Dragon Ball Next Generation
The Grey Saga
Part 1: The Atrocity
Chapter 8
"KA... ME... HA... ME... HA!" I yelled, and thrust my hands, palms together, tips of my fingers curved, out in front of me. Nothing happened.
I pulled cupped hands back to my side, this time spreading my fingers a little farther apart then the previous time. I yelled, and my hands shot forward again. Still nothing. After a few more failed attempts, I began to feel frustrated, and launched into a series of punches, kicks, and steps to regain my focus.
I finished with my right leg in front of me, in a side kick. I realized that if I could balance with the turtle shell on my back, I could balance with it off. I stood like that, and looked up at the clear sky. Soon, the sun would be up, and I would be treated to another ocean sunrise. My breathing slowed, as did my heart, and I assumed a horse-stance, feet parallel to each other, shoulder width apart. I cupped my hands, and prepared for another attempt at the kamehameha, when I was interrupted by a door opening behind me.
"You woke up early, I see." Master Roshi said behind me. I turned around and bowed to him.
"Yes, I wanted to practice the kamehameha some more, but I still can't do it." I confessed.
"Don't worry about it, kid. It took my fifty years to learn that technique." He said. Not exactly encouraging. Hopefully, it wouldn't take me that long to master it.
Master Roshi had shown me the technique two days ago, on my nineteenth day of training. I had already learned many melee techniques, and he thought I was ready for some more advanced techniques. He had shown me the Kamehameha, and zanzoken (I learned that was the attack he had used on the first day of my training). I had yet to master either, but I thought that I could perform zanzoken once I finally discarded the turtle shell on my back (which I had to have on unless I was showering or sleeping).
I got my milk and followed Master Roshi to the city. I really enjoyed the city, it was so different then Satan City. The air was clean, the water was pure, and there seemed to be a lack of crime and poverty. There were few factories, and most businesses were private, made to support families, not become insanely rich. The people there were kind and seemed to all know one another. It seemed to good to be true, but perhaps living in Satan City most of my life had jaded me.
My training was going very well. In a little over two weeks, I could already see and feel a difference. I was always pretty tall for my age, and as a result I had been pretty scrawny. But after Master Roshi's training, my muscles were beginning to become more defined, and I lost that scrawny look. I was able to take pride in what I was doing, and I felt fulfilled at the end of each day. I felt like my life had more meaning now that I had a drive and a goal, and that I knew that I was doing everything I could to prepare for it. For the first time in my life, I was consistently happy. I found more then a master in Roshi, for he was also a good friend to me, and I found I was able to talk about almost anything to him. Despite his perverted tendencies, he was quite wise.
That evening, during dinner, I was eating slower then usual. Master Roshi noticed and asked me about it.
"I was thinking about the old Z senshi, the thing John showed me never said what happened to them after Son Goku left with the dragon. I was wondering if you knew." I said. Master Roshi nodded.
"I always thought that Bulma's account was missing quite a bit, after all, there is hardly anything about me in there." He said.
"Wait a minuet, what do you mean by that, you weren't around then." I said.
"Well, of course I was, who do you think trained them?" He asked.
"I figured that it was your great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather or something." I said, slightly in disbelief. "I mean, you're only. I mean, it was so. that was over three hundred years ago!"
"Goes to show you what will happen if you keep in shape." He said. I couldn't tell if he was kidding or not. "Anyway, I can tell you what happened to the Z senshi. Krillian, Yampcha, Tenshinhan, and Chiatzu all got old, and eventually died. 18 saw Dr. Briefs and asked him to install a program that would let her age with Krillian. They died two days apart from each other. Their daughter, Marron, married and had three children. She eventually died from age as well. But, the Saiya-jins were a different story. After Bulma passed away at ninety-five, Vegeta only looked like he was around fifty, as Saiya-jins age much slower then humans. After her death, Vegeta took on a life of solitude, only coming out once in a while to see his grand children. He trained constantly; with his wife gone, and his son and daughter both adults, it was the only thing he knew. Buy the time he died, about a hundred years ago, he was the strongest warrior the universe had ever seen. He ended his life in great pride, as he wanted it. The others, Son Gohan and Goten, and Trunks and Bra Briefs, all aged slightly slower then humans, but because they were also part human, it was nothing as far as Vegeta's. Their descendants have all lived normal human life spans." He said, then took a drink of water. I wondered how long I would live, being a half Saiya-jin and all.
"What about Son Goku? What happened to him?" I asked.
"Unfortunatly, no one knows. No one has seen him sense he left with Shenlong. One hundred years passed, and he never came back to Earth. He also was never seen in the afterlife. I don't know what happened to him, but I am sure that he is not gone. Goku loved this planet and those on it too much to leave." He said. He said nothing else that night. He didn't come out and instruct me in my training after dinner. He seemed to be caught up in memories, and I thought it best not to disturb him.
After sixty-seven consecutive failures of the kamehameha that night, I went to bed. I didn't sleep well however. I was plagued by visions of seeing others age while I remained young. I also tried to think of any possible reasons as to why Son Goku never returned to Earth, but failed at that also.
***
I endured my training with Master Roshi for a total of four months, two weeks, and three days. By the end of my training, I carried a total of five hundred and twenty-three pounds on my back. I had mastered many basic attacks, and knew many more. I had a fighting power of 263. But, before I could do that, I had two tasks to perform.
"Alright, you can take off you shell now." Said Master Roshi, as we approached a large boulder imbedded in the earth. Gratefully, I shrugged the shell off my back, into my right hand. Feeling a little showoff-y, I threw the shell behind my back, and was rewarded three seconds later with a thud as the shell made a small crater behind me.
"Now, you have to move this boulder five inches from where it is now." Master Roshi said. I smiled, this should be a piece of cake. I stepped back a few feet.
"YHAAAA!" I screamed as I ran at the boulder. When I was a foot away from the boulder, I jumped and did a flying-sidekick at it. My foot made contact with it, and for a second, I hung in the air, with my right foot extended, my left curved under it. As I dropped, the boulder not only moved five inches, but cracked where I made contact. I stood up and flashed a peace sign to Master Roshi.
"Your next task won't be so easy." He said, and assumed an attack position. I assumed a defensive one.
For a moment, we just stared each other down. My heart was beating about twice as fast as normal. This would be my first real fight. I had sparred with Master Roshi before, but with only with the intent of gaining his advice. But this time he wouldn't be stopping to tell me what I was doing wrong, and he wouldn't be holding back. Neither would I.
Finally, I couldn't take the waiting any more, and charged Master Roshi. I leapt at him and swung with my right fist. He gracefully ducked underneath it and delivered a quick blow to my exposed side. I leapt away, cursing under my breath for making such a stupid move. I attacked wildly, and left myself completely open. If this had been a real battle, I could already have had a few broken ribs. I calmed down, and resumed my stance.
I waited a few moments, and after he made no movement, I attacked again. This time, I charged at him wildly again, but I leapt to my side when I was within kicking distance. Master Roshi, expecting another wild punch, had already moved to block it, leaving himself open at his side. I kicked, only to have it blocked. The old man struck for my gut, but I shifted to my side, avoiding the strike, and countered with a punch of my own. Blocked again. He let loose with a barrage of punches, quick and decisive, meant more to disorient me then anything. I blocked most of them, and stepped backwards to avoid the rest. He leapt at me, aiming a kick for my head. I ducked underneath, and let him sail over me. I was already in mid-kick as he landed, and scored a hit to his side. Simultaneously, we leapt away from each other, both assuming attack stances.
I realized that I had to attack less, and watch for openings, or I would be beaten. While I was physically stronger then him (which was to be expected), he was a master of all melee techniques, and could find an opening in even the most secure defense. I had to draw his attack, and counter.
Unfortunately, I was a novice, and was impatient. I ran at him, this time to draw his attack. I zanzokened behind him, leaving an image of me attacking in his face. Knowing that he would turn around from some advice he had once given me, I zanzokened again, a few feet to his left.
As expected, Master Roshi tuned and kicked behind backwards. He was surprised to find that he had just kick at air, and lost his composure for a moment.
That was all I needed. I leapt at him, aiming a flying sidekick at him. He turned, but was to late. I connected with him, sending him flying several yards. He stuck out his hands, caught the ground, flipped, and landed in an attack stance.
At once, he ran at me. He leapt. I expected him to kick at me, so I put my arms in front of me to block his attack. But, instead of kicking me, he landed less then a foot in front of me. He kicked up, hitting my arms, and breaking my defense. With my hands in the air, he landed punch after punch to my gut and chest, ending in a blow to my solar plexus that caused me to bend over in pain. He used my new position, and kicked my chin, sending me strait up.
Disoriented, I couldn't rebound after the attack, and let myself fall. Big mistake. As soon as I came near the ground, Master Roshi kicked me again, sending my flying horizontally. I landed on the ground, skidded, and then flipped up, the pain already receding.
Master Roshi, not wasting a second, charged at me again. I took the offensive, and was about to swing, when he shot strait up into the air. I jumped after him.
As I met him in the air, I swung a kick at his midsection. It went strait through him! I had been fooled. Below and behind me, I saw the real Roshi coming for me. His ascent stopped as he came parallel to me in the air, behind me. He aimed a kick for my head. Because I was in the air, I couldn't avoid it. I did the best I could, though, by lowering my head and raising my arm. Master Roshi landed an awkward kick to my shoulder, sending me back to the ground.
I stuck my hands out, touched the ground, bent my elbows to absorb my momentum, and pushed off, landing on my feet. Master Roshi yelled, and I saw him coming at me, his foot extended.
I reacted without even thinking. I shot my hands out, and grabbed his leg at the last instant. A look of astonishment crossed the old man's face before I swung him, using his own momentum against him. I released his leg, sending him crashing into the ground about 50 feet away from me.
It took Master Roshi a few seconds to get up this time. He looked pretty beaten up, and was covered with dirt and grass, but what I think hurt him most was the fact that his shades were broken.
That was the first time I had actually seen his eyes. They looked so vibrant and young, but also seemed to hold a great deal of wisdom. They were eyes that had seen many happy times, but just as many hard times.
Master Roshi removed the broken glasses and threw them aside. Then he reached for his back pocket, and pulled out another pair, exactly like the first. He adjusted them on his face, and then looked up at me, seemingly surprised that I was there. I think that, for a moment, he forgot we were in the midst of battle.
Then Master Roshi quickly unfastened his shirt and cast it aside, revealing his old and withered body. I started to feel bad for hitting him; he looked so weak. His skin was literally sagging off his bones. Then, he took in a deep breath, exhaled, and cupped his hands at his side. Suddenly, giant muscles bulged and expanded underneath his skin. I lost my guilt right there.
"KA..." Master Roshi began. I realized he was going to do the kamehameha. And I still hadn't figured out how to do it! I cupped my hands at my side, knowing I at least had to try.
Then, looking at Master Roshi, as he began the first stage of his attack, something in my mind clicked. Just like that. I knew what to do. I spread my feet apart a little farther, and moved my palms closer together, and began.
"KA..." I was doing it! I could feel it! I could feel something radiating inside of me, traveling to my hands. It was coming from every part of my body, a sense of strength, flowing into my arms.
"ME..." I could feel it gathering in my hands. I sent more of the power to them.
"HA..." I thought I had enough power; I just needed to condense it.
"ME..." I could feel it taking a form of a sphere in my palms.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Master Roshi and I screamed in unison, as we thrust out our arms. A blue ball of power came into existence before my palms, and somehow, I willed it to shoot for Master Roshi. The beam shot from my hands, as I pushed it, using more of my gathered power. As our two attacks met, I could feel Master Roshi's ki pushing against mine. Slowly, his attack began to push mine back.
I pushed harder, willing more and more ki to flow through my arms, into the beam. It expanded, and began to overtake Master Roshi's. It bore down on Master Roshi, gaining speed, crushing his attack. When it was almost upon him, he broke his stance, and leapt away, the attack missing him by inches. It hit the ground, exploding on impact, sending dirt and grass cascading over us. I stood there, still in my kamehameha stance, amazed at the attack I had just done.
Master Roshi slowly walked over to me, obviously tired. I realized then that I was too, but I also felt great. The fight had been short but intense, and I felt like I had learned a year's worth in technique and skill. Not to mention that I had finally done the kamehameha.
Master Roshi looked at me, grinning. He bowed to me, ending the fight. I bowed back, showing my respect to a great fighter.
"Well," said Master Roshi, "it seems you have surpassed me. I have nothing left to teach you. I am very proud of you. I knew that you could learn the kamehameha; you just needed the right situation. Now, you may go on to your next stage of training. But, before you go, I have a few gifts for you."
I followed him back to the Kame House. When I entered, I saw my things packed back into a suitcase. I smiled; he had been expecting me to pass his tests. There was also a package next to the suitcase. Master Roshi picked it up and gave it to me. I opened it, and peered inside.
There lay a red-orange gi, complete with a black belt. The sign of the turtle school was sewed on the back, and another, smaller sign, on the front.
"While you have surpassed me, you were still my student, and I would be honored if you would wear this." He said. I figured actions were better then words, so I changed into the gi. It was marvelous. It was so comfortable, and I could move in it so easily. I did a few experimental kicks around the room, and then turned to Master Roshi.
"Thank you, it was an honor to train under you." I said, bowing. Maser Roshi made for the door, and I grabbed my stuff and followed him.
"I have one more gift for you." He said. Then he looked up at the sky, and called:
"KINTOUN!" Then a small cloud appeared in the sky, travelling toward us, leaving a trail of cloud behind it. It halted before us, floating in the air.
"This is called the kintoun, and it will take you anywhere, as long as you have a pure heart. It was Goku's main form of transportation when he was your age, and now I'm giving it to you." He said.
"How am I supposed to ride on a cloud?" I asked.
"If you have a pure heart, it will let you on. If someone without a pure heart tries to ride it, they will just pass right through." I figured that the only reason I was really receiving it was because Master Roshi couldn't ride it himself. But could I ride it? I wasn't perfect, and I thought back to all the things I had done in Satan City. I doubted the kintun would let me ride it. Master Roshi saw my worried gaze.
"Don't worry about riding it. I know that you feel you have committed some kind atrocity in Satan City, but a heart is not impure because of an action, but because of the motive behind it. Your motive was love, possibly the greatest motive of all." He said. I felt a little better, and decided it was at least worth a try.
Holding my breath, I leapt up on the cloud. To my surprise, it held. It was firm, but comfortable. My feet felt secure.
"One more thing." Said Master Roshi. He got a letter out of his pocket, and handed it to me.
"This will allow you to get where you're going. If anyone questions you, just let them read this, and they should understand. If not, then your where you not supposed to be." He said.
"Thank you again. If there is anything I can do for you, please, don't hesitate to ask." I said.
"It was an honor to train you. You really are a descendant of Son Goku, and I know you'll do well. Your next stage in your training will be in a land call Karin. The kintoun knows the way; just will it to go there. Good bye, Son Celic." He said.
In my mind, I told the kintoun to go to Karin, and it shot off like a rocket. I waved good bye as the island became a mere speck in the ocean.
Riding on the kintoun was great. I knew it wouldn't let me fall, and it seemed to read my mind. If I wanted to turn, it would turn, if I wanted to go up, it would go up. I couldn't help but to laugh in utter joy as I spiraled and looped through the air. It was like the ultimate roller coaster. As I flew with the mind in my air, I forgot all my worries and cares, and just had fun for the first time in over four months. I felt like nothing could spoil riding on the kintun.
Then I saw it.
At first, I just saw the darkening clouds, and thought that it was just a storm. Then, I saw the source of the dark clouds. Amidst tall buildings, I saw many smokestacks, pouring out polluting smog. It was Satan City. I stopped, and gazed at the city as I had never seen it before.
I never realized just how polluted the city's air was. From my aerial view, I could see that the city was blanketed in a fog of polluted air, distorting the shapes of the buildings. How the forest that surrounded the city survived, I couldn't guess, what with the lack of clean air and decent sunlight. Probably clean water, too.
I could even smell it, even though I was miles away. After breathing the fresh sea air, the air of the city made me almost gag, even though I had breathed it most of my life.
It was my home.
*Go home* A voice in the back of my head told me. *There it is, easily in your reach, all you have to do is make the kintun turn, and you can go home. It's been over four months, and there have probably been so many more crimes by now, they've probably forgotten about the robbery. You can go back to the orphanage, live a normal life.*
It was so tempting. I knew that I yearned for it, to return to Satan City, to go to school with other kids my age, to get a real job, to live a normal life.
*You've done what you wanted to do. You've surpassed a master of martial arts, you can use ki, and with the kintoun, you can fly. Now, go home.* the voice told me.
But what about the Greys, and defending the Earth?
*Why should you give up your life to save those people? What have they done for you? Those people have done nothing other then hurt you. They're so caught up in themselves, they don't care what they do to others, like Ann.* The voice was starting to make sense. *Besides, Xander and the others are far stronger then you, and you wouldn't be able to help anyway.*
I'd done what I'd set out to do, so why not. There was nothing before me in that smog-filled city that was worth giving my life for. The only person that ever was, was dead. But, surly there were others like Ann. Kind, caring people who made you feel like your more then just an unwanted orphan? And what about others who feel for other people the way I felt for Ann?
I realized then that it wasn't about me, and in the same instant the treacherous voices were silenced. It wasn't about what I had been through, or what others had done, for as many atrocities that people commit, there are just as many good deeds, and good people. I made a silent vow then; for those who are good, and for those who feel love, for those who were too weak to defend themselves, and in the memory of the woman I loved, I would train, and grow strong, and fight.
For her, I would fight.
End Part 1
COMING UP:
Dragon Ball Next Generation
The Grey Saga
Part 2: The Sacrifice
The blood on his hands shall flow like a river.
The Grey Saga
Part 1: The Atrocity
Chapter 8
"KA... ME... HA... ME... HA!" I yelled, and thrust my hands, palms together, tips of my fingers curved, out in front of me. Nothing happened.
I pulled cupped hands back to my side, this time spreading my fingers a little farther apart then the previous time. I yelled, and my hands shot forward again. Still nothing. After a few more failed attempts, I began to feel frustrated, and launched into a series of punches, kicks, and steps to regain my focus.
I finished with my right leg in front of me, in a side kick. I realized that if I could balance with the turtle shell on my back, I could balance with it off. I stood like that, and looked up at the clear sky. Soon, the sun would be up, and I would be treated to another ocean sunrise. My breathing slowed, as did my heart, and I assumed a horse-stance, feet parallel to each other, shoulder width apart. I cupped my hands, and prepared for another attempt at the kamehameha, when I was interrupted by a door opening behind me.
"You woke up early, I see." Master Roshi said behind me. I turned around and bowed to him.
"Yes, I wanted to practice the kamehameha some more, but I still can't do it." I confessed.
"Don't worry about it, kid. It took my fifty years to learn that technique." He said. Not exactly encouraging. Hopefully, it wouldn't take me that long to master it.
Master Roshi had shown me the technique two days ago, on my nineteenth day of training. I had already learned many melee techniques, and he thought I was ready for some more advanced techniques. He had shown me the Kamehameha, and zanzoken (I learned that was the attack he had used on the first day of my training). I had yet to master either, but I thought that I could perform zanzoken once I finally discarded the turtle shell on my back (which I had to have on unless I was showering or sleeping).
I got my milk and followed Master Roshi to the city. I really enjoyed the city, it was so different then Satan City. The air was clean, the water was pure, and there seemed to be a lack of crime and poverty. There were few factories, and most businesses were private, made to support families, not become insanely rich. The people there were kind and seemed to all know one another. It seemed to good to be true, but perhaps living in Satan City most of my life had jaded me.
My training was going very well. In a little over two weeks, I could already see and feel a difference. I was always pretty tall for my age, and as a result I had been pretty scrawny. But after Master Roshi's training, my muscles were beginning to become more defined, and I lost that scrawny look. I was able to take pride in what I was doing, and I felt fulfilled at the end of each day. I felt like my life had more meaning now that I had a drive and a goal, and that I knew that I was doing everything I could to prepare for it. For the first time in my life, I was consistently happy. I found more then a master in Roshi, for he was also a good friend to me, and I found I was able to talk about almost anything to him. Despite his perverted tendencies, he was quite wise.
That evening, during dinner, I was eating slower then usual. Master Roshi noticed and asked me about it.
"I was thinking about the old Z senshi, the thing John showed me never said what happened to them after Son Goku left with the dragon. I was wondering if you knew." I said. Master Roshi nodded.
"I always thought that Bulma's account was missing quite a bit, after all, there is hardly anything about me in there." He said.
"Wait a minuet, what do you mean by that, you weren't around then." I said.
"Well, of course I was, who do you think trained them?" He asked.
"I figured that it was your great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather or something." I said, slightly in disbelief. "I mean, you're only. I mean, it was so. that was over three hundred years ago!"
"Goes to show you what will happen if you keep in shape." He said. I couldn't tell if he was kidding or not. "Anyway, I can tell you what happened to the Z senshi. Krillian, Yampcha, Tenshinhan, and Chiatzu all got old, and eventually died. 18 saw Dr. Briefs and asked him to install a program that would let her age with Krillian. They died two days apart from each other. Their daughter, Marron, married and had three children. She eventually died from age as well. But, the Saiya-jins were a different story. After Bulma passed away at ninety-five, Vegeta only looked like he was around fifty, as Saiya-jins age much slower then humans. After her death, Vegeta took on a life of solitude, only coming out once in a while to see his grand children. He trained constantly; with his wife gone, and his son and daughter both adults, it was the only thing he knew. Buy the time he died, about a hundred years ago, he was the strongest warrior the universe had ever seen. He ended his life in great pride, as he wanted it. The others, Son Gohan and Goten, and Trunks and Bra Briefs, all aged slightly slower then humans, but because they were also part human, it was nothing as far as Vegeta's. Their descendants have all lived normal human life spans." He said, then took a drink of water. I wondered how long I would live, being a half Saiya-jin and all.
"What about Son Goku? What happened to him?" I asked.
"Unfortunatly, no one knows. No one has seen him sense he left with Shenlong. One hundred years passed, and he never came back to Earth. He also was never seen in the afterlife. I don't know what happened to him, but I am sure that he is not gone. Goku loved this planet and those on it too much to leave." He said. He said nothing else that night. He didn't come out and instruct me in my training after dinner. He seemed to be caught up in memories, and I thought it best not to disturb him.
After sixty-seven consecutive failures of the kamehameha that night, I went to bed. I didn't sleep well however. I was plagued by visions of seeing others age while I remained young. I also tried to think of any possible reasons as to why Son Goku never returned to Earth, but failed at that also.
***
I endured my training with Master Roshi for a total of four months, two weeks, and three days. By the end of my training, I carried a total of five hundred and twenty-three pounds on my back. I had mastered many basic attacks, and knew many more. I had a fighting power of 263. But, before I could do that, I had two tasks to perform.
"Alright, you can take off you shell now." Said Master Roshi, as we approached a large boulder imbedded in the earth. Gratefully, I shrugged the shell off my back, into my right hand. Feeling a little showoff-y, I threw the shell behind my back, and was rewarded three seconds later with a thud as the shell made a small crater behind me.
"Now, you have to move this boulder five inches from where it is now." Master Roshi said. I smiled, this should be a piece of cake. I stepped back a few feet.
"YHAAAA!" I screamed as I ran at the boulder. When I was a foot away from the boulder, I jumped and did a flying-sidekick at it. My foot made contact with it, and for a second, I hung in the air, with my right foot extended, my left curved under it. As I dropped, the boulder not only moved five inches, but cracked where I made contact. I stood up and flashed a peace sign to Master Roshi.
"Your next task won't be so easy." He said, and assumed an attack position. I assumed a defensive one.
For a moment, we just stared each other down. My heart was beating about twice as fast as normal. This would be my first real fight. I had sparred with Master Roshi before, but with only with the intent of gaining his advice. But this time he wouldn't be stopping to tell me what I was doing wrong, and he wouldn't be holding back. Neither would I.
Finally, I couldn't take the waiting any more, and charged Master Roshi. I leapt at him and swung with my right fist. He gracefully ducked underneath it and delivered a quick blow to my exposed side. I leapt away, cursing under my breath for making such a stupid move. I attacked wildly, and left myself completely open. If this had been a real battle, I could already have had a few broken ribs. I calmed down, and resumed my stance.
I waited a few moments, and after he made no movement, I attacked again. This time, I charged at him wildly again, but I leapt to my side when I was within kicking distance. Master Roshi, expecting another wild punch, had already moved to block it, leaving himself open at his side. I kicked, only to have it blocked. The old man struck for my gut, but I shifted to my side, avoiding the strike, and countered with a punch of my own. Blocked again. He let loose with a barrage of punches, quick and decisive, meant more to disorient me then anything. I blocked most of them, and stepped backwards to avoid the rest. He leapt at me, aiming a kick for my head. I ducked underneath, and let him sail over me. I was already in mid-kick as he landed, and scored a hit to his side. Simultaneously, we leapt away from each other, both assuming attack stances.
I realized that I had to attack less, and watch for openings, or I would be beaten. While I was physically stronger then him (which was to be expected), he was a master of all melee techniques, and could find an opening in even the most secure defense. I had to draw his attack, and counter.
Unfortunately, I was a novice, and was impatient. I ran at him, this time to draw his attack. I zanzokened behind him, leaving an image of me attacking in his face. Knowing that he would turn around from some advice he had once given me, I zanzokened again, a few feet to his left.
As expected, Master Roshi tuned and kicked behind backwards. He was surprised to find that he had just kick at air, and lost his composure for a moment.
That was all I needed. I leapt at him, aiming a flying sidekick at him. He turned, but was to late. I connected with him, sending him flying several yards. He stuck out his hands, caught the ground, flipped, and landed in an attack stance.
At once, he ran at me. He leapt. I expected him to kick at me, so I put my arms in front of me to block his attack. But, instead of kicking me, he landed less then a foot in front of me. He kicked up, hitting my arms, and breaking my defense. With my hands in the air, he landed punch after punch to my gut and chest, ending in a blow to my solar plexus that caused me to bend over in pain. He used my new position, and kicked my chin, sending me strait up.
Disoriented, I couldn't rebound after the attack, and let myself fall. Big mistake. As soon as I came near the ground, Master Roshi kicked me again, sending my flying horizontally. I landed on the ground, skidded, and then flipped up, the pain already receding.
Master Roshi, not wasting a second, charged at me again. I took the offensive, and was about to swing, when he shot strait up into the air. I jumped after him.
As I met him in the air, I swung a kick at his midsection. It went strait through him! I had been fooled. Below and behind me, I saw the real Roshi coming for me. His ascent stopped as he came parallel to me in the air, behind me. He aimed a kick for my head. Because I was in the air, I couldn't avoid it. I did the best I could, though, by lowering my head and raising my arm. Master Roshi landed an awkward kick to my shoulder, sending me back to the ground.
I stuck my hands out, touched the ground, bent my elbows to absorb my momentum, and pushed off, landing on my feet. Master Roshi yelled, and I saw him coming at me, his foot extended.
I reacted without even thinking. I shot my hands out, and grabbed his leg at the last instant. A look of astonishment crossed the old man's face before I swung him, using his own momentum against him. I released his leg, sending him crashing into the ground about 50 feet away from me.
It took Master Roshi a few seconds to get up this time. He looked pretty beaten up, and was covered with dirt and grass, but what I think hurt him most was the fact that his shades were broken.
That was the first time I had actually seen his eyes. They looked so vibrant and young, but also seemed to hold a great deal of wisdom. They were eyes that had seen many happy times, but just as many hard times.
Master Roshi removed the broken glasses and threw them aside. Then he reached for his back pocket, and pulled out another pair, exactly like the first. He adjusted them on his face, and then looked up at me, seemingly surprised that I was there. I think that, for a moment, he forgot we were in the midst of battle.
Then Master Roshi quickly unfastened his shirt and cast it aside, revealing his old and withered body. I started to feel bad for hitting him; he looked so weak. His skin was literally sagging off his bones. Then, he took in a deep breath, exhaled, and cupped his hands at his side. Suddenly, giant muscles bulged and expanded underneath his skin. I lost my guilt right there.
"KA..." Master Roshi began. I realized he was going to do the kamehameha. And I still hadn't figured out how to do it! I cupped my hands at my side, knowing I at least had to try.
Then, looking at Master Roshi, as he began the first stage of his attack, something in my mind clicked. Just like that. I knew what to do. I spread my feet apart a little farther, and moved my palms closer together, and began.
"KA..." I was doing it! I could feel it! I could feel something radiating inside of me, traveling to my hands. It was coming from every part of my body, a sense of strength, flowing into my arms.
"ME..." I could feel it gathering in my hands. I sent more of the power to them.
"HA..." I thought I had enough power; I just needed to condense it.
"ME..." I could feel it taking a form of a sphere in my palms.
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Master Roshi and I screamed in unison, as we thrust out our arms. A blue ball of power came into existence before my palms, and somehow, I willed it to shoot for Master Roshi. The beam shot from my hands, as I pushed it, using more of my gathered power. As our two attacks met, I could feel Master Roshi's ki pushing against mine. Slowly, his attack began to push mine back.
I pushed harder, willing more and more ki to flow through my arms, into the beam. It expanded, and began to overtake Master Roshi's. It bore down on Master Roshi, gaining speed, crushing his attack. When it was almost upon him, he broke his stance, and leapt away, the attack missing him by inches. It hit the ground, exploding on impact, sending dirt and grass cascading over us. I stood there, still in my kamehameha stance, amazed at the attack I had just done.
Master Roshi slowly walked over to me, obviously tired. I realized then that I was too, but I also felt great. The fight had been short but intense, and I felt like I had learned a year's worth in technique and skill. Not to mention that I had finally done the kamehameha.
Master Roshi looked at me, grinning. He bowed to me, ending the fight. I bowed back, showing my respect to a great fighter.
"Well," said Master Roshi, "it seems you have surpassed me. I have nothing left to teach you. I am very proud of you. I knew that you could learn the kamehameha; you just needed the right situation. Now, you may go on to your next stage of training. But, before you go, I have a few gifts for you."
I followed him back to the Kame House. When I entered, I saw my things packed back into a suitcase. I smiled; he had been expecting me to pass his tests. There was also a package next to the suitcase. Master Roshi picked it up and gave it to me. I opened it, and peered inside.
There lay a red-orange gi, complete with a black belt. The sign of the turtle school was sewed on the back, and another, smaller sign, on the front.
"While you have surpassed me, you were still my student, and I would be honored if you would wear this." He said. I figured actions were better then words, so I changed into the gi. It was marvelous. It was so comfortable, and I could move in it so easily. I did a few experimental kicks around the room, and then turned to Master Roshi.
"Thank you, it was an honor to train under you." I said, bowing. Maser Roshi made for the door, and I grabbed my stuff and followed him.
"I have one more gift for you." He said. Then he looked up at the sky, and called:
"KINTOUN!" Then a small cloud appeared in the sky, travelling toward us, leaving a trail of cloud behind it. It halted before us, floating in the air.
"This is called the kintoun, and it will take you anywhere, as long as you have a pure heart. It was Goku's main form of transportation when he was your age, and now I'm giving it to you." He said.
"How am I supposed to ride on a cloud?" I asked.
"If you have a pure heart, it will let you on. If someone without a pure heart tries to ride it, they will just pass right through." I figured that the only reason I was really receiving it was because Master Roshi couldn't ride it himself. But could I ride it? I wasn't perfect, and I thought back to all the things I had done in Satan City. I doubted the kintun would let me ride it. Master Roshi saw my worried gaze.
"Don't worry about riding it. I know that you feel you have committed some kind atrocity in Satan City, but a heart is not impure because of an action, but because of the motive behind it. Your motive was love, possibly the greatest motive of all." He said. I felt a little better, and decided it was at least worth a try.
Holding my breath, I leapt up on the cloud. To my surprise, it held. It was firm, but comfortable. My feet felt secure.
"One more thing." Said Master Roshi. He got a letter out of his pocket, and handed it to me.
"This will allow you to get where you're going. If anyone questions you, just let them read this, and they should understand. If not, then your where you not supposed to be." He said.
"Thank you again. If there is anything I can do for you, please, don't hesitate to ask." I said.
"It was an honor to train you. You really are a descendant of Son Goku, and I know you'll do well. Your next stage in your training will be in a land call Karin. The kintoun knows the way; just will it to go there. Good bye, Son Celic." He said.
In my mind, I told the kintoun to go to Karin, and it shot off like a rocket. I waved good bye as the island became a mere speck in the ocean.
Riding on the kintoun was great. I knew it wouldn't let me fall, and it seemed to read my mind. If I wanted to turn, it would turn, if I wanted to go up, it would go up. I couldn't help but to laugh in utter joy as I spiraled and looped through the air. It was like the ultimate roller coaster. As I flew with the mind in my air, I forgot all my worries and cares, and just had fun for the first time in over four months. I felt like nothing could spoil riding on the kintun.
Then I saw it.
At first, I just saw the darkening clouds, and thought that it was just a storm. Then, I saw the source of the dark clouds. Amidst tall buildings, I saw many smokestacks, pouring out polluting smog. It was Satan City. I stopped, and gazed at the city as I had never seen it before.
I never realized just how polluted the city's air was. From my aerial view, I could see that the city was blanketed in a fog of polluted air, distorting the shapes of the buildings. How the forest that surrounded the city survived, I couldn't guess, what with the lack of clean air and decent sunlight. Probably clean water, too.
I could even smell it, even though I was miles away. After breathing the fresh sea air, the air of the city made me almost gag, even though I had breathed it most of my life.
It was my home.
*Go home* A voice in the back of my head told me. *There it is, easily in your reach, all you have to do is make the kintun turn, and you can go home. It's been over four months, and there have probably been so many more crimes by now, they've probably forgotten about the robbery. You can go back to the orphanage, live a normal life.*
It was so tempting. I knew that I yearned for it, to return to Satan City, to go to school with other kids my age, to get a real job, to live a normal life.
*You've done what you wanted to do. You've surpassed a master of martial arts, you can use ki, and with the kintoun, you can fly. Now, go home.* the voice told me.
But what about the Greys, and defending the Earth?
*Why should you give up your life to save those people? What have they done for you? Those people have done nothing other then hurt you. They're so caught up in themselves, they don't care what they do to others, like Ann.* The voice was starting to make sense. *Besides, Xander and the others are far stronger then you, and you wouldn't be able to help anyway.*
I'd done what I'd set out to do, so why not. There was nothing before me in that smog-filled city that was worth giving my life for. The only person that ever was, was dead. But, surly there were others like Ann. Kind, caring people who made you feel like your more then just an unwanted orphan? And what about others who feel for other people the way I felt for Ann?
I realized then that it wasn't about me, and in the same instant the treacherous voices were silenced. It wasn't about what I had been through, or what others had done, for as many atrocities that people commit, there are just as many good deeds, and good people. I made a silent vow then; for those who are good, and for those who feel love, for those who were too weak to defend themselves, and in the memory of the woman I loved, I would train, and grow strong, and fight.
For her, I would fight.
End Part 1
COMING UP:
Dragon Ball Next Generation
The Grey Saga
Part 2: The Sacrifice
The blood on his hands shall flow like a river.