Author's note: Wow, thanks for all of the reviews. I thought I'd go ahead
and answer a few before I put anything more down.
--sutton1966-- Yeah, I know a lot of it is similar to the World Tournament Saga. Part of it is intentional and part of it is not, that was the last saga that I got to watch on TV, since then I've just been catching episodes here and there or buying them and watching them on video. The similarities will end at the end of the tournament (I guess a bit before as no one will be wandering off during this tournament)
--Mystical Marik-- Trugeta got the first 7 chapters from a story called "Dragon Ball Next", which I found on a web page about four years ago. I hadn't realized that so much of my story sounded like that story, so I am going through all of my chapters and adding an Author's Note at the bottom telling which parts came from 'Dragon Ball Next.'
--Ladybugg-- I actually have already written to about chapter 27 and am just posting when I get the chance.
Chapter 12
"Well that does it for Round One of the 31st Tenkaichi Budoukia, we are now going to take an hour break so the fighters can rest up and so we can repair the ring. Please feel free to visit the concession stands or any of the fine restaurants that are here on the island. Also, our fighters will be given the opportunity to use the rejuvenation tanks located in the infirmary should the need. Round Two will begin promptly at eleven."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Krillin, Uubu and all of the Saiyans except Vegeta joined everyone from the executive suite and headed down to the infirmary to see how Tien was doing. While they were there, Valese made Goten use the rejuvenation tank for a few minutes. Vegeta spent his time in the cafeteria terrorizing the waiters and eating several heaping plates of spaghetti. Akira disappeared without letting anyone know where he was going, much to the displeasure of Chi-chi, Bulma, and Videl. However, they coped with their disappointment by interrogating Pan about any and all conversations she had had with the mysterious youth. She valiantly tried changing the subject several times, but eventually had to take to the air and flee to the other side of the island.
When she landed she took a little stroll along the picturesque beach. After walking for less than five minutes she came across Akira sitting on a boulder looking out to sea, his dark messy hair being tossed by the ocean breeze. He turned and waved to her as she made her way towards him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Thinking," he smiled warmly as she joined him on the rock.
"About anything in particular?" Pan asked as she tried to get comfortable on the slightly cool boulder.
His smile grew a little larger, "Just about some of the questions your dad asked me."
"Oh, sorry about that. You see I've never had a boyf... I mean, uh, I've never had a guy that was, um..."
"A friend?" Akira suggested playfully.
"No, I've had plenty of boy friends... I mean, guy friends just never one that was..." Pan was beginning to feel stupid.
"Don't worry about it, that wasn't what we were talking about." Akira said with a chuckle.
"Then what did he ask you?"
"He asked where I came from, where I learned to fight, and how I became so strong."
"And these are tough questions?"
Akira looked back out to sea; "They are for me."
"Why?" Pan asked, scooting a little closer to him.
He looked down and closed his eyes, "Cause I don't know the answers to them..."
"What do you mean? How can you not know?"
"I just don't... I don't really know who I am... I can't remember anything about my life further back than about six months."
Pan stared open mouthed at him; she had never seen him look so unsure of himself, so vulnerable. She tried desperately to think of something that would put him at ease, something that would let him know that he could tell her anything and she would understand. She gently placed her hand on his and squeezed, hoping it would reassure him somehow. "Why are you telling me all this now?" she asked.
"Because, you deserve to know the truth, and because..." his voice trailed off.
Akira turned his head towards her and looked into her eyes. For Pan, time stood still. The crashing of the waves, cries of the seagulls, and all the other noises of the island faded away. She moved her hand to his face, tracing the curve of his jaw. Slowly he leaned forward, still gazing at her; she closed her eyes as their noses slid past each other, his breath warm against her cheeks, she felt a slight tingle of electricity as his lips ever-so-lightly brushed against hers, and then—
"Paaaaannnnn!" The moment was shattered. The two teens looked up just in time to see Videl and Gohan float over the nearest group of trees a short distance from them.
Pan looked at Akira and smiled apologetically as they scooted apart, then she noticed the devilish smile on her mother's face, and wished for death.
"Oh, sorry Pan. I hope we weren't interrupting... anything," Videl said with a raised eyebrow, "but the second round is starting in just a few minutes and you're up first."
"Well, I guess I better get going then... um, bye!" She shot into the air, flying as fast as she could to the arena.
Gohan and Videl watched her go, and then turned back to Akira, but the boy had disappeared.
--sutton1966-- Yeah, I know a lot of it is similar to the World Tournament Saga. Part of it is intentional and part of it is not, that was the last saga that I got to watch on TV, since then I've just been catching episodes here and there or buying them and watching them on video. The similarities will end at the end of the tournament (I guess a bit before as no one will be wandering off during this tournament)
--Mystical Marik-- Trugeta got the first 7 chapters from a story called "Dragon Ball Next", which I found on a web page about four years ago. I hadn't realized that so much of my story sounded like that story, so I am going through all of my chapters and adding an Author's Note at the bottom telling which parts came from 'Dragon Ball Next.'
--Ladybugg-- I actually have already written to about chapter 27 and am just posting when I get the chance.
Chapter 12
"Well that does it for Round One of the 31st Tenkaichi Budoukia, we are now going to take an hour break so the fighters can rest up and so we can repair the ring. Please feel free to visit the concession stands or any of the fine restaurants that are here on the island. Also, our fighters will be given the opportunity to use the rejuvenation tanks located in the infirmary should the need. Round Two will begin promptly at eleven."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------
Krillin, Uubu and all of the Saiyans except Vegeta joined everyone from the executive suite and headed down to the infirmary to see how Tien was doing. While they were there, Valese made Goten use the rejuvenation tank for a few minutes. Vegeta spent his time in the cafeteria terrorizing the waiters and eating several heaping plates of spaghetti. Akira disappeared without letting anyone know where he was going, much to the displeasure of Chi-chi, Bulma, and Videl. However, they coped with their disappointment by interrogating Pan about any and all conversations she had had with the mysterious youth. She valiantly tried changing the subject several times, but eventually had to take to the air and flee to the other side of the island.
When she landed she took a little stroll along the picturesque beach. After walking for less than five minutes she came across Akira sitting on a boulder looking out to sea, his dark messy hair being tossed by the ocean breeze. He turned and waved to her as she made her way towards him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Thinking," he smiled warmly as she joined him on the rock.
"About anything in particular?" Pan asked as she tried to get comfortable on the slightly cool boulder.
His smile grew a little larger, "Just about some of the questions your dad asked me."
"Oh, sorry about that. You see I've never had a boyf... I mean, uh, I've never had a guy that was, um..."
"A friend?" Akira suggested playfully.
"No, I've had plenty of boy friends... I mean, guy friends just never one that was..." Pan was beginning to feel stupid.
"Don't worry about it, that wasn't what we were talking about." Akira said with a chuckle.
"Then what did he ask you?"
"He asked where I came from, where I learned to fight, and how I became so strong."
"And these are tough questions?"
Akira looked back out to sea; "They are for me."
"Why?" Pan asked, scooting a little closer to him.
He looked down and closed his eyes, "Cause I don't know the answers to them..."
"What do you mean? How can you not know?"
"I just don't... I don't really know who I am... I can't remember anything about my life further back than about six months."
Pan stared open mouthed at him; she had never seen him look so unsure of himself, so vulnerable. She tried desperately to think of something that would put him at ease, something that would let him know that he could tell her anything and she would understand. She gently placed her hand on his and squeezed, hoping it would reassure him somehow. "Why are you telling me all this now?" she asked.
"Because, you deserve to know the truth, and because..." his voice trailed off.
Akira turned his head towards her and looked into her eyes. For Pan, time stood still. The crashing of the waves, cries of the seagulls, and all the other noises of the island faded away. She moved her hand to his face, tracing the curve of his jaw. Slowly he leaned forward, still gazing at her; she closed her eyes as their noses slid past each other, his breath warm against her cheeks, she felt a slight tingle of electricity as his lips ever-so-lightly brushed against hers, and then—
"Paaaaannnnn!" The moment was shattered. The two teens looked up just in time to see Videl and Gohan float over the nearest group of trees a short distance from them.
Pan looked at Akira and smiled apologetically as they scooted apart, then she noticed the devilish smile on her mother's face, and wished for death.
"Oh, sorry Pan. I hope we weren't interrupting... anything," Videl said with a raised eyebrow, "but the second round is starting in just a few minutes and you're up first."
"Well, I guess I better get going then... um, bye!" She shot into the air, flying as fast as she could to the arena.
Gohan and Videl watched her go, and then turned back to Akira, but the boy had disappeared.