Goku was taken away on a stretcher. Despite having fallen unconscious, there was still a grin on the kid's face. The crowd was going nuts around Kit, but she could barely hear them. Tien had beaten Goku. It had been a close match, but Tien had still proven unbeatable in the end. Her heart hammered in her chest as she sat frozen on the wall. She wasn't sure where Tien had gone now, he had vanished in the building behind the stage, refusing any medical assistance.

"Krillin, were you up to another match today?" the announcer asked the boy as he watched his friend being taken away on a stretcher.

Krillin looked at the announcer, "There's time?"

"Yes, there is, your match with Arthur and Tien's match with Goku both went by rather quickly actually. We have time for one more match, that way the finals can take place tomorrow and we can devote the entire day to it."

Krillin looked over at Kit, "Ready?" he asked.

Kit came down from the wall, landing lightly, and looking at him, "You were the one who took on a bear earlier, it's up to you."

"I can handle it," said Krillin, nodding.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we're not done yet!" the announcer cried into his microphone, "We have time for one final match, and this will decide who will go on to the finals to face Tien Shinhan! Representing the turtle hermit school and fellow student of Goku who, despite losing the last match put up quite the fight, is Krillin, fighting for Master Roshi! And facing him, representing the fox hermit school of Master Kaijo, is Kit!"

The crowd cheered, thirsty for more action it seemed, and Kit and Krillin faced off on the stage. She looked to her right to see the group of Krillin's friends all cheering, Bulma, Launch, Oolong, Puar, and- was that Yamcha? It was! He smiled at her, being held up by crutches. He must have come to see Goku fight Tien. A shame his little friend could not avenge Yamcha's defeat. To her left, was Master Roshi, Master Kaijo, Terrel, and Arthur.

Kit faced Krillin again, her face grave.

"Whoever wins will fight Tien next," she said.

Krillin swallowed, "I know."

"I wish you luck, my friend," Kit bowed to him, eyes burning. She did not voice her second thoughts. She wished him luck, yes. But she could not lose this fight.

She had to face Tien Shinhan.

"Fight!"

Kit took her posture, arms out slightly, posed on her toes, waiting for Krillin to make the first move. The boy let out a cry and rushed toward her, his fist going down to hook up to her left. Kit lithely back stepped, watching the boy's hand cut through thin air, and darted in to make a blow of her own, her jab aiming for his neck, a tactic that would hopefully render his muscles useless if she could land it. But Krillin was faster than she expected, his body turning and leaning back out of the way. A small hand came up and grabbed her wrist. Krillin then tried to turn and flip her over his small body.

However Kit was not so easily tossed about. With a heavy hand, she slammed her free fist into his back the second he turned. Krillin yelped and his grip on her wrist waned. She tore her hand free and rushed in to kick the boy, but Krillin had recovered faster than she would have thought. He turned and blocked her kick, and then darted in to thrust his elbow in her gut. Kit's eyes tracked his movements easily, and she brought up her knee to block the oncoming attack. Krillin stumbled when his bone his shin instead of vulnerable stomach muscle, and she swiftly took advantage, slamming her head hard down on his.

Krillin felt back, but rolled out of the way when Kit jumped out and tried to bring her knee down on him while he was on the ground. Her kneecap crushed the tile where he had been, but before she could stand again, Krillin finally landed a proper blow on her. The kick hit her hard across the face, making her fall to the stage floor. She swiftly jumped to her feet, however, just in time to see Krillin attempting another attack. Tiny fists of fury flashed out at her, and she held up her hands, catching both fists in them. Krillin had some strength behind those punches, that was for certain. It was difficult to keep him still as he tried to push his way in. But Kit held fast to his hands, not noticing the pain of the knuckles burrowing into her palms. She grunted and flung down her head again. Krillin howled in pain when their foreheads clacked together, and he stumbled back, breaking the hold, clutching his head, eyes watering.

Kit darted forward, swiping a fist, upper cutting the boy up into the air. Kit swiftly jumped up after him, passed him in the air, then, as gravity took them both, she aimed her elbow down. This made it so Krillin landed hard on the tile just before her elbow collided into his gut. Krillin coughed and his eyes bugged out with pain and Kit rolled back, posed at the ready.

Looking up at her with narrowed eyes, Krillin actually smirked a little, "Wow, you really are strong!" he said, "Almost as tough as Goku."

Kit smiled lightly, "Almost, huh? Why do you say that?"

"Because if you were stronger than Goku, I wouldn't win!" Krillin launched forward, and as he ran, he held back his little hands, "Kaaa! Meee! Haaa! Meee!"

Kit saw the power orb shine behind the boy as he kept running toward her, and felt a flicker of worry. She had never taken on a kamehameha. She wasn't sure if she could block it without taking a scratch of damage like her Master could. She would have to dodge it.

Leaping up into the air, she saw Krillin retargeting her, and then-

"HAAAAA!"

The blast, rocketed up at her. It was dead on aim, that was certain, Krillin had a good eye, but Kit used subtle traces of energy in the aura around her, and pushed herself to the side in mid air. Her short red hair ruffled as the blast shot by here, mere inches away, and she landed lightly, only giving Krillin a slight smirk before rushing in while his energy was low.

The boy still looked astonished as she twirled, her body twisting elegantly, and she landed a kick hard across his face. Krillin was sent crashing into the wall below the audience, and landed in the grass, out of bounds.

The crowd exploded. Kit straightened and smiled lightly as Krillin stiffly got to his feet, rubbing the back of his head and looking rather put out. His group of friends also looked depressed for a moment, but they looked at Kit and clapped for her all the same. She stood tall as the announcer spoke.

"Kit has won by ring out! She will be going to the finals to face off against Tien Shinhan to decide the winner of the World Martial Arts Tournament!"

Kit turned to walk back off stage, seeing Master Kaijo beaming, and even Roshi nodding approvingly. This wasn't just about facing Tien. She had to win the tournament, so that Kaijo would finally allow her to go on to hunt for Tao, where she will finally get the answers she had been seeking for so long. This was crucial.

And she saw him, his three eyes gleaming from the doorway of the building behind the stage, a smirk on his lips. He looked right at her, nodded in what seemed approval, and vanished into the darkness of the building. Kit swallowed, but refused to show weakness, puffing out her chest as she went to Master Kaijo, Krillin just behind her.

The final match wasn't until the next day. And it seemed there was celebrating to do.

Despite their own having lost, the group of friends Kit had acquired all treated her and Kaijo to dinner. They sat around the table in the restaurant, joined this time by Yamcha who was finally out of the hospital, though on crutches. It was a loud evening, and several of the tournaments spectators came to congratulate Kit on her win, and wish her luck in the match the next day.

Kit felt calm, letting herself take in this evening of fun, new friends, and peace. She spoke happily with everyone, let herself get lost in conversation, and the crowds of people around them, in her element. The food was amazing, and she managed to forget about all that was riding on tomorrow's match.

Even the possibility she might die.

But that evening, she remembered. She went for a walk, insisting she needed air to the others, and not to worry. As she went to the woods where she ran into Tien a few night ago, she took the trinket from her hip, one that gave her comfort, her golden ball with the seven red stars on it. She held it, looking it over in her hand. This ball was the reason, she recalled, the reason that she had saw Tien that day in the rain in the first place. She had chased it down that hill. If she had never gone after it, maybe none of this would be happening. Maybe Tien would just be another opponent, just another jerk.

Yet…

As Kit looked at the ball, moving it over in her hands as she sat down at the base of a tree, she couldn't help but feel like she was thankful for this ball, and how it led her down that hill. Because she knew- she knew Tien Shinhan had some goodness in his heart. And that boy in the rain… That was the reason she knew.

Kit clutched the ball, her heart pounding. She had to bring the goodness out, had to show him what an incredible man he could be, before it was too late.

Before he killed her.

*"*"*"*"*

Tien was meditating. Having watched Kit fight against one of his own, and one of Roshi's, he knew the girl was strong, competent, and was going to be a difficult opponent to bring down. This evening, he was collecting himself. Chiaotzu was still in the hospital, awake, but the doctors were not going to release him just yet. When Tien asked how strong Kit had truly been, when their master was out of ear shot, of course, Chiaotzu admitted that she was the strongest opponent he had ever faced. Tien could not take any chances.

In the quiet of his room, he could see those vivid green eyes in his mind, her face, though beautiful, making him seethe in anger. He knew her secret now, and he wasn't going to let her get away with it, with being a bad mark on Tao's good name, or for seeing him on that day in the rain, seeing him vulnerable and weak…

"We could be friends …" her voice played in the back of his mind, and threatened to break his meditation. Tien hissed in annoyance and pushed her out of his thoughts.

His meditation calmed his body, and his mind relaxed as well. He felt his muscles gaining a new purpose, becoming more deadly with every second. This enlightened sense of being he had, it made his concentration that much more. He was the perfect warrior, the perfect weapon, the perfect killer, just like Tao.

"Ah, yes, Mercenary Tao," said Roshi's voice in the back of his mind, "Quite the skilled assassin, the best some say. Your skills in that department, however, are mediocre at best. You will never measure up to him, because you have a conscience."

Tien's meditation broke. His eyes snapped open and anger bathed his body.

"Damn it!" he cried, jumping to his feet and slamming a fist into the wall, leaving a hole.

"Tien?" his bedroom door opened, and Master Shin peeked his head in, "What is all the- Augh! What did you do to the wall?! That's going to come out of my pocket!"

Tien turned his back on his Master, opening the window to his room.

"Tien?" Shin called as he jumped out of the window, "Tien Shinhan- where are you going?!"

Tien landed on the ground, eyes blazing, and he ran, ran as fast as his legs would pump, as if he could outrun all the thoughts infesting his mind.

"You have so much potential," said Roshi's voice, hovering in his ears, "But you let your attitude lead your training astray. If you learned proper discipline, you could be a great fighter."

"Stop it," Tien hissed, running faster as rain began to speckle down.

"You act all big and bad," Kit's voice murmured, he could almost feel her warm breath on his neck, "But I know who you are,"

"I said stop," Tien panted, rain slowly beginning to sheet down, soaking his skin, stinging his skin as he ran.

"You are one of the strongest opponents I ever faced, but if you do not leave your rash, evil ways behind, you will never perfect your potential." Roshi's voice whispered.

"ENOUGH!" Tien cried, and tripped in his own haste. He went sprawling across grass, sliding from how the rain had made them slick.

Tien gathered himself to his fours, panting, rain pouring on his bare back. Rain… memories of pain laced his mind, of not being fast enough, strong enough, good enough to block Tao, of fighting the assassin back, of hitting the rock, stars bursting in his vision, turning and seeing her face watching him.

Doubt.

He finally admitted it to himself, that was what he was feeling, doubt in his actions, in his resolve. And how… how could he feel that? He was Tien Shinhan!

Looking up, blinking in the sheeting rain, he saw he was in the woods. He didn't remember passing the tree line in here. Tien shook his head furiously, trying to collect himself, to piece himself back together. It was so difficult, so painful. But he had to do it, when he killed Kit, all of this would go away, surely! He cried out in desperation, unable to contain his voice.

Footsteps.

Tien's head snapped up. Something was moving in the trees ahead of him. Tien scrambled to his feet, nearly tripping again into the grass. He found himself, and crouched, narrowing his three eyes.

Whatever was moving ahead was not what he first thought, Kit. No, whatever this was, it was too big to be the lithe little fox girl. He saw a flash of it flit between two trunks, and he took a step back, cautious, forgetting his troubles for a moment. The figure he had seen, had that… had it had wings? No, impossible, nothing that large could have wings, it looked humanoid.

Tien was about to stalk after it, his foot about to make the step, but then-

"Tien!"

Tien turned to see his Master Shin standing behind him. He had an umbrella in his hand, and a scowl under his sunglasses, "What on Earth are you doing out here?" he demanded.

Tien glanced back, but whatever had been there was gone now. He sighed heavily and began walking back toward the hotel with Shin, "I'm sorry Master, I just wanted some air. The fight tomorrow has me excited," he looked forward, slowly steeling himself again, trying to wipe out any of his old doubt, "The very thought of the girl gets me enraged, I needed to breath and calm myself."

"I admire your resolve, Tien," said Shin, "And tomorrow's match, with the death of the girl, will be a glorious one, I have no doubt. Chiaotzu will even be able to attend, I convinced the doctors."

"Good," said Tien, feeling the rain wash over his shoulders.

But something pricked in his heart. Was he so distraught by this whole thing that he was seeing things?

*"*"*"*"*"*

The morning came too soon. Kit carefully replaced her trinket to the pouch on her hip, making sure that Bulma and Launch didn't see it. She had a certain protectiveness about the thing. Her lucky charm- she felt like if anyone else laid eyes on it, it would become a stone again, like how she found it. She remembered finding it, a perfectly round orb of a stone. It had fathomed her so much that she kept it, and within a few months of finding it, the round stone became this beautiful gem. She had no clue how it happened, but she was certain it was special, like it held some kind of magic. With it tied at her hip, she felt a little comfort as her and her new group of friends went to get breakfast.

Gathered around the table, Kit found herself looking at her food but with no appetite to devour it. Around her, her friends were eating and chatting happily. Goku was back with them, bandaged up a bit, but he had recovered from his wounds remarkably fast. Launch must have sneezed in her sleep the previous night, for her hair was blue and she was sweet as ever, eyes wide and speaking cheerfully.

"Kit, you really should eat something!" she encouraged, "You'll need your strength!"

Kit looked at her plate and laughed a little weakly, "I'm too nervous to eat," she admitted.

"Tien may be tough, but so are you!" said Krillin, "I'm sure you'll do fine!"

"Kit is good to be nervous," said Kaijo, looking at Krillin with a stern look, "Anyone going into a battle with the pure confidence of winning will make mistakes. Being nervous makes one think clearer."

"Well, she should still eat something," Krillin muttered.

"That's okay," said Kit, handing her plate to Goku on her right, "Goku will can have my plate."

"All right!" Goku cheered and swiftly devoured her share, making Kit smile a little at the kid's eagerness.

As they left the restaurant behind, Kaijo placed a hand on Kit's shoulder, "While some nerves come in handy, if one is too worried, they will fumble at the start."

"I know," said Kit, "But today is the day I truly test everything I've trained for."

"We believe in you," said Bulma, smiling at her.

"Yeah," said Yamcha from her shoulder, grinning, "I bet you grind Tien into the ground."

"Thank you," said Kit, looking at all of them, "I'm lucky to have gained such good friends," she smiled.

Goku looked at her, "Just watch out for his speed, and know that he can see almost everything," he said.

Kit nodded. Tien's speed and sight were important factors, she knew it.

The group headed back to the tournament grounds. It was madness. As they approached, the crowd turned and recognized her, bursting into cheers. There were wild decorations strewn everywhere, streamers, banners, confetti exploding here and there. Kit stared, wide eyed, all this was for her and Tien?

People swarmed around her, and Kaijo had to bark at them to give her space. But she loved it. Never before had she seen so many people pulsating and speaking to her, and her hunger for social interaction was being fed full force. It was amazing.

"Kit! Kit! Are you nervous about today's match?"

"Do you think Tien is stronger than you?"

"Kit! How do you feel about facing a rival school's student in the finals?"

Kit looked around, eyes wide with wonder.

"Of course I'm nervous," she said, and laughed, "I'm in the finals! I have to think about how I'm going to win, and I have to make sure I give the audience a good show!"

More cheers met her words, and there were flashes as her picture was taken left and right. Kit beamed, forgetting her troubles for a moment.

"Kit has to get to the stage, people!" Kaijo snapped, "Make some room!"

A path cleared and Kit waved as she headed for the building behind the stage.

She had to leave the others behind, and she went on alone, with some final advice from Kaijo.

"Just remember your training," he said, "All your techniques, and your skill, show them that the fox hermit, though it has been out of the spotlight for sixteen years, is as strong as ever, if not stronger."

"I won't let you down," Kit assured him.

And she went into the back room.

It was empty. She looked at the vast room before her, taking a deep settling breath. This was it. She felt her heart flutter, still hearing the crowd, though muffled, through the walls. This was it. She had made it! Only one more match to win, and she could begin her hunt for Tao.

She just had to get past one last obstacle.

"Ready?"

Kit turned and saw him glaring at her as he entered the room. Cheers were following him. She was guessing he got the same welcome as she did. She looked him over in the dim lighting, his face, hard and cold, eyes narrowed and determined, his torso gleaming along the groves of his toned muscles. She had to admit, he was one of the most handsome men she had ever met, with his angled, dark eyes, he perfectly built body, and even his determination and pride were admirable.

Why had it come to this, Tien? She thought with sorrow. But she wasn't going to back down. This fight had too much riding on it. She had to win.

"Naturally," she said coolly, smirking crookedly at him.

Tien smirked right back, "Good," he said, "There wouldn't be much fun in it if I had to track you down, had you run away or get cold feet. I want to take you down where everyone can see."

"I'm flattered, though, a little concerned, putting me down seems like something we should save for behind closed doors, don't you think?" she winked.

Tien's smirk faltered.

"If Kit and Tien Shinhan could please come to the stage!"

That was the announcer's voice, followed by the roar of the crowd.

"Oh, well, that's our cue," Kit said, turning, appreciating that she could make Tien's solid smirk and confidence shake one last time before the fight.

Tien grunted and shoved passed her and into the light. At his appearance the crowd went berserk. Kit smiled lightly, closing her eyes one last time, breathing deeply.

So this was it.

She walked forward, into the light and out onto the stage where the crowd cheered and roared to greet her. She smiled and waved at them, while Tien stood like a statue, his eyes only on her. She noticed that Chiaotzu was back, next to Master Shin in the audience. He was glaring out at her, but Kit ignored the little thing, focusing her energy slowly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the day has finally come for the finals of the World Martial Arts tournament!" cried the announcer, making the crowd roar even louder, "We have seen some glorious fighters this year, but out of all of the fighters that entered, we have narrowed it down to the top two elite, and now, they will face off to decide who will hold the title of World Martial Arts Champion for the next three years!

"These two elites are before us now- Kit, despite seeming a petite girl, has shown more than once what strength and cunning she is capable of! The only student of the fox hermit school, and representing the founder and teacher of the school, Master Kaijo, she aims to walk away today with the title of champion!

"Opposing her is Tien Shinhan, who has proved his strength and speed with every fight we have seen him in to date, including impressive energy work, even that of rival schools! Representing the crane hermit school under Master Shin, Tien looks to recover the title and possibly avenge the defeat of his fellow student Chiaotzu from when Kit won by a devastating landslide."

The crowd cheered, nearly deafening Kit's ears. She turned to face Tien, who was glaring at her, all signs of that previous smirk gone. She observed him carefully, her heart aching slightly. A part of her didn't want to fight him. She wanted to show him how wrong he was, that there was more to life than just this, that deep down, he couldn't be a killer, because Kit knew there was a light there. She had to reach it somehow.

"And now, we see who will walk home with the title!" cried the announcer, "Ready?"

Kit spread out her posture, on her toes, hands to her sides, knees slightly bent. She felt the reassuring weight of her lucky charm on her hip. She locked eyes with Tien, and her heart pumped in her ears, as if in slow motion, each beat she could see reflected in his dark eyes. Tien crouched before her, offensive position. Kit steadied her breathing.

You can do this, she told herself.

"FIGHT!"