Warrior Instincts
Ch.13- A price to be paid
xXx
By the time he awoke Goku discovered that a whole two weeks had passed since his climatic battle with the Red-Ribbon army, yet he and Bulma had remained in Jingle village for his recovery. Presently, the blue-haired genius was snoring away on the couch of Lapis and Lazuli's home while Goku could be found seated at their kitchen table staring at his hands.
Flexing his fingers under the dull light of the stove, the martial-arts champion was doing his best to recall what had happened after Muscle Tower exploded. When he'd finally opened his eyes, Bulma had let him know she'd found him unconscious and bloody, yet with no memory of the actual battle Goku was forced to accept that he'd lost control again.
And that angered the boy.
In a way, those victories he'd gained hadn't truly been his, and this train of thought made the alien warrior upset. How could he claim to be the greatest, or to even be this world's champion, if he wasn't winning!?
But then...as the snoring on the couch hitched, and Bulma rolled over in her sleep, Goku began to let his mind drift towards another worry he'd had; one the boy had tried to push aside since he'd nearly beaten Krillin into the ground. What would happen to Bulma, or even Lazuli, if he lost control again? They'd been the first two people to show him true kindness after Gohan's death, and while he may not have known her as long imagining Lazuli's pained face pricked at something in Goku's core.
She pushed his buttons, of that there was no doubt, but so did Bulma and in the end both girls only did it because it was in their nature to do so; it was their way of getting him to react. Being so removed from civilization for such a long time had left Goku a bit blind to social norms or ques, but he was more than smart enough to catch on quick, and what he was finding out about his two female...friends made the alien's tail squirm with an emotion Goku was almost completely unfamiliar with.
They liked him, and this, it made the boy...happy.
Bulma and Lazuli knew what he was, had seen what he was capable of and witnessed what could happen should the boy lose control, yet despite this the pair continued to desire his company. They sought him out, engaged in conversation, stood by him in the face of certain danger! It was something Goku had never experienced in his short life, as even Gohan for all his kindness had been wary of the boy he chose to raise.
But them, two simple human girls, had chosen him to be their friend; Bulma had even helped pinpoint a proper birthday, through use of what she called 'science'. They'd discovered he was, in fact thirteen by the time of his competing in the tournament rather than twelve!
And yet, this comradarie both elated, and frightened the boy.
It fueled his worries about what could happen if, during a 'black out', he turned on the blue-haired genius. Lazuli's own life being in jeopardy touched a nerve as well, in that Goku worried about scaring away someone who really did seem to want to be around him; a thing even the alien boy himself didn't realize he even wanted!
However such revelations were put on hold when the sound of socked feet hitting the floor drew the wild-haired martial-arts champion's attention and, with a turn of the head, revealed that the very same blonde who'd just been on Goku's mind was now standing in the archway of the kitchen. Swift eyes checked the stove to see that it was an hour before sunrise, which helped make sense of Lazuli's fanciful nightwear and still drooped eyelids.
In all the time he'd spent with Bulma, Goku had never seen the older girl wear anything like the blue ensemble that concealed his newest friend's modesty. It was...light, and made of a very thin fabric that was held up by thin straps settled against creamy shoulders. There were no sleeves, and it stopped right above Lazuli's curved thighs. Onyx eyes could see the way her breasts were cupped gently by this odd outfit, and something began to stir inside of Goku at the sight of two small peaks reacting, unknown to him, to the cold air filtering through the house.
Topped by sleep-tousled hair and cloudy azure eyes, the moment Lazuli realized that she wasn't alone and actually smiled at him, was the moment Goku was truly reminded that boys and girls were very different creatures no matter what planet you were from.
"What are you doing up so early?" There was a hitch in his voice that the boy figure its origin, yet from the new slant to the blonde's smile she knew.
"Ara~ I should be asking you that; shouldn't you still be resting, Kakarot?"
She hadn't meant anything by wearing her camisole to bed that night but, after seeing normally unflappable warrior so effected, Lazuli decided she'd make a point of wearing them for the rest of his stay at Jingle Village. The daughter of former Commander Blue had known her whole life she was attractive, but not until she'd met Kakarot had the girl even considered talking to any member of the opposite sex; they were all weak, spineless losers after all.
But not him.
Kakarot, or 'Goku' as Bulma seemed to call him, was a boy that Lazuli could tell who seemed destined for great things. He was determined, strong, and oh-so-very proud of himself as well as the things he accomplished with his bare hands. That cocky air, in the right doses, mixed with Kakarot's slightly pompous grin had quickly drawn the girl's eye and only pulled that much harder when Lapis told her to stay away from him.
Yet underneath this there seemed to be a person with a heart made for only the fiercest kind of love and a loyalty that would go unmatched. However Lazuli didn't think herself such a goddess that a simple offering of affection would grant her access to such treasures, and understood from watching him that Kakarot was someone she would need to prove herself to and show that she could be counted on to properly care for both the boy as well as his animal inside.
'Although, a little flirting never hurt anyone either~'
Using all the grace she could muster at nearly six in the morning, Lazuli slithered into the kitchen in her best attempt at a glide; though judging by the way those eyes watched her, the blonde decided it was good enough.
Goku did indeed watch as his host slid into the seat closest to him, and consciously had to take control of his tail before it gave away anymore of the boy's nervousness than what was probably shown on his face. Leaning into the table, with his fingers locked, Goku finally managed to answer...
"I was, and I did; for fourteen days apparently. Now though, I need to think."
"About the battle? What's there to think about; you won." Lazuli didn't understand what else there was to wonder, what else could be keeping him up at night, so what the boy said next shocked her.
"But I didn't, and that's the problem, you guys didn't see it but I blacked out again during the fight with Gero. It was just like with Nam; I can't remember a thing. And that means it wasn't me who won."
The blonde's brow furrowed. "You were the only one there, Kakarot, who else could it have been if it wasn't you?"
There was a sense of deja vu then, as he stared into those sharp blue eyes. Even without the cups of coco, and the face was different, but Goku had a memory flash at that moment and it stifled the angry snarl that wanted to snap at Lazuli. She wasn't questioning him so much as trying to understand.
"You saw what happened at the World Tournament, when it was my turn to face that guy who beat you, you saw what...what I did to him? Well, if you asked me, I wouldn't be able to tell you a single thing that happened the whole match; and the same thing happened after I beat your dad. I-I don't know what causes, not really, but whenever I do black out the memories just...aren't there."
"...Like it's someone else fighting," Lazuli finished the unspoken thought.
"And I hate it, because there's no telling what could happen the next time I lose control like that, there's no telling who...who I might hurt."
There was a storm swirling those dark eyes, and as badly as Lapis' sister wanted to quell those thundering clouds she didn't truly know how with having only known Kakarot for such a short time. However, this didn't stop her from trying, and this is how the alien boy discovered that Lazuli's hands really were as soft as they looked.
Nothing was stopping the way Goku's tail tightened around his waist at the contact, though the young teen stifled as sharp gasp at the electric jolt that arced up his arm and sparked something in the alien warrior's brain. Onyx met azure, and the two could feel themselves falling into a whole new universe as their breaths mingled together.
"No matter what happens, I'll always be there to help you; you don't have to figure this all out alone. Even if you hadn't saved Jingle Village, I'd still choose to stand beside you, because it's you...Goku. And nothing, no matter what, will change that; you're stuck with me, mister, so you'd better get used to it."
There was an urge, one Goku had never experienced in his life, welling up inside of him the longer her stared into Lazuli's eyes. So the boy tried to look away, and found his gaze dropping to look at her lips, making him suddenly wonder if they were as soft as they looked...
"AAAAHHH!"
And the the moment was ruined; a ruckus from outside drawing their attention.
The sound of Bulma rolling off the couch and Lapis rushing out from his room were the last two straw needed to get Goku practically flying out of his seat and pulling the Power-Pole from its place at the boy's back. With Lazuli still recovering from the tournament they once again ordered her to stay behind, though this time she was convinced to listen by eyes that now shone like tahitian pearls.
After all, if her safety distracted him, then Goku couldn't focus on winning; and the fact that he would worry was enough to keep the pretty blonde standing in the kitchen while everyone else hurried to see what new trouble had come to Jingle Village.
What they found was...shocking, honestly.
A single man, tall with a head of black hair pulled back into a pig-tail, stood over a villager who was very clearly dead if the whites of his eyes was anything to go by. Their 'guest' was dressed in garb that spoke clearly of martial-arts origin, though his color scheme of pink and blue was unusual for sure, but what truly let everyone know what type of person they were dealing with was the look in the guy's eyes.
They were the eyes of a killer; of someone who had not only seen death, but brought it to the doorsteps of countless men and women throughout his life. The eyes of someone Goku had been searching for.
Whatever soft curve had existed in the boy's own gaze from his talk with Lazuli hardened into sharp corners, and muscles tensed at the thought of finally having a true challenge. Yet, Earth's martial-arts champion held himself back from jumping straight into a scuffle as he did remember the very words that had just past his own lips. He didn't want to lose control again, he wanted to be awake for his victories, and that couldn't happen if Goku allowed himself to get lost under the sea of...lust that came from every slightly difficult battle.
No, he would take this slower, and be more cautious. There was no glory to be had in victories not truly earned, and without true demonstration how could the alien warrior call himself the strongest?
Unfortunately, such things were taken from Goku's control as he locked eyes with this newcomer, and the man called to him.
"Ah, so then the hero appears then? I tried to ask this gentleman here, but the rude fool had the nerve to tell me to get lost, however I can see just from that look; you are the one who destroyed Muscle Tower, aren't you."
It wasn't a question.
"And if I am; what business is it of yours?"
"Then you and I have a problem, boy. The Red-Ribbon were my most profitable client, and now that you've systemically dismantled them there's no one to pay me for my services; I hate not being paid."
Lapis growled at the hook-nosed man as he watched him start to walk towards the house; who the heck did this guy think he was? Jingle Village had just gotten their peace back, and now here this jerk was trying to take it from them again!
"So what," he shouted in a rage. "Why take money from those scum in the first place, unless you're just as dirty as they are!"
Tao scoffed. "I'm nothing like those fool; I'm worse. And unless someone around here pays me the ten-million zeni I am owed in the next five minutes I will destroy this pitiful village with my bare hands...starting with monkey-boy over there."
"You want me, you got me, but we're not gonna fight here! These people have suffered enough; you and I can fight, but when I win you'd better leave this village alone ya got it!?"
Looking over the boy, no doubt a teenager by his mouth, Tao recognized him from the last tournament his brother had watched on television. "Ah, I think I see how you very well may have defeated that fool Blue; you're Kakarot, the winner of the Budokai, aren't you?"
"So you've heard of me," Goku smirked, "and you know what I did to those Red-Ribbon losers, but still want to fight me? That either makes you very brave...or very stupid mister-"
"Tao; and if being confident makes me a fool than so be it. I've killed thousands of men and women twice your age with ten times the experience, so forgive me if I'm not overly impressed by a shiny gold-plated belt. As for that 'army'; I could have killed them myself if I'd wanted, just no one's ever been willing to pay enough."
The mercenary let his hawk-like gaze move between Bulma and Lapis, who both held guns trained on the man, before looking back at Goku. "Your friends don't really think those pitiful weapons will work on someone like me, do they?"
"They just like to stand around for insurance; make sure my opponents don't try to run away. Don't worry though, when we get started they'll be careful to stay out of our way. Sound good enough for you Tao?"
"So long as they know that any interference will see them dead," the grown man shrugged before he swung his arm out towards the area, "now please, lead the way Kakarot. I'm a very busy man, and I'd like to get your demise done swiftly and get back to work."
Goku scoffed before sheathing the Power-Pole and beginning to exit the village.
"Careful Tao; insult me again and you wont have to worry about being 'busy', cause you'll be dead."
xXx
The place he'd chosen was somewhere beyond the range of sight so that Jingle Village wouldn't need to worry about possibly getting caught in the cross-fire of their battle. Now, Goku stared into the eyes of a man who's sole purpose for living was to make money off the deaths of others, and it made him think about what Lazuli had told him at the tournament.
If he wasn't careful, could he wind up like Tao?
The man in question though seemed t have waited long enough for their battle, and made sure his pint-sized opponent knew it.
"We've separated ourselves from the village per your request, boy, so now I'll ask one final time if there's anything else you'd like as a last request before this execution gets underway?"
"Just that you give me your all," Goku copied Tao's shrug before settling into a fighting stance. "I'd hate to have a go with someone who claims to be as strong as you and this turn out to be another disappointment."
Tao smirked, and off to the side Bulma felt herself grow queasy at the sight, but rustling from the forest behind she and Lapis alerted them to a new arrival. One that came in the rebellious form of the boy's twin sister!
"What are you doing here," the blue-haired genius hissed so as not to draw Goku's attention. "I thought you promised you'd stay away!"
"The fact you and mountain-boy really believed her just shows you don't know my sister at all; once she grows to care about someone there's no stopping her. Lazuli probably listened for as long as it took us all to leave the village before following."
"For your information, I waited until you guys were out of sight of the whole village first-"
"It doesn't really matter," Tao interrupted without taking his eyes off of Goku. "It's just more people to witness the fall of Earth's 'strongest fighter'; I'll show you just how much that silly title really means. You wanted my best, Kakarot, but let me remind everyone that it's best to be careful what you wish for!"
Goku wasn't the easiest person to hurt, but when he felt Tao's elbow smash against his nose there was a new definition to the word now.
Stars filled the boy's vision, and it was pure instinct that saw the alien warrior's tail come racing up to catch the mercenaries knife-hand strike, but it was up to Goku to jump away from the grown man's heel as it came down in a vicious kick. From there it was a game of cat-and-mouse, and for the first time in his whole life...Goku was the mouse. It was strange, infuriating, to be put on the defensive but it was all he could do just to keep up!
"Please," Tao chuckled as his barrage continued, "don't tell me this is all you've got champion; those tournaments really are a waste of time if this is the type of fighter they give the belt to."
Even as he felt the wind pressure slice into his cheek Goku tried his best to keep himself from letting those taunts get to him. The boy's tail had begun to tingle, forcing the alien warrior to keep it wrapped around his waist, and the bruises covering skin showed off how much harder the match had become as a result. A spin-kick nearly took Goku's head off and the wild-haired martial-artist barely put up a cross-block as Tao's palm came rushing forward next.
"Grah!"
The sheer force of that attack sent him flying through the air but, this time there was no nimble recovery, and spittle flew from Goku's lips as he slammed against the trunk of a tree. Barely managing to stay stumbling on his feet, the spiky-haired boy grunted as the pain his arms made him nauseous.
'T-This guy...he's...different from the others. That hit, I-I've never felt anything like it; what sort of human is he!?'
Off on the sidelines Lapis was scowling as he watched the other boy prop himself up on his knees, and as he looked on at the one who'd defeated his father Lapis turned to Bulma with harsh eyes.
"What's Kakarot doing; why is he messing around? That guy's being doing all the damage since the fight started, when is your friend going to start taking things seriously?"
But Bulma wasn't in any position to answer. With hands wrapped around her mouth and tears brimming at the corners of the young woman's eyes, Goku's first friend was seeing something that she'd never believed could be possible...and it frightened her.
"I-I don't think Goku is playing, brother, I think...I think this guy might actually be too strong, even for him."
xXx
And as the two girls began to feel fear that their friend may have finally met his match, Pilaf and his pair of followers were sweating bullets as they stared at the battered old rice cooker they'd finally managed to get their hands on after so long.
"Um...sire, I-I just wanna ask again that you are absolutely sure this is what you wanna do," Mai gulped as she eyed the ratty old kitchen appliance. "Because you know that, i-if we open this, there's no going back."
"I am aware of that you fool," the disgusting little imp snarled, "but how else do you two fools think I'll be able to regain my former glory!? It took me my whole life to amass the grand stature you both were hired into, and now with it all destroyed by some...child there's no time left for me to start over! Every last cent, every last connection and favor went into securing this damned pot so yes Mai I am sure!"
But even still the trio found that none of them could move; none of them could do it.
They'd all heard the stories, and Pilaf had even visited the sight of that climactic battle that had sealed the demon away. Even now, forty years after the trip, he could remember the pure evil that permeated the air and nearly suffocated him with its intensity. Grass had refused to grow and trees stood barren as even wildlife dared not even step foot in that place.
The Demon King's power was no myth.
He had been real; he was real. A being of unfathomable might, capable of wiping out whole cities with a flick of his wrist. The whole world still flinched at the very mention of his name!
...and this power, now rested in the hands of a grumpy little imp.
Could he really control it? Did he truly have what it took, to keep this mad fiend in line with what Pilaf himself desired? Truly, he did not know, but the ugly little creature decided then and there that he never would have gotten anywhere in life if he'd simply let fear of the unknown rule his life!
Yet as he snatched up that rice cooker and ripped the top off Pilaf was reminded of an even older story, about a foolish girl and a box, and how she'd doomed the entire world with her foolishness.
xXx
A/N: And so Piccolo has been released, and Goku faces the music against a foe that may very well be too strong for him.
Now that the Demon King has been set free I can say that the DB era of the story is almost at an end! However, there will be something very special in store for Goku before it's over, and that will be when the real AU elements will begin, so I hope everyone looks forward to what I have planned.
Tien will still be introduced though, for those worried about his inclusion, so there wont be any worries there.
And for those who weren't sure; my easter egg was Gero's robot. I'd tried to model it after Dr. Wheelo from Movie 2, but I guess my description could have used some work lol.
Anyway, I guess that's all I have to say for now, and I'll see everyone in the next chapter.