AN: This would be the bridge chapter, folks. You know, it's hard to properly describe fight scenes, especially in subtle movements. For those of you with some martial arts experience, I'm basing Kameko's training style off Wado karate. It emphasizes fluidity and movement over power, and rarely meets force on force. And, still, I promise, this will not become a romance.
"If I just say I'm hurt, then it'll have to be called off. No, wait, they'll know I'm not once a medic comes. OK, how about I pretend to have a sudden vision loss? 'Oops, I'm blind. Can't train you.' Yeah right. I'm doomed." Pacing up and down the training hall's polished floor, Kameko tried to come up with a suitable reason for not training the Prince. "Oh, look, he's late. Call it off!" Glancing up at the large clock to the left of her, Kameko saw that the Prince was a few minutes late. "Figures, though. Damn royalty and their entrances. As if the rest of us aren't important enough to bother with actually being on time for them."
A metallic beep startled Kameko out of her thoughts of escape, as she saw the door slide open to reveal the Prince. Trunks calmly stepped inside, glanced up at the clock, and nodded at Kameko. Without a word spoken, he disappeared into the changing area to prepare. Moments later, he returned, dressed in the familiar Saiyan blue jumpsuit, no armor. Tying his hair back into a ponytail, he looked Kameko up and down, causing a shiver to run through her form. "Well, girl. Are you ready?"
"Uhh, yeah. Umm, let's start by taking a fighting stance." Thinking back to her father's training, she decided to start with the very basics. "OK, well, as we both know, you have a lot of power; more than anyone but your dad." Looking up, she saw an arrogant smile on his face in reaction to her praise. "So, it would make sense that you're splayed out like this." She mimicked his stance. "But, the problem with this, is that you can't move. Sure, hit someone, one shot, they're gone. But, you're sacrificing too much speed for power." Raising herself up some, Kameko tightened her form. "Like this, you gain mobility. You lose power, but you're so strong, it's not going to make much of a difference." Sighing, Kameko looked at her pupil. "Look, there is a much stronger student of the same style as me. His name's Krillin, he could teach you."
Trunks tilted his head and looked at the young girl in front of him. Powering up a ki ball in one hand, he held it up between them. "If I did not wish to be here, I would simply kill you and leave. I do not wish to spend my time debating who would make a better teacher. If you are not to be it, stand still while I let this blast rip you in three equal pieces."
Stunned, Kameko searched the Prince's eyes. Not getting any sort of response or feeling, she concluded that he wasn't bluffing, and conceded. "OK, I get it. Let's continue." Trunks clenched his fist, and allowed the ki ball to dissipate.
After the stance basics were worked out, Kameko decided to work on dodging skills. Holding up her fist, she asked Trunks, "How wide would you say this is? A few inches?" Seeing Trunks nod once in agreement prompted her to continue. "So, when I attack, why are you moving so far? You only need to move the width of my fist. Anything more is a waste."
Trunks, puzzled, looked at Kameko's fist. "Why not move completely away to avoid a second attack? Staying close leaves yourself open for a quick blitz."
"Well, punch me with your lead hand." Trunks raised his hand to strike, and Kameko quickly amended, "slowly, please." Trunks aimed for Kameko's nose, and just as his knuckles grazed the tip of her nose, she pivoted away, to the side and behind him. "Now, your Highness, what can you attack with?" While he was thinking, Kameko tapped him in the ribs, kidney, and side of the leg. "Or, more correctly, what can you attack with that's better than what I can do from this angle?"
Nodding once more, Trunks moved away from his instructor. "Fine." The two practiced movements and pivot timing for another half-hour, before the Prince held up his hand. "I believe it is my turn to teach you." Leisurely, he walked to the other side of the hall. Feeling herself start to shake in nervousness, Kameko attempted to keep a neutral face as she awaited her task.
Once Trunks had reached the other end, he turned around to face Kameko. "Walk towards me, and try to touch me."
"That's it?" Relief and disbelief warred for control in Kameko's mind, with relief winning out. "OK!" Briskly, she strode in the direction of the Prince. Looking at her part-time student, she smiled. This was going to be a piece of cake! You know, maybe he isn't such a bad… Suddenly, Kameko's balance was thrown off, and she slammed into the floor, the impact taking her breath away. Gasping for air, she looked up to see that Trunks had begun to power up, his faint blue aura indicating that he was still at a low power level.
"Giving up, girl?" Trunks sneered at Kameko as she struggled to get back on her feet. After another fruitless attempt, Kameko managed to place her center of gravity under her and stand. She took another step, and Trunks powered up a bit more, once again sending her colliding into the earth below. She cried out in pain, her attempt to catch herself only provided her with a separated shoulder. Looking up, her eyes pleaded with his to stop the torture; the waves of energy pummeling her body were too much. Not seeing a change in emotion, Kameko looked down to the floor. A bang and the smell of something burning behind her caused Kameko to snap her head up and crane her neck. A smoking crater proved evidence of a ki blast. Sharply turning back towards the Prince, she saw him holding a ball of energy, and watched him throw it behind her, closer this time.
"Each blast will be closer. I suggest you figure out how to drag your pathetic body towards me before the blast reaches you."
Kameko's eyes shot wide open as panic took hold. She knew those blasts were strong enough to at least paralyze, if not kill her. She began to hyperventilate as the fear crippled her. "Are you insane?" Another blast answered her question as she used her good arm to lever herself up into a crawling position.
"My patience wears thin, girl. I believe I will speed up the ki attacks." Pulling a scouter from a back cupboard, Trunks placed it over his eye, checking the readings of Kameko. "Pitiful. You better learn how to double your power in the next thirty seconds." Chuckling, he threw another energy ball, closer than ever.
"Bastard!" With an almighty scream rivaling that of the mightiest warriors, Kameko shoved herself off the ground and ran at full tilt toward her goal. Trunks watched her power grow a bit, and nodded in recognition of the bloodlust shining in Kameko's eyes. One corner of his mouth turned upward as he jacked his power up, the undulation knocking Kameko off her feet, head slamming into the back wall. Trunks powered down, and calmly walked over to where Kameko lay unconscious. As he turned to walk away, a Royal Guard happened to enter, and upon seeing the unconscious Kameko, went to call for a medic.
"No!" Trunks yelled out, stopping the guard. "Leave her there, do not call for assistance." Bowing, the guard dashed into the changing room, unwilling to defy the Prince. Trunks left the hall, found where Kameko had listed her residence, and returned to the limp body. Flinging it over his shoulder, he exited, and took to the sky.
Master Roshi was polishing his walking stick as he felt a large ki stop above his house, and drop down in front of his door. Wary, he brandished the stick as a weapon, and opened the door to see the Prince holding his unconscious daughter in his arms. Shocked, he looked up at the unrepentant eyes of the Prince. "I believe this belongs to you." Trunks dropped the body on the doorstep, and flew off again, to the surprise of both the Master and Krillin, who had been out back. As the old man reached down for his daughter, he heard Trunks yell in a mocking tone, "tell her I'll see her next week."
AN 2 (AKA: appreciation time!):
Stormy: Thanks! While that attitude won't leave our Prince, you will see it evolve into a stronger force.
Adli: *blushes* Thanks, I thought it was a bit of a different take than the usual "Bulma isn't from Earth, she's from Vejitasei."