Climbing Catcall Tower

The first island they stopped at was the small island with the Guardian Sapling on it. The majestic tree was as beautiful as the others. After searching the island and not finding anything of any real importance or value, they got back on Orca and headed for the largest island which was also the island where the Catcall Tower was suppose to be. As they got closer to the island, the sound of a cats meow grew louder.

Issun: "Where's that meowing coming from?"

Ichigo and Toushiro looked around. Vegeta, on the other hand, was sitting perfectly still as he listened. Every few seconds his ears would twitch as he homed in on where the meowing was coming from.

Vegeta: "It's... It sounds like it's coming from the sky."

Issun looked up at the Catcall Tower.

Issun: "Hmm... I think it's coming from that tower. It's kinda creepy, but let's go check it out."

Toushiro: "To the island, Orca!"

Orca gladly swam over to the island and stopped at the shallow part. Ichigo, Toushiro, Vegeta and Issun all got off while Orca waited for them nearby. As the group of four walked up the sandbar, they saw many cats sleeping in the sun and shade. The tower was surrounded by many tall, impressive trees. The only way in and out was through a tunnel made out of the trees roots. Once at the base of the tower, they all looked up. Catcall Tower was tall. The only thing that could probably challenge it was Korin's Tower and The Lookout.

Ichigo: "That is one tall tower."

Issun: "Hm... Sounds like that annoying meow's coming from the top of this tower."

Vegeta suddenly noticed a strange glow at the towers base. It looked like paw prints had been carved on the wall. What's more, they went all the way up the tower.

Issun: "Hey, look at those paw prints on the wall. Isn't that the mark of Catwalk? It's one of the 13 Celestial Brush techniques! Wait... Maybe that means..."

Ichigo: "Behind us!"

Everyone turned around just as a demon known as Poltergeist appeared! It was a trio of sickle-wielding weasels known to cause hallucinations among their victims. Each weasel was of a different color, which went with their powers. This trio possesses fire, ice and thunder powers. They usually attacked as one, but they could attack separately if given the time. Not only did this demon posses the power of fire, ice and thunder, it was fast too.

Vegeta: "Ichigo! You and Toushiro stay behind me!"

Vegeta had to be careful. The prince snarled at the demon as Ichigo collected Toushiro and hid behind the saiyan. The glare in his eyes was dead serious! If this demon showed the slightest hint that it would go after Ichigo or Toushiro, he would do more then just defeat it. The Poltergeist began to spin and fire was enveloped around the sickles. Vegeta used the Galestorm technique to blow the flames away! With the flames gone, the saiyan used the Mist technique to slow the demon down long enough for him to strike! The fragile demon easily fell to the raw power of the saiyan prince. When the demon was gone, a chest appeared before Vegeta and it opened for him. Inside was a scroll entitled: Mark of Kabegami. The saiyan opened the scroll and read it.

Ichigo: "What does it say, Vegeta?"

Vegeta: "It basically says that wherever I see the Mark of Kabegami, I can climb whatever it's on. Even the steepest of cliffs."

Toushiro: "Cool!"

Vegeta: "Sorry, Toushiro. But it'll only work for me."

Toushiro moaned upon hearing that.

Ichigo: "It's ok, son. We'll just wait here for Vegeta. There are some herbs here that we need anyway."

Toushiro: "Ok..."

Toushiro was a little disappointed. He wanted to see the brush god that was surely up there. But he couldn't climb up that tower and Vegeta couldn't carry him either. The saiyan was going to have a hard time ascending the tower as it is! Last thing he needed was a 5 year old boy tagging along. Toushiro joined Ichigo to harvest some herbs while Vegeta started his long climb. Only just a little ways off the ground, Kabegami's mark split off into two other routes up the tower. Vegeta took the path to his right. Two minutes into his climb, the saiyan passed a red line and a golden forcefield appeared below him. A metal platform extended from the same spot at the forcefield with a cat on it. Out of curiosity, Vegeta lowered his left foot onto the forcefield. The moment his foot touched the golden light, Vegeta felt like he was touching solid ground. He then carefully lowered himself down and stood on the forcefield. It became apparent what this forcefield was suppose to do. It was a barrier to catch him so that he wouldn't have to start all over at the beginning if he should fall.

Issun: "Hey, hey, what's gotten into you, Geta! You trying to get to the top of the tower or something?"

Vegeta: "What do you think, Issun?"

Issun: "You're one enthusiastic saiyan!"

Before he continued on, Vegeta fed the cat that was on the platform. After that, he started his climb again. After about four minutes of climbing, he came to another break in the climb. As before, the second he passed the red line, a golden barrier appeared below him. He didn't stop at the platform this time and just continued upward. Kabegami's mark kept swerving to different sides so Vegeta had to constantly shift around the tower. Five minutes later and Vegeta had reached a platform that extended all around the tower. This had to be the halfway mark, he thought. But the climb and constant shifting from side to side were taking its toll on our hero. He was tired. He had never climbed to this hight like this before. He decided to stop at the platform and rest for a few minutes. Vegeta didn't know if he could fly like this or not either. Only half of his strength and powers had returned to him so far. So he wasn't going to try and fly. Plus he felt like he had to climb to the top this way anyway, to prove himself to the god up above.

Vegeta: "I feel like I'm trying to climb Mount Everest with nothing but my arms and legs alone."

After a few minutes to catch his breath, Vegeta started his climb once again. He passed another barrier shortly after, but that was it for a while. At one point Vegeta lost his grip and fell a few feet before catching the wall again.

Issun: "Careful, Geta! We can't fall off now, it's a long way down!"

Vegeta looked over his shoulder and saw just how high up he was. All he could see were clouds! The saiyan suddenly dug his fingers into the stone once he realized just how high up he was!

Vegeta: "*Gulp* The things I get myself into..."

Summoning up his courage, the saiyan continued on. By now Vegeta's been climbing for 20 minutes. He passed one final barrier before he got the news he'd been waiting for.

Vegeta: "I feel like I've been climbing for days!"

Issun: "Look Geta!"

Vegeta looked ahead of him and he saw a shrine just a few feet above him.

Issun: "That's gotta be the top!"

Issun was right. With renewed energy, Vegeta lunged upward and grabbed hold of the edge of the building. He pulled himself up and inside the shrine. Vegeta took a moment to catch his breath.

Issun: "We made it to the top, Geta!"

Just as Issun had said that, they both noticed a flight of spiraling stairs.

Issun: "I guess not."

Vegeta: "At least it isn't a vertical climb up this time."

Vegeta was more then happy to walk up two flights of spiraling stairs instead of climbing up a vertical stone wall. They were practically at the top of Catcall Tower except for a small tower with a gigantic cat statue at the top. Extending out next to them was a very narrow ramp with a platform some ways out. They could see an animal moving around the fenced in platform. Very carefully Vegeta tiptoed across the ledge, taking very great care in where he put his four feet. He even had to walk on his knuckles at one small point. Finally, they made it. Now they could see what animal was up here. It was... A calico cat?

Issun: "Geta, look. There's a kitty cat over there. Wonder what's it doing all alone up here? It couldn't have climbed all the way up by itself, could it? Surely there couldn't be anything to eat all the way up here."

Issun was right. There was no way the cat had anything to eat up here! They were so high up, not even birds flew this high up! Vegeta felt sorry for it and gave it some fish. The cat ate to its hearts content. With a full belly, it meowed at Vegeta as if to say thank you, before laying down for a nap. As soon as it did, the meowing that had been echoing all around they stopped.

Issun: "It stopped meowing."

Suddenly, the sky overhead grew dark and a heavenly light shined and sparkled down on our heros.

Issun: "Hm? A constellation! Here!"

Two stars appeared in the heavens with four stars missing. Vegeta summoned the scroll and drew in the four missing stars. With the constellation complete, the god show itself. A cat leaped off of a wall and landed in front of the saiyan. It then spotted Issun on top of Vegeta's head. The cat crouched down and pounced towards Vegeta! The prince was shocked as the cat passed right over his head. He patted his head and discovered that Issun was gone. Vegeta looked over his shoulder to see the cat god playing with his Poncle friend! The saiyan then smiled as he got up and turned around. He called out to the cat with a bark like roar and the god looked at him with Issun in its mouth. The cat then flicked Issun into the air and Vegeta ran after him with the cat close behind. The two of them ran side by side as they passed Issun back to each other. When Issun was completely dizzy, they knew it was time to get serious and the cat, Kabegami, god of walls, returned to his wall.

Kabegami: "Ah... Amaterasu. Origin of all that is good and mother to us all... The swirling whirlpool of evil below has driven me to this height. From this perch, I observe the world below and its descent. If my power is needed once again, I, Kabegami, god of walls, shall gladly offer a bridge of hope to the realm below!"

Kabegami disappeared and Vegeta obtained the Catwalk ability!

Issun: "Hey! I'm not your personal toy to be played with like that!"

Vegeta: "You sure?"

Issun: "Wait a sec. That must've been Kabegami, one of the 13 gods! You know, the one with the Catwalk brush technique! And this kitty right here is a messenger of the gods. And here I thought it was just some stray cat."

Suddenly, the statue of Kabegami behind them started to glow!

Issun: "Whoa, check it out! The statue's starting to glow! Oh, I get it! The Kabegami statue is telling you to use the Catwalk power! Geta, put your brush on the statue and draw a line up the wall! That'll let you transfer the god's Catwalk power into the wall!"

Vegeta summoned the scroll up again and drew a line from the statue and up. When he was done, the same paw prints that were all over the tower below them appeared.

Issun: "Yes, yes, yes! Will ya look at that, Geta! The mark of Kabegami has appeared on the path you drew from the Kabegami statue! Now you can climb walls anytime you want, simply by summoning the mark of Kabegami just like that! Speaking of which, remember those other Kabegami statues we saw?"

Vegeta thought back. Throughout this journey, he'd seen quite a number of these statues. There was at least one in every area he'd been in so far.

Issun: "We should try your new brush technique on them, too!"

With another brush god returned to him, Vegeta headed over to the Kabegami statue and climbed up the short wall. There, he got a good look at what had to be the biggest cat statue ever!

Issun: "Whoa! That's one big kitty statue! This must be the top of the tower. Doesn't that wind feel great!"

Behind the statue, there was another ledge with a chest at the end. Vegeta went over to the chest and opened it. Inside were some items that he could sell or use. Now he had to get down.

Issun: "So how do we get down?"

Vegeta smiled. There was really only one way down. The saiyan bolted towards the end of the ledge!