Gohan sat in the waiting room with his head buried in his hands. What had started as a friendly tournament over money had turned into a struggle resulting in a permanent injury. The stakes had suddenly grown even greater with the laming of Yakov. He had power that Gohan had only ever seen in his fellow Z-fighters. The cracking and shattering of his friend's bone and his ear-piercing scream of agony danced in his ears.

Uncertainty plagued the young Saiyan. It was a different sort of uncertainty than that which had tormented him during the Cell Games. He had been fighting for the fate of the world then. Now, even if he did lose, only a small handful would be truly affected. But he had grown to care about them in their short time knowing one another.

He weighed his options, carefully considering the best course of action. Thoughts of dropping out of the tournament were present in his mind. Forfeiting would be the only way to escape from the consequences of the tournament only revealed to him minutes ago.

Marriage.

The word sat heavy on his tongue and heavier still on his conscience. The only thing keeping his feet planted on the ground was Damien. He was the cause of Yakov's injury and no doubt planning on securing Videl's hand in marriage for himself. Gohan couldn't allow him to win, not after what he had done. He had to fight - it was the only option. He would deal with the "prize" afterwards.

"Would Gohan and Damien please report to the stage?" the announcer called. His voice rang through the speakers on the ceiling, prompting Gohan to stand and proceed outside.

He glanced around, seeing Damien already climbing onto the grey platform. Videl leaned against another doorway, watching the blond with narrowed eyes.

A black-hatted man, who Gohan recognized from earlier, brushed by her and ran up to him. As security rushed to take him away, he quickly said with short breath, "The Rabbi says, 'let not your vision of today obscure tomorrow.'"

He paused as security caught up with him. As security lead him away the man yelled passionately, "Break both his legs!"

With the minor disturbance over, Gohan rushed to the ring and took up his spot across from the fighter.

"After the brief recovery period, the final match is to begin! Damien Stoker will be facing off against Son Gohan for the prize of 50 million Zeni as well as Videl Satan's hand in marriage!" the man shouted into his microphone.

Gohan stretched his arm across his body and locked eyes with Damien. A cocky grin sat upon his face, expecting a victory that Gohan knew he would not taste.

"It's not too late to drop out if you're too scared," Damien taunted.

Gohan simply glared, not allowing himself to retort. He dropped into a fighting stance, watching as Damien did the same. He examined it from afar, searching for any flaws or easily exploitable openings. It was tight, but nothing was perfect.

"Don't say I didn't warn you when you're lying next to your crippled friend. Your condition might make him thankful for how easy he got off," the blond continued after Gohan's silence.

"You don't scare me, Damien," the Saiyan responded.

"You might be brave now, but I'll have you begging for mercy. Videl isn't worth all the pain you're going to go through. You won't even be the one leaving with her in the end. I'll be the one marrying into the Satan family. Do you know how much money they've got in their pockets, mountain boy? Probably more that you'll ever see in your life," he taunted.

"Is money all you care about? What about Videl?" Gohan demanded.

"I guess I'll get a girl out of it, but I can do better than her anyway. She doesn't even deserve me. She's lucky she's rich. She won't be a problem, though. I've got plenty of other girls. I almost feel bad for her, but it's not my fault her dad's throwing an opportunity like this around." Damien chuckled, raising Gohan's fury even more.

"So she's nothing more than a means to an end to you? You don't deserve to win this tournament, Damien," he growled, clenching his fists.

Damien laughed harder. "Getting angry? Too bad you can't do anything about it."

Gohan took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He needed a clear head and couldn't let this arrogant fighter rile him up. "I'm going to beat you, Damien," he claimed, keeping his voice steady.

Damien responded with a short chuckled. "Are you, now? You're always welcome to try, but don't expect a sympathy card when you're alone in the hospital."

"Fighters, are you ready?" the announcer yelled into the microphone, ejecting saliva onto the top.

"Let's finish this in the ring," Gohan said with a nod to the referee.

The blond grinned. "If you want to go through with this, I have no problem handing your ass to ya." He echoed Gohan's nod with an air of confidence around him.

"Then let the fight begin!"

Gohan quickly dropped into a defensive stance. As much as he wanted to unleash his wrath onto Damian's face, he couldn't allow himself to rush in without first testing out his opponent's strength. According to his senses, all Damien had was empty boasts, but he knew better than to underestimate an opponent. The stakes were too high.

Damien dashed in and twisted around for a kick. The wind up left enough time for Gohan to both block and counter, but he chose to only block. He didn't want to play his hand just yet.

The Saiyan whipped up his arm, barely acknowledging the connection between shin and forearm. Damien brought his leg back and followed up with a barrage of punches. None connected with anything other than the palm of Gohan's hand.

As Damien backed off for a breather, Gohan noticed his surprised expression. "Not bad, mountain boy," the blond commented before leaping back in.

Gohan let him unload a variety of strikes into his blocks, barely flinching as they continued to connect. He barely concentrated on the fight itself, however. With every punch or kick, Gohan was studying him. He was soaking up every trick in Damien's fighting style.

His eyes snapped over to Damien's leg. He was preparing for a strike to the shin while distracting Gohan with his strikes. The Saiyan was not easily fooled.

He moved his leg away at the last moment, leaving Damien unbalanced. Gohan quickly took advantage by ramming his shoulder into the blond's chest, knocking him flat on his back.

In an average fight, the teen would have followed up with a knockout blow, but not this time. He didn't want to win the battle quick and easy. He wanted to dominate in a way that Damien knew he had made a mistake; knew that Gohan wasn't as weak as the arrogant fighter previously thought. He would not be able to claim that Gohan only won because of a minor miscalculation on his part or that the match was close. He would be completely and utterly defeated. And he would know it.

Damien leaped back onto his feet in no time and was back at it. He threw simple strikes, occasionally peppering in a flashy, yet impractical, move he no doubt picked up from Mr. Satan. Time and time again Gohan saw holes begging to be exploited. Time and time again Gohan held back, waiting for his moment.

While the spectators were amazed by the speed and dexterity that Damien displayed in the ring, to Gohan, the blows seemed to come at a sedate pace. He had been sensing the blond was holding back his full potential and couldn't help but wonder "why?" What would he gain aside from unnecessary bruises?

Gohan's arm raised up to block Damien's fist from descending upon him while he idly thought back to the words the man in black had shouted at him. Suddenly, understanding dawned on him. His current block was preventing him from seeing Damien's foot. He quickly moved it but it was too late. A blow struck his knee with incredible force.

The crowd collectively gasped as a cry escaped Gohan's lips. He felt a sharp pain, but instead of the snapping of bone and tearing of tendons, it held firm.

Pushing the pain to the back of his mind, Gohan stretched out to sense Damien's inner ki. Instead of the bright bulb that true warriors like Vegeta and his father displayed or even the flickering candle that Yakov had presented, Gohan found nothing. What was there before him was an above average human ki. Bolstered by this knowledge, the Saiyan struck swiftly, slamming his palm into the center of Damien's chest. The arrogant blond flew across the before barely steadying himself on trembling legs.

"I-I don't understand. That should have worked!" Damien said, his eyes wide.

"Damien, this has gone on far too long. The mercenaries, crippling Yakov, all of it. I'm taking you down."

With that said, Gohan leapt into battle with a shout of fury, slamming his fists into Damien at a rapid speed. Try as he might, few were blocked by Damien. By the time Gohan backed off to regroup, Damien's breaths were heavy. He rubbed his injuries subconsciously and descended into a sloppy, defensive stance.

"Those attacks that Mr. Satan says are just special effects are all real," Gohan said through gritted teeth.

"That's impossible! No one-" Damien's reply was cut off by a massive blow to the jaw. Spittle splattered out of his mouth as he fell heavily onto the floor of the arena.

"You will not have your way with Videl." Gohan said taking a small breather.

"This… this is just a temporary setback. You'll see. You will lie broken before me and the Satan fortune will be mine," he claimed, but his confidence was hindered by subsequent groans of pain.

"Sorry, Damien. The tournament ends here." With a thundering roar, Gohan began to power up. A massive gust of wind slammed into the audience, and they quickly clutched their hats and valuables. Damien felt the effects as well. His hands scrambled for something to grip onto before being blown backwards like leaves in the air. He flipped over, banging his head on the solid concrete, before managing to find a handhold on the edge of the ring.

"It's not possible! I am the strongest!" he screamed over the wind.

"Ka..." Gohan began, bringing his hands back to his side. A blue glow formed between them, little more than the size of a pebble.

"This is just trickery!" But as the spherical ball grew, it grew harder to dismiss it as a trick of the light.

"Me..." The blue glow filled the space between his palms, brilliantly bright.

Damien climbed to his feet. As much as he tried to deny it, he knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that this was real. That this would be his end. But he was Damien Stoker. He wouldn't lie down and accept it. He began rushing towards Gohan, unsure what he would do but confident that it would be enough to stop the inevitable.

"Ha..." The orb was large enough to push back against his hands now. The Saiyan was forced to widen the gap between them to make room for the radiant energy.

"I am the greatest of Mr. Satan's students! You are nothing compared to me!"

"Me…" Gohan reached deep inside him, pulling out the last bits of ki necessary for an opponent like Damien, and finally the ball of energy was complete and ready to fire.

Damien reared his fist back for a punch. It flew through the air nearing Gohan, but he stood resolute.

"Ha!" The signature move of the Turtle School shot out from Gohan's extended hands. It crashed into Damien. He struggled to keep his footing before being shot back. The beam shoved him against the wall before blasting through it, leaving the blond lying on the grass below.

The beam retreated, leaving Gohan's empty palms outstretched in front of him. He dropped them to his side, panting.

Seconds passed with no movement. The audience was stunned into silence. Suddenly, the sound of clapping hands echoed throughout the arena.

"Good job, Gohan!" Gohan recognized his mother's voice from the stand and glanced up, flashing a weak smile. As he did, more clapping began. The audience had joined in.

"Contestant Son Gohan has won the tournament, receiving the prize of 50 million Zeni and the hand of Videl Satan!" the announcement boomed through the speakers.

Out of the corner of his eye, Gohan noticed Damien climbing to his feet and slowly slinking away. The Saiyan didn't pay him much attention. He hadn't won and wouldn't be getting Videl anytime soon.

Gohan lingered for a minute, waving at the stands, before stepping off the stage and making his way back to the waiting room. He noticed Videl had left, which brought his mind back to the prize of the tournament. He shook his head but chose not to dwell on it. He had something more important on his mind.

When he reached the hospital, he found two women sat in the hall. Both were dressed in dark clothing with the odd splash of colour. The younger of the two comforted the one covering her hair with a dark cloth. She looked up at Gohan as he passed, recognizing him.

"Did you beat him?" she murmured quietly.

"Yeah, I did," he responded.

"Good."

Gohan waited a moment, but she was silent. Noticing that the conversation was over, he walked to the medical room that held Yakov and went inside, seeing the warrior unconscious on the bed. On his left sat an old man in a chair. He looked up at at Gohan and said, "Congratulations on your victory. Your father taught you the secret of the Kamehameha well."

"Bu… How did you know?"

He smiled warmly, "Your energy was like a blinding light. Even Yakov felt it."

"He's out cold though," Gohan pointed out.

"Not his soul. That is one technique I taught him. Just because your body sleeps does not mean your chi must also sleep."

"So will he be alright?"

"His soul remains with his body. He will not die. However, do you see that tree out there?"

"Of course."

"Bring me seven leaves and four sticks without blemish, mark or bug."

"What for?"

"So he can walk again."

Gohan raised an eyebrow at the suggestion. He didn't doubt that it was possible for Yakov to be healed in an unusual way, but what would a normal tree do?

Then, something hit him. Senzu beans. The powerful beans had slipped his mind, only to come back to him at this moment. He turned to the man with a smile. "There's something called a senzu bean. It would heal him in seconds."

"Where are they?" the man questioned.

Gohan's hand flew to his belt, feeling for the pouch he normally kept on him before remembering he hadn't brought any. He sheepishly replied, "In Korin's tower."

"The leaves and sticks are much closer. This will be faster."

"You're right. I'll go get them," he agreed.

Gohan left the room and jogged outside where he studied each leaf and stick carefully. It was harder than he had expected. Few leaves were untainted, but he diligently continued the search. Soon he had selected seven leaves and four sticks that he was sure would be perfect.

When he returned, the man studied them with a careful eye. He accepted only three before sending Gohan back out. After many such trips, the allotted number were gathered.

"How will leaves help him?" Gohan asked as the man checked over the materials again.

The man smiled and responded, "How would beans?"

"They're magic. These aren't."

"Then we will have to add the magic."

The old man placed the leaves and sticks in a formation that resembled a tree. Three leaves on each side, one on the top and four sticks in the middle. He chanted words that Gohan did not recognize, and within a few minutes the tree shape began to glow with ki. Gohan closed his eyes and stretched out, searching for the source, but he could sense nothing. When he opened his eyes, the ritual was complete. The man grasped a small glowing branch. Each of the parts were now interconnected and shining with energy, chi that Gohan could not sense. The man touched the injuries that Yakov had sustained. One by one they closed. The swelling in the head went down. The broken knee mended with his leg shifting visibly. Every scrape, every bruise, and every mark disappeared one by one.

"How?" Gohan whispered, as if he were afraid to disturb the ritual too much in fear it would return the injuries that were magically healed.

"This is a branch of the tree of life," the rabbi presented to Gohan. "It will heal any wound and protect the bearer. Keep it hidden away where none can steal it and use it for evil."

"Will Yakov walk? Why hasn't he woken up yet?"

"His soul is awake and listening, but his body must rest. The Tree of Life cannot give energy like a senzu bean can. I wouldn't mention it to the doctor. Some secrets must be closely guarded." Then the rabbi left the room, leaving Gohan and Yakov alone.

"I did it Yakov. I beat Damien," murmured Gohan. He felt Yakov's energy change briefly and then lay still.

He couldn't tell how long he lingered there before the medic returned. The man gave a sympathetic glance at Gohan before going to work.

"We'll have to take him to a proper hospital as soon as we make sure he's safe to transport," the man said. He paused upon registering the lack of bruises and swelling but brushed it off.

Gohan nodded. He considered staying at the bedside but decided against it. He still had to receive his "prize".

As soon as he left the room he saw the Z-Fighters waiting for him outside. Chi-Chi was the first to congratulate him, pulling him into a hug that even he could not have blocked if he tried.

"You did wonderful. I'm so proud of you," she said as soon as they had separated.

"Thanks, Mom," Gohan said.

Krillin appeared next to his mother. "Yeah, you did great! You really put that jerk Damien in his place. Speaking of which, how is that Yakov guy, anyway?" he asked.

"He's a lot better now. There was this guy who knew a way to heal him, kinda like a senzu," the Saiyan explained, thinking back to the strange man.

"That's great!" Krillin said with a smile, "Mr. Satan's probably going to want to give you your prize soon so we oughta head back."

With the mention of the "prize", Gohan's face fell. Chi-Chi must have noticed because she quickly ushered him away from the others.

"Look, Gohan, I never really wanted to trick you, you know? I didn't tell you because I thought you'd back out if you knew," she said.

"I would have," he agreed. The two sat next to each other on a nearby bench.

"I know, baby, bu-"

Gohan cut her off. "I don't want to get married, Mom. Especially not to somebody I don't even know."

"I know, Gohan, bu-"

Again, the Demi-Saiyan cut her off. "Videl doesn't want to either. It's not fair for either of us. You've got to understand that, Mom. I'm sure she's great and all, but I don't want to marry her."

Chi-Chi sighed. "I know, Gohan, but think about it. She's the daughter of Mr. Satan. If you marry her, our whole family inherits that fortune. We'll never have to work again. We can have the biggest mansion, the best cars, our own private jet. Think about it-"

Once more, Gohan cut her off, his eyes flashing with anger. "I don't want to live like that, Mom! We have 50 million zeni, why do we need her family's fortune? I don't want to have to marry someone I don't even know just for money!"

Chi-Chi was silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. "I'm sorry," was all she said.

The two sat there, not speaking to each other, before Chi-Chi finally ended with a nod. "I'm sorry," she repeated.

Glancing at her face, Gohan noticed that her cheeks we stained with tears. "Mom…" he trailed off. There was nothing either of them could say. He stood, intending to leave, but Chi-Chi placed a hand on his arm and he sat back down.

"I really am sorry. I wasn't thinking. I'm sure there's a way to turn down the prize. We can just ask," she suggested.

For a moment Gohan considered it. If he turned down Videl, neither of them would have to get married yet. Then, a terrible thought entered his head. Hercule wanted to marry his daughter off. He'd probably just host another tournament. And then Damien would rig it again. This time, however, he would win. Gohan wouldn't be there to stop him.

But what was to say they couldn't persuade Mr. Satan not to? There was always the possibility he wouldn't change his mind, but Gohan did have a secret weapon. It went against all of his morals, but blackmail was always an option. He could always make Videl's dad change his mind by threatening to reveal he was a fraud to the entire world.

Then again, could he really follow up on such threats? Having to resort to something such as blackmail would weigh on him enough. What if Mr. Satan did not back down and forced him into a position where he would have to decide if he could actually reveal the man's deep secrets?

As he was thinking about this, an even worse thought entered his mind. What if Mr. Satan didn't bother hosting another tournament? After all, Damien was the runner up, so if he was bribing Hercule why wouldn't the prize just be passed down to him.

Would he really be able to put Videl in that position just for his own happiness and freedom? No. At least here Videl would be married off to someone that could be trusted to treat her right. He had to do it.

"I can't do that, Mom. I can't let her end up married off to someone else. Someone like Damien," Gohan finally said.

Chi-Chi nodded. She leaned over, wrapping him into a hug he returned. They sat there, both of them lost in their thoughts. Gohan's worries about this marriage and Chi-Chi's regrets.

"I should have never put you in this position," she whispered.

Gohan would have agreed, but he knew his being here was the only thing that stopped everything he feared from happening. Damien's plan would be reality, and if he was able to stop that from happening, Gohan was happy. With a sigh, he responded.

"Maybe it's for the best."

…

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