One of the most refreshing moments of the morning was to wake up to the sweet smell of a homemade breakfast. Ever since Kakarot had gotten rid earth of Piccolo Daimao he rested easy, as well as lived easily, with his new family. Chi-Chi and her father Gyumao had accepted him as if he was one of their own with a true lack of hesitation. During his time living a tranquil life in his new abode, no longer was Kakarot consumed with the same dreams he would experience as a child, seeing the same faces every day. With every night for the past four years, the Saiyan managed to sleep much easier, especially due to the fact that he had someone holding him almost every night. The past few years had passed by rapidly within a blink of the eye. Peace was something very well enjoyed, though it made time pass by quickly. The open curtains to the window of the right of the large room let pass through the bright rays of the early morning sun. His eyes began to flutter as he opened his mouth wide, letting out a deep yawn to start the day "Morning..." He looked over to the left side of him, expecting there to be a certain someone. "Huh? Chi-Chi...?" Upon realizing that someone wasn't there this morning, he grinned. He didn't know why he expected her to be there as she would be up earlier than him every morning in order to prepare their daily breakfast. He stood up and walked out the room, not caring that all he had on was boxers.
Over the past time, Kakarot was no longer that same four-foot teenager he used to be before. Now at the ripe young age of 19, he grew over time. He was well over 5 foot, standing at the height of about the average earthling male. His body composition was much leaner, something he lacked as a kid when he was chubby. His lean figure was very tone, which called attention to Chi-Chi and Gyumao once he hit his major growth spurt. Other than that, nothing more about him had altered. Not one strand on his head changed, nor anything else. His tail grew along with him as well, which swayed slowly from side to side through a small hole from the back of his undergarments.
Once the familiar scent found way to his nostrils, the man grinned. "Breakfast." Without a care in the world, he walked out of his room in simple boxers. "Buenos Dias everyone." He had briefly acknowledged Gyumao, who was watching the television.
"Mornin'," Gyumao greeted, looking immediately back at the television. Despite the older man's age, hadn't change a bit in the look department. He was still as big and tall as he was known to be.
Kakarot watched as Chi-Chi cooked inside Her, like Kakarot, had grown, too. Being the same age as her lover, the female was just about 5'4 now. Prior to making breakfast, Chi-Chi took the time of her morning to flat iron her long, jet black hair that past her slim soft shoulders. The woman usually wore her lavish blue Chinese dress with red trims that perfectly fit her natural slender and moderately curvaceous figure. For the moment, she was nowhere near that look, and for great reason. Kakarot couldn't get enough of the smell that was emitting from the pleasant breakfast that she was cooking. Coming up from behind her, he spoke. "You know you should be resting..." he whispered in her ear, rubbing Chi-Chi's big belly, round belly. By the looks of it, Chi-Chi appeared to as if she was going to have her child at any given moment, yet here she was, doing the usual, despite her late stages of pregnancy. "Never know when it's gonna blow up."
Chi-Chi shook her head, amused by Kakarot's humorous ignorance. "My water is going to break. I'm not going to explode."
"Hm." Kakarot stepped away and went to the cabinet inside the kitchen. Right upon opening the door a smile from ear to ear came upon his face. He looked at the red glass bottle, reading the letters all pushed onto the piece of paper wrapped around it. "I still have to thank you for letting me have this as my personal wine cellar," Kakarot yelled out to Gyumao. His love for wine, much like his appearance, didn't change much at all, simply growing into any ordinary oenophile. "I'll take the morning usual...Sangiovese." He popped the cap above the marble pattern counter and closed the cabinet door.
"All done." Chi-Chi set two different plates of food on Kakarot's table.
"Perfect timing." Kakarot took a sip of the bottle before he dug in.
Gyumao and Chi-Chi were both far accustomed to Kakarot's personal etiquette of eating and didn't let it bother their food. While he was chowing down at his breakfast, Chi-Chi made sure to pass over plate after plate. "This is far more adequate than it should be," Kakarot said with a stuffed mouth.
"We could have bought triple as much if you were to enter the Tenkaichi Budokai..." Chi-Chi mumbled.
Kakarot scoffed subsequent to gulping down an entire plate. "You're still upset about that?" He downed half a quarter of the bottle, washing away the food stuck in his chest. "I didn't feel like fighting, so I stayed out. None of those fools would have provided me a challenge anyway."
"But did you watch it?" Gyumao asked. "Like really. I kept trying to bring it up, but you'd shoot it down."
Kakarot shrugged his shoulders, showing a true lack of interest. Ever since that incident that took place immediately after the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai, he always correlated the place with being something of bad luck. He truly wasn't superstitious, but he didn't feel like going back there. Besides, he had nothing more to prove. He had already proven himself champion before. "Not that I really, care of course. But now you've got my attention."
Gyumao shook his head. "The people there...were the same people that were supposed to have been killed by Piccolo. And this mysterious person wrecked everyone...including the twin fighters Lapiz and Lazuli, whom appeared out of nowhere and took the entire shine of the tournament." And after all this Gyumao failed to mention how the region Piccolo destroyed all of a sudden came back out of nowhere. Of course, he himself didn't know the full story of how the Dragon Balls were brought back to bring back the lives of those lost by the hands of Piccolo Daimao, even the moon itself.
"Means they never died in the first place," Kakarot concluded. He didn't for a second take into consideration that the compelling powers of the wish-granting balls had to take part of this. "Even my temporary rival Tien wouldn't have stood up against me. It would have been pointless entering. Besides, we have enough money to last us until the next tournament." Not speaking more on the subject, Kakarot went back down to stuffing his face.
Gyumao and Chi-Chi stopped for a moment and stared at Kakarot. Of course, the man didn't notice at first as all he could think about was breakfast. But the minute his head rose for a brief second he noticed something. "We're losing money quickly," Gyumao said.
"All of the wine you bought the past few years has cut down more than half of our assets," Chi-Chi added. "That's why I urged you to enter. I don't know if we'll make it by next year, if not until the next competition."
"I see..." Kakarot set his fork down. For a brief moment, he remained silent as he had to chew his food before swallowing it. The young male had no idea just they all would manage. They always relied on the great treasures Gyumao had amassed over his lifetime to supply them with everything they either needed or desired. He figured that was the only way they'd live, never thinking of the possibilities of running out. Because of this, nothing else really occurred to him. "What am I supposed to do then?"
"Maybe get a job?" Chi-Chi suggested. "We do have a kid that'll come anytime now. And he'll be another mouth to feed, which will cost us even more for the next 18 years."
"You're right," Kakarot said, seeing where she was coming from. "But all I know is fighting."
"What about selling wine?" Gyumao suggested. "You know all there is about it. You're a complete oenophile and can make a business out of it...become a connoisseur." Gyumao just came up with the idea, not having put much thought into it.
Kakarot stroked his chin, doing the exact opposite of Gyumao. The idea of that piqued his interest surely, though how would he start with it? He knew absolutely nothing about getting a job. "I do indeed like the sound of that. But how do I go along with this?"
"Um...we can use the rest of our money to start a business.?. We have more than enough for you to start off perfectly where you need to."
"Sounds like a great idea," Kakarot said. The guy didn't have any clue how he'd go on about it, though being the opportunist he was, he decided to go for it. Nevertheless, that was his only option at the current moment. He got off his chair and started to make may to his room up the stairs. "I'll be right back."
Chi-Chi tended to the empty plates, placing them on the right vacant side of the sink to wash later on. She grabbed the bottle of wine that Kakarot drunk on and pressed the top of her bottle against her lips, sipping the rest that remained.
"Do you really think he's going to go through with it?" Gyumao asked, his tone full of uncertainty.
Chi-Chi's guess was just as good as her father's. "I know he'll try, but as far as completing the goal..." she trailed off with nothing, simply ending her sentence with a shrug.
Gyumao sighed and looked back to the television, the only thing keeping him entertained at the present moment. Chi-Chi placed the empty bottle of wine on the counter and let the water run from the sink's faucet, preparing to wash the dishes.
After a few minutes passed, Kakarot came downstairs, this time actually dressed. He a basic orange buttoned up shirt with long white sleeves underneath and some jeans with white sneakers. "I'll be off."
A smile appeared on Chi-Chi's face as she washed the dishes. She admired the fact that Kakarot was going to truly try to get a job in order to supply more of their needs, even if he didn't have a general idea of how to start things. "Make sure you stop by the bank on your way!"
"I will!" Kakarot didn't waste any time made his way out the door and closed it behind him. Making it outside for the first time of the day, Kakarot got to take a look at the green grass ahead of him. Before, this castle they lived in used to be surrounded by a huge raging fire, with nothing but broken infrastructure and the bones of dead bodies piled up from the hands of Gyumao himself at the time of his evil deeds. He, of course, was only told of the stories. His entire time being here, Kakarot merely saw the natural beauty of fry pan mountain. "A wine business...not a bad idea at all." Kakarot had a capsule full of the treasures they had left, making sure to use it on funding a business he was bent on starting.
Lapis and Lazuli hadn't made a reappearance with their friends for the longest time. After the death of Piccolo Daimao and his re-incarnation on the same day, they were both called to the world of Kami. And after failing miserably to beat him in the tournament they left off without a warning back to Kami's place. They both needed the extra training if they were to truly take down the spawn of Piccolo Daimao.
Both had grown into their own, despite being twins. Lazuli and Lapis both were very much alike physically, albeit the male more toned physically. Lazuli cut her long blonde hair, which now only resided by the tip of her chin to avoid it getting in the way of her training. The two wore a white gi with the insignia of Kami, the guardian of earth, in the middle of their shirt.
Kami was an old wise man, one who lived for a couple hundred years in fact. While he was very righteous, anyone would take one look at him and place him into the category of pure evil. Everything about this man said that he was Piccolo, going from the simple skin complexion to his very looks. Both were truly identical, albeit Kami was old with wrinkles, having a cane in hand everywhere he walked.
"It stands noted that the two of you are still not ready to face him," the overseer of earth said. It had been a year since the events of the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai transpired and Kami had been training the two in preparation for the threat still. "Had his true identity been revealed in the tournament everyone would have panicked."
"It's obvious he's far too strong for either of us," Lapis stated. The young adult folded his arms. "Truly why bother with him if we're only going to get our asses dealt with?"
"I taught you better than that," Kami said, referring to his mannerisms. He could see by Lapis' body expressions as well as his tone of voice that he was frustrated, though he knew that he taught his pupil how to control his temper.
"We continue to talk about the tournament," Lazuli said with an aggravated sigh. "What happened, what took place. You just keep reminding us how bad we fought. Even being stronger than all of our friends we still stood no chance. Explain to us how can we beat him."
"It quite dawned on me not too long ago," Kami said, his eyes motioning towards the floor of his lookout, made of squares that made a complete circle.
"Just let him explain," Popo defended his master. "Kami will tell you everything you need to know."
The twins kept their mouths shut, allowing Kami to spread his own personal knowledge. "I've thought about it every day and continued to think about why you failed, yet it never occurred to me until now. And it all makes sense. Back when you two were getting used to training and getting used to how things were, it seems to me that fighting side by side would give you all the advantage." Lazuli and Lapis listened closely to what Kami had to say, somewhat interested. "Truly, when I think of one of you fighting it's like I'm thinking of both of you. You fight in sync with together."
"So the solution?" Lapis inquired, seeing the answer was at the tip of the old man's tongue.
"The tournament has matches that are only required for one on one battle. But in a true battle, all is fair. If you were to team up against Piccolo then you'd have a chance. Fighting together makes the both of you a genuine force to be reckoned with."
"See?" Mr. Popo asked. "The two of you are like the yin to the other's yang."
"You do make sense," Lapis said, comprehending what his master spoke to him completely. "I see where you're getting at with this."
"I agree," Lazuli said. "But how exactly do we find him now? We've no idea where he's at."
"That's something neither of you needs to worry about" Kami responded. "As the overlooker of earth, I see everything that goes on in this world. I've been watching Piccolo for some time now. And I could have told you at any moment of where he would be at. But he has something planned today. And you two might be today's heroes."
Lapis and Lazuli eyed each other for a moment, which then followed up by a solid grin. They turned back to Kami, ears open wide. "We're listening."
Pilaf looked through his binoculars, looking at the castle Kakarot resided in from afar. He caught Kakarot as he flew into the sky, going off to handle business. "Damn, he's really grown." Pilaf removed the binoculars once he got a good look at the now adult male, face full of sweat with an expression of extreme worry.
From behind him, a tall man towering over him snatched the object from Pilaf's hands. He looked through it, spotting Kakarot on his way as well. His sharp teeth could be seen with the grin he formed on his face. "Good to know." He looked down onto Pilaf. "Now...break into the house."
Soba gulped. "Uhmm...are you sure you know Piccolo, Ma-junior?" Ma-junior growled at Soba in response, intimidating the anthropomorphic dog. He lowered his head and tucked his tail in, going on with the plan that was set for them from the start. "Kay, we're on it." Soba was the first to run off.
Ma-junior looked behind him, staring directly at Mai. "What are you standing around here for? Get to it!"
"I'm not going to hurt him, nor his family," Mai protested. She, unlike Pilaf and Soba, decided to stand up for what she felt was right. Under any normal circumstances, she would have complied with the wishes of this man, who could kill her at any moment he desired. But what was going here was different. The plan was to send Kakarot a message by making an attack in on his family, those that resided inside the castle up on the mountain. All those memories she had with Kakarot came back to her and she simply couldn't bring herself to carry on with such an atrocious act this malicious being had schemed.
Pilaf's eyes widened at how Mai was standing her ground. He could see the nervous look on her face, one that showed she was certainly fearing for her life. "Are you stupid, Mai? What the hell! He actually knows Piccolo! Why would you not abide by him."
"I'm not going to hurt Kakarot," Mai said once more, raising her tone of voice to make herself very clear about her intentions.
"What about that time when I told you to kill Kakarot when he betrayed us? You pulled a sword on him!. These are only people he knows. It doesn't matter now!"
"I was stupid back then," Mai responded. "I've matured. And besides...I didn't have the intent to kill Kakarot when I drew my sword. It was, in fact, one of the worst decisions I could have made under you."
Soba, the dog, nodded his head. "I-I have to agree on that."
Ma-junior kicked Pilaf away in a sudden burst of aggression. He would never stand for such insubordination, but he still needed them alive for the time being. "Get on with it! Don't mind your idiotic friend." Pilaf scurried off, shaking his head as he held his bruised shoulder. Ma-junior stared at Mai, who stared back. Her actions showed that she lacked total fear, though gazing into her soul which lied behind her dark blue eyes. 'She must care about that fool that much. Hn! It makes me wonder just how much that monkey-tail bastard cares about her...' Ma-junior turned to watch Pilaf and Soba, coming up with another idea in mind.
Pilaf and Soba both walked their entire way up the mountain just to make it over to the entrance of the castle. They both took a look at the doors and tried turning the knob. "Locked," he told Soba.
"Plan B," Soba whispered.
Pilaf nodded, slowly raising his hand.
BANG!
Pilaf gave one hard bang right to the door. The blue imp scurried off to hide behind some bushes. Soba stayed on the side, just waiting for someone to come out. Gyumao opened the door and looked from side to side. "Huh?" He looked around, hoping to see the people that knocked on his door. All of what he saw before he was the basic land that he lived in, which lead to a bit of confusion. "What in the worl-
ZIP!
Gyuamo paused, mouth opened wide. The man didn't know what hit him and fell over on his face, hard. Ma-Junior, seeing what he intended for, grinned. He had fired an attack through Gyumao's midsection from afar, using perfect precision. "Big, ignorant fool." Gyumao lied there, unconscious, losing blood rapidly
"Daddy?" Chi-Chi slowly walked herself into the living room, having heard an unusual loud thud from afar. "Daddy, what's going on?" Chi-Chi made her way to the door where she heard the sound. She looked down below her, spotting her father bleeding out. The sight of her father lying down in his own pool of blood put the young woman in a state of shock. "Wha?" She had no idea whether to believe if this was some sick joke or not, as the looks of her father looked very much authentic.
"Hehehehe..." A menacing laughter from a menace himself could be heard coming from behind the woman. Chi-Chi had the instinctual urge to scream out loud at what her eyes were glued to. Though before she a simple yelp could exit her mouth, she was grabbed from behind and she was forced to remain still. "Quiet, now...wouldn't want to alert anyone, now would we?" Majunior continued to chuckle, his hands covering her mouth.
Piccolo had given Pilaf and Soba the signal to tie her up with a simple motion of his head, going on with the next plan. Just a couple of minutes pass and Chi-Chi is placed on a chair, strapped around it with hard tightrope and her mouth covered with ducktape, just a couple of yards behind the castle's entrance.
"W-why are you doing this?" Mai asked as she came to the scene. "She's pregnant!"
Ma-junior scoffed and grabbed Mai by her arms as well. He had gotten enough of the woman's objections and decided to shut her up, too. "Get another chair and some more tape. We have someone who wants to join her friend here."
Pilaf and Soba froze for a moment. "W-Wait..." They were far too close to Mai to simply tie her up and eventually kill her when all was said and done. Both showed great hesitance, but Majunior wasn't having any of it.
"Did I stutter?" Majunior's tone got a whole lot more threatening than before with a lower pitch, yet it demanded total authority. "Get another chair!"
Pilaf and Soba didn't even bother to look at Mai's eyes as they took off to follow Majunior's orders. The girl was kicking and moving around, trying to break free of Majunior's type grip. The green skinned male just chuckled as she was making pointless attempts at escaping.
Chi-Chi looked into the eyes of the man who had the woman captive. He had on a purple gi with a blue band around his waist. Most of his looks were hidden as he wore a turban and a cloak, which covered a major part of his clothing. His malicious grin sent chills down her spine. For the first time in her life, she was face to face with a psychopathic murderer with a lack of conscience. Without the support of Kakarot, she was totally lost and felt helpless, only hoping that he'd come to the rescue just in time.
Half an hour had passed and Majunior was still waiting. During this time, he made Pilaf and Soba spend a couple of minutes to tying up Mai, placing her right next to Chi-Chi. A lot of time was passing by, though Majunior had put much thought into his plan and was loving every second of it.
It was still morning, but Kakarot's day was practically over now. He was on his way home, in a rather good mood to be exact. The His attempt at making his own business went much smoother than he thought it would go and was satisfied enough that it was just as simple as making a bed. Once Kakarot caught a slight glimpse of the house he was a bit happier. "Now...I can share the news." He slowly began to make his way down as he got closer to Fry Pan Mountain.
Once he landed just on the side of the entrance, he noticed that the door was open. He knew this was quite unsual and looked around. "Huh?" Looking down, he could see the father of Chi-Chi down on the ground, totally out of it. "...Gyumao!" Kakarot dashed down and kneeled just beside him, an expression of concern. He felt like it was a little too late to bring the big guy back, but Kakarot still made an attempt to get him back by shaking him. "Gyumao!" "Wake up...wake up!"
Kakarot grabbed the man's arms and checked for a pulse. He waited a couple of seconds and didn't receive anything. The Saiyan didn't need further confirmation and bowed his head in disappointment. "fuck..." Kakarot was initially quite nervous for the man. But subsequent to figuring out that he was gone, he calmed down a bit, having to come to acceptance with his loss. "Rest in Peace, big guy." Now the main thing he had to focus on was Gyumao's murderer. Not to mention, he was worried about his lover.
"Kakarot!" Mai shouted, catching his attention. "Don't come any closer!" Unlike Chi-Chi who was wrapped up next to her, Mai had taped ripped from her mouth. She took advantage of this so she could warn him, but that was exactly the plan.
Kakarot spotted his wife tied up right next to Mai, but she was shut up. Kakarot rose on his two feet and walked right into the house. "Who did this...?" Kakarot looked around, looking for the other two. He knew well enough that Mai wouldn't go anywhere without the company of Pilaf and Soba.. "Where are the other two?"
"Right here!" Soba said from behind, shutting the door.
Kakarot turned around, spotting Soba and Pilaf. "What the hell are you two doing?" The Saiyan made sure to keep his anger in check. Whatever happened to transpire, he knew the two had something to do with it. If it were to be someone else, naturally Kakarot would have blown them away by now. "Explain...!"
"Why would they?" From behind, Ma-junior wrapped his arms around Kakarot's throat.
Kakarot's eyes widened. The man was entirely focused on Pilaf and Soba, so focused that he didn't sense the other presence. "W-Wha...!"
Majunior chuckled. He relished the sounds of Kakarot's attempts at forming words while being choked. "Remember me?" He let go of Kakarot and kicked him in the back.
Kakarot went towards the entrance of his home after being kicked away. He flipped over and slid on his hands, just entering the home. He looked back ahead of himself, seeing Piccolo. Kakarot got back on his two feet, seething. "You did this..."
Majunior chuckled and grabbed Mai after vanishing. He was far too quick for Kakarot, who immediately turned around, seeing Majunior with Mai in hand. "Indeed I did." Taking off his turban, Majunior revealed the green antennas that Kakarot would happen to recognize in an instant. "Miss me?"
Kakarot didn't have words, being left speechless. He didn't even have to think of the name, knowing. "Impossible..." Immediate flashbacks shot through his memory.
Pilaf, Soba, Mai, and Chi-Chi all also had a reaction as equal to Kakarot's. "Indeed, it is I. Piccolo." The man gave off a toothy grin, which resembled Piccolo Daimao's in every way possible.
"I don't buy it!" Kakarot protested. "I killed you." He saw the man blow up before his eyes. There should have been no doubts about it. He killed Piccolo, so there was no way he should be before him right now.
"You killed my father," Piccolo responded. "I am his reincarnation...his true spawn!"
Kakarot was literally shaking, fists folded. He already lost someone earlier today and didn't plan on losing another "If you do anything to Mai..."
Piccolo didn't listen to any of Kakarot's words and blasted a hole right through her chest from behind. He gripped her by the head and tossed her through the door and sliding out into the grass by Kakarot's feet, leaving a fresh trail of blood. "Oops...hehehehe."
"Mai!" Soba shouted. Pilaf was paralyzed, in a state of shock. Everything that he thought was supposed to happen had just taken a completely different turn...for the worst!
Kakarot had got enough and wasn't going to bother standing by and let his anger build anymore, so he rushed over to Piccolo and tried to punch him. Piccolo leaned back a little before blocking Kakarot's fist with his hand. "Hm. You've slightly improved...but not by much." He grabbed the young man by the wrist and slung him away.
Kakarot spun mid-air and landed on one hand, both of his legs spread out. His head jerked right back up towards Piccolo, who stood in the same spot. Kakarot's body zapped into nothing, having disappeared. Piccolo didn't move not one centimeter, confident he knew where Kakarot was to come at him next. The moment he felt Kakarot's presence behind him he moved over to the side, missing a direct punch aimed towards the back of the neck.
"Far too predictable," Piccolo commented. "You haven't changed at all, have you?"
"Who are you to speak?" Kakarot questioned. "You're going to die just like your pathetic excuse of a king did..."
"Try me," Piccolo challenged.
"Rah!" Indeed, Kakarot did try his opponent. And he started off strong, too, firing dozens of energy attacks at rapid rates.
Piccolo smacked the majority of them away, others passing right past him. "Is this truly it?" Piccolo raised his hand and caught the last attack that came from him. "I'm very disappointed." With a little bit of force, Piccolo canceled the ball of energy automatically, having it explode in his hands. He just grinned, having felt nothing but a slight tickle.
Kakarot's fist came through the small cloud of smoke, punching Piccolo dead center in the cheekbone. Piccolo's guard was slightly off, so he had to give Kakarot that one. The result was very much how he expected, with him barely budging, if anything, not at all.
OMPF!
Kakarot was at his knees, clutching his stomach and gasping for air. "You truly thought since you killed the strongest man to walk among this world that you were unstoppable, so you let yourself get complacent...form a family." Kakarot couldn't respond to the man at all, still wheezing for air. Piccolo grimaced at his father's killer. "But there is always someone better, idiot."
Kakarot was sent sliding by a kick to the face. "Kakarot!" Chi-Chi yelled at the top of her lungs. Pilaf and Soba both got the ducktape and rope off her, though she made sure to stay inside the house. "Beat him!"
"For Mai," Soba mumbled.
Pilaf nodded, a solemn look on his face. "For Mai."
"I suggest you shut up so you don't die," Piccolo warned, looking over at her.
Kakarot got back up, wiping the blood from his lip. He took off the polo shirt he had over his White-T, getting himself more comfortable. "Just as good as new. Now let's start over."
"I'm going to have fun recoloring that shirt red."
Kakarot ascended into the air and shot forth one small ball of energy. Piccolo took the challenge and rushed directly for the attack. Once again he caught Kakarot's attack and slammed it right back into Kakarot's face. The Saiyan was soaring through the air.
"COUGH COUGH!" Mai's body jerked up, spitting out a mouth full of blood.
"Mai!" Both Pilaf and Soba ran over to her with great urgency.
The woman was on the brink of death, blood falling down her cheek, not having that that much strength left in her. "I-I'm sorry..." was all she could say as her eyes rolled to the back of her head. All they could see as they looked into her eyes was pure white.
"MAI!" Pilaf and Soba yelled at the top of their lungs.
Kakarot looked down as he was in the sky. He noted Pilaf and Soba mourning over the death of not just their comrade, but their friend as well. "No...!"
Piccolo punched Kakarot in the face, seeing he was distracted. "Worry about yourself!" He placed his hands right on Kakarot's chest and blasted him head-on.
Kakarot crashed down, hitting his back hard. He bounced up and landed directly on his face. Kakarot got back up, looking at Piccolo as he made way towards him, wiping more blood from his face. He had a hole in his white shirt, revealing his bruised chest that had steam coming from it. "I didn't think I'd have to actually fight ever again." The Saiyan had a small grin. "I can't say I'm not excited...but I can admit that I'm pissed!"
"Don't tell me you think you still have a fighting chance." He snorted and spat on the grass, disrespecting Kakarot's home.
"I do!" Kakarot rushed for Piccolo once more, flying just above the ground.
Piccolo spun around, missing Kakarot by a mere inch. As he faced Kakarot once more he grabbed the young man by his shoes and slammed him down face first. Piccolo sighed, quite disappointed by how much of a miserable performance was being put up against him. "Alright. If you still think you're going to win..." Piccolo took off his turban and let it drop. "Catch."
Kakarot rolled over on his stomach, then just spotting one of Piccolo's pieces of clothing falling on him. Kakarot went to catch it but was hit hard by the sheer weight of it. His eyes bulged out a little at the weight, having not expected it to hold so much. Piccolo then proceeded to take off his cloak, which was weighted as well. He dropped it right atop Kakarot, giving the young man an even harder time.
Kakarot groaned as soon as it hit him. "G-Grugh..." He attempted to push the weight off him, though it was a few tons far too many for him, which he barely managed to pick up.
Piccolo shook his head. "Once a rival...now an insect."
Kakarot's face started to get red. "You...!" slowly he began to rise. "I'll get you!"
Piccolo just waited. "Fine." He began to charge energy in his hand, awaiting Kakarot to get up on his two feet.
"GRGh!" Kakarot threw it above his head, having put all effort into doing so. He was breathing heavily, his muscles extremely inflamed just by lifting such weight. "Now onto the real fight!"
"Indeed!" Piccolo didn't send any warnings and attacked Kakarot head-on with a great amount of ki. Kakarot was sent back for dozens of yards and eventually landed, having the attack explode immediately after.
Kakarot rolled continuously on the ground, coughing in the smoke that consumed him. "A-Argh...!" He scrunched his face, trying his best to endure the pain.
Chi-Chi was slowly losing hope as she witnessed her man getting beat effortlessly. She had seen Kakarot in action before and knew that he didn't perform like this unless he was overpowered.
Piccolo was behind Kakarot and had his feet stomped right over his head. "This should be fun..." Piccolo went to grazing Kakarot on his back with a thin line of hot energy, in the shape of a beam.
Kakarot wanted to let out a scream as Piccolo continued to scorch his back while he laughed out loud maniacally, but for one Kakarot's own pride would never let him show how much pain he was in. And for the two...his face was stuffed right into the dirt, muffling his sounds of pain. Piccolo watched the marks on Kakarot's back were there and live. His shirt was completely tattered. He removed his foot off Kakarot's back and sent a myriad of ki attacks, lacking all mercy for his opponent.
"AGGHHHH!"
"KAKAROT!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Chi-Chi, as well as Pilaf and Soba, could hear Kakarot's screams from afar.
Piccolo's satisfaction seemed to have no end as he tortured the Saiyan. Kakarot was lying on the ground, gasping for air once Piccolo stopped for a brief moment. His back was crispy looking, burnt scars all over his back. Never before had he been in so much pain. The slightest movement and he just wanted to fall back down out of helplessness.
"I'll let you suffer before you die just like you did my father," Piccolo spat on Kakarot's back as he stomped on it one hard time, eliciting a loud scream of agony, music to Piccolo's pointy green ears.
Kakarot nearly jumped out his shoes upon feeling that shoe to the back, which was steaming hot. Piccolo licked his lips, not seeming to get enough of this. "Now...onto a finer meal." He looked at Chi-Chi, a devious smirk aimed right at her. "Hehehe...A woman and an unborn baby seem about nice." Piccolo began to walk towards her direction.
"N-No..." Kakarot pushed through, with as much willpower as he could. The pain was excruciating. Every muscle he moved, he felt like his body was on the verge of shutting down. He had the thoughts of his wife and child, whom he wasn't going to let be harmed. Kakarot moved his arms. He winced but he kept pushing on. "I won't let you..."
Piccolo picked up what Kakarot was saying as he continued to walk away. Piccolo chuckled and slowly ascended into the sky, ignoring the weak man's words. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, scum..."
Kakarot rose to one knee. His jaw was shut tight, the pain almost being intolerable. "I won't let you..." Kakarot balled his fist, repeating his words. He closed his eyes. "I won't let you get away with this...!" Searching deep within himself, Kakarot sucked up every single bit of power he had left within him. All until he felt something within him immerge.
All the pain he was feeling suddenly went away, feeling as if nothing happened. Rather than being overcome by pain, it was turned into anger. The Saiyan wasn't going to let himself just remain on his stomach, accepting the death of himself nor those around him. That was something he couldn't permit. There was zero tolerance.
Piccolo looked down at his targets below, ready to give the finishing blow. He struck his hand out. "This is going to be enjoyable." He was beginning to get enough of Kakarot. He expected to have a bit more fun prior to realizing how easy it'd be to overpower his inferior. He knew it would eventually get tiresome. Regardless of the fact, he was going to end Kakarot and go on to make himself king, taking the steps of the one before him.
"I WON'T!" Kakarot, finding the rest of the power within himself, rocketed off the ground and made his way towards Piccolo. "Your end is now!" A blue aura surrounded his hardened fist, all of the energy he had left going into that one point.
Piccolo looked back down. "W-What?" Kakarot was making his way towards him, faster than ever before. It wasn't only that that took him by surprise, but the fact that Kakarot managed to even get back up and find the power to come at him at such velocity. Piccolo knew he wasn't going to be able to dodge this at all and was resorted to merely defending himself the best he could. "My best bet is to block." Even if he didn't look it, Piccolo was fretting over this. He could sense a spike in Kakarot's power and didn't like it one bit. His hands were placed before his stomach, only hoping it'd be able to stop his enemy in his tracks.
"Here..." Kakarot's tone of voice suddenly changed, converting into a deep, booming voice, one that could be heard from miles away. "IT IS!"
Piccolo recognized that sound from anywhere. A sudden flash of the same monster that tortured the Original Piccolo Daimao flashed in his head. Piccolo now remembered that monstrous 100-foot ape. Recollecting how powerful it was, he truly began to worry now.
"W-Was that?" Soba asked, choking on words. He and Pilaf were both amazed as they heard that very familiar, booming tone of voice
Kakarot didn't have to transform into an Oozaru to unleash the power of the Oozaru. Bringing it from within he was going to use it with one single focal point of attack. "DIE!"
And the two came to an automatic stop.
Pilaf and Soba wish they knew that something had to come next, though both were unsure of exactly what as the two were so high in the skies.
Kakarot stood before Piccolo, who shaking. Kakarot's fist was full of blood, Piccolo's blood. His very own hands went right through the green villain's stomach. Both were breathing heavy, especially the fatigued Kakarot. Piccolo could barely get air himself from the impact of such a piercing strike.
Piccolo growled, barely able to form coherent words. "How...HOW DARE YOU!" Piccolo's raised his hands and dug his sharp nails into Kakarot's scorched back. Kakarot let out a low growl, though Piccolo dug deeper and trailed his nail's down the Saiyan's back, making the Saiyan scream yet again as blood gushed from his back, reopening the cauterized wounds.
"RAGHHHH!" Kakarot yelled in Piccolo's ears.
Piccolo laughed through his own excruciating pain at the sound of Kakarot's. "Hahahahahaaha!"
Kakarot released his fist from Piccolo's stomach and started to fall, slowly. Piccolo was far too weak to do anything, soon to follow right after. The scenery of them both descending from up high at the extreme height they were was like watching two angels fall from heaven above. As they fell their blood could be seen spilling through the air along with them, trailing.
THUD!
CRACK!
Both enemies fell hard on their backs, right across from one another. Kakarot's vision was far too blurry, but he remained awake. Piccolo was losing a lot of blood, already having lost a significant amount before. Piccolo slowly managed to pick himself up, despite the gaping hole in his stomach. "I'm not dead...nor am I going to die."
Pilaf, Soba, and Chi-Chi were all mesmerized by Piccolo's will to stand, regardless of his injuries.
Kakarot looked over to Piccolo on his back, eyes at the top of his head. Feeling something weird was going on Kakarot shook his head, trying to clear out his vision a bit. All of a sudden he noted the hole in Piccolo's stomach was no longer there. He wondered if being on the verge of death included hallucinations as well, not believing that Piccolo managed to close his hole. "N-No way..."
Piccolo just chuckled. Kakarot noted the pain in his laughter. It took a lot out of Piccolo to regenerate that one big gaping hole in his stomach. Doing so took a substantial amount of power just to close his wound "Your lives end here. But first..." He turned around. "Let me have some fun." He started to slowly walk at Chi-Chi and the others with a limp.
"Oh no!" Soba panicked. "He's coming right for us!"
Pilaf was frozen in place, not having any idea of what the hell to do. "I-I..."
Chi-Chi gulped down hard, realizing what was to come next. Had she not been pregnant, she'd probably be able to defend herself, being a good fighter as well. But in her condition, that was impossible.
"N-No..." Kakarot mumbled under his breath.
"Hehehehee! It's time I take my rightful place back!" Piccolo stood erect, his hands aimed for the three. "Say Good-Bye!"
"Not today you aren't."
"Huh?" Piccolo looked up to the side.
Lapis and Lazuli appeared, landing right beside one another. Both twins had their arms crossed, looking at Piccolo with hard glares. Seeing him in such a condition reinforced the thought that they'd handle him no problem.
Piccolo immediately recognized them from the martial arts tournament, where he was hoping to kill them. He attempted to kill Lapis in the first round, though accidentally won by ring out, so he had to proceed onto Lazuli, whom he also beat. Unfortunately, he wasn't successful in completing his goal once Kami stepped in. "You two? Pft! What are you doing here?"
"We're going to stop you once and for all," Lapis said.
"What else did you think, chump?"
Piccolo just grinned. 'While I may be far weaker now, there's no way these fools can take me on as is.' He recalled how badly he beat them both in the tournament and figured he'd be able to repeat it, though having an end result with the both of them dead. Piccolo made his way towards them, running as fast as he could. "So be it!"
Lapis stood in front of Lazuli, his arms stretched out. "Badasses first."
"Then you die, first!"
Lapis disappeared so suddenly that is caught Piccolo by surprise. He had stopped, wondering where he could have gone. Lazuli punched him in the face, sending Piccolo just above the ground. Lapis came from above, ramming his feet into Piccolo's chest. The impact had Piccolo's back crash hard into the green grass, kicking up some of the plants. Lapis hopped backward, right by his sister's side.
Piccolo groaned, getting back up. He clutched his chest, rubbing it hard. "You two...!"
"You stand no chance," Lazuli remarked. "So get the hell out of here and don't even think about coming back either."
Piccolo grunted. "You only defeat me because I'm far too weak to take you fools on. I'd embarrass you just like I did last time."
"You have five seconds," Lapis. "And I won't hesitate in killing you."
Lazuli shoved Lapis' shoulder. "What about Kami?"
"Kami?" Piccolo listened closely. The green man then began to chuckle. "Oh, yes! Hahahaha, you fools can't kill me. If you do, then Kami goes, too!" He had a wide smirk on his face. "And you care too much for the old man to just erase him alongside me. Hehehe, you're just gonna let the devil walk the earth?"
"Five!" Lapis sent a giant wave of ki right after Piccolo.
Piccolo hopped in the air, barely being able to dodge it. He came back down, on one knee. The movements he was making were noted to take somewhat of a toll on him, sweat falling to the ground from his face. He finally saw just how he wouldn't be able to beat either of the two. This pissed him off, though he knew he had to escape so he could come to fight another day. "This isn't over. None of this is over." He then looked over to Kakarot. "You're not ever going to leave this world alive."
Kakarot chuckled, barely conscious. "Go home, weakling."
Piccolo swallowed his pride and elevated into the air. "My reign of terror will begin one day!"
Kakarot rolled over, moaning in pain as he did. He slowly managed to pick himself back up on his two feet, but it felt like hours just being able to get on one knee.
Both Lapis and Lazuli immediately recognized the man as he stood up. "Isn't he that ruthless boy that participated in the 22nd Tenkaichi Budokai?"
"Yeah." Lazuli then grinned. "He's grown, too."
. "I...I can't believe this." He turned to Lapis and Lazuli, huffing and puffing. "Thank you."
Lazuli checked her wrist, looking at is as if she had a watch. "Well won't ya look at the time. We've got to go." Lazuli hopped into the sky.
"You're welcome." Lapis threw Kakarot a small brown bag, which Kakarot caught. Lapis saw the man eying it, and with great suspicion. "Don't worry. It's not poisonous or anything. It'll heal you. Deuces!" Lapis shot into the air, trailing behind his sister.
Kakarot kneeled down over, his legs getting far too weak for him to stand for another second. He reached into the bag and pulled out a green bean the size of a pebble. "A green bean." Kakarot knew one thing he did with beans and that was eat them. Figuring this was no different, he plucked it into his mouth. He chewed on it for just moments at a time. "Heh." He didn't feel any difference, but a second later, it hit him and it hit him hard. His eyes shot wide open. "WHOAH!" Kakarot was completely healed. Not only did he feel the energy he had prior to fighting be replenished, but he felt even more power. All of the damage done to him felt like they never happened. All the bruises and scarring were gone. He felt totally new. "What are these things..." Kakarot examined the bag, mesmerized at the power of the beans secluded inside. "I should figure out how to grow these one day..."
Kakarot got up and looked over to Soba and Pilaf. He put the bag of health beans away in his torn jean pants and walked over to them. The two were still over by Mai's dead body. Kakarot kneeled down before the two, paying his respects to the one he called sister. The look on Pilaf and Soba's face said it all. All of them had a great loss, and the current emotion they were feeling was very mutual.
Each had their eyes closed, giving Mai a moment of silence. Everything that transpired between them in the past began to flow into their heads, like a fresh memory coming back. Unfortunately, their moment of reminiscence came to an abrupt end.
"AWWWWWW!" Came the loud scream inside the house from none other than Chi-Chi.
Kakarot, Pilaf, and Soba all looked inside the house. "What the?"
Pilaf looked down at Chi-Chi's feet. Upon spotting a puddle of liquids he passed out. Kakarot looked towards him, surprised at his former comrade's sudden falling out. "Pilaf...!"
"She's going into labor!" Soba exclaimed. While much a dog, he knew a thing or two about humans. No doubt with her big belly and the water leaking, she was bound to have her child.
"You're kidding me..." Kakarot stood up. "Place Mai in a cool capsule to preserve her body," Kakarot demanded and bury it in the front yard. He began to walk over to Chi-Chi, who was seated in the chair behind her, yelling at the top of her lungs.
"I have a kid to deliver."