Thanks again to CommanderAIK. Couldn't keep writing this without your support.
It took a long time for him to be able to see the top of the tower. The sun, which had been high above them when they started climbing, was now sinking below the horizon. He had been solidly convinced that Tien had been lying when he had said the others had been waving to them from the side of the tower. But then, as they had climbed higher and the air had grown thinner, Chiaotzu could indeed see the rounded shape of the top of the tower and the gleam of Krillin's bald head as he leaned over the balcony.
"You made it!" Krillin shouted, his voice made faint from distance.
Chiaotzu grinned and pulled himself up again. The aches in his shoulders and legs, and the tremors that had weakened his movements became small and unimportant, lost in his renewed determination. Tien was still climbing silently behind him, occasionally glancing down and narrowing his eyes to see through the thin wispy clouds.
"He's still watching," he said softly.
"Who?" Chiaotzu's voice was significantly more strained, pulled thin with effort.
"The guardian of the tower. I don't think he expected us to make it." Tien smiled. It was a hard smile, a smug smile, an arrogant smile, and made Chiaotzu's stomach twist slightly. Tien clearly felt the waver, because the smile flattened and he pulled himself up the tower so Chiaotzu couldn't see his face. "Sorry…"
"No, it's okay." Chiaotzu sped up, trying to catch up again. "Don't be sorry." A quick glance at the vague flat look in Tien's eyes and he found himself reaching out, trying to comfort. "He's still in our heads…but we'll get there."
Tien didn't respond. The vagueness didn't quite leave his eyes, but he slowed down slightly and climbed alongside Chiaotzu. Another hour, maybe two, and they finally reached the top of the tower. Krillin was there, reaching his hand out, stretching to help them up over the balcony and into the odd oval structure.
"You made it!" Krillin said, reiterating his statement from when they were climbing, and grabbed Chiaotzu in a hug. "I knew you could do it!"
Krillin turned, looked at Tien. Shook his head. Instead he gripped Chiaotzu's hands and spun him around, grinned a simple delighted grin that spoke of absolute faith. Krillin had never doubted they would make it. Krillin could see something in them that they were only just beginning to see themselves.
Inside the structure Yamcha was chasing around a white cat. The cat was surprisingly fat, his eyes pushed into slits by his round cheeks, but he moved swiftly and surely, easily avoiding Yamcha's grasping hands. In his paws he held a long staff, a colourful jar swinging from the up-curved horizontal handle. Not that he could use it as a handle. As the cat held the staff close to him the bar was way over his head.
"Uh…Yamcha?" Chiaotzu asked.
"What are you doing?" Tien asked.
Yamcha lunged forward and caught the cat's tail in one hand. He pulled and reached. Let out a triumphant yell. Wrenched the jar from the handle and downed the liquid inside in one movement.
"That's Master Karin," Krillin said. "Yamcha's finishing the test for the sacred water."
" That's the test for the sacred water?" Tien asked. Chiaotzu caught a glimpse of his internal thoughts, a wave of shock and disgust and rage. The feeling of this is what Goku was doing when Drum was trying to killme!?
"Part of it," Krillin said. "I already beat it. Apparently there's another part but Karin said we weren't strong enough."
"So, you two are here to try your strength as well?" Karin asked. His voice was surprisingly deep, rasping from his throat. He licked one paw and rubbed it over his ear, straightening the fur ruffled from Yamcha's movements.
"Uh… Yes…Master Karin?" Tien said. Uncertainty made the name a question to which Karin responded with a toothy grin.
"Good. First, eat these and we'll get started." He flicked two beans at each of them, small and unassuming. The size of lima beans. Krillin was smiling his smug, know-it-all grin again so with a slight telepathic touch for reassurance, they downed the beans.
It started as a warm tingle. Radiating from his stomach, it spread quickly through his whole body. With this tingle the aching pain in his shoulders and legs evaporated. He felt strong, rejuvenated. A quick glance at Tien's face confirmed that he was feeling this too. This magical energy.
They watched in silence as Karin took the jar back from Yamcha and dipped it into a large pot of woven strands of bamboo sealed with clear resin. The water, from what Chiaotzu could see, was clear, sparkling despite the low light. With a swift movement Karin tossed the jar in the air and nabbed it with his staff.
"Now," he said, facing them, "who wants to go first?"
A brief moment of silent consultation. Chiaotzu's gaze became unfocused. Tien's third eye darted to the side. Where as young Crane's they had been able to communicate without any external sign, now cast adrift, they required further practice.
Chiaotzu, can I go first? Eagerness pulsed hard in time with Tien's heart, his telepathic voice fast and pleading.
Of course, Tien.
Chiaotzu smiled slightly and drifted back. Pleased to even be asked really. It would have been so easy for Tien to push him aside, to step forward without even thinking. It made a warm glow of pride rise in his chest.
Tien didn't lunge. He didn't chase or dash or stretch. He simply stood in front of the cat, looking down at its smiling chubby face. They stood for a long time. Still and silent. Measuring each other up. Their minds reaching and twisting and battling. As they stood the sun finally sunk below the horizon and a soft glow illuminated the inside of the dome. It was gentle, like sun behind clouds or a convalescence of fireflies.
"Oo, you're a quick one," Karin said eventually. "Would be tricky to beat you in a one to one race." He chuckled, licked his paw and stroked it over his whiskers. "Alright, here you go." He swung the staff around. Tien reached out, grabbed the jar, and swallowed the water inside in three long swallows.
He handed the jar back. Disappointment flickered over his features and then was hidden. It wasn't likely anyone but Chiaotzu and Karin had seen it.
"Your turn, Chiaotzu," Tien said shortly, whirling around and striding to the edge while Karin refilled the jug.
Awkward and uncertain, Chiaotzu floated forward. Karin was smiling and grooming his ears now, rough tongue leaving ruffled fur on his paws.
"You're a fast one too," Karin said. "Not as fast as these two, but still pretty quick. May still get some benefit from the chase though. If you don't use your powers, that is."
A quick flash of surprise, then he nodded. "Okay." He was vaguely aware of the tremor in his voice.
He landed. Without looking at him Karin darted away, the jug swinging and swaying, the water inside sloshing and rippling. Resisting the urge to fling webs of glimmering energy, Chiaotzu followed. He could feel Tien's eyes on him. Watching. Judging.
He didn't lunge like Yamcha had. Instead he kept his steps light. Eyes fixed on Karin. Looking for any hint of which direction he would dash. There was no indication. Karin's movements, while sure and swift, seemed completely random.
They weren't though. There was a pattern here. He just had to figure it out.
It took him about half an hour. Darting into spaces seconds after Karin vacated them. Small white hands stretching towards the spinning jar. There was a sickening sense of frustration rising in his stomach and he skidded to a halt. Closed his eyes. Took a slow calming breath. Anger wasn't going to help him in this situation. He had to stay cool.
He kept his eyes closed. Reached out to the left. The jug's long neck was cold and his fingers grasped it tightly. Pulling it free from the staff.
Without thinking he drew it close and poured the water into his mouth. It tasted like nothing. Like ice and snow. Like cold air on a winter morning. It hit his stomach and he shivered. But once the radiating cold dissipated he didn't feel any different.
"The sacred water is just regular spring water," Tien said flatly. "This was a waste of time."
"It wasn't a waste for your friends," Karin said. "You may not have needed it but they gained valuable speed and cunning. How to feel instead of just look. Don't underestimate that." Tien flushed. Krillin and Yamcha grinned. Chiaotzu looked down at the colourful jug in his hands, fidgeting. "But now I think it's time to sleep. You guys made it up my tower in half a day, that's pretty impressive. So rest and you can split up tomorrow."
A long awkward silence, then Chiaotzu let out a low laugh. "You really do know everything, don't you, Master Karin?"
"Yep, I certainly do." Karin laughed. His laugh was surprisingly musical despite the rasping nature. It broke the awkwardness and everyone relaxed. When they slept the light at the top of the tower dimmed, leaving the clear sky spreading out on all sides, a million stars scattered in glimmering points across the velvet darkness.
Tomorrow they would part ways with these quirky, joyful Turtles. But for now they were together, and that was all that mattered.