Check-In-Station
Rhys was left staring up in silence and awe at the giant King Yemma sitting behind his desk who had just greeted the new occupant and first time visitor. King Yemma was looking down with a friendly smile at him as if he was a close friend. This calmed down Rhys a bit, but it wasn't enough to cease the numerous emotions he was experiencing at the same time. Rage, regret, sadness and hopelessness swarmed around Rhys's aura like a swarm of locusts, each emotion hurting him more on the inside.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you Rhys," King Yemma started a discussion with a cheerful tone, in hopes that Rhys can accept his death more easy by making him more relaxed. But it didn't help the fact that Rhys was before a judge to decide whether he could stay in the Otherworld with the other noble fighters and fight to his heart desires, or be sent to Hell down below and suffer a lifetime of torture and punishment. "You are the famous Time Patroller who slayed Demigra and saved time. Thanks you I would have been sending off good people to the Otherworld instead of the opposite," he further said seemingly happy that he wouldn't be sentencing good guys instead of bad guys to the Otherworld.
Snapping back to reality, it was time for Rhys to be serious and act like normal instead of being a silent person accepting his afterlife life and to be sent away. He needed to speak his mind and now. "King Yemma," he said in a stern tone, taking King Yemma aback with the sudden change in attitude. "I don't have time to be standing here waiting to judged. I need to get back and kill that accursed Demon who killed me!" He demanded, adopting a Vegeta personality.
"Hold up there, Rhys," King Yemma said with a frown. "That is no tone to talk to a judge! I can send you to the pits of Hell right now for being disrespectful!" He scolded waving his pen in his hand up and down. "If you want to say on my good books then have manners and be more professional in this matter."
Rhys grumbled, heeding King Yemma's advice. "Sorry, King Yemma," he apologized with furrowed eyebrows. "It's that I feel so angry at myself for failing to protect my new friends, my fiancée." He said gritting his teeth and clenching his fists.
"If Fu is the Demon you're talking about, he left that Earth without any more killing or destroying, so everyone there is fine," King Yemma responded in a more natural tone. Rhys ceased his anger and relaxed with a sigh of relief knowing everyone is fine. But he was truly worried about one girl in particular – Kyouka. If she found about his dead body then it won't be a pretty sight to behold.
"Do you know where Fu is now?" Rhys asked begging to know so he can run after Fu and kill him like a revenge-driven person would do.
"I won't tell you until you choose a smart choice to proceed from here." King Yemma replied clutching his hands into a ball and resting it on the table. "I know you fighter types. As soon as you are able, you go after revenge as your first priority and I won't allow you to throw your life away so stupidly when the outcome of your revenge is clear. You will die again, and next time you won't be coming here, you will be dead for good," he added emphasis at the last part to inject fear into Rhys. It worked to some degree, but got Rhys thinking with a finger against his chin choosing a wise path to deal with this matter.
'Now that I can clearly think straight, he does have a good point. If I charge at Fu once again without a plan or being stronger, then the result will be the same as always. And as he says, if I die again in this state I will die for good. Wait…in this state….so that means if I get my body back, I can fight Fu again and if I die again I will be right back here and in the same problem.' Rhys thought releasing his finger from his chin and looking back up to King Yemma.
"King Yemma, can you grant my body back?" He asked giving it a shot. It was a 50/50 chance King Yemma would either say yes or no. And it was a lucky day for Rhys as the answer Rhys wanted to hear.
"Yes I can but only if one of two conditions are met, then I can grant the body back of a fallen being," he replied picking up his huge and thick orange book on his table, flicking through the pages with his spare right hand until he found the conditions at the start of the book. He found the page he wanted, reached into his tuxedo pocket for black-trimmed glasses and put them on in a professional, if not classical way.
"Ah yes," he said straightening his glasses. "If a dead being performed a heroic deed prior to their death, or have a high power level they are permitted to retain their body," he finished taking off his glasses with one hand and tucked it back into his tuxedo pocket, he smiled with very good news to tell. "It seems you fit both conditions, Rhys," King Yemma informed the now happy and glad field Earthling. "You have an immense power level, and in that fight against Fu was it? Even though you had slim chances of winning, you still fought to protect the ones you love and respect."
"Thank you, now can you rev-"
"Not yet, you need to tell me what you intend to do after you get your body back. Keep in mind if I don't like the response I won't give your body back," King Yemma warned cautiously with a frown. "I won't have you throw away your life a second time and meeting me here again. If you do I might not be as generous the next time."
Rhys stood silent for a moment to think of a proper response and plan of action, otherwise he won't be able to exact his revenge. Numerous plans went through his head: training alone, fighting Fu with someone else or gather the dragon balls to remove the Time Breakers from existence. There was no way he could use the dragon balls. He used them recently to undo Mira's damage and gathering the seven balls again would take a long time, giving Fu a chance to strike a decisive blow to Toki Toki City to eradicate all Time Patrollers and disturb the flow of time.
He had to go with either of the first two options.
"Okay, I've made up my mind," he nodded before looking back up to Yemma, who raised an eyebrow with keen interest to hear the little man's answer. "Taking time to train would be the wisest plan of action, but time is something I cannot afford to spare. That's why I am going to go to a close and powerful friend of mine and ask for his help in taking down Fu together. Knowing him, he won't hesitate to say yes." He finished with a small grin at the last part, expressing his delight thinking about his partner he'll bring with him. This fight will not end in defeat.
King Yemma leaned back in his chair, head tilted up. It took some time for King Yemma to come up with an answer with constant humming. The suspense made Rhys uncomfortable.
"Okay, I'm happy with your plan," King Yemma said while looking back down at Rhys with a pleasant smile. "You can have your body back." Rhys was filled with glee as he saw King Yemma extend his hand out to the end of the table with his palm facing to the ground. His hand shinned lightly as Rhys's halo started to disappear from above his head. "There ya go," he returned his hand back.
"Thank you King Yemma!" Rhys exclaimed with indescribable joy. "Next stop, Toki Toki City…" He placed his two fingers on his forehead for an Instant Transmission, waving goodbye to King Yemma with his left hand. "Goodbye King Yemma," Rhys said smiling as he disappeared to home onto a powerful Ki signature.
"Good luck Rhys, you'll need it," King Yemma muttered getting back to his dull, repetitive work. "Next!" He shouted calling up the next deceased person in line.
Toki Toki City
"Whadya mean Rhys was here a few days ago and I missed him?!" Exclaimed a distraught full-blooded Saiyan wearing an orange Gi…and a frown. This man was named Goku, who had a late notice of Rhys appearing in the Time Nest after his battle with Demigra.
"I'm sorry Goku, but as I said you missed him," replied the Supreme Kai of Time to the dense Saiyan, hands on her waists.
"Aw man!" Goku cried stomped on the ground with disappointment. He really did want to challenge Rhys as an Earthling with artificial DNA inside of him so he could satisfy his battle lust for different kinds of challengers as soon as possible. But it seems Rhys skadoodled away before Goku could challenge him.
The Supreme Kai of Time brought her right hand up to her chin, held up by her crossed left arm across her chest. "Now that I think of it, it was a good thing to have you miss him." She said which seemingly sounded cold coming from a Supreme Kai.
"Huh?" Goku was taken aback with his traditional widened eyes and mouth. "W-why?" He inquired now desperately wanting to know.
"Well…he brought his fiancée from another Earth with him, and if you two met you would be begging to fight her non-stop and get on Rhys's nerves," Trunks said stating what would have been the truth. "It was her first time in this universe too and you would have given her a bad first time experience in here." He added.
"Wait…Rhys has a fiancée!?" Goku was shocked at the news.
"That's right," a voice called from behind Goku. The three looked behind Goku and noticed Rhys in his orange Gi. "And she is probably crying her heart out right now."
"You do love popping out of nowhere silently and surprising everyone, don't you Rhys?" The Supreme of Kai joked at his timely appearance. "What makes you say that?"
"Rhys!" Goku smiled with joy running up to the Earthling who in returned walked towards Goku. "Where have ya been? Come on, let's fight!" Goku was quick on the trigger to ask to fight Rhys. He shook his head in response, taking Goku by surprise and shock.
"I'm not in the mood to spar with you Goku, I need your help as soon as possible." Rhys replied showing no positive emotion in his voice, or facial expression.
"How come?" Goku asked disappointed once more.
After a heavy sigh, Rhys looked dead serious with a mix of anger in his posture, clenching his fists. "Fu…" His answer confused the trio. They didn't know who Fu was, however that name rung a bell to the Supreme Kai. The name was on the end of her tongue. She just couldn't remember clearly what it was. For certain she knew it was someone.
Trunks noticed the Supreme Kai's unsettled expression as he watched her bite her fingernails in thought. "Is something wrong Supreme Kai?" He asked with concern. She didn't reply and remained silent to think who Fu is.
"I'll explain." Rhys said getting the attention of the three. "Towa visited me again in the other Earth," he said getting shocked and slightly feared looks from the Supreme Kai and Trunks. "She brought someone much stronger than me in every way. Not even at a Super Saiyan 2 I couldn't beat him." Rhys clenched his fists harder, revealing veins in his arms. "Fu… He killed me and sent me to the Otherworld where King Yemma granted me my body back, so that's why I need your help Goku, to finally put Towa and her son in the grave for good."
The name clicked a light in the Supreme Kai's memory. She knew who Fu was. The son of Mira and Towa who said to be a powerful influence on the world when he becomes Demon King.
"Fu…" Supreme Kai slowly said spilling venom all over the name. "I never thought he would rise to power so soon."
"Supreme Kai, who is Fu?" Trunks asked looking down to the Supreme Kai. "Is he a big threat to the Time Vault?"
"I'll explain later, Trunks. But now Goku," she turned to the full-blooded Saiyan. "You need to help take care of Fu right now before he becomes a much greater foe to defeat."
"Alright! Let's go Rhys!" Goku was too fast on the trigger again. Goku then rushed towards the portal to Toki Toki City but was stopped by Rhys.
"Hold up Goku, we need a plan before we deal with Fu." Rhys said, being the more of a thinker than doer compared to his close friend who is the opposite.
Goku quickly looked back at his partner, "Why? We can team up on him and make the fight more interesting!" Goku replied pumped up to fight Fu already.
"Do you remember what happened when you tried to take on Raditz with Piccolo?" Rhys referenced Goku's first fight during the Saiyan Saga. "Even though you were fighting two against one, you had trouble taking on one foe. Fu is stronger than you would imagine so we can't risk having déjà vu again with Fu as you did with Raditz."
"Hmm, you're right," Goku hummed in a thought gesture, realizing he was right. With Piccolo by his side that time he still couldn't defeat Raditz. The duo only won with a diversion which ended in both Saiyans being killed from Piccolo's Special Beam Cannon when Goku held Raditz on one place for the beam to be shot through the two.
During Goku's train of thought down memory lane, Rhys had already come up with an idea to defeat Fu and Towa once and for all.
"I know how we can beat him," he said with a devious smile.
Nangokuren High School
Due to the time difference between the two universes, the next day began at school with every student, minus one girl, flocking to the school only to find it in shambles from what seemed to be battle between Rhys and whatever he fought against yesterday. Several school buildings had holes in them, a few buildings were torn down and there was a long crater along the school. Students were chattering in mass confusion and demanded answers for what appeared and what happened. Every student including Meru and Ren scattered around the school to find Rhys to ask him what happened. They could not however, find him at all. It was like he disappeared without a trace.
Changing the subject and getting their mind of the scenery, Kako, one of Kyouka's loyal subordinates looked everywhere among the crowd searching for her leader. "Has anyone seen Kyouka?" She asked the other loyal subordinates in Kyouka's group.
"I haven't seen her since yesterday," Misa, the short girl with long black hair replied much to the dismay of Kako.
"The same goes for me," Chiyoko replied also with the same answer as Misa as she had her arms on the back of her head. "I haven't heard from her since Rhys told us to run away from something."
The subordinates were getting really worried about her leader.
"I'll give her a call on her cellphone and see where she is," Kako picked her cellphone from her bag, went into her contact list, found Kyouka's number and rung her number in hope she'll get her to pick up. She placed the phone by her ear and heard the annoying dial tone.
RING, RING, RING, RING, RING, RING.
…No answer.
"I'll try again," Kako tried once more to contact her. But the result was the same as last time – no answer. "Where could she be," she muttered panicking for her leader. Kako placed her phone back,
"Since we're still on holiday why don't the three of us go visit her house and see if she's there? Her parents will know where she is," Chiyoko suggested to the other two girls. The two girls nodded agreeing as they started to walk to Kyouka's house from school.
After a 20 minute walk from school to Kyouka's residence, they walked up the stone walkway up to the house. The trio walked up the stairs and Misa knocked on the door. Momentarily after the knock, Ryoko opened the door to greet the trio.
"Well hello girls, what can I do for you?" Ryoko asked. She could probably take a good guess why they're here, but asked just in case if they wanted something else.
"Hello Ryoko, do you know where Kyouka is?" Kako asked as Ryoko's look went from normal to sadden. "We haven't seen here since yesterday and we're worried where she might be." Ryoko stayed silent with her frown for a while, thinking of the best way to answer the girls.
"I'm sorry girls," she responded in a regretful tone, making the girl trio look shocked as if bad news was going to come. "Kyouka is here, but she is not in any condition to be with anyone right now. Yesterday….Rhys died." She finished which did not affect the three girls as expected when you received news of someone passing away. Sure, they did know Rhys but they were in no way his friend or have any good relation to him. They were neutral with him. "She's been locked in her room since yesterday. She hasn't come out to talk to my husband or myself, so I think it would be best for you girls to come in and give her some support." Ryoko concluded to the girls as she stepped to the side and held the door open and invited the trio in.
"Okay," Kako spoke lightly taking her shoes off and entering the house with the other two girls that did the same.
The girls walked past Ryoko as she closed the door behind the four and gestured the girls to follow her. She then led the girls though the silent and near-empty house past their dining room into another large empty room with a door on all three sides of the room. The left door led to the guest room, the door in front of them led to Ryoko and Kazuya's room and the right one led to Kyouka's room. Ryoko led the trio to the door to the right and stopped outside her daughter's room.
The girl trio looked to Ryoko to see if it was really okay for them to enter and try their best to comfort her. Ryoko nodded silently still expressing a saddened look, giving them an okay to enter. The girls nodded silently back to Ryoko as she left the three girls alone to see their depressed leader.
Chiyoko opened the sliding door slowly as she looked inside the room like a cautious person entering an unknown and scary room. Misa and Kako popped their heads through the door as well and stared into the darkened room, illuminated by the open door. The trio looked around the room and noticed a human-like lump in the futon sheet.
Being the gentle and caring girl Misa is she spoke first quietly and softly. "…Kyouka?" The girl in the sheets covered herself more in the futon as a sign she doesn't want to talk right now. Kako stepped into the room, knelt down to Kyouka's side and gently placed her hand on what felt like Kyouka's right arm.
"We're here for you, Kyouka." Kako gently said starting to rub her up and down in an effort to support her better.
"…Please…just go," Kyouka was definitely not in a mood to talk right now. The girls respected Kyouka's wishes and followed her orders, without a second thought. Kako slowly pulled back her hand towards her with a shocked expression. She then closed her eyes fearing Kyouka's current condition. She stood back up and turned to the other two girls. They all lowered their heads before deciding to leave her alone. They all got out of her room and Chiyoko closed the door slowly once again.
"Oh man," Chiyoko spoke softly to break the upset mood between the girls. "I can't feel anything but sympathy for her. Rhys must have been that special to her to make her upset like this," she finished, getting nods from the other girls.
The girls proceeded to walk through the house back back outside where they would speak more out of hearing range of Kyouka.
"What will it mean for the school now?" Misa asked the two as she got questionable looks from the duo. "If Kyouka is unable to fight, I'm afraid Rino won't have anything blocking her way to get full control over the school." This point caused shocked and panicked gazes from Chiyoko and Kako. Misa was right. First year Dragon Ayane isn't strong enough to buy time for Kyouka to get back on her feet, making Rino to run unopposed for the control over the school. They couldn't rush Kyouka to get back on her feet and be in the fighting mood again. All they could do is hope Kyouka has a quick recovery and try to lie about Kyouka's condition to the students to prevent Rino to get the idea Kyouka is unable to fight.
"You're right," Kako responded with a nod. "We need to buy as much time as we can until Kyouka is back on her feet." Chiyoko and Misa lowered their heads to think of a proper plan. "We might have to work along with Ayane and the first years to ensure Rino doesn't take the spot as Nangokuren leader."
"I doubt the first years will work with us. We are the enemy after all," Chiyoko added her 2 cents to the mix.
"We have to try and get their cooperation otherwise Kyouka might not be able to dethrone Rino when she becomes the top Dragon."
Little did the trio now they were followed by a spy loyal to Rino, who had heard everything they said when they were outside. Lying on the roof not trying to be found was Iyo, a girl with long blond spikey hair who wore glasses over her green eyes, and hid her mouth behind a black bandana. She wore the green second year outfit with sleeves that covered most of her hands.
"Interesting…" she muttered looking at the unsuspecting trio. "It was a good idea of me to follow them after all…" she smirked behind her bandana with victory written all over her mouth. "I better head back and report to Rino about it. She'll be pleased to know of this timely advantage." Without making a sound, she slid off the back off the roof and jumped onto the wall surrounding Kyouka's home and jumped building to building back to school as quickly and agile she can.
DBZ Universe, Otherworld
In the Demon filled throne room of the Demon King's castle, resided the next-to-be King of the Underworld, Fu. He sat on his throne with the upmost pride and superiority before his bowing subordinates with his mother by his right. She couldn't be any happier for her successful son. She had the biggest smile only a prideful mother could have for their child.
"You did me proud, Fu." Towa complimented placing her hand on Fu's right shoulder while holding her staff in her right hand. "You've slayed that troublesome Time Patroller brat, at least until he gets revived those damn Dragon Balls. Now you can take your throne without any more problems, and unchallenged. Your right to rule the Underworld and the entire universe is now absolute."
"With Lord Beerus, the God of Destruction uncaring what happens in this universe, my rule and tyranny is safer and unprotested than ever." Fu replied with a big smirk. If Lord Beerus was the caring and protective type, Fu would be dead already by the hands of the God. But thanks to his only care for destroying planets, Fu was safe from him.
"And with the Z Fighters powerless to stop you, including the rest of the pathetic Time Patrollers, they can't do a thing. They can only watch and let their lives be turned into slavery and torture." Towa further said implying more of a sadistic nature in her pleasing tone.
"Where is my damn crown?!" Fu yelled as the crowd split up revealing a small red Demon in the centre of the room, shaking his legs in fear while he held a black cushion with a demonic looking crown. It was more like a tiara than an actual royal crown. It was sized to perfectly fit around the forehead of the forehead the size of Fu. On the centre-piece was a dark red gem and on the sides of it were black horns pointing upwards like a Demon would have.
Hesitating at first to walk towards the towering heir to the Demon King throne, the Demon holding the crown walked slowly towards Fu. Each step make his legs wobble more and more in the fearful sight of the new King. The Demon walked up the few stairs up to the throne, where he then hid under the cushion when he offered the crown to Fu to put it on by himself. With his massive hand Fu reached to the crown and picked it up, looking at the majestic symbol of royalty as the dark red gem mirrored his elegance.
"Finally," he muttered turning the crown round, placing his other hand on the side of the crown and raised it above his head, slowly lowering it to his head. Towa's smile grew bigger watching the crown descend to the rightful claim to the Demon King throne.
However, just as Fu was about to place the crown on his head, he stopped. The Demons grew silent at the confusing act of their new King. Towa noticed their silence and looked at her son, who halted as if time stopped.
"Fu?" Towa asked leaning to her son. "What's wrong?" Fu didn't respond. He instantly stood up and offered the crown to his mother without looking at her.
"Hold this," he said directing all of his attention towards the large double sided door to the throne room behind the Demons. Silence pursued for some time after the throne room fell silent at Fu's focused gaze at the doors.
BOOM
The door erupted in an explosion as the Demons scattered in panic at what had caused it. Smoke covered the entire doorway so no person could be seen. Yet, Fu smiled excitedly sensing the immense power level of whoever caused the door to explode. This challenger was going to bring a bigger and better fight than what Rhys did, considering Fu only toyed with him before killing said Earthling.
From the smoke, a silhouette could be seen walking towards the throne room. It was a humanoid shape with spikey hair. Fu guessed it would be a Saiyan Time Patroller he had never seen before that had this high amount of energy.
"How very rude of you, Fu," the voice spoke as it approached out of the smoke. It was a Super Saiyan 2 that had black boots, white pants with a black sash, two black wristbands and a black vest with gold padded trimmings around it over a shirtless chest. The face looked like Vegito with the golden hair of a Super Saiyan 2 Teen Gohan. "You are having a party and you didn't invite me. Very rude indeed." The stranger said with a big smirk.
"Who are you?!" Towa demanded to know stepping to the steps before the throne. She was pissed off because this stranger appeared unannounced and ruined her son's coronation. They had big guts to do what they just did in front of the new Demon King who could easily be destroyed.
"I am not Goku or Rhys, I am Rhyoku." The stranger now known as the fusion result between Goku and Rhys said with a big smirk.
So the mysterious fighter I've been hinting the past chapters is the fusion of Goku and Rhys, Rhyoku! I know this was a short chapter compared to my usual limit, but I wanted to add a cliff-hanger when I didn't have anything else to think of to put in. =p
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Until next chapter guys!
