Chiyo sighed as Gohan left hurriedly with Videl.

At least she's alive, she thought, glaring at Spopovich. No thanks to him!

"Where's Dad, Kuririn?" Chiyo asked when she returned to the waiting room. "I need to talk to him."

"He went to get a senzu seed," Kuririn replied. "Hopefully Master Karin will have some."

"We wouldn't need them if it weren't for Spopovich," Chiyo muttered. "If Gohan doesn't face him next round, I sure hope I do!"

"Chiyo..."

"What? He's got it coming to him. Videl didn't deserve that!"

Gohan appeared then, and Chiyo accosted him at the door to demand news of Videl.

"She's alright," he replied cheerfully. "She's beat up, but she'll recover in time."

"Physically, maybe," Chiyo said.

Gohan threw Kuririn a puzzled glance. "Where's Dad?"

"Gone to get senzu seeds," Chiyo said. "I'm going to see Videl. I have a couple of minutes."

"Wait, I'll come too."

"But didn't you just come from there?"

Gohan shrugged. "Beats waiting around for Dad to come back."

Chiyo and Gohan rounded the corner of the waiting room building and strode down the pathway.

"So...what's up with you and Dad?" Gohan said suddenly, as they were walking.

Chiyo glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you've been kind of...well, awkward with him ever since he came back. Are you mad at him or something?"

"No," Chiyo snapped, and broke into a jog.

"Hey, don't get angry. I was just -"

"It's fine! Everything's fine. Okay?"

"Okay." Gohan's voice softened. "You can tell me if it's not, that's all."

Chiyo's shoulders drooped, and she rubbed her forehead.

"You're making me feel bad," she complained, and Gohan laughed. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm just...it's been a long time since I've seen Dad. I don't know how to act around him. I've changed so much, and he...it's like not even a day has gone past. Not even a second."

"In here," Gohan said, as they arrived at a pair of doors leading into yet another building. "Well, it hasn't. Dead people don't age."

The entrance opened up into a long corridor crowded with journalists. A few were stationed in front of one door marked 'Medical Bay', seeming eager for news of Videl - or perhaps, a glimpse of Hercule.

"We have to get in there, but there are too many reporters," Gohan muttered. "Come on."

He pulled Chiyo down the hallway and out a door leading to another part of the competitors' area.

"Where are we going?" Chiyo demanded. "Are we actually visiting Videl or not?"

"...hope she'll be okay."

"She'll be fine. Videl's a tough girl. Still, if ever I find that -"

Gohan pulled Chiyo around the corner. Two people walked past seconds later - a girl with short blonde hair and a tall young man, wearing a scowl and a white suit.

Chiyo waited until the two had passed before saying, "Let's go back to the waiting area. No sense in trying to get through that crowd twice."

"Yeah, I guess..."

Not bothering to ask Gohan who those people had been (she simply assumed they were friends of Videl), they made their own way back to the waiting room.

"Shouldn't Dad be back?" Gohan asked Kuririn, appearing at the smaller man's side.

"Yeah, I don't know what's keeping him..."

"Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for the match?" The announcer cried. "I have an update – Videl's injuries are not considered serious! Great news for all Videl fans!"

He paused to allow the cheers to die down, and then added, "Up next – Son Chiyo vs Yam – "

"Excuse me!"

The announcer stopped, startled, as Gohan ran out and began to whisper to him.

"Oh...okay. The match is being delayed for a few minutes," the announcer said into his microphone. "Please be patient."

"Sorry," Gohan said as he returned. "I just want to make sure Videl is okay first. I don't want to miss your match."

"You really like that girl, don't you?" Chiyo said, smirking.

Gohan turned red, but he said nothing.

Five minutes later, Goku appeared in the middle of the waiting room and was almost bowled over by Gohan.

"Did you get the senzu seeds?" he said urgently.

"Yeah, Master Karin had only three left," Goku replied, "but they're all yours."

"Thanks!"

Gohan took a senzu and disappeared. Chiyo suddenly felt much better. The senzu were magical seeds that cured battle injuries. Videl would be completely fine after taking one - assuming Gohan could get through to the medical bay.

Two minutes later, however, Gohan returned with a definite spring in his step, and ran outside to speak with the announcer.

"Sorry to keep you waiting!" the announcer shouted. "Let's get started. Son Chiyo vs Yam!"

The crowd cheered noisily as the announcer flipped his microphone and lifted his face to the crowd.

"Son Chiyo is the young daughter of former Budoukai champion Son Goku! At just age fifteen she passed the qualifying round as the youngest contestant of our adult's division…"

Chiyo felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Be careful," Goku said in a low voice. "You saw what happened to Videl. There's something unnatural about these two guys. They're not what they should be."

"I know." Chiyo bit her lip. "I'm sure I'll be fine. Besides, if I knock him out of the competition now, he won't be able to injure anyone like Spopovich did."

"Miss Chiyo, if you please!"

"Good luck!" Gohan said cheerfully, slapping her on the back.

"I don't need luck, I'm a Super Saiyan," Chiyo joked. Still, she felt uneasy.

She followed Yam outside, and the roar of the crowd hit her full blast. Her nerves were on edge; the noise sounded odd and tinny, and her skin crawled. It had been years since she set foot in the arena, and she knew she would win the match - but she wasn't exactly used to being centre of attention.

They faced each other in the ring. Chiyo bowed to Yam, and his mouth stretched into a hideous smirk.

"Let the match begin!"

Yam attacked.

Chiyo watched calmly as he charged at her, still with that hideous, weird expression. He was definitely above Videl's level, but nowhere near her own - he looked like he was running through sludge. Then there was a small rush of air, and he was inches away -

Yam's fist connected with her raised forearm with a sound like a clap of thunder. There was an oooh from the watching crowd, and then they clashed in a flurry of fists and feet.


"What's she doing?" Gohan demanded as Chiyo and Yam battled in the ring. "I know Chiyo can beat this guy, no sweat!"

"Use your head," Vegeta snapped. "She's holding back to see how he fights."

Goku nodded approvingly. Chiyo hadn't just grown in strength over the years; she was thinking like a warrior. He'd wondered what seven years would have done with her training, but looking at her now, he needn't have worried.

"She'll be fine," he said to Gohan, who was frowning. "Chiyo knows what she's doing."

Gohan glanced at him, nodding slowly. His expression didn't change, though. "I know...I guess I didn't realise how much stronger she's become. I didn't pay much attention to what she was doing all day."

"That's because you were busy with your nose shoved in a book," Vegeta said, ever the blunt one, and Gohan shrugged.

Yam and Chiyo broke apart and began to circle each other. Neither was injured; Chiyo was too quick for him, and she'd done nothing but block his blows. She wanted to see how he fought, but in truth he puzzled her. His fighting style was generic; he could have been taught by any city dojo or some obscure martial arts master. He was obviously human, so where did all that power come from? It made no sense.

Maybe it was only Spopovich who had those powers. They could have been wrong about both of them, perhaps.

Yam suddenly lunged for her, hoping to catch her off guard. Chiyo dodged his punches with ease, even as he snarled at her in open frustration. When she leaped to avoid his kick, he roared at her.

Even as Chiyo landed lightly Yam extended his hand towards her, his face twisted in fury. Purple chi gathered in his palm and -

Boom!

"I guess that answers that question," Chiyo said to herself. So he could use chi like Spopovich. But unlike Videl, she could block it easily. She lifted her hands to catch the blast -

Don't injure him!

The voice was a sudden shock; the commanding tone made her jump violently. She lashed out and sent the blast flying into the sky. Before Yam had time to react, she lunged forward and kicked him in the face. He tumbled out of the ring with a grunt of pain.

"Ring out!" the announcer shouted. "Son Chiyo is the victor!"

The arena erupted. Yam got to his feet slowly, glaring at Chiyo who stood watching him from the ring.

"Don't ever do that again!" she said, pointing at him. "Next time I won't be so easy on you."

She turned and walked back inside, her troubled thoughts blocking out the crowd's appreciation of the match. When she reached the fighters' entrance, she paused and looked at Shin.

"He'll have bruises, nothing more," she said. "Are you happy?"

Shin said nothing. Chiyo shrugged and brushed past him. She was quickly intercepted by Kuririn, Gohan and Goku.

"Hey, great performance!"

"Not bad for your first time! Or is it second?"

"Thanks," Chiyo said distractedly. She looked up and noticed Goku, Vegeta and Piccolo watching her.

"Well?" Vegeta said impatiently.

She shook her head. "I don't know. They're something unnatural, alright. If I didn't know any better I would say they were Androids."

"Dr Gero again?" Goku said.

"It's not possible," Piccolo replied. "Trunks and Kuririn destroyed Gero's laboratory years ago."

Chiyo shook her head. "I don't know what they are, but I know they'll be a problem."