner's view was obscured he used his ability of ki sensing to try to find Videl's life force behind the smoke. He could feel it, Videl's heartbeat beating strongly, too strong in fact. How can she still be at her full strength after taking that blast, thought Sharpner. He knew his blast had made contact but that is when he sensed it and fear began to spread through his being as he finally understood. The wind blew the remainder of the smoke away to reveal Gohan standing in front of Videl, not a scratch on him.

"Looks like we can settle all our debts here Gohan," said a very cocky Sharpner.

"This fight is pointless Sharpner; I don't want to hurt you," replied Gohan as calm as he could be.

"You couldn't possibly hurt me! What gives you the faintest idea that I won't walk away from this fight the victor?" asked Sharpner, his arms folded.

Gohan, realising that actions would speak louder than words, raised his hand and incinerated part of the forest to his left, feeling for anybodies presence beforehand to make sure nobody was hurt. Clearly this feat had gotten through to Sharpner. "That attack is only scraping the tip of my capabilities; not even one percent of my full power," said Gohan getting his point across.

Fear spread across Sharpner's face as he realised the difference in strength. However, he had a score to settle and he was beyond reason. Feeling all the anger building up, Sharpner attacked with the same attack he had accidentally caused back at the campsite a few days earlier. As he screamed out, trees were vaporized and a crater was formed as Videl screamed out in fear. As Sharpner finished his attack he looked to where Gohan and Videl were to find that the blast had simply revolved around them.

Sharpner now was in a state of panic, how could mountain boy be so strong? Rushing forward he unleashed a barrage of punches but every attack was avoided by the barest of margins. "Stay still!" shouted Sharpner as he thrust his fist at Gohan's face with all his strength. A sickening crunch was heard as Sharpner's fist connected with Gohan's face. Videl gasped in shock as she heard several bones break before Sharpner screamed out in pain.

Gohan neither smiled nor smirked at the result, keeping his emotionless face pinned on Sharpner who tried desperately to tend to his broken bones. "This whole fight has been caused by the fact you don't believe that I'm capable of protecting Videl. I believe that I am more than willing to protect the one that returns my affection," said Gohan. Videl suddenly realised that Gohan had heard the conversation before with her and Sharpner where she had admitted that she loved him. Then she realised that Gohan was now admitting to a third party that not only did she love him but he loved her just as much if not more.

"You will not stop me Gohan! Videl will be mine!" shouted Sharpner full of rage. Gohan, sensing that he could no longer reason with Sharpner walked forward towards his opponent. Sharpner got into a flimsy battle stance but that didn't threaten Gohan in the slightest. Sharpner charged forward but was smacked into unconsciousness as Gohan landed a "weak" chop to the side of his neck. Gohan caught the falling Sharpner and swung him over his shoulder.

Videl decided now that it would be a good time to come out of hiding. "What's going to happen with him Gohan?" she asked.

"In what way?" replied Gohan with a confused look.

"Well he's unstable; if he gets back to the real world he could cause some major damage," explained Videl.

Gohan shook his head from side to side. "I talked to Bulma about this and apparently she has already prepared a drug which prevents the affected from accessing their ki for a period of time. She said that it is capable of preventing me from fighting for about a day so Sharpner shouldn't be able to do anything for about twenty years and hopefully he has calmed down by then."

Videl couldn't help but smile at Gohan's twisted sense of a joke as both she and Gohan began to make their way back to campsite, the prize of 200,000 zeni gone from Videl's mind. "So what about everyone else?" asked Videl.

"They've all been captured," he commented. "I was able to sense every large group and prepare accordingly," he concluded with a smile.

"You're so full of yourself Gohan," countered Videl causing said boy to chuckle. Her tone then changed becoming very sincere. "Did you mean that?" Gohan looked at her confused so Videl emphasised. "Did you mean what you sad, about you loving me?"

"Of course Videl," admitted Gohan. "Why do you think I took you under my wing?"

Videl could only smile in response.

...

At the campsite it was a sorry sight. Bulma could only giggle as she watched the last of the captured being dragged back by both Goten and Trunks. It seemed that everybody had grouped together in an attempt to use numbers to their advantage; apparently everyone was taking Gohan seriously. Those who had tried to go on their own looked the worst of all.

All those who had been captured were sitting in silence, ashamed of the fact that they had been outwitted and outmatched. That was until laughter broke the silence coming from the trees. All those in attendance turned their heads towards Videl and Gohan who had just walked out of the forest with Sharpner slung over Gohan's shoulder. Nobody seemed surprised that Sharpner had been on his own, after the tournament he had isolated himself from the rest of the group leaving only a destroyed campsite in his wake.

"Well I guess I get to keep the money then unless you want it Gohan," said Bulma.

"Na," said Gohan dumping Sharpner to the ground before looking at Videl. "I've got all the treasure I want." A few of the watchers threw awkward glances around one another as Gohan wrapped his arm around Videl's shoulder. Videl knew that rumours would now spread but she didn't mind... so long as they weren't too farfetched.

"So with that guy that's everyone?" asked Bulma.

"I think so, I can't sense any major power levels out there," said Gohan.

Videl however was counting off everyone in her head. "Wait a minute where's..."

"I'm RICH!" shouted a voice from nearby. All heads shot in the direction to see Erasa holding the money capsule in her hand. Everyone was confused as to how Erasa had mangaged to avoid and evade all of Gohan's traps.

"How did you get it?" asked Videl as stunned as the rest of the students.

"Well since you ran off without me I had to go by myself," Erasa pouted. "I'm no good at running so I was behind everyone else and watched everything from behind. Then after everyone got caught I snuck around them."

"So you slipped through the defences by going slowly," summarised Gohan. "Since you were going at a peaceful rate you weren't emitting a strong enough chi pattern for me to track. Clever."

Immediately Erasa was latched onto Gohan's free arm. "Oh Gohan, thank you so much for the compliment! Wait why are you hugging Videl? Are you two an item now?" Gohan looked at Videl, Videl looked at Gohan. They both shrugged it off as if it was blatently obvious.

Erasa's squeal of joy could be heard for miles.

...

The airbus landed and all those in attendance boarded without a moment's notice. The joy of being back in the city was too overwhelming for some of the girls including Erasa who was willing to spend her 200,000 zeni. Bulma and crew decided to jump into their separate vehicle while those who could fly on their won took the quicker method. The airbus lifted up with the drugged up Sharpner on board leaving only Gohan and Videl behind. As the airbus vanished from sight there was a silence but it was nowhere near awkward.

"So what now?" asked Videl after a few minutes.

"In what way?" asked Gohan in return.

"Well since you're so strong are you still going to come to school?"

"Yea, why wouldn't I?"

"Because I've been thinking that this may not go the way which we imagine it."

"Just don't think, just act."

"This is coming from the guy who aced all of the entrance exams?"

Gohan nervously chuckled as he and Videl locked lips. After all the best way to survive is with someone else, preferably someone special.

...

And with that DBZ Survival Skills 101 comes to a conclusion. Now that that burden has been lifted off my chest I can look to the future. I hope all those who have read this story have enjoyed reading it. Please review and you shall hear from me soon.