DISCLAIMER: Completely forgot to put this on my other chapters. I do not own or claim to own Dragonball or any of its characters. Nor do I take claiim for the idea of Xicor. I do in fact own Chikara and her Tatchi Touch and Purazuma Fist. So new sue, no sue!

CHAPTER 10- Is Xicor the victor?

That night Kabito Kai stopped by with the box she kept her clothes in. Bulma, seeing how small it was, promised she'd have to take her shopping one day.

He days passed into weeks and those into months. Chikara had given up on Tat chi Touching in training to even out some odds. By now she had by far surpassed Xicor in simple hand to hand combat. Goten and Gohan were training even less to watch Xicor and Chikara train.

One day during training Xicor was taking quite a beating and was launched a few dozen yards.

"If you know what's good for you, you'd stay down," Chikara told him. She turned to walk away when she sensed a power level fly towards her. She jumped into the air to dodge Xicor but he reached up and grabbed the very end of her braid with a steel grip.

Grimacing she pulled out her sword. She wouldn't cut off my hand, thought Xicor, would she? He didn't get a chance to decide whether or not to let go because she slashed it down cutting off the last few inches of her hair. Only as much as needed to release herself from him, leaving him with only a
fist full of hair clung together with a hair tie to hold onto. Her hair hung loosely in its braid, threatening to break loose without the hair tie to hold it together. Angered she let out a scream as she raised her power level real high. Goku grew uneasy. Things were about to get out of hand.

Xicor raised his power level as well. She threw a storm of Ki balls at him. Xicor dodged those and threw some of his own. She flipped out of the way in midair and deflected the ones he re-aimed at her. They went showering down on him stirring up the dust. She began charging up a large Ki ball.

Goku flew up to her to try and stop the fight. They weren't supposed to be using any Ki balls and this looked like a fight they might kill each other in. He stopped next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder so that shed stop charging it. She put a hand on his chest and Tat chi touched him away into a tree. "What did I get myself into training her?"

She blasted it at Xicor who failed to completely dodge and got his arm blown off. He swung himself at her while it regenerated. She almost took a shoulder to the chest before she took a quick move to the right and dodged. He aimed a Ki ball at her but she was too quick for him and moved to another spot a few feet away. He tried again to the same result. This attack and outcome were repeated several more times.

He stopped attacking but she kept moving in case he attacked again. He closed his eyes and sensed each area she was at by her Ki. Finally when he figured he could predict her next location he jumped there a the same time as her and grabbed her from behind, wrapping his arms around her midsection so tightly that his head was literally on her shoulders. She struggled to no effect. Unable to attack with her arms pinned to her side by his she just flailed her legs. He blushed when he realized his hands were pretty close to certain part of her chest.

He felt something poking him in the arm so he looked down. He blushed even more deeply because her breasts were in the way. "Enjoying the view?" she grumbled. It actually seemed like he would win. But
like all good things it had to come to an end.

Chikara remembered she had hidden a dagger in her top shirt. With as much force as possible for her she separated her arm from her side an inch, slid her arm up a little, then slid it down her side with a lot of force, causing the dagger hidden beneath to break through the surface of her outer shirt. A thin trickle of blood streamed from the wound that the blade stuck out of. Xicor bit his lip from the pain, but didn't loosen his hold. "Ugh," groaned Chikara ", I was hoping it wouldn't have to come to this."

Xicor was confused. What was she talking about?

Chikara's tail unraveled from under her skirt. Xicor groaned with bulging eyes, biting his lip even more, in pain. His grip slackened and Chikara slipped out as he curled up into a ball. She knew her attack was unfair and waited patiently for him to uncurl.

"You should have just let go when I stabbed you in the arm." he grabbed the knife from his arm and threw it at her in response. "Testy today, aren't you?" she said catching it and tucking it into an untorn part of her shirt.

He uncurled and lunged at her and they fought with dozens of lightning quick punches and kicks. She jabbed a spot on his upper arm that tightened all the muscles in that arm for only three seconds, but enough for her to float back several feet and catch her breath. He launched a large Ki beam at her but she bent herself backwards to avoid it. She snapped back up, breathing deeply. By now her hair had completely broken apart and hung on her shoulders.

Xicor was about to attack, yet all he did was stare. There was something about her and her long hair and sparkling eyes and her… everything. She looked so beautiful in the heat of battle and so unstoppable, like nothing was above her reach. He just stared not realizing that she had launched a Ki beam at him until he looked down and realized there was a hole in his stomach. "Huh," he said confused as to how it had gotten there. She charged him and driving her shoulder into his chest, grabbed his shoulders and forced him down to the ground where she pinned him down with more force than needed since he wasn't trying to get up.

"End of fight," she said quietly before letting him up. He got up as his stomach rejuvenated and groaned with effort, finally feeling the pain.

As they flew back to the house Gohan hung back and talked quietly with his father. "Hey dad, do you know what's up with Xicor? He seemed odd when he was fighting Chikara. Did you see the way he just froze up and stopped fighting out of nowhere?"

"Yah," said Goku ", and I think I know what's up." Goten had already headed back, eager not to be late for dinner. Chikara and Xicor flew with one another. Xicor flew, lost in thoughts about what had happened at the fight.

"Hey, Xicor," called Chikara, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Uh, yah." Would she ask what was up at the fight? It didn't seem like she had noticed before.

"Can I have my hair tie back?"

"Oh, right," he said handing it to her. He hadn't tossed it aside since she might want it back. "Sorry about the hair."

"It's okay. It'll grow back," she said smiling. He felt relieved she wasn't about to hold a grudge against him for it. He wasn't sure why this relieved him so much though.

She pulled her hair up into a simple pony tail. He realized then how straight it was. "You should leave it down. It looks nice."

"Thanks. You really think so?" she said blushing.

"Yah," he replied, blushing a deep crimson, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. They walked back in silence, looking away from each other to hide the fact they were blushing.

When they arrived in the house Chichi took one look at them and then at the other three who looked unharmed, except for a few scratched Goku had gotten from Chikara. "What happened to the two of you?"

"Our training got a little out of hand, hehe," joked Chikara.

"Training! It looks like you two just fought Majin Buu!"

"Yah... Like I said, it got a little out of hand." Chichi noticed Chikara's unevenly cut hair. Oh dear, I'm going to have to fix that."

"Thanks Chichi." They all sat down to a good meal of steak before washing up and heading off to bed.

Late at night, when Chikara thought that everyone was asleep, she rushed off outside with a towel and change of clothes in hand. Xicor, unable to sleep, had noticed the movement of her Ki and went to go investigate. He crept quietly, aware that someone could hear him and wake up.

He opened the door and walked outside. He looked around then yelped when he noticed Chikara was in the bath. She turned around and covered her mouth when she screamed. She grabbed her shirt and threw it at him. He covered his face with it.

"What are you doing?" he whispered.

"What does it look like? I was taking a bath until you came along," she hissed at him.

"I can, could," he corrected himself when she growled at him for saying can ", see that. But why now at like one in the morning?"

"Because, that's when everyone's asleep. If you haven't noticed this is an outdoor bath and there are a lot of guys living here."

"Oh, right."

"Now, go away!" she hissed. He was about to remove the shirt and give it to her ", take it with you!" he went back inside leaving her to have her bath. He went back to his room, tossing her shirt into her room on the way, feeling really embarrassed. Why did I have to stare and yelp like that? Why couldn't I cover my eyes and sneak back inside before she could notice me. She'll be mad with me for sure now.

The next day on their way to training he decided to apologize. "Hey Chikara, sorry about what happened last night."

"It's okay," she said to his relief. She was strangely forgiving. She may get red with rage at the moment, but give her a few minutes to cool off and you'll be forgiven. "I know it was an accident, just try not to do it again. You know I here you apologizing to me for a lot of things lately."

"I do, don't I?" he said before they shared a laugh. Chikara rushed off ahead of him. Goten flew up to him.

"What happened last night?" he asked cocking an eyebrow.

"Nothing!" he said pushing him over and flying ahead of him.

When they landed Goku spoke to Xicor in private. "I want you and Chikara to swap partners."

"What! Why? Is it because of what we did yesterday?" he said, sounding truly paranoid.

"No. You two showed how well your training has gone despite the fact I told you two not blast each other to bits like that. I just don't want your training to be ruined by Chikara."

"Why would she make my training go bad?"

"I saw yesterday that you almost got yourself killed because of your feelings for her."

"What? I don't have feelings for her."

"Don't lie to me Xicor. I saw that look on look face and that look in your eye you're getting when you talk to her. You were so love struck yesterday that you didn't notice it when she hit you or even feel the pain until after the fight was over." Xicor made no attempt to deny it ", I'm having you become sparring partners with Gohan. Chikara!" she ran towards them ", you're going to be training with Goten from now on. Did you two here that?"

"Yah," called Goten ", but why do I have to train with her? Why can't Gohan? You saw what she did to Xicor yesterday. She'd kill me!" Chikara looked at Xicor bitterly. What she so ticked with me about? he thought. "Hey, what's wrong?" she strode off towards Goten in silence.

During training Xicor couldn't stay focused. He kept thinking about Chikara and that angry look on her face and was it true what Goku had said before about his feeling towards her? A punch in the
face knocked him back into focus. He threw a sloppy punch at Gohan.

A little bit off, Chikara trained with Goten. He was at a serious disadvantage since he couldn't get a hold on her without feeling awkward or embarrassed. The only effective ways he could hold her down or pin her would be in some sort of awkward position. He wasn't sure how Xicor did it yesterday, but he couldn't repeat his younger brother's actions. After training they headed back to the house. Xicor confronted Chikara on the flight back.

"Hey, what's up with you?"

"Nothing," she snapped ", what would make you think that?"

"Well, you seem a little angry with me."

"Oh, you noticed."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Get off my ass will you?" she didn't wait for him to respond before speeding up and flying ahead.

They ate dinner without meeting each other's eyes. It became obvious to the others that there was some tension between them. No one was going to bring it up, smart people.

That night Xicor sat outside and waited for her to get up and leave for her bath. He was going to catch her before she gets in and make her tell him. It was a cold night so he didn't even bother changing out of the clothes he wore that day.

When she opened the door he prepared to stand up and confront her but instead she kept on walking out into the grassy field. He got up and walked after her. He climbed a hill and found her sitting, leaning on her legs, in the grass staring up at the stars. She was waiting the same outfit as well. All but a few of her clothes looked alike and she didn't change into her PJs until after her bath.

He walked on down to her. She turned her head towards him as he approached. "What do you want?" she asked in a voice that seemed as if she were upset or in pain.

"Nothing," he said about to turn back scared she might lash out at him if he stayed. He didn't turn though ", no, there is something. I want to talk. Why were you so angry with me before at training? What did I do wrong?" he asked sitting down next to her.

"You couldn't figure it out for yourself? Here's a question. Why did you ask Goku to change partners?" she asked turning to look at him.

"What? Is that what you're all worked up about? I didn't ask to change. He told me he wanted me to change because-" he paused. The reasoning was something he wasn't ready to share just yet.

"Because what?"

"I can't tell you," he said quietly.

"Oh," she sounded disappointed. What was she hoping I'd say?

"So, what are you doing?"

"Just looking at the moon," she replied, lying back in the grass.

"It's so big and full tonight."

"Yah," he turned to look at her with a smile. She looked so perfect and peaceful tonight. There's no sign of her being one of the universes greatest fighters or of her nasty temper. He stared at her peculiar choice in clothing, though he thought that the way humans dressed was odd also. His eyes followed her raven's hair down her spine, she had kept it down like he suggested. When he reached the end of her hair he noticed the monkey's tail waving back and forth in the grass.

"Wait, you have a tail."

"Nice of you to notice."

"I know that just, if you have a tail then wouldn't you be changing form when you see the full moon?"

"Me? No. Something about the Kai in my blood prevents it. What about you? You have a tail don't you?" she asked while pointing to the whitetail twitching behind him.

"I was born a super saiyan 5 so I can control it." he said lying back and getting comfortable.

"Oh, cool." she went back to looking at the moon. He did also, and He had to admit, it did look rather nice tonight. She shivered. "A little chilly," she said, snuggling up close to him. He blushed but didn't push her away. He liked her there.

He looked down at her. He wasn't sure why, but he was smiling. She looked up at him with her bright sparkling eyes and smiled.

He wasn't what urged him to do this or if he even had any choice in whether or not he did this, but he leaned down and kissed her soft lips. Something in him, something that was put out and left cold since the day his mother died had reignited in him as a blazing bonfire, far greater than it ever was before. When their lips parted, the fire in their hearts grew a little brighter, fueled by something they couldn't see or tell.

He understood now why Goku wanted him to change partners. He couldn't truly fight her without holding back nearly everything. He would weaken from that lack of effort and his training would fail. He never will be able to truly fight her without losing on purpose or because he stops before every attack because his heart ached every time he came close to harming her.

Minutes and hours passed without their notice as they watched the moon They fell asleep in the grass and woke in the early of morning, the sun was climbing the horizon, but no one else was up yet and they doubted that they could go in unnoticed.

Xicor snapped his eyes open and jerked up, awaking Chikara who had slept snuggled up at his side. "oh, shit." he said realizing he had been out here all night.

Chikara had realized the same thing." Oh, shit is an understatement. Um, what should we do? I don't think we can sneak in without someone noticing and I don't think letting them find out is a
good idea."

"What makes you think that?"

"Think about what they would think happens when two teens sleep together outside all night. I mean they wouldn't mind knowing that happened, too much, if it wasn't under their roof, theoretically, and
under their watch. It's like making out in public."

"You're right then. I don't know what to do. What do you think?"

"I have an idea. We could just train for a while out here then when someone comes out we'll just tell them we got up early and decided to practice a little."

"Better than anything I could think of," he got up and helped her up. They stretched for a few minutes then did a few practice bouts. When their warm up was done they began to really get into the fighting. Punches flew back and forth with speed and force. They left little to no bruises, seeing as most of the attacks were either dodged or blocked. Finally Goku stepped outside and saw them sparring out front.

"You two are up early!" he called to them. So far so good, thought Chikara.

"Yah, I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep," said Xicor.

"I always wake up early," claimed Chikara ", I noticed he was up so we decided to wake up our muscles and get a good stretch in."

"That's good," said Goku ", why don't you two come in and get something to eat "

"Sure," they said in unison. All three of them ran inside to get some breakfast. Chikara and Xicor grabbed the two open seats next to each other. After a few moments everyone began to notice the loss of tension between them. Not only that, but that it was replaced with something far more positive.

"Have a good rest?" asked Goten smiling. Thoughts clicked in both Chikara's and Xicors minds. He knows, they both thought.

"Uhh, yah," Chikara said stuffing more eggs in her mouth.

"That's cool. I went for a jog through the woods this morning to stretch out the legs before training today."

"That's nice. I'm surprised we didn't notice you during our training."

"Hmm. I didn't notice you either." breakfast carried on in silence. When they finished, Xicor and Chikara said they were going to go do more training outside. "I'll go with you," said Goten. They walked outside and made it to their usual training spot in silence. "So what's up between the two of you?"

"Nothing," said Xicor, testing if he really knew anything.

"Really? That's not what I saw this morning."

"Okay you got us," said Chikara ", but nothing happened. We just fell asleep over there. Please don't tell."

"I wasn't going to. Your secrets safe with me."

"Thanks."

"No prob. We should probably train now before dad shows up and sees us just standing here chatting."

"So how are we going to do this?" asked Xicor ", there is three of us here."

"You and me could go at her at the same time? See how long she can hold out." Xicor nodded in agreement. They turned to me to see if I agreed with their plan.

"Kinky," I joked. Xicor rolled his eyes at her. "Aww, can't take a
joke?"

Turning to Chikara, they both charged her. She deflected each punch of theirs. She moved a few feet away so quickly that they couldn't see her until she stopped moving. Goten lunged for her a second too late. She reappeared a few feet over. Xicor timed it almost perfectly. Almost.

He quickly flew at her but she had moved just in time. "Too slow!" she teased. She felt arms wrap themselves around her in a firm hold. "Shit!" she said struggling. She looked to see who it was. Goten had caught her while she was teasing Xicor!

She bit her lip to keep from yelling at him. "Goten, will please move your hand down a little. You're kind of touching my boob."

"Oh sorry," he loosened his grip to move his arms down when she elbowed him in the face. "OWW!" he placed his hands over his nose in an attempt to stop the blood from flowing out ", why did you have to
go and do that Chikara?"

"Oh my god! Are you okay?" Chikara asked.

"What did you do Chikara?" asked the concerned Xicor who had rushed to his half-brother's aid.

"I elbowed his nose."

"This one's a gusher. Well, it's not broken, but we should really bring him back home." They flew off with him, using the green shirt of Xicors to stop the bleeding. "Hey Chikara, have you noticed, you're the
reason we keep sending people home early from training."

"I guess I am," she said thinking about the subject. When they arrived back at the house, Chichi stopped doing dishes and rushed to her sons rescue. She grabbed him a napkin to fix his nose with and asked what happened. "It was my fault ma'am. They were brig fighting against me when he grabbed me I elbowed him in the face." She was scolded for a bit until Chichi gave up at it and left Goten to treat his
own bloody nose. She walked out of the kitchen.

"You're a dirty liar," accused Goten.

"What are you talking about?" snarled Chikara ", I told her the truth."

"To her. You tricked me. You said that only so that I'd loosen my grip on you."

"That's not true at all. Your hand was touching my boob. I only asked you to move your hand. You didn't have to let go of me to move your whole arm."

"You should have mentioned that before."

"You should have realized that if you gave me the chance, I'd bust free."

"Whatever. I still think you lied."

"Believe what you want. It doesn't make it true."

"Come on. Xicor, you were there. Tell her she was tricking me," Goten told Xicor.

"Hey!" said Xicor ", leave me out of this."

"Just tell us who's right."

"Fine, but don't yell at me if you don't like the results. Chikara was right."

"You're only siding with her," grumbled Goten ", because you like her."

"I do not!" He yelled blushing. Chikara and Goten laughed at his aggravated expression.

NOTE TO READERS: So far so good with the new girl right. The next few chapters are already written up, but my laptop has parental controls that log me off at midnoght and my Mom uses it in the day for work so it may take me a day or two to get the next one up. Hope you enjoyed!