Battle Rhapsody: Chapter 4

(All characters except the ones I made up are from DBZ, in other words don't sue me. I'm just writing a fanfic here. *Danger! Danger Will Robinson! Major Buu Saga Spoliers ahead! You have been warned.* One extra note: C-18 represents Android 18. And Ma-junior represents Piccolo)

Trunx and Sapphire stood side by side as they prepared themselves to hear the annoucements of the matchups for the senior tournament. After the junior competition had been finished the real competition had begun by calling out all participants to the arena to be paired up with opponents.
"The first fight will be between Sapphire and....." the annoucer started.
"Please not against Trunx. Please not against Trunx." she begged in her mind as she squeezed Trunx's hand a bit tighter.
"Satan's and one and only niece Ibuki!" he finished.

Sapphire stared ahead for a moment completely surprised. Then she saw Ibuki smiling at her from next to her uncle. Sapphire knew then that Ibuki must of rigged the matchups somehow so that she would be able to have a rematch against her. She was at first disgusted at this misuse of power, but it quickly dissolved into happiness as she realized she wouldn't have to fight her husband. At least not yet.
One by one the annoucer called out the remaining fighters, and who they would be fighting against.
"Trunx vs. Hsien-ko!"
"C-18 vs. Mr. Satan!"
"Gohan vs. Yamu!"
"Mighty Mask vs. Videl!"
"Ma-junior vs. Kibito!"
"Cell vs. Shin!"

Vegita glared at the annoucer waiting for his name to be called. Though as he looked around the group that were standing there preparing to fight. There was only one person left who had not been called on other then himself. That means he would have to fight......
"And the final pairing. Vegita vs. Goku!" the annoucer finished.
Everyone who knew who these people were gasped at the realization of the fact that Goku and Vegita would be fighting each other in the first round. They had all expected a climatic final battle between the two. Rather then a first round knock out to see who gets to procede on.
Goku on the other hand wasn't fazed at all by this sudden predicament. He just grinned and turned to Vegita.
"Well I guess I'll be fighting you in the first round eh Vegita?" he said happily. Vegita on the other hand scowled back in return.
"Shutup Kakkarot. If this stupid tournament does not wish to prolong our battle with one another then so be it. Now get off the arena and let the others fight. The sooner they are done, the sooner our fight begins." Vegita yelled as he walked off the field. He was utterly annoyed by the fact that not only would he have to fight Goku in the first round. They would have to wait a long while since they were paired up as being the last of the first round matches.

Goku absorbed what Vegita said to him, and took it as Vegita's eagerness to win the tournament. Before he could ponder this anymore though he felt someone nudge him. He turned to see Cell standing right next to him, giving him a weird look.
"What are you doing just standing here. C'mon! My fight is just before yours, so I have to wait almost as long as you. But since we're not fighting now we have to go." Cell stated.
Goku came out of his short revelry and nodded.
"Right."
"Actually I was hoping I was going to get to fight you first Goku. I don't want Vegita to knock you out of the competition before....."
"Excuse me are you Goku?" a voice suddenly interrupted from behind the two.

They turned around to see two people standing there. One was a rather large man with faint purple skin. As well he had long purple hair flowing down his back and had pointed ears like Piccolo.
The man next to him was much smaller. Though to make up for this, he was floating a few inches off the ground. He looked much like the first man, though was much younger. He had the same purple hair, but it was set on his head like a bushy mohawk that hadn't been cut for a long time, therefore it was to long and sorta flopped over to one side. Both men wore mysterious robes that neither Goku nor Cell had ever seen before.
"Can I help you two?" Goku asked, his body slightly tensed. He could sense a strange power from these two. Something he had never felt anywhere before.
"No, I just wanted to meet you Goku." the smaller one said. Goku was about to proceed with another question when suddenly the man continued.
"I also wanted to test you." and with that and a quick movement he shot a fast ki ball right at Goku. Though it was blocked easily. His attention now was fully flaced on the smaller of the two men standing or in this case floating before him.

"Who are you!?" Cell demanded as he took a fighting stance next to Goku. Though he was forced to calm down when Goku put his hand in front of him.
"Your attack was powerful. But I felt no anger or evil energy in it." Goku simply stated.
"Ahh so you really are just as powerful and wise as I imagined Goku. My name is Shin. The man next to me's name is Kibito. I have travelled far to fight you Goku. Though I already know I can't win." Shin said softly, with no threatening pretenses at all in his voice.
Suddenly Cell suddenly looked at Shin like he knew him.
"Shin....Shin....Ah yes, you're the person I'm fighting in the first round, are you not?"
"Yes, I will be fighting you in the first round. That is of course if the tournament goes on that long..." Shin simply replied as he and Kibito began to move away. Kibito still yet to say even a word.
"Wait whats that supposed to mean!?" Cell yelled after them. Though by that time they were already out of hearing distance.
"Don't worry about it. We'll find out sooner or later." Goku said as he began to make his way out of the arena. Cell quickly followed behind him. Though not without a few glances back to where Shin and Kibito had gone.

"The first fight will be between Satan's niece Ibuki, and her challenger Sapphire!" the annoucer yelled into the mic. He looked around, expecting Satan to say something. Though he remembered that since he was fighting, he was down on the sidelines with everyone else. He sighed in relief at this fact.
Sapphire and Ibuki walked onto the arena and faced each other. Each realized that the other looked exactly like a more adult version of the person they fought so many years ago. Even the clothes they had worn the first time they clashed were the same.

"Looks like you haven't changed much Sapphire." Ibuki stated calmly, as her eyes shifted over Sapphire's body.
"Neither have you." Sapphire stated just as calmly. She knew from the last fight that Ibuki could be carrying any number of throwing knives and other weapons in the loose tan ninja outfit she was wearing.
They both fell into fighting stances. Sapphire knew that she wasn't allowed to turn into a super saiyan as long as she was fighting a human opponent. Though she wondered if it hurt Ibuki's pride, since she she knew she herself wasn't showing her true abilities against her.

"Fighters ready!? Begin!" the annoucer shouted, signaling the fight to begin.
The second Ibuki heard the word to start she jumped high into the air, using the natural blinding ability of the sun to disable Sapphire's ability to see her.
Her planned worked, and Sapphire shielded her eyes as she attempted to see where Ibuki had gone to. Before that question could be answered, Sapphire suddenly noticed a sparkle in the sky.
And in the next instant hundred of deadly throwing knives were raining down on the arena. In which Sapphire had to dodge quickly or become nothing but a hunk of blue swiss cheese.

After Sapphire had dodged the last of the knives she heard a small "tmp" from behind her. She turned around and there was Ibuki, standing there with a smirk on her face. Sapphire was amazed at how incredibly quick she was. Especially for an earthling she had never heard of until now.
"I've spent so many years training. Waiting for the day when I would be able to fight you again Sapphire. That humiliating defeat you dealt me was more then I could bare. But this time, this time I will be victorious. Now let me show you what all the training did for me." Ibuki said in the low tone.
Suddenly there was a flash of light. And then....Ibuki vanished. Sapphire looked around desperately trying to find her location. But instead of having to find Ibuki, Ibuki found her. Sapphire in the next instant felt a sharp pain in her left arm, and to her very surprise and astounishment, when she looked to see what had happened to her arm. She noticed that it was no longer there.

The mystery of what had happened to her arm was quickly solved when she heard a "click" from behind her. She quickly turned around to see Ibuki crouching there, sliding a sword back into its sheath with a "click". In her left hand she held Sapphire's arm.
"Looking for this? I didn't only learn how to fight during my training...." Ibuki started as she got up and faced Sapphire.
"I also learned how to be ruthless!" she screamed and squeezed Sapphire's arm until it exploded. Showering purple goo all over herself and the ground below. Though she didn't seem to care one bit.

On the sidelines Trunx almost felt the need to dash forward to aid his wife. But he figured it would be best if he left this to Sapphire. He trusted her, and he knew that if she was ever really against the ropes, she had the power to completely overtake Ibuki. He just hoped that she would go against Goku's words and power up to a super saiyan if the situation called for it.

Sapphire looked up at Ibuki in anger. She was not going to let this human girl push her down and get away with it. One thing she learned from her father. Don't get mad.....get even.
In a flash a motion Sapphire dashed forward and punched Ibuki square in the face. Though to her horror Ibuki just smiled and punched her right back sending her sprawling to the ground.
"You can't hurt me Sapphire! My training has also taught me to not only be able to withstand attacks, but as well absorb them and make them part of my own anger!" she screamed, kicking Sapphire across the arena.
As Ibuki watched Sapphire tumble to the ground she could only hear her master's words echoing in her head.
"Take your sorrow and turn it into anger!"

Up in the stands Jade covered Talc's eyes.
"C'mon Sapphire! What are you doing!? Just beat her up!" she yelled. Hating the fact that her daughter was practially letting herself be beat up like that. Suddenly Chichi got riled up.
"Now you see Jade don't you! Now you see why I don't want my poor children to fight just because my stupid husband lets them. Its because I have to watch these sorta things that I hate for them to fight!" she yelled, trying to get Jade to rally behind her.
"No...I think Sapphire can turn this fight around. She isn't hurt. Unlike regular humans, she can pretty regenerate any damage she takes. She'll be perfectly fine." Jade just replied softly. This only caused Chichi to sit back down in a huff. Seeing that her ideals were not going to get through to her.

Sapphire slowly got to her feet.
"Thats enough. I gave this girl a turn, and now its my turn. I can't keep looking at her as just another normal person with no fighting ability. I have to give it my all, or she's going to cut me to ribbons." she said to herself, standing up. She then touched her severed arm.
"Besides...I really liked that arm."

"So finished yet blue girl!?" Ibuki asked dominately. She was answered when Sapphire just walked up to about ten feet away from her.
"Not likely. Just because you got a few lucky hits in doesn't mean anything. Besides there is something that you seem to forget about me..." Sapphire said in what she considered the best evil voice she could muster.
"And what is that?" Ibuki replied with a little laugh.
"That I'm not human!" Sapphire yelled as her severed shot out of the stub on her shoulder, completely reformed and covered in a gooey mucus. She slowly began to test it as Ibuki stared at her in disbelief.
"Argh! Thats no fair!" Ibuki yelled like a little girl. Everything had been going to plan. With only one arm she was almost sure that Sapphire would of lost. But now that she had it back, her whole battle plan had messed up.

"Grrrr....so what if you regrew your stupid arm! I could beat you even if you had four arms!" she yelled, trying to regain her dominance.
"Talk is cheap. Lets do this." Sapphire said with a smirk. Both fighters once again took battle stances as they prepared to start this fight up for real.
In a burst of energy they charged at each other growling menacingly. When they clashed the fight started immediately. Though to the surprise of everyone who knew Sapphire, Ibuki actually seemed able to match Sapphire's moves with one of her own. Both of their strength and speed seemed to be matched.
Though there was a sudden brake in the match when Sapphire had been able to wrap her tail around Ibuki's neck, choking her. Ibuki cursed in her head that she had let such an embarrasing situation arise.
"Heh..." Sapphire smirked as she squeezed harder.
"So do you give up?"
Ibuki was just silent as she struggled to get out of her tails grasp. Her silence was her only answer.

Pan almost topled over as Frieza started to move around a lot, and she was having trouble holding him up.
"Hey what's wrong?" she asked, getting annoyed.
"I dunno. Sapphire has Ibuki in a head lock with her tail. But for some reason just watching this scene is making me really uncomfortable. Like I've seen it somewhere before, and know what's coming next." he stated as he watched the fight.
"Oh your just being a worry wart. Now c'mon so what is happening now? You told me if you got to be the head you would explain what was going on in the fights. So tell me what is......"
"OWWWWWWWW!!!!"
"What the heck was that?!" Pan asked, hearing that horrible scream.

Sapphire held her tail, blowing on it lightly. There was a fresh bite mark on the portion she was tending to.
"Oh you little...you bit me!?" she yelled angrily.
"What else was I supposed to do? Let you kill me?" Ibuki retorted
Sapphire just let her tail go and dropped back into a fighting stance.
"No...I was hoping you were going to give up. Not try some dirty trick like....Hey what are you doing?" Sapphire asked suddenly seeing that Ibuki didn't look like she wanted to fight anymore.
"I'm tired of you holding back. Last time I gave up knowing how utterly powerful you really were. And I still feel that power in you. Now fight me for real or I can't fight you." Ibuki said solemnly. Not wanting to win because of luck or cicumstance. This time she wanted to win out of skill.
She didn't care anymore about her stupid training or her stupid master. All she wanted now is the glory of battle through fair combat. And knowing that Sapphire was holding back wasn't exactly what she considered fair.
"But I can't! If I do then you'll be...."
"Can it! Now show me your real power, or get out!" Ibuki retorted.

"I cant fight her as a super saiyan, I'll crush her. Hey wait....I know..." Sapphrie said to herself as she got an idea.
"Alright Ibuki. You want to see my true power, then here it is..."
With that there was a sudden burst of light as Sapphire seemed to look like she was powering to a super saiyan. Everyone who knew what a super saiyan was gasped in realization that Sapphire was going to break the rules and become a super saiyan just to win this match.
Sapphire just smirked to herself knowing what everyone was thinking. She was going to show them how she found a loophole in the agreement.

Goku watched the scene unfold from the sidelines. His first though had been dissapointment that Sapphire had gone against his wishes just to win this fight. Though his image of her raised when he realized what she was really doing. And now he actually found it interesting that she had managed to become stronger without braking the agreement.

Ibuki stood ready as she prepared to fight Sapphire at full strength. The light finally receded and Sapphire stood there. Now at a level that only Goku had reached. Super Saiyan-jin .5!
Her hair was standing on end as it did when she turned into a saiyan. But it had not turned gold, and her eyes had not turned green either. Leaving her looking like a super saiyan with blood red hair.
"So that is your ultimate power? It just looks like you permed your hair." Ibuki mocked as she stared at Sapphire. Though Sapphire on the other hand stayed perfectly calm.
"I'm sorry Ibuki..." she said softly.
"Sorry!? What the heck are you sorry for?!" Ibuki retaliated, not understanding what Sapphire meant. She was starting to get really angry that Sapphire was so calm when she herself was still sure that she could win this fight.
"Sorry for showing you that all your training was for not." she continued, her voice still soft.
"What are you talking about? With my training I am the ultimate fighter in the world. There is no way that you can beat.......me............"
Sapphire had stopped Ibuki's speech with just one punch to the stomach. Ibuki had never seen it coming, since even though she was only half way there to a super saiyan. That was more then enough power to easily overtake any human fighter.
She looked down at Ibuki realizing that she really shouldn't of asked Sapphire to show any real power. For now she would truelly understand that all her time spent planning revenge had been useless.
Sapphire slowly withdrew her hand. Ibuki falling foward to the arena floor, unconscience.

"Um...is that it?" the annoucer asked to the few crewmen around him. When they nodded in agreement, he quickly adjusted his tie and then faced the camera.
"Did you see that ladies and gentlmen? Because I sure didn't. The young warror Sapphire has taken down the favored champion Ibuki in just one punch. Meaning that Sapphire is the winner of the first round in this year's Budokai." he said into the mic.
Down below the atmosphere wasn't so jovial. As Sapphire watched some crewmen carry Ibuki off the field, she could not help but feel some remorse for the girl.

She quickly powered down to her normal form and walked off the arena. As she reached the sidelines she was soon met with an ecstatic Trunx.
"Sapphy! You did great! I can't believe it. You found a way of beating Goku's rule by only becoming half super saiyan. What an ingenious idea! I can't believe that......Hey, is something wrong?" he asked as he suddenly noticed that Sapphire didn't seem very happy.
"I'm sorry Trunx. Its just that Ibuki spent her whole life trying to get revenge on me. And now that she has lost again I don't know what she will do." she said solemnly. Trunx placed a hand on her shoulder and stared into her eyes.
"You don't give her enough credit. From what I've seen, that girl Ibuki is a warrior. She won't let such a thing get her down. She'll keep training and training and training until the one day she believes herself strong enough to face you." he said reasurringly. Sapphire returned her husbands loving eyes with a small smile.

"Trunx my love..." she started.
"Yes dear?"
Suddenly she punched him hard in the stomach. Making him crouch on the ground in pain as he held his stomach.
"If I ever ask for advice again remind me not to come to you! All you told me is that she'll just keep coming after me forever and ever and ever!" she yelled angrily.
"Oh....oh yeah...." he grumbled, realizing his own stupidity.

Up in the bleachers Bulma looked panicked.
"Did you see that!? It looked like Trunx and Sapphire were having an intimate moment and then she suddenly punched him. Do you think he said something mean to her?" she asked slightly panicked.
Jade just looked at her for a moment then smiled.
"Nah. Ever since they've been married that exact thing seems to happen from time to time. What happens usually is Trunx says something stupid. Sapphire punches Trunx. Trunx crouches on the ground for a few moments while he thinks about the stupid thing he just said. Then he stands up and they act like it never happened." Jade stated as she continued to look down at the two.
Bulma continued to watch them with an odd look on her face. She was starting to realize that Trunx really did take a lot after his father after all. The saying things he shouldn't part at least.
"Wow I would hate to have a girl like that for a wife." Krillen pipped in with a laugh
"And what's that supposed to mean?!" Jade asked angrily, turning towards Krillen with a glint in her eye.
"Uh...nothing...nothing at all....heh...heh...heh...." Krillen replied trying to save himself from Jade's wrath as he waved his hands in front of him in self defense. Marron glanced over at her father for a second then back down to her book.
"Idiot...."

"The next fight is between fighter Trunx and fighter Hsien-ko. Will Trunx and Hsien-ko please enter the arena." the annoucer's voice rang through the stadium.

Sapphire helped Trunx to his feet, brushing him off a bit.
"Now remember. Don't let your guard down even if you only think your opponent is just a normal human. I made that mistake and payed with a limb." she said to him.
"Ok, I'll do that." he replied simply. By the way that they talked it showed that Jade had been true to their word. Since neither of them acted as if the prior scuffle between them had happened at all..
Sapphire leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Good luck!" she said cheerfully.
"Thanx!" he replied happily before running out, and onto the arena.

When he arrived there he immediately started to look around to see if he could spot his opponent. He had no idea who this person was, and was curious of exactly what he would be up against.
The mystery was broken though when his oppenent appeared out of nowhere right in front of him and uttered only a single word.
"Nihao."

To be Continued.

((Once again Ibuki and Hsien-ko are both copyright of capcom's Street Fighter and Darkstalkers. If your curious about the Super Saiyan-jin .5, it is a real level from DBZ. It was used in one of the movies that took place before the point in which Goku became a super saiyan. Also one more side note. I'm trying to keep away from just retelling the events in the anime the best I can. Since even though I bet most of you haven't seen any of the Buu Saga yet, when it does come out you can see what really happens yourselves.))