Karen stood across the clearing panting, Kakarot had a wide smile on his face as he stared her down.
They'd been at this for nearly twelve minutes and Karen, even after this past year of training was beginning to doubt she had enough stamina to last much longer.
Kakarot, while looking winded, felt like he was going for a walk in the park. She didn't have the wealth of technique knowledge grandpa Gohan did or the ferocity behind her attacks brother Arlick had. He wouldn't lose this.
"Hey Kakarot, your looking a little tired, house about a break?" She called across the clearing wiping a drop of blood from her busted lip.
Kakarot laughed, "You kiddin' I could go all day!"
And before they knew what was happening the center of the clearing caved in as a figure in a violet gi crashed down between them.
"If you're so confident then how about a real challenge." Called out Arlick, cracking his knuckles whilst the dust cleared.
Kakarot stared in disbelief at the cracks formed in the earth at Arlicks landing, the harsh impact had even sent Karen into the air.
"I—" before he got a chance to finish a fist had slammed into his gut and sent him falling to the earth, gasping for air, and hating every burning breath he took.
In a second he flew across the clearing and delivered a he'd punch to Karen's cheek that sent her reeling.
She couldn't block the kick that swept her legs out from under her, and was even more helpless to stop the fist that connected with her gut. She was out like a light.
Kakarot flew through the air, his body covered in a white aura, and his face set to a more serious look.
Arlick dices the first punch, caught the second, and dodged a kick to the face, before sending a punch that connected with Kakarot's stomach. Again.
Spit escaped his mouth by the pale full.
Arlick smirked grabbing his brothers head before slamming his into it repeatedly.
After several minutes only a beaten in mass of fleas and blood was in his grasp.
He threw him over atop Karen's still unconscious body.
His hand lifted up and with one finger he created a green spiraling sphere that shot forth and completely tore apart both bodies.
Ascending into the air Arlick made for their hut.
The moon hung high in the sky, the cloudless evening taking over the wide expanse.
"So. It's finally happened." Said Gohan angrily at Arlick who smiled sadistically at the old man.
Arlick cracked his neck and removed his cloak, before rushing the old man.
Gohan evaded the initial volley of blows before using his signature Kame no Danmaku and sending Arlick through the opposite wall.
He struggled to stand and Gohan stepped out through the hole in the wall panting.
Arlick wipes the blood from his mouth and smiled at the man.
"That all you got?"
The closed in in one another and began trade blows, almost at a one for one, and they would have remained this way if Arlick had not snaked his tail around Gohan's ankle and tripped the old fool over.
Flying high into the air Arlick lugged maniacally as he turned to look at the moon.
The pulsing blutz waves filled his head as he body stretched, hair covers shin wholly and his laughter became a roar as he became the mighty Oozaru!
His foot descended upon the old fool crushing him, and for good measure Arlick let loose a green beam of spiraling ki that tore apart the forest.
"You find unneeded destruction funny monster," exclaimed an omnipotent voice from behind Arlicks Oozaru body.
"N-no. YOU CAN'T BE HERE!" Roared Arlick turning and swatting at the golden fox that had ended his previous life, to no avail.
"Oh, but I am. And I've come to out an end to your ruthlessness once and for all. GREAT BEAST CANNON!" Roared the fox sending the all too familiar wave of ki over Arlicks Oozaru, turning his to burnt monkey.
"NO!" Arlick burst forward from his bed sheets, covered in a thin layer of sweat, waking both Karen and Kakarot.
Panting he stared across the room at the other inhabitants.
His pupils shook as he trembled for a moment.
After this past year. Karen hadn't really seen Arlick like this...ever really.
Kakarot sat up sleepily rubbing the sleep from his eyes and looked to his older sibling.
"The nightmare again?" He asked to which Arlick only nodded. Karen stared at the display not knowing what to do.
Kakarot removed himself from his bed and with pillow in hand crawled into a Arlicks bed and the both of them drifted back to sleep.
Karen stared in disbelief.
"Yeah. It's been happening since his first year here with us. Although he never talks about what it is and it seems to have gotten worse." Spoke the voice of Gohan from the door, in his arms was the blue bundle Kōbashī.
Karen sat up in her bed, she'd been sharing room with the sibling whilst they constructed an additional room for their home. The process was slow going.
"Get some rest dear. We have early morning training tomorrow."
Karen nodded as she laid back down, her curly blue hair spreading out against the pillow.
The sun was only beginning to peer in through the crack in the window blinds, when Karen began to rouse from her slumber.
As she awoke and become more aware of her environment, she began to notice just how much more solid and warm her bed felt.
She raised her head to see that she was lying upon the bare chest of Arlick.
A tint of red flashed across her face as she leaped from the bed and onto the floor. She felt something tug at her wrist, and Arlick began to stir as well.
Around her wrist was the furry tail of Arlick who had only started to wake up.
They shared a look before his eyes trailed down to see his tail wrapped around her wrist.
As he eyes widened he unleashed a scream that shook the home.
Gohan came running with a crying Kōbashī, to see a confused Karen and Kakarot staring at a blushing Arlick who quickly dressed himself and flew out the window.
"What was that about?" Asked Gohan.
Karen's face reddened slightly as well before she exclaimed, "I DON'T KNOW!"
Kakarot stared at everyone, beyond sleepy, and confused.
