It had been months since Tai had left Earth and he could not stop the unease within him. He tried to shake the feeling by resuming his rigorous training routine with Whis and his studies of the divine, but still things didn't feel right. He laid on a hammock by the great lake and stared at one of the moons. Tai stuck a lazy arm out to grab it and memories of Kakarot's spirit bomb came to mind.
Tai shook his head and the image was gone. He traced the outline of the clouds in the amber sky, unsure of what shape they made but it passed the time. That's what it felt like these last 7 years. Time not spent training was agonisingly tedious. Whis would often speak to the Grand Priest, especially with Beerus being close to the end of his life. Thousands of years meant nothing to people who lived eons. Even were Whis more readily available, Tai doubted he would speak to him. Whis was his master, not his friend and Tai worked to make sure that boundary remained. He could not befriend someone he couldn't trust.
What are you doing Gohan? What are you up to now? Tai thought. He often asked himself that question since he first arrived here. He learned the Earth had experienced peace since Cell's defeat, but still, he wanted to know about those he left behind. I never imagined I'd feel this... wistful about my time there.
"Whis will be disappointed if you don't continue your training," the Oracle Fish chimed.
"Shut up."
"You should have finished your break by now."
"I said quiet, Sashimi," Tai grumbled before hopping off the Hammock and ascending into the air. "When did Master Whis say he was returning?"
"He's checking on the Cosmos to see if anything requires your attention."
"I asked for when he's returning, not what he's doing. Just use your... whatever it is you do."
"That would be a grievous misuse of my powers."
"Then what good are you Temaki? All you do is sleep and the one time I ask you don't predict the future," Tai groaned before beginning his kicking routine. The force of his kicks produced gale force winds that cut across the beautiful, teal lake. He ascended to Super Saiyan 2 and the winds terrorised the lake bank, sending loose earth into the forest. It's not like there are any animals there to complain, he thought before continuing his onslaught for hours on end.
Once again his thoughts drifted to those on earth. He often wondered if Gohan kept his promise now he was gone. He didn't have a reason to anymore, Tai did tell him that when he leaves he's never coming back, he just never thought it would be that soon. Then Erasa came to mind. She confounded and annoyed him in equal measure. She was not as pushy as the other women he knew but she was just as determined. She probably thanked Dende, Kami or whatever gods she believed in that I was gone. However despite his opinion of her, his heart still raced when he remembered her face.
"Wait Lord Taikon, I am receiving visions."
Tai stopped his exercise and flew to the Oracle fish, with his eyebrows cocked expectantly. "What do you see?"
"I see Whis... flying out of Lord Beerus' chamber."
"And?"
"He's headed in your direction."
"When?"
On queue, Whis poked Tai's sides and shouted "Now!" making his student jump. Him and the fish laughed in unison, while Tai tried in vain to fight off the blush that stained his cheek. "Very good, Seer."
"You didn't receive any visions, did you?" Tai glared at the Oracle Fish.
"No he could see me flying behind you," Whis said, wiping a tear from his eye.
Tai sneered at the pair, wanting to hit them, but he wasn't stupid. He could never touch Whis and the Fish was too useful in the long run. He did something he had grown adept at from an early age. He swallowed his pride and moved on. "What were you doing? You've been gone for hours."
"I was observing the universe to make sure things were running smoothly."
"Are they?"
"As smoothly as they normally are. However, I noticed something in the North quadrant that will serve as a good test for you. Especially this early into your training."
"I'd rather train than do busy work."
"This is an emergency Tai, if you don't deal with this now then the universe is in danger."
Tai raised an eyebrow and tried to see if there was any lie in his statement. Whis had never lied to him, to his knowledge, but after spending years with the Frieza Force, one could never be too careful. Tai dropped into his base form and stood up straight, giving Whis all of his attention. "What is it?"
"What do you remember about Majin Buu?"
"He's a creation of Bibidi that killed the Supreme Kais."
"A bit short, but it will do. Obviously something that destructive has the potential to upset the universal balance."
"Its back isn't it?"
"Unfortunately yes. Last time it was free it did untold damage. Lord Beerus almost had a stroke when he realised he'd lost 4 of his Supreme Kais. He would have destroyed Buu himself had it not been sealed away.
"Why? I know Supreme Kais are important and all, but aren't they just doing damage control for Lord Beerus?"
Whis frowned and shook his head, You still have so much to learn about balance. "There is a life-link between the Supreme Kai and their God of Destruction. Kill one and the other dies too. One cannot exist without the another."
"What! Why have the other Supreme Kais not been replaced?"
"Because Lord Beerus doesn't want Grand Zeno to get involved," the Oracle Fish laughed so hard, it almost fell out of its bowl.
Grand Zeno? Tai remembered seeing someone with that name when they visited the Grand Priest when he first arrived. "You mean the brat who was riding his attendants like horses?" Tai said, earning himself a vicious glare from Whis and making the fish freeze in the water.
"Do not disrespect Grand Zeno again!" Whis warned, with his effeminate features hardened like katchin. "I know you haven't covered Him a great deal in your studies, but Grand Zeno has the power to erase anything from existence with a snap of His fingers. In fact, He erased 6 of the original 18 universes."
The revelation made Tai's hairs stand on end"There were 18 universes!"
"Some had warriors that had strength akin to Destroyers and junior Angels, and they were all erased in an instant. Grand Zeno should be treated with caution, Tai."
But he's a petulant child. How can he have that much power?
"Grand Zeno is difficult to predict. If He catches wind of Universe 7 requesting more Kais, He will investigate. There's a good chance He'll erase the universe for being careless enough to lose 4 Supreme Kais."
"And if we were to lose the final one?"
"Lord Beerus would die too and Grand Zeno would erase universe 7 in its entirety."
A chill ran down Tai's spine, leaving him dumbstruck. He couldn't believe how close the universe was from not only extinction, but being wiped away like it never existed. "When you say entirety do you mean-"
"The living world and the afterlife. You, King Yemma, every Kai, the Oracle Fish, HFL, the other world and anything you have ever known. Everything is tied together somehow."
Mother, father, Kakarot... Gohan. "We're wasting time. Send me to Buu and I will finish him off."
"How you handle it is up to you, I am not allowed to interfere. But remember that your actions can have far reaching consequences. The simplest path is not always the best."
"Now isn't the time for philosophy it's time to act. Take me to Majin Buu."
"Wait!" The Oracle Fish yelled, before flying straight into Tai's chest. "I just remembered something Lord Beerus did 75 million years ago," it declared and Tai's eyebrows raised in surprise. The casualness which the gods spoke regarding these timespans still baffled him.
"It had better be important."
"It is, believe me. 75 million years ago he got into an argument with the Eastern Supreme Kai," the Oracle Fish began.
Goku watched Gohan with pride as he continued training with the Z Sword. The Supreme Kai and Kibito looked shocked to see how quickly Gohan improved with the legendary weapon. Goku knew the kais were not very strong compared to saiyans but still, someone as important as them being in awe of his son made him smile. That's right son, show them all just how strong you are.
Gohan was now able to swing the sword in his base form, but it was still torture on his arms. Majin Buu was still a threat and Gohan had to get strong enough before he destroys the earth along with everyone he loves. His friends, his mother, brother... Videl. He could never forgive himself if anything happened to them, even with the dragon balls.
"He's almost mastered the Z-Sword- unbelievable," Kibito grumbled. "From a mere mortal no less."
"I don't care what he is. As long as Majin Buu is defeated and the universe is safe again," he said, briefly glaring at Goku. He'd sensed Goku's power at super saiyan 3. He knew Goku was stronger than Buu and could have destroyed him, yet he chose not to. That decision allowed Buu to get even stronger and is why they are still in this crisis. He had seen Goku indulge Vegeta's battle lust, take part in Buu's release and refuse to destroy him.
These saiyans lust for battle could doom us all.
"Yes, Supreme Kai," Kibito replied.
Moments later the kais were looking up into the distance, for two large power levels were headed toward them. Neither Gohan or Goku could sense anything coming, and that's why they were unafraid. A brilliant white light shone in the distance and soon whizzed past the group, landing right behind the Supreme Kai.
Whis stepped out of the bubble, while Tai struggled to stay on his feet. "I warned you about decelerating."
"Next time warn me sooner," he groaned before leaning against a nearby rock. He shook as much of the headache off as he could, so he could get a sense of his surroundings. The world has a similar sky to Beerus' only this one was magenta, and it was also just as lifeless. Or not, Tai thought when he sensed two familiar power levels.
There stood Goku, wearing an expression that Tai had never seen on him. His eyebrows furrowed and his jaw fell slightly ajar. Nothing could surprise Goku, or so Tai thought. Goku on the other hand, did not surprise Tai.
"Of course you'd be at the middle of all of this, wouldn't you Kakarot."