Chapter 10
The five of them sat around the room. Kakarot laid by the window tongue hung out in agony of the heat.
Gohan fanned himself with a palm fawn looking almost as miserable.
Karen had peeled off her peach robes instead for a gi similar to Arlicks's and Kakarot's.
Kōbashī was too hot to cry about the irritation.
And Arlick was sprawled out on the floor topless, his tail uncoiled and his body glistened with sweat.
"KAMI THIS IS HORRIBLE!" He roared sitting up getting everyone to look at him.
"It's November! Why is it so damned hot!?" He asked and everyone shared a look.
"The world is changing young one. We must not question Kami's reasons. Even if they do bring us discomfort."
"I'd train the day away if I didn't hate every second of the sun beating down on me, and I'd sleep if I could get comfortable by I'm afraid I'd drown in all my sweat!"
"Brother Arlick!" Exclaimed Goku as he sat up on the window sill, "why don't we all go to the lake!"
Everyone in the room turned to gaze upon the younger saiyan.
If you had lunch ones upon the hut from the outside it would appear as though the small home was lifted from the ground and did a flip as it's inhabitants roared, "WHY DIDN'T YOU MENTION THAT SOONER!"
Back within the small homes walls Karen had a blank look on her face.
"Wait, Arlick and Kakarot usually swim naked…" she started looking between the two, lingering a bit on the older saiyan.
"Yeah, your point?" Asked Arlick.
"My point is I'm a girl you moron!" She roared legitimately spooking the older saiyan.
"Ah, don't worry about that!" Said Gohan as he reaches behind the sofa and pulled out a small box.
He smiled before opening said box revealing several bathing suits.
"My old Master gave me and an old friend of mine these." Gohan explained as he pulled out a two piece bikini for Karen and handed out swimming trunks to the two saiyans. And for him. A bright red Speedo.
Gohan trudged forward, sulking at the pair of blue trunks his students had forced him to wear. But his frown didn't last as they came upon the crystal blue waters.
Before he said anything Arlick and Kakarot flew past him and cannon balled into the water sending cool droplets to hit the group still in the bank of the river.
Karen set down a tarp and made a pillow guard around Kōbashī before she began her ran into the water.
As she began to run it was as if time had slowed down. At least for Arlick anyway.
His eyes seemed glued on her person as she ran forward, the way she laughed as she approached the water, the way the muscles in her calf tended as she pushed forward harder, and harder. But what really got him was how her curly blue locks flowed in the air as she jumped into the air with a flip and did a perfect dive into the water.
A drop of blood flowed from his nose.
"Arlick, are you okay?" Asked Kakarot to the older Saiyan who leapt from the water before turning to the other with a smile that revealed grinding teeth.
Kakarot raised up a small tidal wave as he swam from his demonic sibling.
Karen rested above the surface of the water, floating idly enjoying the midday sun. Kakarot was making faces at Kōbashī, and Gohan had fallen asleep.
She peeled open on eye and looked to her left to see the greatly defined body of Arlick sat cross legged in the bank opposite to the rest of the group, his eyes shut tight, and he appeared as though he were a trillion miles away.
Arlick snapped the shackle on his right arm. Finally after years of training his body, and meditating to hone his mind he was free of the restricting chains that once weighed him down.
He felt instant gain as his muscles bulged and his aura became a burning barrier between him and the rest of the world.
Smiling he turned his sights in the door.
The massive pillars holding the dark brown door, topped with solid bronze head of an Oozaru.
Smiling, a wider smile than he thought possible. It had taken years. It had taken so much determination and perseverance. But now it was with in reach.
Baring his teeth he cocked back a fist and raced for the door. Only to stop dead in his tracks as his body went stiff and a horrid numbing pain shot up his spine.
He toppled over and loosened slightly turning his head to see a fiery blue chain coming from the pike to a shackle...around his tail.
The veins formed across his person as he gritted his teeth and stood there watching the most like fire rise off the translucent chain.
"Oh...Kami...DAMMIT!" He roared, a truly feral sound that carved away at the ground of the void.
Karen flew through the air before Gohan locked a hand around her wrist and pulled her toward him and the rest of the gang, as they turned to see the blazing white and purple aura around Arlick.
"He's in a state of heavy meditation!" Shouted Gohan staring at the boy whose immense power was sending waves of intense wind outward from himself, "something must have happened in his mindscape! We must return him to consciousness!" Shouted Gohan.
Kakarot reacted first. He cupped his mouth and tried shouting.
"Brother Arlick! Wake up!" But nothing happened.
A determined and serious expression was dawned on the boy as he ascended into the air and fought against the harsh winds.
Now within several inches of Arlick he reach forward and grabbed the saiyans hair to keep from being blown away.
He pulled forward, he thought about it for a moment. He had two real options, to hug his brother and cry into his ear and hope he woke up, or the better option.
His tail came forward and wrapped around Arlicks slender torso, and Kakarot unleashed a Kame no Danmaku upon Arlicks' face and chest.
Arlicks hands flew up and caught every strike. His eyes now open and the world quickly returning to normal.
"Brother Arlick!" Cried Kakarot moving to hug the older saiyan. Before a fist connected with his face sending him flying into the water.
"You sneaky, unprideful bastard!" Shouted Arlick pointing at Kakarot's tail that poked out of the waters surface, "attacking a saiyan whose meditating. Have you no shame Kakarot?" He asked shaking his head.
The group on the other side of the river laughed. Kakarot only burst from the water who had a bloody nose.
"I think I'm ready to go back home…" said the younger saiyan dejectedly.