fate 3

"Dende, why do we have to wear PE uniforms, anyways?" Gohan asked himself as he snuck his head back in to the boys' locker room and looked down at his clothing. The PE uniform consisted of a thick-strapped tank top and knee length shorts.

< I didn't want anyone to see strong I am compared to the other guys. Mom told me last night not to make myself stand out in any way or else I'll have a harder time fitting in. That's why I wore loose-fitting clothes that covered my arms and legs so people wouldn't see how different I am from them. Plus, this is slightly embarrassing. All day long, I've been harassed by girls who obviously think I'm "cute"; this is just going to add more fuel to the fire, > Gohan thought with a sigh.

"Yes, Sensei!" Gohan called out through the door. Gohan cringed and sent a silent prayer to the young guardian of the earth.

"Oh please let this go by smoothly and calmly," Gohan whispered before pushing open the door and walking out. The moment he did, he felt all eyes rest on him and he regretted walking out that door. It didn't take Gohan long to decipher the looks he was receiving from everyone.

The looks on the guys' faces, although masked by indifference, told Gohan that they were envious of the attention he was receiving from the girls, who were looking at Gohan with lust and awe in their eyes; Gohan just wanted to curl up and die. Even Videl couldn't keep her eyes off of Gohan the moment he entered the gym; it was hard to remove her eyes from him with his perfectly formed body.

The sight of his muscular body made her feel light-headed and caused an unknown fluttery feeling to appear in her stomach. < What's wrong with me? Why do I feel myself getting light-headed? > Videl shook away the feeling. < Anyway, I wonder how he got such a wonderful body? Could it be from doing martial arts? > Videl thought before dismissing the idea. < No, martial arts doesn't build up that type of muscle. I wonder how he got so strong. He looks like he could carry 5 people and not even break a sweat, > Videl thought, the direction of her stare never leaving Gohan's body.

As Videl saw the direction in which Gohan was headed, she blushed and quickly looked away, unconsciously not wanting Gohan to see that she was beginning to become attracted to him. "Hey Videl," Gohan said cheerfully as he approached her.

"Ok, ok, calm down. I was just asking." Gohan gave her a small smile and Videl relaxed, returning the same smile as well.

"Ok class," the PE coach bellowed, "Since last Friday the girls played volleyball and the guys did the mile, we're going to switch it around. Today, the girls are going to run the mile and the guys are going to play baseball."

(A.N: I didn't know when I planned out this story that in the real DBZ episode, they really played baseball. Isn't that a funny coincidence? It was only after I did some more research on The Great Saiyaman Saga did I find out that a scene w/Gohan playing baseball really happened. Sorry for interrupting the story. Back to your regularly scheduled reading.)

Gohan froze. < I've never played baseball before. What am I going to do? Yamcha's told me some about baseball, but I haven't even seen a game played before. Aw man, I'm screwed, > Gohan thought.

"But first," the coach continued, "We're going to warm up with some sit-ups and push-ups." Gohan smiled. < Finally, something I can do. >

"Ok, everyone on the mats. MOVE!" the coach yelled. Everyone rushed to the mats that were on the other side of the gym.

"Alright, we're going to start with sit-ups. All of you, 100 sit-ups." The class of 40 students got to work on the sit-ups, knowing that any delay would get them yelled at. Gohan took a spot next to Videl on the mats and proceeded to do the same number of sit-ups that everyone else was doing.

< 100 sit-ups? Is this all? I could do these in my sleep, > Gohan thought. He glanced over to his right and saw that his classmates were having trouble, most of them out of breath. He then looked over to the other side and saw that most everyone was having trouble too, except for a few people, Videl included. Gohan inwardly smiled. < I knew she was strong. A human would have to be really strong in order to do 100 sit-ups without breaking a sweat. >

After about 5 minutes, although not everyone was finished with the required number of sit-ups, the coach yelled at them to stop.

"Ok, now it's time for push-ups. I know these are hard, but I want you to do at least 20 of them, ok?" The group of students nodded.

"Well, get to it!" the teacher called out. Everyone got down at started doing push-ups, except for Gohan, who looked like he was thinking carefully about something. The coach immediately noticed that Gohan was not following class directions and he went over to his new student.

"Gohan, what do you think you're doing? You're supposed to be doing push-ups with the rest of your class." Gohan smiled.

"I know, Sensei," Gohan said, "I'll get right to them." The PE teacher eyed Gohan suspiciously as he started doing his push-ups. < Alright, since I used my right arm to push me up and down this morning, I'll use my left arm this time, > Gohan thought, totally focused on the task at hand.

Lying flat on the ground, Gohan put his right arm behind his back and pushed himself up with his left hand, eventually balancing himself on one finger. Once he had gotten his balance, Gohan began pushing himself up and down. The coach watched in awe.

"My god, boy, how did you learn to do that?" he asked, drawing all of the attention on Gohan, who just didn't care anymore.

"Years of training. Normal push-ups don't hold any challenge for me, so one of the people who trained me in martial arts taught me this technique when I needed something to challenge me," Gohan said as he went through with the exercise. All of the students now crowded around him, watching the new student show his stuff. The guys were too amazed to be jealous of Gohan's strength and the girls were practically drooling as they saw the muscles in his left arm flex with every upward motion.

While Gohan was going his push-ups, he managed to look over at Videl. He felt himself go weak as he caught the look in her eyes, a look of awe and wonder. Upon seeing the look, Gohan blushed and became flustered, immediately losing his balance and toppling over, landing on his right side. Gohan grunted in shock as he hit the mat below and, to his utter embarrassment, found that some of the students were laughing at him.

"Yeah, for someone who looks as strong as you do, you sure are a klutz," a guy called out. Gohan felt his face go red and he picked himself off of the ground.

"Heh heh, I slipped," Gohan mumbled, his eyes cast on the ground. The PE teacher shook his head to clear it. < What a strange new student, > the coach thought.

"Alright," the coach said, moving on, "It's time for the girls to do the mile and for the guys to go play baseball. Now move, on the double!" The class immediately obeyed and split up to do their designated activities.

Gohan stayed in the back of the group as all of the guys in his class moved out of the gym to the baseball field. After the group reached the perfect-looking baseball field and picked out baseball gloves, Sharpener stepped forward, along with another guy named Lapez.

"Alright," Sharpener said to the rest of the guys, "Lapez and I are going to be team captains." With a smirk, Sharpener turned to Lapez.

As Lapez started carefully making his decision as to he wanted on his team, Sharpener said, "Hey man, sorry about what I said this morning. I meant nothing by it. Peace?" Sharpener held out his hand, waiting for Gohan to accept his peace offering. Gohan took it in stride.

"That is one strong grip you have there, smart boy. Just how long have you been training in martial arts?" Sharpener asked.

"Just for that, you don't get to be on my team." Sharpener proceeded to pick someone to be one his team, then Lapez went, and so on until everyone was on a team.

"So I guess my team's in the outfield. Come on, everyone let's get this show on the road," Sharpener said as he started walking towards the pitcher's mound. Gohan quickly caught up to Sharpener and said, "Um, is it too late to tell you now that I've never played baseball in my life?" This caught Sharpener dead in his tracks. He turned around and looked at Gohan, wide-eyed.

"You mean to tell me that you've never held a baseball bat or used a baseball glove before?" Gohan shook his head and Sharpener sighed.

"Ok, Gohan, here's how you play. Someone hits this ball," Sharpener held up a slightly worn baseball, "With a bat and whoever's close to it on the other team tries to catch it so that player will be out and won't be able to run the bases. After a team has three outs, then the next team goes up to bat. If you hit the ball, then you get to run around the bases and if you get tagged by the ball, then you get out." Gohan thought about this for a moment.

"Ok," Gohan said, "So what do you want me to do?" Sharpener looked away from Gohan to survey the field. Sharpener soon had a decision.

"I want you to go to center field. Right there in the middle," Sharpener said, pointing to a spot at the way end of the field, "and if you get the ball, throw it to me, ok?" Gohan nodded and turned to run to where Sharpener told him. Sharpener shook his head in disbelief before turning around, ready to pitch to the first hitter.

Gohan hadn't seen much action way out in center field, so he allowed his mind to wander and didn't notice that a few hitters had come and go. Lapez stepped up to the plate and readied himself for the pitch. Sharpener gave him a sly smile. < He'll never hit this pitch; I'll make sure of it, > Sharpener thought. The ball was pitched and it hurled straight for Lapez and, much to Sharpener's surprise, he smacked it with the bat, causing it to fly in Gohan's direction.

"GOHAN!! WATCH OUT!" Sharpener called, but it was too late. Gohan found himself being knocked out of his daydreams by the ball pelting him in the head. As it fell to the ground, Gohan rubbed his abused head.

"What the..." Gohan muttered, looking down to see the baseball. < Oh, the ball. Now, what did Sharpener tell me to do with it again? > Gohan thought, scratching his head in a move that resembled his father.

"Oh yeah!" Gohan exclaimed, "I'm supposed to throw it to Sharpener." Pulling back his arm, Gohan said, "Here it goes. Don't throw it too hard, Gohan." Gohan lobbed the ball to Sharpener at an inhuman speed. Sharpener saw the ball flying for him and he felt a fear he never felt before.

"Oh-no," he squeaked. At the last moment, Sharpener ducked, the ball whizzing past his head and heading for the catcher. The catcher also saw the rapidly approaching projectile and hurriedly dodged it, allowing the ball to go right through the wire fence, the dugout wall, and clear across the street that was behind the baseball field.

The entire group of baseball-playing students stopped and stared in disbelief at the smoking holes in the fence and dugout wall. A couple of guys even fainted, including the catcher. Sharpener was, to say the least, shaken up by the whole (ha ha, get it? Whole...hole...hehehe...never mind, bad pun) experience. Everyone stared at Gohan like he was an alien (AN: if they only knew...) as he ran towards the pitcher's mound.

"Hey," Gohan called, "Did I get him out? How many outs...does...that...make?" Gohan slowed down as he neared Sharpener, one eyebrow cocked at everyone's flabbergasted looks.

"Guys, what's wrong? Did something happen? Why are you staring at me like that?" One guy with brown hair and wearing a yellow shirt walked over to Gohan and put a hand on his shoulder.

"What do you mean 'what's wrong'? Did you see the holes you made in the fence and the dugout wall? How did you do it?" the guy asked, his mellow voice slightly shaky.

Gohan's brow furrowed as he tried to understand what the guy was talking about. His gaze eventually settled on the two smoky holes that he created with his throw. Mentally, Gohan was smacking himself.

< Stupid, stupid, stupid. Mom told you to watch your strength and so what do you go and do? You do things that no normal human can do, you idiot, > Gohan thought angrily. Gohan showed no sighs of his internal anger as he struggled to come up with an answer.

"Um, beginner's luck," Gohan said, though it sounded to him more of a question than a statement. The guy who still had a hand on Gohan's shoulder laughed abruptly and loudly, trying to shake off the incident.

"Right," he whispered, his face contorted in a disbelieving look, "if that's beginner's luck, then I'm a monkey's uncle." Gohan cleared his throat and looked at Sharpener.

"Sure thing, Sharpener." The two teams switched places, Lapez's team heading for outfield and Sharpener's team going to sit in the dugout.

Two batters went, each of them hitting singles, which placed them on first and second base. Sharpener went third, stepping up to the plate and holding the bat like a pro.

Videl, who was the first one finished running the mile, sat down in the bleachers to watch the game. Luckily, she hadn't seen Gohan's throw or else Gohan would never be able to face her again; it was bad enough for Gohan that all of the guys had seen it.

"Come on, Sharpener," Videl yelled, "Hit a home run and cream these guys!" Sharpener smiled at one of his best friends.

"No problem, Videl," Sharpener yelled back. Videl watched intently as Lapez, who was the pitcher, threw the ball for Sharpener, intending to get him out. But, instead of getting him out, Lapez got the second best thing: Sharpener too hit a single, one of his worst hits ever. Disappointed at the crappy hit, Sharpener ran to first base, making the bases full.

"Already? Gosh, that was quick," Gohan said as he stood up and picked the bat up from off the ground. The guy who nudged him said, to no one in particular, "If he can hit as hard as he can throw, he'll bring everyone home, including himself."

As Gohan took his place at home plate, mimicking everyone else's pose up at bat, he forced his power level to go down. < Ok Gohan, don't hit it so hard. Loosely grip the bat and lightly swing so you won't sent the ball halfway across the galaxy, > a voice inside Gohan chided. The ball was pitched and as it neared Gohan, he swung...

And missed. The only thing that went flying was the bat that he held in his hands and he winced as it hit the metal fence. < Whoops, guess I held it TOO loosely. > The members on the other team snickered as they saw the bat fly out of Gohan's hands and hit the batter's cage.

Videl's hand smacked her forehead. < Oh no, don't tell me Gohan's never played baseball before. > Lapez signaled everyone to move in closer as Gohan retrieved the bat.

"Ok, you guys," said Lapez with a slight sneer, "This guy may be a powerful thrower, but he's no hitter. Move closer, guys, we have a wussy hitter on our hands." Gohan's eyes narrowed as he heard the words and his Saiya-jin anger and pride took over, ruling out over his common sense.

< "Wussy hitter", eh? Well, I'll fix their little red wagons. Goten, this one's for you. I hope you like your new toy, squirt, > Gohan thought, his mind focused on showing all of them just how much of a "wussy hitter" he was.

Gohan stepped up to the plate, bat in hand, and threw his best glare at Lapez while searching for Goten's signature energy, finding it with a malicious smile. Gohan could always tell his brother's ki from any distance; he had gotten used to having to search for Goten whenever he wandered too far from home.

< Ooh, Gohan looks pissed, > Videl thought, < I wonder what he has in mind? I can tell he has a plan or something. > Videl and Sharpener watched closely as Lapez wound up for the pitch. The ball was released and everyone held their breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Would Gohan miss? Would the bat fly out of his hands again?

With a loud crack, Gohan hit the ball and set it flying into the air. All eyes watched the ball as it flew out of the park and over the horizon, never to be seen again.

Somewhere else, out in the middle of the forest, a little boy with spiky black hair, much like the hair of our main character, was lying idly in the middle of a field when out of nowhere, a ball hit him in the head.

Goten sat up with a start, watching confusedly as the ball landed in his lap. Picking up the round object, Goten could immediately feel his brother's energy surrounding the ball and a goofy grin appeared on the small boy's face.

"I don't care if you can't hear me! Thank you, Gohan!" he shouted to the forest, hoping that somehow, his big brother knew how much he appreciated the gift.

Back at Orange Star High School, the eyes that were focused on the ball left the ball once it was out of sight and refocused on Gohan, who set the bat down on the ground and proceeded to run slowly around the bases. Everyone followed Gohan as he rounded the bases.

He slowed as he approached home plate, coming to a complete stop as his toes reached home plate. With a moment of spontaneity, Gohan hopped onto home plate, causing a small cloud of dust to rise off the ground, before he walked off, heading for the dugout where Sharpener was waiting to congratulate Gohan.

"Good job, Gohan," Sharpener said, "That was an awesome homerun you hit there. I've never seen anything like it." The coach, who had seen Gohan's great hit, approached the half Saiya-jin, whose angry look faded into the normal peaceful look that Gohan's classmates were used to.

"Gohan, that was amazing. I haven't seen a homerun that good since the all time greatest baseball player." Gohan looked at his PE sensei with a confused look.

"I mean, the only person that I know that could hit a ball that far is the great Yamcha." Gohan's eyes widened in recognition and happiness at the mention of one of his close family friends.

"You mean you know Yamcha too? Isn't he a great guy? You know, he told me that I'd be a natural at baseball. He tried to teach me how to play, but my mom yelled at him, telling him that I needed to concentrate on my studies, and she made him chop firewood for us as punishment for daring to suggest that I take time away from my studies." Gohan stopped talking at all of the wide-eyed looks he was getting.

"Yeah," Gohan said like it was nothing, "He's a close family friend. I've known him ever since I was 4. What's so big about Yamcha? I mean, he's a great martial artist, but is he really famous for that?" Everyone looked at Gohan to see if he were joking, but the innocent and clueless eyes told them that he wasn't.

"Hello," Sharpener said loudly, hitting Gohan lightly on the side of his head, "Where were you born? In a barn? Yamcha's only the greatest baseball player in history." Gohan's face only looked more confused.

"He plays baseball professionally? Hm, I never knew that. (AN: picture everyone fainting Anime style here) I knew he liked to play baseball, but I never knew he did it professionally. I'll have to ask him about that this weekend. I think he's coming over for dinner."

Gohan looked around to see everyone walking away, shaking their heads at him. They all had one thought about Gohan: < Clueless. >

"Hey guys, I don't get it. What's wrong?" Gohan looked pensive as the rest of the guys walked away, putting away their gear.