Hey everyone! Miika here with the next chapter! I'd like to thank ArmyWife22079 and Raditz'sGirl13 for the reviews for last chapter. Maybe someday I'll cover over Hayashi and Tien's past, and there will be so much more Raditz action in the next chapter. But I'm overall excited about this chapter! You all knnow what happen, right? Well, check the chapter title, of course!
Ok, I guess I'm more nervous than excited because I haven't worked on this story as much as I've wanted lately, so it's catching up to where I'm working on it. Long story short, I pre-wrote 14 chapter, and have only gotten 2 new chapters written up since I've started posting. Hopefully, though, I can find some time and type away at it on my brand-spankin'-new laptop!
Anyway, let's not worry about that! We still have about 4 more chapters before I need to panic and have to increase the waiting period between uploads. So, that's what, 24 days? Yeah, that should be enough time. Without further ado, here's the disclaimer!
Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fan-based work of fiction. Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT are all owned by Funimation, Toei Animation, Fuji TV, and Akira Toriyama. Please support the official release.
Chapter 11: Brute Force
A week felt like an insignificant amount of time compared to the time we had endured. After my episode in the bathroom and Bulma helping me, I've felt reluctant to return to Capsule Corp, or anywhere else in Bulma's presence. She just had to call me too.
"Hayashi," I hear her through the receiver. "I need your help."
I freeze up at her words. "What's wrong?" I ask.
"I can't get to the last dragon ball," she says. A rush of wind blows through, muffling and other words she had said after that.
"Where are you?" I ask. I try my hardest to sense her, and only lock onto her ki signature after she tells me.
"I'm on a beach. The -" the wind blows once more, drowning her voice, "-quickly below, and I can't get it!" I grumble, cursing the rabid winds on the other end.
"I'll be there in a moment," I say. I end the call with a press of a button, taking to the skies and blasting off to follow her light ki. It doesn't take long to arrive, and I smile as I land on the firm sand near the crashing waves. Seagulls cry out above, their white wings gliding with the howling wind. The same damn wind steering the birds ahead happen to be blowing loose grains of sand into my face and hair. I feel Bulma's hand place something over my eyes, no longer feeling the irritation. I blink and smile.
"Thank you, Bulma!" She nods with a smile, but hastily replaces her smile with an intense gaze.
"The last one is down there," she says. My expression matches her, though I doubt I could ever level with her intensity. "Something swallowed it, and is moving quickly along the bottom. And none of my inventions, sadly, can catch it. Either too lightly built, or too slow."
I nod, and stretch my hand out palm up. "I'll see if I can grab it for you," I say. "Radar, please!" My dear blue-haired friend places the device in my hand, and I begin my trek underwater.
I dive in after taking a huge gulp of air. I look around, watching schools of fish swim around me, consisting of both small and exceptionally large types of fish. I'm entranced, like living in another world altogether. Mystical, beautiful... I shake my head, returning to the issue at hand. The last dragon ball! I check the radar, watching the blipping yellow dot wave viciously, and deeper than I already am. I dive further, watching the dot blink more rapidly as I near my target. Or is it nearing me?
A large fish with a gaping mouth and rows upon rows of teeth lunges at me, to which I dodge to its dismay. I watch the radar and the fish's long nearly intimidating body until the blip is completely under me, and I release a blast of ki only strong enough to tear it open. As scary as it looked, I'd rather not eat it, or any part of it. Aside from a release of guts and bubbles of some sort, the soft orange sparkle in the dim light catches my attention. I snatch it up and rise to the surface with furor. I smile, breathing in fresh air. I see Bulma standing on the beach smiling and cheering, and then shirking back as I fly closer.
"Did you kill it?" she asks. I nod. What else could I say? 'Oh, no, I just blew a hole in it and fished it out'? 'Oh, hey Bulma, I dove into the beast's belly and escaped by the hairs of my chinny-chin-chin'? Although I would have loved to see her appalled reactions, I chose not to.
"It didn't even look appetizing, either," I say, sticking out a tongue. I hand the ball to her, and only then do I notice the dark grime on my face from my reflection in the orb. She holds out a dark cloth and I wipe my face until satisfied. A group of high powers grow nearer. No. No no no no NO! They can't be here already! I turn my attention to the sky, worry and anxiety painting my features.
"Hayashi, what's wrong?" she asks.
I turn to look into her concerned eyes and swallow hard. "Get to Roshi's and wish for Goku back there. Baba will be there," I say, frigidly. Chills of fear and excitement run down my arms and spine, leaving a tingling phantom sensation where my tail used to be. I hope Goku can get here soon. I can feel them coming closer. "Go, now, Bulma!" I yell as I turn my head to her. My panic causes her to rush to leave.
The engine to her hovercraft starts up with ease, and she lifts off quickly. I turn my attention back to the high ki approaching fast. Shit, they're landing today?! I guess it has been a week, but still. Shit, I don't feel ready! I take to the sky once more, and concentrate on where everyone else is meeting. I grumble and fly in the direction of where I can sense Piccolo and Gohan at least.
'Piccolo, is anyone else with you?' I ask telepathically. I grumble out loud. He's got his mental walls up. Seriously, man?!
I shoot off in his direction in agitation. I know the others can sense the enemies' powers. I spike my power in hopes to draw the other fighters' attention. The wind whips through my low ponytail. My armor keeps my gi from dancing wildly in the gusts. Maybe everyone else is hiding their power levels. As I get closer, I can sense Krillin's suppressed power, followed by the others. I release a breath in relief and slow my speed. A vibration snaps me out of my focus. I forgot about my cell phone when I dove into the water for the dragon ball. I think she said it was waterproof. It must be, at least. I flip it open and stop.
"Bulma, what's up?" I say, trying to keep my demeanor calm.
"The wish was successful, Hayashi," she says. I can't fight the smile stretching across my face, nor the tears brimming in my eyes.
"Great! I'll be sure to tell the gang when I get there," I say.
"Oh, Hayashi?" Bulma says. "Could you give a message to Yamcha?"
"Sure can," I say. I give a sigh.
I can hear her choking up sobs. "Tell him I love him and to be careful." I exhale through my nose.
"Will do, Bulma." I wipe a stray tear from my eye.
"Thank you." The call ends with my phone flipping shut, and zooming towards the others quickly. The last thing I want is to be late to meet Raditz again, or Prince Vegeta.
+x+x+x+
I land behind the others with a grimace on my face. They turn to look at me and nod.
"Good to see you finally made it, Hayashi," Tien says while making a face. I stick out my tongue.
"When Goku comes back, you can thank me." I cross my arms and smirk. "I helped Bulma get the last dragon ball." Everyone's eyes seem to light up instantly.
"Goku's coming back?" Krillin says with excitement.
"Yay! Daddy's gonna save us!" Gohan smiles gleefully. The two of them start jumping for joy until Piccolo's harsh voice cut through their rejoicing.
"Enough! This is serious!" he starts. "We have no idea how long it'll be until Goku arrives, so after the fight, you can celebrate. Otherwise-" he stops mid-sentence and stares into the distance. "They're here!"
They've landed. I know Krillin, Chiaotzu, and I cannot afford to die since we've died already, and Shenlong won't revive someone who has been brought back. I need to be careful.
I feel the three powers drawing closer at a rapid speed. They certainly have landed on Earth. Chills run down my arms again. I definitely recognize Raditz among the three kis. The two others happen to be far more powerful though. And then it hits me like a ton of bricks. The three of them float overhead, leering down at us, and I glare at the familiar Saiyan. Raditz. His long hair waves in the short burst of a gust, and his tail is wrapped around his waist.
The shorter one, Vegeta, wears a smirk for a moment.
"Raditz," I hear the prince say, "didn't you say you had killed the female Saiyan?" Raditz blinks and nods his head. "Then who is that?" he asks, pointing to me.
I watch his face light up in horror. Oh, my, his expression is grand. He blanches at the sight of me, like he saw a ghost.
"I did kill her, your majesty!" Raditz yells out. I glance around, noting how tense the others are by the grinding teeth and their fighting positions. "I killed Arugelle in front of my brother!"
"Wait, Arugelle from Kauli and Cole's line? I thought that bloodline died out when-" Vegeta mumbles. I grumble, growing impatient and annoyed they had been talking about me in front of me.
"Are you boys going to spend all day gawking?" I yell out. I feel everyone's stares land on me. I clench my jaw. My fists are balled tightly, my fingernails threatening to break skin.
"Uhm, Hayashi, we should have let them talk, you know, give us some more time and such?" Krillin says nervously. I roll my eyes. "I mean, they're really powerful-"
"That's enough!" Vegeta yells out. Everyone goes on edge, judging the intensity in the air.
The three of them land. The prince has his arms crossed over his chest, and a grimace upon his face. His flame-like hair blows in the breeze much like a spreading wildfire. Raditz shares the prince's expression though I doubt for the same reasons. The only one with a sinister smirk is the bald one, and his mustache makes it look even more so. If I remember correctly, he must be Nappa.
I watch the short prince press a button on his red-tinted hands-free device. He chuckles at each one until he comes to me. An eyebrow quirks up.
"Raditz," he says while looking up at him, "what class was her father?"
The long-haired Saiyan locks eyes with me, and I catch a hint of a twinkle. "Second-class, my prince."
I crack my neck, trying to calm the excitement in my veins. My blood courses, urging me to fight.
"Nappa," Vegeta sits down on a nearby boulder and closes his eyes. "You can go first, or plant the Saibamen, I don't care. Have some fun with them." My eyes widen. "Except for the woman and the Namekian. "
I watch the bald one pull out a vial and plant five green beans into the ground. Saibamen... the word sounds familiar. I stick my tongue out in thought, and I can't help but gaze back into Raditz's eyes. I watch him wink, and I feel my nails bite the flesh of my palm, and a sticky substance running down my tips. I broke through my previous scars. The hairs on the back of my neck shoot up like an electric current ran across my skin. Lovely.
'Arugelle,' Raditz's voice enters my mind, 'so nice to see you again.' I bare my teeth in his direction.
'Get the Hell out of my head, you sick twisted bastard!' I shout out mentally. His laughter bounces off the walls of my mind.
'I'm only in here because you allowed me,' his voice says with a dark chuckle. I calm down and give a subtle smile.
'I know how to make you leave,' I say across the link. I watch an eyebrow hop up.
I fill my mind with images of Saiyans getting their tails yanked, shut in between doors, bitten, and other rather tortuous acts. His presence disappears, and I put up my barriers. I give a smirk, which didn't go unnoticed by Vegeta.
The others around me keep their guard up, and rightfully so, as five green figures burst through the ground. Sharp teeth, sharp claws, glowing red eyes, green leafy skin... I remember these bastards!
"Guys, be careful! If you let your guard down, they'll kill you!" I shout out. One launches itself onto Yamcha, who happens to be standing right next to me, and I try to back away. Shit! I forgot to tell him!
"Bulma says she loves-" Too late. The Saibaman explodes, killing the human fighter in one blow.
"Yamcha!" Krillin shouts out. I watch as the short bald man flies into a rage, killing three of the Saibamen with a flurry of ki blasts, and knocking one of into a plateau. It doesn't reappear instantly, so he has taken care of that issue.
I clench my jaw. I didn't tell him in time. Piccolo rests a hand on my shoulder and shakes his head.
"It wouldn't have made a difference," he says. I bow my head, still trying to hide the shame. At least I tried. I look at Gohan's fearful face, and give him a sad smile.
"Well, ain't ya got some spunk," Nappa bellows out. I watch with curiosity what will happen. Krillin digs his feet into the dirt and assumes a defensive position. "I think I'll save ya for later." He looks to Gohan first, and shakes his head. "Too scared." He eyes both Piccolo and me. He sighs. "Off limits, for now." He looks at Chiaotzu and grins. "Looks like yer up, buddy!"
"Oh no," I hear Tien say under his breath. He knows the little Emperor doesn't stand a chance. What surprises me is Chiaotzu's reaction.
"Don't worry, Tien. I can do this," he says with a small smile. He turns to Nappa and attacks with a full-on head butt. The two clash in mid-air, but we can see Nappa easily gains the upper hand in this fight. He pounds the tiny one out of the air by delivering a powerful blow to the back, both fists striking him down. I watch in anticipation as he struggles to his feet and looks to the burly Saiyan. He flies back up and after some quick maneuvering, attaches himself to Nappa's back.
"Chiaotzu! Don't do it! We've already wished you back!" Tien shouts out. I bite the inside of my lip, fighting the urge to cry. I hate this. We have a snowball's chance in Hell unless Goku comes back soon. An explosion erupts, a dark cloud looming where the two of them had been. I furrow my eyebrows, knowing the taller one still stands. However Chiaotzu...
"No! Chiaotzu!" Tien screams out. I look to my left to see tears welling in his eyes. Nappa's grin grows more menacing.
"I guess yer next, three-eyes," he says. Tien rushes him, sending wave after wave of ki blasts, but is caught off-guard when the bald Saiyan appears behind him and rips his left arm clear off.
I hear Gohan's gagging sounds from behind a nearby plateau, followed by coughing. Was Garlic Jr not this brutal?
"Need a hand?" Nappa says, and laughs boisterously at his own joke. He throws the useless arm to the ground and raises his power until his aura glows blue. "I think I'm gonna send ya to the next dimension now!" he yells out and shoots a powerful ki beam at the wounded Tien. No. I won't just let this happen. I rush to Tien, and roll him out of the way quickly. I pant and look into his stunned face.
"Hayashi," he says softly. I put a finger to his lips to quiet him.
"Save your strength, or you will die," I say. He attempts to shake his head and coughs up droplets of blood.
"I already know I will. But thank you. It's the thought that counts." His eyes grow lifeless, and I close them with a sweep of my hand.
"Rest in peace, Tien," I say. Biting the inside of my bottom lip, I stand up and turn my head to Nappa.
I hear him snickering. "Or, ya know, rest in pieces! Get it? Because he's not in one piece?"
I shake my head. "Poor taste in jokes, no respect for the dead," I say. "I hope you're ready-" my words stop at Piccolo's hand taking off his weighted cape and turban.
"Let Krillin and I fight him," he says. I slump my shoulders.
"Are you serious, Piccolo?!" I growl out. "No, you need to stay-"
"Not another word, Hayashi."
I pout and walk over to Gohan casually. I crouch down next to him."How are you holding up?" I ask the distraught boy. He looks green with sickness.
He gags a little and wipes his mouth. "Not well enough in comparison," he says. I pat his back in comfort and turn my gaze to the sky.
I watch as Piccolo and Krillin duplicate themselves and attack Nappa that way. They all punch and kick at different times, but the big burly man knocks down each copy without a scratch on his armor. As the three of them fight, I can't help but look over to Gohan's estranged uncle. His dark eyes gaze into mine, even with the distance between us. I look away, a couple thoughts coming back to me about the couple times I had done astral projection. Gohan tugs on my blue sash of a belt only hard enough to grab my attention.
"Aunt Hayashi, are you ok?" he asks in a concerned tone. I nod. I had my stupid grin on my face again, didn't I? I huff lightly. I don't remember if I had told Gohan about my particular "gift", but I decide not to bring it up. Too many ears.
A blast catches our attention, watching Krillin crash into a nearby plateau. I can still sense him, but it doesn't seem too strong. I turn my eyes, and watch as Piccolo falls to the ground, purple gi in tatters. Rage builds in the pit of my stomach. No. I can't watch this anymore. I refuse to sit back and watch this brutal massacre of my comrades. I feel Gohan's anger building up as well, and he unleashes a massive yell.
"Piccolo!" he flies to attack Nappa, but the burly Saiyan overpowers him with what could otherwise be a fatal crack. His head snaps to the side from the force. I leap up and catch him, and set him softly on the ground. I can still feel each of their ki signatures. Good. Looks like it's finally my turn to shine.
You know, I kind of like torturing my OC. Makes life more interesting. Oh, and who's ready for some Hayashi bad-assery? Things are going to happen pretty quickly, just warning you in advance. Remember, readers, review, ask questions, and I'm even open to ideas. Seriously, they help get the creative juices flowing, and I enjoy the interaction.
So, until this coming Saturday, Miika, out!
