Chapter 4

First

The night was black now. The void of light between the huge mountain and the lake had dissipated. It was replaced with an actual void of darkness.

Chiaotzu and Tien did not sleep in the same bed, but they did sleep in the same room. Neither of them snored, so nothing cut into their hours. These next three years would not be a vacation. Tien was going to have to train. He had not been keeping up with the strength of his friends, who were going to fight the killers alongside him in three years time. He had been debating on whether or not he should train Chiaotzu or just tell him to stay behind before the battle broke out. He did not want to put Chiaotzu in any danger, but maybe he would have to push him. The boy had potential, he just hasn't been pushed yet.

As Tien continued to debate this among himself, he heard noises. It sounded like it was coming from the outside, but he was not alarmed. He was absolutely sure that this time, it was the wind, and Chiaotzu wasn't even awake to tell him otherwise.

Soon he heard sounds from the other bed. It sounded like Chiaotzu was moving. Tien assumed that, like normal, his body was just repositioning himself in his sleep.

But the noises didn't stop. Tien was not looking at Chiaotzu. He was lying on his back, and his head was turned at about half a right angle so that he was facing the wall to his left. He tried to stay unconcerned and not to look at Chiaotzu. That would just get him all the more worried.

The tossing and turning stopped for a second, but what soon followed made Tien's concern grow. He started to hear heavy breathing and whimpering.

At once, he turned to set his eyes on his little brother. The boy's head shook left and right rapidly, face-up on the pillow and his hands clenched the blanket so tightly that it almost tore. His eyes were closed so tightly that his eyelids wrinkled. Tien heard Chiaotzu speak.

"Tien..."

He slowly sat up on his bed. He didn't know what to do. He felt it was wrong to wake him up, even though it didn't seem like he was enjoying it. Sleep was sleep. Everyone needs it. So he just sat there, staring at Chiaotzu and hoping he would wake up soon, because that's when he would comfort him.

"No. He's gone…," the boy whispered in the air.

To hell with that plan. He couldn't help but try to talk to his little brother in his sleep

"No, Chiaotzu. I'm here. I'm not gone. You're just dreaming." Chiaotzu couldn't have heard Tien's mumbles. Sleep is too overwhelming.

But did he hear? Whether it was the sound of Tien's voice or the pain of his own nightmare, Chiaotzu awoke with a start. Tien could tell from his sudden gasp of air. He saw the silhouette of his brother sit up, his chest moving back and forth showed him he was breathing hard.

"Chiaotzu..."

Their eyes locked. At once Chiaotzu flew into Tien's arms, pressing the side of his head to his chest. He was shaking his head, and he stretched his arms around Tien's wide waist. He reached as far around him as he could to embrace him. Tien was almost tackled off the side of his bed. But he stood his ground and held Chiaotzu in his arms so that his right hand held the back of the boy's head, which was now just resting below Tien's left shoulder. Tien couldn't see his face, but he didn't have to.

"It...it was so real, Tien. I thought you were gone..."

"I know, Chiaotzu. But it's okay now. I never left. I was always right here, with you." Tien tightened his grip. "Something like that won't ever happen."

"I just couldn't handle it Tien. I thought you were gone forever. I thought I would never..."

Chiaotzu's own voice was cut off by his own sobbing. It took a while for him to get a hold of himself, but Tien was patient and calm.

"It's okay. It's okay. Chiaotzu, it was just a bad dream. It wasn't real."

"But it felt so real. Please don't ever leave me, Tien. Promise you'll stay close to me." The boy's short arms moved around Tien's neck, wrapping around it as tightly as he could. He was still breathing hard, for he still hadn't calmed down. "Forever."

Tien, before he could answer, had a serious case of déjà vu. This all had happened before, just a few weeks after they had met each other.

They had been students of the Crane school, under the tyrannical Master Shen. At this point, Tien was committed to obeying Shen at all costs. Chiaotzu hadn't been convinced yet, but he had nothing else to follow.

Tien and Chiaotzu did not often speak together before a particular night. If it weren't for that night, they wouldn't be in each other's arms.

It was a night on which Tien could not find sleep. The World Tournament, where all martial artists like him came together to fight and win an award, was a week away. There were many students of the Crane School willing to fight in the Torunament, but Shen chose Tien for his excellent fighting skills and Chiaotzu for his telepathy.

So Tien was nervous, it being his first tournament and all. Suddenly, he heard the sound of whimpering coming from the room across him. Shen hadn't heard it, because if he had, he'd be there already, telling the source of the sound to shut up.

Even to this day, Tien was not sure what possessed him to get up from his bed and investigate the noise. He wasn't a very caring person then. It could have been because he just wanted quiet.

"What's going on in here?" Tien grunted as he walked in the door.

Chiaotzu woke up at once. Sweat was dripping down his cheeks, and he was breathing heavy. He saw the man standing in his room, much taller than him, but he couldn't speak. He didn't recognize the man in the darkness. All he knew was that he was another student of this horrible school.

Tien felt bad for the boy. He recognized him as the one who was going to the tournament with him. He still didn't know his name.

"Uh, are you okay?" He walked to the side of Chiaotzu's bed to look down at him

Chiaotzu spoke with a controlled voice, only a slight speck of fear present.

"Gosh! Thank you. It-it was so real," Chiaotzu said as he raised his eyebrows and lowered his head. He looked back up at Tien and recognized him. "I've never had a nightmare like that before. I'm just glad I'm not alone anymore. Thank you, Tien Shinhan."

Tien felt embarrassed. The boy knew his name, but he did not know his.

Out of pity, he said, "I'm glad, too." He sat down next to the boy.

"I dreamed someone was trying to kill me."

Tien was taken aback. This had suddenly gotten so serious, and he shouldn't have even been in here.

"Please, Tien Shinhan, promise you'll protect me. I just…" His voice lowered to an even softer whisper. He leaned closer to Tien, looking up to meet his three eyes. "I just can't trust anyone here. Everybody looks brainwashed by that man with the sunglasses. He's horrible. He's the one who tried to kill me in my nightmare."

"Master Shen?" Tien was surprised. He never had this view of his master. With concern he said, "He wouldn't dare kill anyone. He showed me my potential, and he can show you yours. Don't say that."

The boy frowned at this, but he changed his countenance when Tien added, "But I'll protect you, fellow, um, student. I'll stay close. I have nowhere else to go, anyway."

"You will?" Chiaotzu let out a soft laugh. It was the first time Tien ever saw him smile, and he reciprocated it.

"Thank you, but my name is Chiaotzu."

"Okay, Chiaotzu. I'll stay close."

He thought he heard something coming from Shen's room.

"I should get going now. Good night."

"Good night, Tien Shinhan."

Upon meeting Chiaotzu, he had a strange feeling that he could not describe. It was almost like he was meant to be friends with him.

"Chiaotzu," Tien said, as he pulled his little brother away from him slightly, looking into his eyes. He saw the tears trickling down his face. "I will always stay close to you and I won't ever leave you, I promise."

Tears still falling from his eyes, Chiaotzu buried his face in Tien's chest again. "I just...can't survive on my own out here, not without you."

Tien heard and felt Chiaotzu inhale. It was not a smooth breath.

"But I just...I don't want you to die, Tien."

"I'm not going to die. I'm going to train for these next three years so that I'm stronger. We're going to beat those guys, and we'll live. We'll stay together."

It was a while until Chiaotzu finally caught his breath, and when he did, Tien pulled him away from his chest so that he was sitting opposite him on his lap. His hands were on the boy's shoulders.

"Gosh. What's gotten into you? You haven't been this worked up since you saw me for the first time in two months." He wiped away Chiaotzu's tears with his thumbs.

The boy whispered, "It's just that I feel something bad is going to happen, something that's going to separate us Tien, and it's happened before. I don't want something like that to happen again. Two times are enough."

"They are. But it's not going to happen. I promise."

"How can you be so sure?" said Chiaotzu with disbelief.

"It's like you and the rock. I just know nothing like that will happen to us again."

For the first time since he awoke from his nightmare, Chiaotzu smiled at Tien, residual tears still left in his eyes. He looked at the rock on the night table. "There really is something wrong with that rock."

"Now you're just saying things. Come on. Let's get some sleep."

Chiaotzu nodded and floated backwards, back to his bed. "Will you train me too?"

"Huh?"

"Maybe if we both get stronger, not just you, we can really take them on, together. And then we really, really won't have to leave each other again."

Tien was surprised by the determination in Chiaotzu's voice. "I'm not putting you in danger."

"I'll be fine, Tien. I've fought before, and I can almost beat Krillin. I just need more practice. It may be dangerous at first, but I can handle it. Please, Tien. I'll be okay, just train me."

Tien didn't want to have this conversation with Chiaotzu. He found himself suddenly having to make a gut decision. To Chiaotzu's credit, Tien saw his point.

"Fine. I'll train you. But you have to promise to be tough. I might get firm with you. I have to push you to your limits."

"Okay."

"Good." Tien lay back down in his bed, preparing to go to sleep again. "But don't let that drift us apart."

"Of course not, Tien. I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt me. You're my best friend. Always."

Tien was satisfied. It wasn't and wouldn't be the first time he heard that. To have Chiaotzu say something he already knew from so long ago was just illuminating.

In fact, they both knew all of this about each other. Chiaotzu knew Tien would always be there for him, and he knew there was nothing to worry about. He just wanted to renew the promise, after being gone for two months. In actuality, this little exchange had no significance at all, and no one learned anything.

"You are too, Chiaotzu. Now let's get to bed. Good night."

"Night, Tien."

And there was no more whimpering and panting. No more nightmares. Just peace and quiet for the rest of the night.

But Tien didn't like this. It was, again, serious déjà vu. Sometimes he felt like he didn't have someone there to comfort him. He naturally had always taken the older brother role.

At the same time, though, he knew Chiaotzu would do anything to comfort him. He just didn't give him the chance. Chiaotzu stayed with this uncertainty and suspicion about Tien's worry. He had ideas, but no clear thought.

Training Chiaotzu wouldn't be easy. Tien had to think of a way - a way to really push him to his limits. He knew his brother all too well, never the one to fight and always too innocent. He saw that innocence had its flaws.

I can't go without thanking Satu-D-2's work on My Brother for helping me write this chapter. For those of you who have read that centric, you may have already found some similarities. I highly recommend you guys read it!