In Search of Oceans
Period 8: Congregation at the world tournament.
The day finally arrives, the long anticipated world tournament where fighters from around the country came to exhibit their skills and strength came. It was barely dawn and crowds have already gathered in abundance, carts of every shape and size displaying everything you could possible want to eat and drink have set up. Amongst the masses stands a small, modest group. Krillin, #18, Marron and Yumcha have arrived, Bulma had called him as promised, he agreed to take the Kame house residence to the tournament and back in exchange for a good deal on the latest model air cars purchased from Capsule Corp.
"Thanks for the ride Yumcha; we wouldn't have gotten here without you." Krillin says tossing his white coat over his shoulder. He looks around at the enormous swarm of people around them.
"No problems Krillin. Hey, do you know where we were supposed to meet Goku and the others?" Yumcha asks slicking his long black hair with his left hand he ties it up on a pony tail with an elastic band. Krillin shakes his head.
"Wish I could say I doYumcha, I have no co clue where to meet him. Its like he doesn't know what a phone is or something." Krillin said sarcastically, yet jokingly.
Yumcha laughs briefly, placing his hands on his hips.
"I think he wouldn't use it even if he did Krillin, he's just not the kind of person you expect the ordinary things from. He's as original as they come." He replies, placing his hand on Krillin's left shoulder to console him.
The stout man changes the subject, turning to the tournament ahead.
"Man I remember when I went to my first tournament as a kid, it was never this crowded though. Tournament fighting must have gotten real popular in the past few years." Krillin concludes, scanning the crowd for anyone he knew. Above them fireworks erupt, bursting into hundreds of tiny sparks that scatter across the sky. Marron is tired of standing and waiting for the others to show.
"Mom can I go and get something to eat before we sit down?" she asks, frustration present in her voice as she looks to #18 beside her. #18 wonders if it's plausible, looking around she decided it should not be a problem. The food stands are in plain sight.
"Sure, here is some money but don't use it all" #18 grasps her purse from inside her bag. She pulls out a few pieces of change, enough for a snack. Marron looks at the change in her open palm, counting the individual pieces with her finger tip.
"Thanks mom!" She calls. Closing her hand securely around the coins, she runs off.
Whilst Master Roshi and Oolong watch women strut by with their tongues hanging out of their heads. The others are still searching for friends. Krillin watches his daughter vanish amongst the crowd and turned to his wife.
"Where's Marron gone?" He asked looking up at her.
"She went to get something to eat, Krillin." #18 replies without looking at him. Krillin nods and raises his eyebrows, they were not there for even 15 minutes and already she was hungry. Krillin is particularly excited about seeing Goku again. But also an indignant that his childhood friend had not contacted or come to call by the Kame house in almost five years. He always tells #18 that he fears not seeing him again because of his compulsive need to train, though the reason is understandable.
The fighters had seen to many tragedies effect the earth and its people; they can't forget preparation is the key to its survival. He ponders on with the though as he continues looking for Goku, Vegeta and the rest of the Z team. Making a point to keep his eye peeled for the unmistakable scrounged up expression of the Saiyajin prince.
Oh the other side of the tournament grounds Goku, Gohan, Chichi, OX King, Videl, Pan and Goten had met up with Vegeta, Trunks, Bulma and Bra. Pan latches herself onto Goku's pants, tugging furiously for his attention.
"Grandpa, grandpa please can we go? Please?" She begs, pointing toward the game and candy carts lining the street. Goku rubs his chin, wondering if the time was enough.
"Hey Gohan, how are we doing for time?" Goku asks his son standing beside him. Gohan pulls back the sleeve of his sweater and looks at his digital watch.
"We're early; we still have a little bit of time before we have to go in."Gohan answer's, still looking at the watch. Looking up he sees Pan running toward the carts with Goku in hot pursuit.
"We will be back soon!" Goku calls back.
"Wait, dad!" Gohan calls, but they are out of hearing range.
Mom was right when she said he would never grow up, always the eternal child Gohan thought. Videl commented earlier that being a scholar brought him a different view of the world, compared to his father. The Group takes some time to relax. Vegeta pays none of the group any mind, rather watching as other fighters start to arrive, keenly sensing each of their energies, trying to unmask the mysterious one that Goku spoke of.
Two figures have made their way to the tournament discreetly, avoiding any unwanted attention. Upon hearing Gohan invitation via Piccolo, Dende decided to give Mr. Popo some much needed time off. Taking Savarna along to the event, he cradles her in his arms, wrapped in a yellow blanket. Dende has never attended a tournament before, so staying close to Piccolo is a must.
"Do you think the others have arrived yet? I would really like to get inside with Savarna." Dende enquires, looking behind him up at Piccolo. Piccolos eyes focus off into the distance, from their vantage point on the second floor of an empty Tournament building. The crowds won't see them here as Piccolo scans the area carefully for any familiar faces. He finds one, walking toward them dressed in his yellow suit, twirling a set of keys on his index finger.
"There's Yumcha, I guess they have arrived." Piccolo informs, motioning his head in Yumcha's direction. Dende looks over and spots Krillin and #18 along with Puar flying along side them. His heart is in his throat with excitement, Piccolo senses this.
"Piccolo they haven't changed at all, except for Marron, she has grown like a flower. I almost didn't recognise her!" Dende exclaims, spotting Marron walking beside #18.
"Let's go." Piccolo grunts. The two namek's walk down stairs and out into the street, they head for the fighters change rooms just outside the entrance to meet them. Krillin spots Piccolo then Dende, unable to believe how much taller the guardian has grown since their last meeting.
"Hey Piccolo, Dende over here!" Krillin waves eagerly. The rest of the group turn to see them.
"Wow look at the size of Dende man." Yumcha comments, squinting his eyes to get a better look. They arrive and Dende walks up to Krillin, giving him a brief hug.
"It's so great to see you Krillin, #18, Marron and Yumcha Puar you all look great, goodness it's been just too long between encounters." Dende exclaims excitedly, if it were not for Krillin and Gohan, Dende would have been dead a long time ago. He always let it be known that they were his greatest companions, aside from Piccolo and Popo.
"Oh hi there Piccolo, good to see you out and about." Krillin greets, Piccolo gives a formal nod in return. Killin then turns to Dende.
"Gees you have grown little buddy, um what's that?" Krillin asks, pointing at bundle of yellow blanket in Dende's arms. Dende grins, gently pulling back a corner of the extra soft yellow fabric, revealing Savarna's sleeping face. Krillin almost looses his footing, Yumcha's jaw drops.
"Awe she is so pretty, what's her name." Marron asks walking closer, gently bringing the back of her hand to caress the baby's soft cheek.
"Her name is Savarna." Dende replies to Marron, who continues to gently stroke Savarna's cheek. Krillin looks at Dende then Piccolo, speechless.
"Dende, um, where did she come from?" Yumcha asks. Stepping closer he takes a detailed look at the baby.
Dende is about to explain the events that led Savarna to be amongst them, but is cut off.
"She is an orphan that the guardian of earth has taken into his care. Until she is old enough to fend for herself, she will be staying on the lookout." Piccolo answers, everyone turns to look at him, not uttering a word they look back at Dende. The guardians nodding confirming that it is the truth.
"Gee that's so sad to hear, your real generous guy for taking her in Dende. But ... are you sure you know what your doing?" Krillin asks with concern in his voice. Gently reaching out he strokes the girls head, noting her dark red hair.
Dende nods confidently.
"I am learning a lot, needless to say but it's truly Mr. Popo that has been caring for her. He knows so much about children, I am just in the way most of the time." the guardian confesses. Recovering Savarna's face with the yellow blanket. Piccolos eyes turn toward him.
"It won't be easy Dende; you have been warned about that." Piccolo reminds quietly. Dende doesn't acknowledge him, afraid he may be Piccolo right.
"Well how about we go and look for the others, im sure they are around here somewhere." Krillin suggest. Looking behind him into the crowd taking.
His eyes spot the very familiar helmet belonging to OX king, floating above the rest of the crowd.
"Hey there they are!" Krillin exclaims, smiling brightly. Vegeta is accompanied by Bulma, Bra and Trunks. Trunks wearing a black tank top with Capsule corp. printed across the front in large white letters. With them Chichi, OX King, Goten, Videl, Gohan and of course in the front is Goku, holding Pans hand as she eats her ice-cream. Dende watches them as they come closer and closer; he could distinctly see Gohan had grown into a fine young Scholar, as Piccolo had informed him. Goku, a sight for sore eyes.
"Hey what's up guys, you look great, how are ya?" Goku exclaims, arriving in front of Krillin and the others, smiling as he always does.
In a moment of excitement, everyone is greeting one another. Krillin then steps forward to Goku.
"To tell you the truth, we are feeling a little neglected. How come you never call or come by, we're your closest friends. Training is fine but can't you keep in touch?" Krillin alleges with a wounded expression on his face. Goku rubs the back of his skull with his hand, trying to be cheerful he chuckles about the matter.
"Sorry Guys, gees I got bombarded by Bulma for the exact same thing a few days ago. Oh... you do have phones don't you, so I can call when I get the chance?" Goku asks looking back at Krillin.
"Actually no, I can't say that I do have one of those lying around." Piccolo announces.
"I hear ya. Hey are you going to enter with us Piccolo, it would be great to have you in with us" Goku inquires. Piccolos face faults and his eyes widen a shot.
"Humph, and step into the ring with the likes of you?" Piccolo says frankly, and then a tranquil smile pulls at his lips.
"No thanks, im going to kick back and enjoy the show. I am too old to take this kind of stuff in my stride." His voice lowering into a whisper. Truthfully he didn't want to admit that age was catching up with him. Gohan gives a short chuckle, leaning into view from behind his father to where Piccolo could see him; Goku moves his head so Gohan can see.
"Your sand bagging Piccolo, you don't look a day older than you did ten years ago. You can't say otherwise because I was there." Gohan says firmly, pointing at him. Piccolo flashes an unimpressed scowl in return for the comment. Finishing the last of the ice-cream Goku donated to her, Pan with a mouthful of cone tugs on Goku's gi pants to get his attention.
"Grandpa... wrr gannna be late" She mumbles. Hardly anyone understands the child apart from Goku, who happens to have a knack for hearing people when they talk with their mouths full.
"Huh? Oh yeah." Goku acknowledges.
"Pans right, we had better get going." He states wearily, and then begins walking toward the fighter's entrance. On the way he passes by Dende, he suddenly stops and backtracks until he is standing in front of Dende again.
"What do we have here?" Goku asks. Bending at the knees he gains a better view of the unusual bundle in Dende's arms.
"This is Savarna, Goku." Dende says, gently peeling back the blanket. Goku's eyes widen, this is something he defiantly did not expect.
"She sure is something isn't she, I didn't think you would become a father at your age Dende" Goku says, reaching out and stroking Savarna's fine red hair gingerly with his fingertip. Dende blinked profusely, he has to clear this up quickly.
"Oh no Goku im not her father. I'm her, well her caretaker, I mean friend. Mr. Popo would be more classified as a caretaker because he takes care of her." Dende tries to explain as Trunks and Goten walk up to get a view of Savarna.
"She's cute, I wonder if she will have the strength to become a fighter when she is older." Trunks wonders, standing beside him Goten nods in agreement.
"Yeah, Bra and Pan will have another training partner, now they won't bug us." Goten ads. Laughing, Dende is about to speak when Vegeta interrupts.
"As your granddaughter mentioned Kackarot, we will be late for the preliminaries if you we don't get a move on." He states, irritation in his voice.
"Right dad." Trunks concedes as he and Goten enter the fighter's entrance, waving goodbye to everyone as they leave.
"Well gotta go, it was great meeting you Savarna… Dende, you take good care of her ok, I want to get to know her better later." Goku informs.
"I will Goku, all the luck in the universe to all of you. Fight the good fight" Dende states, waving them off.
Goku waves to everyone and following behind Vegeta, Goten, and Trunks walks through the fighter's entrance. Pan firmly grasping his hand.
"Bye you guys, we will see you in a little while alright." he adds and disappears from view. Outside Krillin watches them leave, disappointment in his heart.
Yeah, in 10 years from now. He thinks to himself, crossing his arms over his chest. Goten and Trunks enter, chatting amongst themselves, off to the side a confident Vegeta walks in with perfect stride. Krillin's face could not keep the scowl any longer, and he once again beams smile.
"Oh man. I don't know what it is about that guy, but it's just impossible to stay mad at him for very long." He admits about Goku.
"You right there Krillin, that Goku just never changes, he's like an eternal child." Bulma utters, walking up beside him. Chichi sighs, he will never change but she is grateful just that he decided to stay, instead of disappearing all over again.
"He has the only true immortality, I believe." Dende says, adjusting his hold on Savarna.
Upon meeting at the tournament gates this morning, Goku informed Vegeta that he has been training especially hard for a great challenger whom would be attending this tournament. It is Goku's only reason for entering. Vegeta was surprised and sceptical after hearing this warrior was fully human, he concluded it could only be some kind of android to have such power. However, Goku confirmed it is not, which intrigued the Saiyajin prince further.
"Kackarot, I want to know who this powerful human is now." Vegeta stipulates of Goku, as they walk toward Mr. Saten's personal upstairs bunker. Hoping to get good seats for their families. Speaking with Mr. Saten and organising the best seats in the house, a balcony view. Mr. Saten was exceptionally happy when Goku promised that he would still be world champion when the fight concludes.
Dende has been seated for only moments and Bulma, Chichi, Marron and even #18 were beside him cooing, and doting over little Savarna. Piccolo took this opportunity to move away from all the female attention, focus on the fight about to start down below. Dende pithily explained Savarna to the women. Gohan sat listening, intrigued by it as well. Dende starts to feel claustrophobic with all the attention.
Gohan adjusted his glasses as he glanced down at the child in Dende's arms. Leaning closer he could see the baby was very young, perhaps only 4 weeks and wondered how she has survived so long without her mother.
"She is very young Dende, are you sure you have the time and tools to take care of her?" Gohan asks, looking at Dende a couple of seats away.
"Dende, please can I hold her?" Bulma begs, holding her hands together in a praying fashion. Dende bites his bottom lip, what can he do, he could not possible refuse Bulma's request. After all she is a mother; he can trust her to do the right thing. He gingerly hands Savarna to Bulma, ho takes the baby in a skilful manner that only a mother knows.
Bulma adjusts the blanket so that Savarna's face was uncovered, for Chichi and #18 to have a better visual.
Chichi gently rubs the infant's cheeks with the pad of her index finger, making clicking sounds with her tongue against the roof of her mouth. Bulma does the same, making similar sounds to try rousing the infant from her sleep, but she continues in her deep and relaxed slumber.
Videl is sitting beside Dende; her hands in her lap, she watching the other three women dote on Savarna. She turns to Dende.
"Dende do you mind if I ask you something?" Videl asked in a gently tone, trying not to attract attention from the others. Gohan rests his around her shoulders and listens to the conversation.
"Of course Videl." He says, placing his hands on the bench he turns his body toward them, his height equal to that of Gohan. Videl chuckled briefly trying to lighten the situation. Hoping she wont offend Dende with her question.
"Where was it that you found Savarna? I mean after her mother was killed, did you take note of the town of village you were in?" Videl asks. Dende is more than happy to respond.
"I am sorry Videl but I can't say I know. We didn't really pay attention to where we were at the time. I can say that is was a place I care never to visit again unless necessary." Dende explains, recalling the appalling conditions of the area, the visible poverty and neglect of the people was horrendous.
"Why do you ask, Videl?" He inquired; confused by her question along with the way she is looking at him.
Thankyou for reading!!
