5. The living dead

It had been almost a week now since Enma-sama had allowed Gohan and his Senshi out of the afterlife and back to Chikyuu. It was there they met up with the surviving Z-Senshi and decided to hold the Kami-Uta Tenaki Boudakai. This Tournament would decide the new guardian of earth, and because of Gohan's bargaining skills, if the winner is dead they are restored to life. Also the winner gets control of the Dragonballs, no-matter what species they are. They had split up to train for this week and everyone had prepared for this tournament.

Another rule of this tournament was that anyone from the north sector of the universe could partake in it, which many dead souls see as their chance for revenge. The new Z-Senshi had parted ways for the time before the tournament and were about to meet up again.

* * *

Nothing had happened for the whole time they had been at the tournament ground. And that had been far too long for Kurisutopha's liking. He had been the first one to arrive at the stadium, along with Son Goku JR and Son Firipipu. And of course they had both headed straight to the canteen. Now he had to wait for the others to show up, which had resulted in him being searched 7 times in the last ten minutes.

Enma-sama had decided that Gohan's rules had been too open to the afterlife competitors and so had sent many of his security personnel to keep the peace. Various ogres patrolled the entire building, brandishing mean looking weapons. And it seemed that their main purpose was to annoy Kurisutopha as much as possible.

"Excuse me sir, do you have a backstage pass?"

A duo of ogres had approached Kuris from behind and began to proceed in their annoying duties.

"For the last time, HAI! Kami help me, don't you people listen"

"Just doing our job sir. May we see you pass, please?"

Reluctantly, Kurisutopha reached into his coat pocket and removed a small plastic card with his face on it. The two ogres studied it carefully before passing it back to him. They nodded and set off down the corridor, mumbling to each other. Kuris raised his middle finger towards their backs and decided to head out to the tournament ground.

After a short trip through the building he came to the main arena. Kurisutopha shielded his eyes from the blinding sun with his hand until he could get his sunglasses out of his pocket. He put them on and looked around. The stadium was still in the middle of a large-scale improvement and only about half the seats were useable. Scaffolding stretched up one side of the west stand and blocked out the view of the ocean from where he was standing. Kurisutopha was just about to go back inside when he felt someone's had fall on his shoulder. Without turning he said,

"What do you ogre's want now?"

Expecting to be questioned again. However, on turning around was greeted by a furious female face.

"NANI! DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME AN OGRE!"

He fell to the floor in shock but then realised who was there.

"Luna, it's you. When did you get here… oh, he's with you. How's he doing now?"

Kurisutopha looked behind Luna at Neisan, who was standing behind her staring up at the sky. He looked back at Luna and she replied

"Don't change the subject, your dead meat for that ogre comment!"

Kuris' began to plead with her, remembering what happened last time he got her angry.

"Iie, I didn't mean it, you're not an ogre. You're a kawaii bishojo who's gonna hurt me unless I say something nice."

Luna stared at Kuris', and then said

"Don't think that got you off the hook, but it will do for now."

Kurisutopha wiped his forehead and stood up. He picked up his sunglasses and placed them on the end of his nose. He then asked

"Well, how's Neisan doing?"

Luna looked back at him and said

"I don't know. We talked a bit this week but I didn't find out much, except that he's not gonna be around much longer."

"What do you mean 'not gonna be around much longer"

Luna shrugged and said

"I dunno. So, where's the others. Shouldn't they be here by now?"

Kurisutopha replied

"Only Firipipu and his dad are here yet. The others haven't arrived."

Luna looked around and asked

"Where are they?"

Kuris nodded his head in the direction of the competitors hall. Luna looked where he nodded and said

"Let's go over there now, I wanna meet Firipipu's dad."

Kuris nodded and began to walk over to the building. Luna turned to Neisan and said

"Coming Nei-chan?"

Neisan glared at her and yelled

"I SAID DON'T CALL ME NEI-CHAN BAKAYARO!"

Luna glared at back at him and said

"Don't call me a Baka you Nei-chan, now come on."

She turned on her heels and followed Kurisutopha. After a minute or so Neisan reluctantly followed them.

* * *

"Pass the ketchup Firipipu"

"Ne"

Firipipu grabbed a half-empty bottle of bakers choice brand ketchup and slid it down the table. Gohan's hand reached out and caught it. He then proceeded to empty it onto a massive bowl of fries. The table was filled to the brim with every type of food imaginable; being consumed by the five Saiya-jin crowded around.

Kurisutopha entered the room, closely followed by Luna. Kurisutopha's jaw dropped as he entered and he yelled

"YOUR'RE STILL EATING!!! IT'S BEEN A WHOLE HOUR NOW!"

None of the Saiyajin looked up from their meal but one said, "So?" Kurisutopha couldn't believe these Saiya-jin. They just kept on eating and eating and eating. And now two more had joined them. When he left it was only Firipipu, his dad and Gohan. Now they had been joined by two ravenous Saiya-jin, a teen with black hair flicking to the side, and one with purple curtains. Before he could say anything Neisan entered the room and stopped dead when he saw who was at the table.

"YOU!!!!" Neisan was staring dead at the Saiya-jin with the purple hair "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE YOU KUSO!"

Trunks slowly stood up and turned to face him. He then smiled and said, "I knew you'd show up here. And now I'm gonna take you back to where you belong, Ragiard scum."

Fire burnt in both their eyes as they stared evilly at one another. Just as it looked like they were about to go at it, Gohan stepped in between them. He whispered something to Neisan, who reluctantly backed out of the room. Gohan then spoke aloud

"What the hell do you think you're doing trunks! I know you're the new guardian of hell but that guy's had enough of it. If it weren't for him earth would be space dust right now"

Trunks folded his arms and said, "So what. Article 234 of the afterlife code says all Ragiards, hybrid or pure, must be punished to the full extent of your power, so shove it Gohan; I got a job to do."

Gohan scowled but reluctantly said, "Very well, but after the tournament. Got it?" Trunks nodded and re-took his seat. Gohan then left the room, in search of Neisan. Luna said aloud, to no-one in particular "I think I best go too" She then turned and ran after them. Kurisutopha shrugged and took a seat at the table.  After a while he said, "So your trunks right, but who are you?" The other Saiyan didn't looked up from his meal, but said

"I'm Goten. G'Jr here's my kid, and Firipipu's my grandson. And before you ask it, when you go to other-world you chose your age, that's why G'Jr looks older than I do."

Kuris nodded and leant back on his chair. He gazed up at the roof and began to count the ceiling tiles. He was beginning to regret coming with Firipipu and his dad and not training more.  ~ A'well, too late now. At least I know there's gonna be some good competition. Neisan's pretty tough and that Trunks guy must be tough; I mean, he's the guardian of hell, he's gotta be good. ~

Just then an ogre entered the room and "A group of people from other-world have arrived, I would like to ask that somebody come meet with them."

Kurisutopha looked around but not one of the Saiya-jins looked up. He shrugged his shoulders and stood up. He strolled out of the room and down the corridor after the ogre. A short way down he heard yelling from a nearby room. He approached the door and was just about to open it when it was forced off its hinges by the ogre he was following, who had been thrown at it, slamming Kurisutopha into the wall on the opposite side of the corridor. A woman emerged from the doorway and ran off the way that he had come, being chased by several angry ogres. Kurisutopha pushed the door/ogre off him and asked

"Who was that?"

The dazed ogre looked up at him and said

"I don't know, but she's hellishly strong. I just hope she's not in the tournament, but if she is Kami help the other contestants."

* * *

Juuhachi-gou looked around the stadium, thinking back on all the tournaments she had entered. Of course none of them had stakes as high as this one, but they were all pretty big. She turned around and looked over at the rest of the group. Marron, Pan and Bra were giggling and pointing at Vegeta who was dressed in a black tuxedo complete with red dickey bow. Bulma was fussing over him and insisting he looked good. Yamcha and Krillin were trying their best not to laugh at Vegeta, but to no avail. Somehow Bulma had even convinced him to gel his hair, but seeing how he had never gelled it before it was still spiked up in some places and lying flat in another. Even Piccolo was struggling to maintain his humourless charade. The only person who wasn't laughing at him was Tien. For some reason he was especially sombre. The others thought that this was because it was his first time back at a Tenaki Boudakai, but that was not the case.

* * *

Kurisutopha opened the emergency exit doors and strolled out into the vast gardens behind the stadium. He turned and continued to follow the ogre. They walked through the luscious garden and around the building. They then proceeded over to the large crowd of people on the opposite side of the stadium. He approached the person nearest to him, Piccolo.

"Yo. You the people from afterworld?"

"Yea. You the caretaker or something?"

Kurisutopha stared evilly at piccolo and hissed "You better watch it before I send you back where you came from, greener" Piccolo became enraged at this insult and threw off his cape and crouched down into an attacking stance. Kurisutopha followed suit, removing his black leather trench coat. He had come prepared for the tournament and was dressed in full black Saiya-jin armour.

The rest of Piccolo's group became aware of what was happening and intervened.  Yamcha stood in-front of piccolo and said

"Hey big man, leave it be. You know he doesn't stand a chance so rise above it, Mk?"

Piccolo reluctantly backed down, picked up his cape and walked off. Kuris picked up his jacket and put it on. He then turned to Yamcha and said, "What's his problem?"

"He's got this whole 'I so great and powerful, don't insult me or forfeit your life' thing goin' on, you know how it is. So, you one of Gohan's guys?"

Kurisutopha nodded and surveyed the others. His eyes passed from one person to another until he saw Tien. For some reason he sensed something different from him, something familiar but foreign. He passed it off as stupid and asked "If you lot are from the otherworld could you follow me to the contestants area."

Without waiting for an answer he turned and set off. The others followed him but Vegeta held back for a second and said "hmm, reminds me of me, except a lot weaker, and a less cooler hairstyle" He then followed the others.

Suddenly there was a roar of an engine and a hovercar crashed through the wall behind Vegeta. Everyone dived out of the way of it except Kurisutopha. He held his arms out and caught hold of the car. It was goin at such a speed that it forced him back a bit, creating a trench with his feet. When the dust cleared Kurisutopha could see Roshi sitting behind the wheel, grinning. Roshi then blurted out

"Kurisutopha my boy, how long's it been? Sorry to have run out on you back in Pontardetane but you know how things get when you've got no cash left."

Kurisutopha dropped that car and yelled, "What the hell were you playing at. Leaving Luna and me with the bill. You knew damn well that we had no cash, Baka. I'm wanted for grand theft auto because of you! And where's that good for nothing Zeon guy?"

A hand slowly raised up from the back of the car and in a shaky voice Zeon made himself known. "Please get me out of this car" Roshi opened the door and stood out onto the ground. He then turned to Zeon and said "I told you the wall would crumble if I hit it hard enough. And you were there saying 'buy a ticket', my boy the only ticket I would have bought is a one way ticket to brokes'ville."

Vegeta pushed the rubble off of him and dusted himself down. He then yelled "Foolish old man. Why did you come here, this is for fighters only, not perverted old weaklings."  Roshi laughed and turned back to Kurisutopha. "So where's the pick haired gal with the picture perfect brea… Bulma, haven't seen your for donkeys years, still as fine as always I see"

Bulma walked past him and said, "That's for me to know, old man. Shouldn't you be dead by now anyway?" Roshi grinned and watched Bulma walk away. The others passed him by so he followed them. They all went indoors and some time passed before Zeon called out again "A little help"

* * *

Rea surveyed the Stadium from far above. She had followed Neisan here and was still trying to figure out what was going on. She slowly descended and landed near a group of ogres. They noticed her arrival and one of them said, "If you're a contestant can you please go to the contestants area please." He then pointed to a building on the other side of the complex. Rea turned and floated over to the building. Just as she got there the door flew open and Neisan emerged. In a panic she hid behind a wall and powered down. Until she knew what was going on she didn't want to attract any attention, especially his.

Neisan walked forward and walked up the stairs to the arena. He stood at the top of the stairs and closed his eyes. Gohan emerged from the door followed closely by Luna. They climbed the steps and stood behind him. Gohan then said "Neisan, if you win the tournament your freed from Article 234 and don't have to return to hell. Can't you see that?"

Neisan ignored him and slowly began to power up. He balled his fists and opened his eyes. He looked directly at Luna who was standing in front of him. She said "Nei-chan, how else are you gonna get rid of that?" She pointed to his halo and continued, "If you win the tournament that goes and you get to stay." Neisan replied, "Stop calling me Nei-chan. And I'm not competing if that Bastard Trunks is competing!"

"Pathetic, how absolutely pathetic. Look at you; You're a Ragiard, the only beings in the universe on par with the Saiya-jins and your fleeing without fighting. You're a disgrace to your race."

Gohan turned to see who had spoken and saw Vegeta standing at the bottom of the stairs. His hair was now back to normal and he had taken off his jacket and Bow tie. He walked up the stairs and stood, as best he could, to face-to-face with Neisan. He stared at him and scanned his power. Vegeta then laughed and said "You know something don't you, that's why your gonna go. It's not to do with Trunks."

He then turned and walked back into the building. Neisan didn't take his eyes off him until he went indoors. He then punched the floor and created a small crater. "Alright I'll stay, but only if I get to fight him afterwards." Gohan sighed and Luna leapt into the air with happiness. Neisan then headed after Vegeta with Luna close behind. Gohan watched him go and said to himself "Trust Vegeta to get through to him with insults. I better try that next time." He then followed them indoors.

Rea stood up from behind the wall and smiled. She had heard all that she needed to know. ~ If I wait until Neisan fights that short guy, he'll be tired out and I can kill him. Then Ignacio will come back for me and I can get off of this wretch of a planet and back home. ~ She reached into the pocket of her trousers and removed a crumpled up photograph from it. She looked at it for a moment with desire, and then replaced it.

* * *

The crowds were beginning to amass outside the arena. The ogres were struggling to contain them and were desperately waiting for the signal to let them in. Eventually the head ogre arrived and gave the word. The crowds began filing in and filling the stands. This tournament had been well advertised by Capsule T.V and had been sold out in the first hour of going on sale. The Tenaki Boudakai in itself was rated as one of the greatest shows on earth, after the Olympic games and WWE Wrestlemania. There were 55,000 earthlings and 20,000 Otherworld people in attendance.

An announce started up the PA system and began blaring messages such as "Hotdogs are now for sale in the lobby" and "Will the person in seat 56H stop mooning the rows below him, thank you" The excitement was building as the tournament was 15 minutes away from starting.

* * *

Goten was patrolling the corridors the when he stumbled upon the canteen. He walked in and all the chefs shuddered, remembering the last time he was there. Goten caught hold of the Tray Trolley and pushed it over to the queue. When it was his turn he said, "Fill it up please" and the chef started shovelling food onto the trolley. Goku then pushed it over to an empty table and sat down. He began to eat and was shortly joined by Trunks.

"Goten, you not stuffing your face again are you. We ate before we left. And on the plane over here. And in that restaurant you made us stop at. Is your belly as thick as your skull?" Goten looked up at him and flashed a smile that resembled Goku's patented Cheesy grin. Trunks shrugged and sat down. He then began to stuff his face. When they had finished two trolley loads between them Trunks asked,

"So Goten, who are you putting your bet on for this fight. Mines on Me, nobody else here stands a chance against me."

"Thought you would Trunks. You obviously haven't seen any of the people Gohan's been training. They're all pretty strong, especially my grandson."

Trunks smiled and replied, "That's where you're wrong Goten, I have seen some of them. They're pretty strong considering who trained them. But that one he didn't train, he's way above them."

Goten nodded while picking his teeth with a chicken bone. Then the PA blared into life again and the announcer announced, "Could I have your attention please. The tournament is about to start so could all contestants assemble at the draw point for match ups please.  Also, could a Son Goten-san please come to the security office, your mother is being detained there for disrupting the peace and damage to the property. Thank you"

Trunks stood up and said "About damn time. I guess I'll see you later Goten. And good luck with your mom. Ha ha ha." Trunks then turned and began to leave the room. Suddenly a large rumble filled the air, stopping him dead in his tracks. He turned to Goten and asked, "Do you sense that?"

Goten nodded and stood up. It was a sense that he had felt so many times before, In Piccolo, in Vegeta and in Buu. It was un-tamed evil that knew nothing but pain and destruction. And it was headed straight for earth. Both he and Trunks then ran out towards the arena.