" No,no,no. Not like that. Like this."
Finally his time has come to shine. Finally the time has come for him to learn an answer that he has been asking himself for quite a while now and that question is simple. Just what kind of fighter would Gohan become? Would he shine in the bright lights and truly be able to be labeled in the same class as himself and his twin sister one day? Perhaps? He was leaning in that direction. The way the kid just soaks up knowledge like a sponge. From the way his power levels keep growing daily. Maybe a little bit too slowly for his liking but hey it is a start. Besides it was a fat chance that the young saiyan would become just as strong as them one day anyways but hey someone needs to stand on the third pedestal and that person would be him in the end.
As for right now? Right now he is well on his way to achieving such a goal. He has accomplished many things that no other mere earthling will ever accomplish. Heck even the mere mention of what they can do to any of these so-called normal beings would result in laughter. Would result in them being given critical looks but if they were to show them just a glimpse of what they could do? He can picture their reactions now. Picture the looks of shock. Picture dozens pissing themselves when they are presented with an energy based attack being charged right in front of their faces.
Images that Lapis has had often every single night once he is asleep. Images of carnage being left in his wake as he would terrorize town after town. Destroy city after city leaving nothing left untouched but he would never tell Lazuli about these dreams. No he could already feel his ears ringing from the chew down he would receive for even thinking about doing such a thing. Perhaps a different version of himself in a different dimension would have better luck. A dimension where he and his twin sister lay waste to everyone ruling over the planet with an iron fist.
Mentally scoffing at such a thought ridding himself of such thoughts with a shake of his head making his way over to stand by Gohan's side reaching out Lapis helps adjust the fighting stance the young saiyan has taken.
" That's better. Remember these three simple things. Keep your hands up, keep your legs spread out,and most importantly keep your eyes open. Do these three things and you just might have a chance in a fight. Do you know the reasons why these three things are essential?"
Taking a few moments to think things over biting down on his lower lip deep in thought Gohan nods his head and turns his attention towards Lapis that just stands silently with his arms crossed waiting for an answer.
" If I keep my hands up it will help me defend my upper body. By keeping my legs partially spread it will allow me to adjust my movements to match my opponent and if i don't keep my eyes open, I will lose track of my opponent."
Grinning down towards the young saiyan looking past him and back towards the hut finding a smiling Lazuli leaning against the outside of the hut turning back towards Gohan with a nod of his head Lapis turns to mimic his fighting style.
" Right in one. Next question. While this stance would work against an amauteur we are aiming to be the very best. Can you point out to me the openings and weak spots in your stance that your opponent would be able to capitalize on right now if you were to suddenly be thrusted into a fight?"
Glancing over towards his mentor and then back down towards his hands seeing no openings that he can think of looking back his way shaking his head with a confused expression coming across his face slowly Gohan watches Lapis extend his right hand out as though he is throwing a punch before suddenly he feels a tap against his right leg. This feeling that makes him look down only for his eyes to widen in realization when he sees Lapis's leg pressing against the back of his leg.
" This is one opening. The stance you have right now is one commonly used by boxers. Though effective against other boxers when faced against a martial artist it will be torn apart. Remember this your hands are not the only things that can be used as a weapon. Fists,knees,elbows,head. They can all be used. Going back to the subject at hand a boxer's weakness will always be their lower body. If you were to fight someone right now they would aim for that weakness. We don't want you to be a boxer. We want you to become a mixed martial artist. That means palm strikes, high and low kicks,elbow strikes,knee strikes,anything that will help destroy your opponent and put them down is what we want you to learn. You learn how to do this and you will be one step closer to becoming a true mixed martial artist."
Nodding his head in understanding staring down at his hands making sure to readjust his legs in the process Gohan lowers his hands down below his chin earning a nod of approval from Lapis before his hands are helped lowered down a bit more and spread out a bit so that his arms are extended out other than being pressed up against his chest like they had been before.
" Now here's your first lesson. No matter what stance the person standing across from you takes there is always an opening somewhere just waiting for you to catelplize on. It could be as simple as their legs."
Making his point known by simply turning and gently tapping Gohan on the back of his right leg with a low kick with the young saiyan following his movements Lapis retracts his leg.
" It could be their sides."
Reaching out with his closed fist Lapis taps Gohan on his right side before swiftly turning his hand upward to tap the young saiyan underneath his chin when the child on instinct moves his hands down to defend himself.
" It can even be this."
Raising up his hand with a flick of his index finger Lapis taps Gohan directly in the middle of the forehead earning a confused and annoyed look.
" Always keep a cool head. Many fighters forget too in the heat of a battle. Your mind can be your greatest strength and your biggest weakness if you allow it too. I can't stress enough to you how important that is. The moment you lose your cool, I promise you that you will lose that battle no matter how powerful you might think you are."
Getting another nod in understanding letting the serious look drop from his face stepping back to grin over at the young saiyan rearing back Lapis claps his hands loudly and cracks his knuckles before opening his hands and extending them out palm open.
" Alright enough of the serious stuff. Let's see what you got. First my left palm then my right. Don't hold anything back."
Now this was the part she has been waiting this whole entire time for. Sure she is quite proud of her twin brother for every single point that he has made. Wait? Did she just say that? Shivering at the thought shaking her head making a mental note to take a long cold shower and to wash her mouth out with soap for even thinking such a thought as she watches Gohan's eyes flicker to meet her own with a slight nod Lazuli watches in silence his head snap forward and his right closed fist reared back.
A moment that she knew her twin brother has been waiting for since the moment she brought up her plan on training the young saiyan. Did she expect to see a well placed punch? No not a chance. She would be pleasantly surprised if that is the case. No what she expected to see was a sloppy punch that you would expect from a drunk looking to brawl and yet a small piece of her expected something else. Expected to see the slightest glimpse of the potential that rests within him. It was expected of him after all from the very people that know who his father is. Expected him to follow in his father's footsteps in becoming the next great martial artist.
As for her? She could say that she would belong in that group. Truly believes that he will follow in his father's footsteps in becoming a martial artist but that is where the similarities would end. Goku in many people's eyes might just be the greatest martial artist in the world but before all is set and done she would make sure Gohan would go down in the history books being forever known as the very best martial artist this planet has ever seen.
And the first of many steps on his journey is taken when a simple sound echoes through the air. The sound of a loud smack as his closed fist hits Lapis's open palm. Not the best of punches she has ever seen but he would get there. They will make sure he gets there in the end. As for what the data is telling her? This energy reading that comes across her vision? She was more than pleased with what she was seeing. True he was still nowhere near their level in terms of power but as for the rest of this planet's inhabitants? She calculated that he would be in the top three in terms of power but she couldn't be too sure. Not with the absences of the two beings that she has ranked higher than him for the time being.
Amazing. His power levels just keep on increasing. He's still no match for Lapis or I but I have to say I'm impressed. At his age this is simply impressive.
These energy readings she only watches in silence increase with every single punch he throws. With every single time he puts a little more behind the punch. Every single time he reaches in deep to channel some of his energy behind the attack. Readings that keep increasing drastically until for a brief moment Lazuli's eyes widen when an impossible reading comes across her screen.
No way!?
It just couldn't be right. She must have malfunctioned for a moment because her systems were telling her something that just wasn't possible. It couldn't be possible. Even at his age nobody could be as strong as that.
Rooted to her spot not taking her eyes away from the action for even a single second suddenly as she watches Lapis leap back out of Gohan's reach causing a thrown left hook by the young saiyan to hit nothing but air snapping her head to look towards her twin brother with a pissed off look before she has a chance to berate him suddenly Lazuli watches him ascend up high into the sky.
" Good now let's see how you do in the air. Remember a battle can take place anywhere. On the ground, in the air, and even underwater when the opportunity presents itself though let's try to avoid the last one shall we? The last thing either of us need is another lecture."
Glaring up towards Lapis with her hands coming down to rest on her hips wishing in every fiber of her being to wipe that smirk right off from his face feeling a pair of eyes looking her way turning her attention away from her smirking brother looking down Lazuli catches Gohan's eyes that are giving her a questionable look. This look that silently states so many things. A look that makes her lips twitch upward before with an encouraging nod she watches him take to the sky at a much slower pace than her twin brother. An ascension that is a bit rocky with him staggering slightly as he keeps his eyes trained on her brother with this look of concentration along with slightly nervousness across his face and it becomes very clear which of those emotions is the dominant one in the coming seconds with one key word.
Sloppy. His attacks become sloppy. Small fists not coming close to hitting their marks as he barely stays up in the air. Punches that she had seen land flawlessly against their mark on the ground but not now. Not while he is in the air as he chases after a slowly retreating Lapis through the sky not landing a single blow. Not while his concentration seems to be on remaining flying more than landing a blow. This quick realization that makes Lazuli take a couple of steps away from the hut before silently ascending up into the sky drawing Lapis's eye making him back up away from Gohan as she comes to float right behind him. A presence she makes felt when she leans down wrapping her arms around him from behind and lays her head down gently on his shoulder making him jump up in shock before his face turns crimson.
" Relax you're doing fine. Stop worrying so much. Concentrate on him and you and nothing else. Don't think about just keeping yourself airbourne. Soon enough it will become natural to you to take to the skies. Instead keep focused on him. Focus on where you think he will go next and then pounce. Trust your instincts. They can never steer you wrong."
Releasing her hold around him floating a small distance away just out of striking distance glancing quickly over towards Lapis with a slight nod Lazuli watches her brother once again put his hands up palm open with this knowing look across his face.
Why oh why did it have to be me? He is such a child!
But he's her child. Some would call them a blessing. Twins from what she understood were a rarity back when they were born but she wouldn't call it a blessing. No someone must have played a prank on her before she was even conceived. There was no way you could call being a twin sister to him a blessing. No it was more like a curse. A curse she would forever have to live with now. Doctor Gero made sure of that.
Luckily for her then that she has found her white knight in shining armor that answers her call in making that smart ass look disappear from his face when Gohan with this new found confidence soars forward through the air as fast as he can until before anyone can even blink he punches Lapis's left palm hard making a look of shock come across her twin brother's face as his hand snaps back from the contact. This look of shock that only deepens when the young saiyan doesn't stop there and to even the shock of Lazuli delivers a spinning high kick that lands clean into Lapis's right palm making him leap back to put some distance between them. Distance that is quickly covered by Gohan as he chases after him with everything he's got.
Grinning widely at this sudden turn of events crossing her arms over her chest nodding her head approvingly from this continuous onslaught Gohan is dishing out causing Lapis to continue to backpedal with his hands up with the widest of smirks across his face. Now this was more like it. This was more like what she was expecting to see in the coming weeks as he progressed in his training. As he would slowly rise up the ranks under her and Lapis's guidance but mostly hers. Besides this situation was rather amusing to her. What was that saying her twin brother loves to say? The best defense is a better offense. Oh how he is eating those words right now as he is being chased. Sure he could dispose of Gohan rather easily at any time and end this little training session but from the look across his face she didn't think this session would be ending anytime soon and she was okay with that.
The way Gohan has started to move now. The way his punches are on point now striking Lapis's open palms with such force that if it was anyone else on the planet such blows would cripple one's hands. And speaking of hands as she takes a closer look Lazuli can't help but frown a bit when she starts to see a bit of crimson start to trickle down the young saiyan's hands. Broken skin from his knuckles that keeps opening up with every single punch that lands making spots of red appear on Lapis's open palms.
" Alright!? That's enough!"
Instantly drawing their attention motioning with her head down towards Gohan's hands as she watches him look to where she is nodding floating over towards them before she can reach them suddenly Lazuli comes to a complete stop with wide eyes staring at Lapis like he is mad when he bursts out laughing with his arm coming to wrap around Gohan's shoulders.
" Very nice. You did great for your first hand to hand combat session. A little sloppy at first but I'll make a fighter out of you yet."
Rolling her eyes closing the distance between them making a point to shove Lapis out of the way reaching down to gently take Gohan's hands within her own flipping them over so that she can see the top of his hands for the damage that has been inflicted upon his knuckles finding the early stages of bruising already well seen across each of his knuckles fully expecting such a thing nodding her head in acceptance with a gentle tug slowly Lazuli descends down from the sky bringing Gohan along with her while Lapis follows after them in a much slower pace.
" Okay i think that's enough for one day don't you think?"
Tapping his right index finger underneath with a mock thoughtful expression across his face feeling his feet hitting the ground slowly Lapis shakes his head causing a questionable look to come across Lazuli's face whose eyes scream annoyance for what could possibly come out of his mouth next.
" Umm no. I've got something else in mind. If you can be so kind as to retrieve the first aid kit from the bathroom and come back out here we'll begin our next lesson."
Seeing the all too familiar murderous look making its way into his twin sister's eyes that he has seen way too many times quickly Lapis raises his hands up in mock surrender.
" Relax, he will only be an observer for this next lesson. You however will not have such a luxury so please bear with me. It will benefit him in the end."
Not wavering from her spot keeping her eyes focused on his face trying so desperately to read if he is deceiving her in any way only to come up blank letting out a sigh looking down towards Gohan forcing a smile across her face Lazuli releases his hands and turns to make her way across the open field and back towards the hut. A departure that is followed closely before the moment she disappears inside of the hut with a smirk Lapis turns to look at Gohan and slaps his hands together.
" Alright now for the next lesson. Reading your opponent's energy levels. You could argue that this is just as important as fighting the battle itself. Without this ability there is no telling how the outcome of a fight will turn out. You could end up lucky already being the strongest fighter entering the battle but if you're not and you think you are well? Let's just say you'll be swimming with the fishes. But no need to fear. That's what I'm here for. Now this is where you come in. In just a few moments I'm gonna disappear from this spot and give off a trace of my energy for you to follow. Just the tiniest glimpses of energy for you to follow to my exact location. In a fight you will have to do this on the fly. Your opponent is not just gonna stand around and wait for you to find them. You will have to track them down and bring the fight to them before they bring the fight to you. How to do this is actually simple. I want you to take a deep breath and concentrate. Concentrate hard. What you do next is simple. Just like reaching inside for your own energy, I want you to focus and try to sense the energy levels around you. Everything has some sort of energy level. The trees that give us the oxygen to breath. Every animal on the planet from the biggest to the smallest. Even now i can sense all of the energy around us. I want you to do the same."
Getting done with his explanation just in time to see Lazuli coming out of the hut with a medical kit in her left hand nodding his head in approval with a smirk Lapis crosses her arms over his chest as he watches her make her way around to kneel before Gohan and start to get to work on wrapping his hands up in medical bandages.
" Ahh right on time for the lesson to begin. In fact we'll make a little game out of this. How long has it been since we've last sparred sis?"
Making quick work on his right hand as she reaches down to take his left gently within his own unable to keep it from making an appearance Lazuli glances over her shoulder to look at a smirking Lapis with a grin.
" I say it's been a while. What's the matter Lapis? Eager to get your ass handed to you again by little old me?"
Letting out a chuckle turning on her heels taking a couple of steps forward to put a good sized distance between them glancing over his shoulder with a smirk Lapis's eyes light up.
" We'll see. Just remember sis, we're not little anymore and a lot has changed since then."
Hearing the silent challenging tone in his choice that just makes her grin widen even further gently getting finished with wrapping up Gohan's right that whom to her surprise doesn't even wince from the way the medical wrapping grazes against the broken skin on his knuckles rising up to her feet turning to face him fully Lazuli gives him a questionable gaze as her arms come back up to cross over her chest.
" That may be true but some things never change. Now you assured me this little sparring session is for Gohan's benefit? Mind explaining to me how?"
" Why that is simple my dear watson. He will merely observe and get just a glimpse of what he could become with enough training and experience under his belt."
Raising up an eyebrow at this brief explanation only for his response to be his smirk widening glancing down towards Gohan for confirmation as she sees him nodding his head letting out a sigh Lazuli looks back towards Lapis.
" And I take it that his job will be to track our movements?"
" Exactly!"
Taking a few moments to go over the plan in her head nodding her head in satisfaction with a smile coming across her face Lazuli takes a couple of steps away from Gohan until she is standing across the field away from Lapis.
" Well let's get this over with. Think your circuits can handle it?"
Seeing his twin sister getting into her fighting stance with a grin plastered across her face returning the grin slowly Lapis gets into his own fighting stance.
" I was about to ask the exact same thing."