Only Because I Like Living in Hell

by SariaSubi-kun
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SariaSubi: Ah, vacation and school in the near future. The perfect time to start the new chapter

Navi: Shouldn't you be reading your two books for your summer reading list?

SariaSubi: Kuso, two?! ::runs away:: Do the rest of the chapter for me, Zzy!

Zzy: Yay!

Navi: --" What about me?

Zzy: By the way, on behalf of SariaSubi, she asks all the Krillin-fans to forgive her! ::folds hands:: onegai? And that for the remainder of the story, Saria's language will be in either…hmm…we'll let you decide: French, Italian, or German? You choose! SariaSubi's too lazy to make up words.

And I thank all my reviewers. I love yous all. I know this is a great deal from the point of view from the two girls, but later it will show more of our favorite Z-Fighter bishounen, I promise!

Chapter 7

"Oh no, argh!"

Krillin screamed, clutching his arm, which, on the inside, just became a sack of blood and floating bones thanks to the kick Saria just delivered to his arm. She chambered her long, slender leg and flipped backwards, landing gracefully. Saria stood herself straight and folded her arms over her chest and sighed quietly.

Come on. This is supposedbe the strongest human in the world! He can't even take a blow to his arm. She scoffed. "Pathetic." Saria frowned deeper as her words had no effect as Krillin struggled to get up. He was on all fours, writhing in pain. She walked closer to him. "You know, Krillin, you really are starting to disappoint me." She cocked her head, her brown hair falling across her cheeks, and grinned evilly. "Why don't you show me how you earthlings fight?" she said in a sleek, cold tone.

Krillin shivered, the cold vibration starting at his shoulders down to his legs. He barely found the strength to get up, but he faced her, gritting his teeth hard, his eyes not failing.

So, she grinned, he still has the determination of a warrior. Saria crouched and held up her arms, ready to attack. Krillin stumbled in trepidation. Or what these earthlings definewarrior. Let's see, Krillin, how strong you really are.

. . . . . . .

Trunks winced as he imagined the outcome of this match. It was a horrible mistake to underestimate these girls. Of course, it seemed like a joke when they first appeared, but anything as peculiar as their arrival should have been some sort of warning for trouble! He could hear the referee now: "And the winner, by a bloody, gory, but AMAZING victory, is Saria!"

The stadium was a bit shaken at first, but still ecstatic at what they had seen. As cheers erupted the stadium, Saria grinned and licked the blood from her fingers, reveling at its taste. She looked down at Krillin, whose eyes were still opened, staring at the sky.

Krillin winced, the sunlight stinging his eyes. How could it have ended so fast? The pain swam through his veins like a flowing river. He still couldn't remember how it happened…it was…like lightning.

Trunks shook his head violently, throwing the images from his mind. Goku looked at the purple-haired warrior with concern, but then wrenched his eyes to the horror movie before him. Gohan's hands were clutched so tight, his knuckled were white, and his nails were about to pierce his palms any second.

. . . . . . .

"Why don't you show me how your earthlings fight?"

As soon as she spoke those words, he knew something was coming. Like a flash of sunlight on the water, the image of her stillness was gone in an instant, and he clutched his lifeless arm, and closed his eyes to brace himself.

Her boot connected with his cheek, and he felt the heel dig into his cheekbone. He grit his teeth and grunted as he flew across the stage, the slap of her kick and the stab of her heel throbbing multiple times per second. He felt like the bone was going to burst free from his head. Krillin scrambled to use his free arm to prop himself on his elbow. But Saria gave him no time. Lifting her leg, it came down swift and hard in a axe kick, not only sending him to the ground again, chest first, but adding a horrible pressure to his elbow, shattering a good amount of his bone. A bit of blood choked out as he gasped as the two pains shot like bullets in his nerves.

Saria spat bitterly with disgust. "Come now. You don't seriously expect me to give you time to recover?" She spit out of the corner of her mouth, turning her head. A lock of wavy chestnut hair fell on the side of her face, and out of the corner of her malevolent violet eyes, she looked murderously beautiful as a grin just as evil formed on her milky white face. "Silly man."

Her body turned back into fighting, and she darted forward, holding her arm back as she ran towards Krillin, who was just about get up, despite the two broken arms. Her brows furrowed as she planned her attack. With a battle cry, she leapt into the air, her arm coming free, and positioned down like a sword. Krillin's eyes widened as he saw the shadow of death before him, and barely rolled out of the way. As he rolled across the platform, he felt the stage vibrate with Saria's fist coming in contact with the concrete.

As some dust cleared, Saria's fist still lay in the concrete. Krillin rolled over to his side, trying to watch what she would do next. Slowly, with a deep frown on her face, she pulled her arm up from the deep crater it caused. She looked at her hand, then flexed it a few times. When she was done, Saria turned back to Krillin. He tried to wince, but his eye was swollen. But he could see she was getting impatient.

"Alright. This is enough playing. I'm going to end this, now." She looked like she was about to charge, but she stopped, shaking her head. "No, that is too simple. Simply won't do." She shook her head again and sighed, relaxing her shoulders. Saria closed her eyes for a brief second, and then it came to her.

. . . . . . .

Alright, she thought, that one seems alright. She opened her eyes. I need to finish this quickly. I obviously can't do most of my energy attacks…they cause far too much destruction. This simple one should do. I just have to level it just right…

Saria let out a deep breath. Huhn…the fact that we have to endure the levels of this tournament just to get where we want to is so tiring. I could be doing something…more constructive.

Her hands, as if suddenly with minds of their own, started to fold together. Her eyes closed again, and her graceful fingers started straightening and lacing, her hands folding and unfolding, starting a movement like an ancient prayer.

Kya, Ryu, Ni, Iyo, Dyo, Wa, Shi, Bu. Her hands became enveloped in a warm purple light as she repeated the phrase over and over in her head.

Kya, Ryu, Ni, Iyo, Dyo, Wa, Shi, Bu. She could feel Krillin's fear building. He knew; he was going to feel much more than loss. For a moment, she felt pity for him. She herself knew the feeling of losing more than a game, losing more than a gamble. Saria knew that he lay motionless, waiting for her to finish him off. And she would grant solace to that.

Her mouth opened, and an almost hiss came out from the back of her throat. Her hands made a circular motion, like feeling a sphere, before they stilled. Saria's eyes opened as she said the words:

"Puh-gu-wa-sun-fa!" Out of her hands came the purple beam, now thicker and more electric. It shot forward, crackling with menace and it's thirst to hurt.

And Krillin lay, watching, watching as his defeat came. He wondered how much it would hurt when he would be hit. And his eyes drifted closed, waiting, hearing the anguished shouts from his friends from behind the gate.

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The announcer blinked with astonishment. There was actually smoke coming out of the burns on Krillin's body. Actual smoke.

The microphone trembled in his hand, and his voice quivered. This wasn't anything new—he was there when King Piccolo had fought young Goku, and it was then that the whole stadium was leveled, so he had his share of energy blasts and explosions. But that strange purple light that had erupted from Saria's hands was different: for starters, the whole sky had seemed to turn black, and the clouds reflected the eerie purple light. Then, like waves of sound and electricity, the thick waves crackled, intertwining, towards Krillin. There was then a brilliant flash when no one could see, and when everything had cleared back to normal, Krillin was lying motionless on the side of the ring, his arm drooping off the side.

The monks were now taking him off to the hospital wing, rushing as fast as their tubby little bodies could rush them. The blonde announcer threw a fearful look towards Saria. But she just surveyed the whole thing with her still, dead eyes, her arms crossed over her chest. The announcer's lip quivered.

"Why don't you just make the announcement so I can leave you alone?" Saria cocked a brow at him. He nodded dumbly.

"And the winner…is Saria." His voice was weak, even with the microphone. It was more just the abnormality, wondering what had happened to Krillin during the flashing of that strange purple light. It was obvious he was gravely injured…

But the crowd loved it. This was the fight they wanted! Why had they come if they didn't want to see bodies beaten to a pulp? Being only human, they assumed she burned him with that purple light, but it was a fantastic light show. They were only human.

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However, the occupants of the lobby were not pleased at all. Goku's fists were clenched so hard, blood was dripping from his palms. Everyone was furious, but Gohan even more enraged.

"How…" he ground through his gritted teeth, "could she do that to him!"

"I don't know son," Goku said, his black saiya-jin eyes burning with rage. Piccolo was angry, and Trunks was furious. How could she be so heartless? But Hallie seemed interested in the events that would happen as Saria approached the lobby.

Hallie met her in the middle of the room, the Z-Fighters almost surrounding them like wolves wanting so badly to attack. She then craned her neck around Saria to look at the ring. "Well, I don't see another crater."

Saria closed her eyes and let out one, quiet laugh. "Hallie, please, don't be flattering." But her eyes opened and her grin faded as she looked around them. "I can't expect you all to be pleased, as I sent your dear friend off as a human cinderblock." She paused for a moment as they all glared at her. "But as it is, he was weak, and it's not like I can lower my power to his level." She then turned to look them all in the eye. "You thought at first our arrival here was a joke. Be assured, it isn't. And our victory here will assure me that the greatest fighters on Earth are weak."

Hallie groaned. "But I bet that one of them would beat one of us. I'll loose three hundred kenko."

Goku finally decided to speak. "Saria. Hallie. Tell me why you insist on showing your strength this way. There was no reason to hurt Krillin that badly, or that other guy so that you almost killed him."

"But I didn't!"

Saria smirked. "Please, Goku. We came to enter this tournament for the same reasons you did. We like to fight, and I love any competition."

"And!" Hallie added, "I love prize money."

"So at the core of it, there really shouldn't be such hard feelings. Krillin faced a stronger opponent, and the results came out like that. I'm sure Vegeta will send home his opponent on a stretcher in pain, but since you don't care about weirdo over there," Moreebdeth jumped, insulted, "you'll probably joke to Vegeta, like sending off some random person isn't a big deal, and it isn't. But this was your friend. So now it matters."

Trunks jumped in. "It would matter any way! What you did was heartless and cruel, and no one here deserves that!"

Saria closed her eyes and grinned. "My, Trunks. You describe me as if I was…" then she opened her eyes and cast him a sideways glance. "—an android." With a low chuckled, she walked away swiftly to retreat to the roof again. Hallie grinned at the shocked group and went after Saria.

But no one was as shocked as Trunks, whose eyes were wide as saucers and fists that were shaking like rattles.

How could she know?

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Moreebdeth didn't have a second's chance against Vegeta. The fight didn't even need five minutes. To both girls, it was very boring. In fact, Hallie was almost falling asleep directly under the sun, it's rays hitting her chocolate-colored skin. Saria nudged her when the announcer pronounced the first match done and started announcing the second-round line-ups.

"Aaaaalright, everybody!" he shouted enthusiastically into his microphone. "We had a quite explosive first round! And it's only gonna get better! In the first match of the second round, we have Trunks facing Gohan. In the second match, we have Yamcha facing Piccolo. In the third match, we have Hallie facing Tien. And in the last match of the second round, we have Saria facing Vegeta. There will be a ten-minute intermission, so please visit out concession stands and gift shops while our warriors rest!"

But Saria's eyes lit up when she heard that one sentence: "…we have Saria facing Vegeta."

"Hehehe," she laughed, looking at the crowds that were getting up for the intermission. It just started as then, but then grew. "Hahaha…hahaha…" She then had to bite her lip before she lost control and started to laugh like a mad woman. "HAHAHA. AHAHAHA!"

Hallie punched Saria in the shoulder, knocking her off her laughing spree. She sent her a venomous glare. "Are you mad?!"

Saria rolled her head back and grinned. "Ah, yes, Hallie, dear. Yes, I am."

Hallie shook Saria's shoulders, but Saria still had that insane grin on her dazed face. "Saria, snap out of it! You never act like this! What happened to that cold, hard, bitch I've known for years? You're starting to scare me…"

"Ah…" Saria rolled her head around again, before she looked at Hallie. "But don't you get it? This is my revenge!" Despite that, in truth, the words' history was grave, she said them like she swallowed an elixir. But then she regained herself, and looked back on the arena with her cold, violet eyes, and stared. Then she spoke in a softer, but more serious tone. "Don't you see? This is my revenge. The one thing I've wanted since I was two years old."

Hallie half-heartedly smiled. "And now you're twenty. Awful long to hold a grudge, especially at two."

Saria shrugged. "It'll put me at peace." Then she narrowed her eyes. And she said in a deathly whisper, "All saiya-jins need to be put in their place."

Hallie didn't know what to say, since at times like this, she never said much of anything. She just shrugged and stood up. "Well, I'm gonna go get something to drink from one of those vending machines I saw in the rest area. Do you want anything?"

Saria didn't look at her. Her eyes stayed on the momentarily-empty stadium. "Sure. Get me anything that would give these earthlings cavities." Then she laughed softly. "I want to know what it feels like."

. . . . . . .

Hallie sighed as she walked to find the rec room that had the vending machines in it. The less I bump into those Z-Fighters, the better. Saria has made both of us public enemies here…then she groaned, like she always does.

When she found the room, she opened the door and let out a sigh of relief when she found no one inside. She bought a Coke and collapsed on the couch in the middle of the room, taking a large gulp. I don't know why I feel tired. It's definitely not physical…maybe this whole ordeal is getting to my head. Hallie took a slow sip. This should just be like the other tournaments, right? But maybe that's what's getting to me…I guess I'm getting tired of the usual routine. Then she took a look outside the window at the end of the room and saw the tall buildings and highways of this city.

Her eyebrows lifted with an idea. I should tell this to Saria later…

Just as she was about to go back to relaxing, the door to the rec room opened. And I thought they were going to stay away from me…She just closed her eyes as Yamcha and Tien stepped into the room. She was especially still as she waited for them to stop staring. What? What was it? It wasn't like she was the one who had beaten Krillin to a pulp.

Or will beat Vegeta into one…

She balanced her now-empty can as, slowly, the two made their way over to the vending machines. Just as Tien's extra quarter clanked in the change tin, Hallie at the same time crushed her soda can in her finger's grasp. Yamcha and Tien looked warily over their shoulders at her. She just smirked and opened her palm, where the piece of scrap metal lay. A small glint appeared in her dark eyes, and quickly, a flame engulfed the crushed can, and as soon as the glint left Hallie's mischievous eyes, the flame disappeared with the can. She grinned at the men's' reaction.

Yamcha said nothing and shuddered, finding a place at one of the other couches. But Tien still looked at her.

"How did you do that?"

Hallie smiled at him talking to her, and shrugged. "Something I was born with. How about your third eye?"

He didn't react. "Just something I was born with."

Hallie smiled again. Then she cocked her head and rolled her tongue. "Can it…read minds?"

Tien's eyes widened, but he calmed himself. "If I wanted. Can you?"

"When I want. But I wonder…can you read my mind?" When he wouldn't respond, she just smiled wider, revealing her canines in an infectious grin. "Oh, come now. I know it's been weighing on everyone's mind why Saria and I are here, so why don't you take a look and see?" Without looking, she knew that Yamcha shifted uncomfortably in his seat. But she didn't back down from her offer.

Without saying anything, Tien closed his eyes and relaxed his muscles. Hallie closed her eyes too, the same smile on her face as she tilted her head back, like she was about to take a relaxing nap. She knew he was going to try. And she knew he would fail…

She knew what she could try. Just as Tien was about to get into the deep corners of her mind, she envisioned a star. A star like the sun, with a planet system, and the millions of stars glittering in the background. Then, closing her eyes tighter, she pictured a black shadow, an evil darkness covering that sun, and the whole system trembling, and the planets started to crack…

Tien's eyes forced themselves open, and he stared at Hallie in pure shock. Surely she had to have caused that…however, was it was she was thinking, or did she give that image to him on purpose? She looked at him, almost inviting him to say something to her. He looked at her for a long time, just getting lost in her mischievous brown eyes. Some crazy thought in his head was saying, No, it's alright to talk to her. She's not like Saria. She isn'tSaria. She's different…she's cute too…But then he noticed Yamcha eyeing him across the room, and he all of a sudden, it didn't seem like such a good idea. But he knew he wanted to.

Hallie broke the silence. "Well, as you and I can obviously see, you can't break into my mind." She grinned at him.

He blinked. "Then…what was that vision I saw?"

"Oh, that." Hallie started to curl her finger around a strand of hair. "That was a vision I sent you. If your power was stronger, you would have pushed through the vision, which served as a barrier from any of my real thoughts." She then looked straight at Tien again and smiled. "But it was a good try. Most people who try to get into my thoughts die."

Tien took in a sharp breath. Yamcha, not wanting to stay there much longer, got up from his seat and walked over to Tien. He touched Tien on the shoulder. "I'm leavin'. The second round'll start soon, and it's Trunks against Gohan, then me." He half smiled. "And you know Piccolo's gonna beat the shit out of me."

"Good point," Hallie grinned, although she meant to say it more to herself then them.

Yamcha glared at her. "I wasn't asking you."

But instead of acting foully, Hallie crossed her legs seductively and her grin grew. "Oh, but I know the outcome of all the matches. Trunks will win against Gohan, you will lose to Piccolo, you," she averted her eyes to Tien, "will see soon enough, and Saria will crush Vegeta."

Both their eyes widened. "No way. She may have beaten Krillin, but she can't beat Vegeta," Yamcha told her coldly.

"I guess you'll have to see for yourselves then, huh?"

Yamcha shook his head and walked towards the door. "Meet up with me, will ya, Tien?"

Tien nodded, not sure why he was staying. "Sure…" Then Yamcha closed the door, and he was left with Hallie. Hallie stood and went over to the window that was at the far side of the rec room. Tien watched her, waiting for her to say something. After she let out a sigh, she spoke. But this time, her tone was calm and more serious.

"They all think that he can beat her…" She crossed her arms over her chest. "But Vegeta can't beat Saria."

"Why not?" Tien asked.

Hallie looked at him seriously. "Because of Vegeta, because of the saiya-jins she is angry and upset with a fire of revenge. Remember, Vegeta did some horrible things before you all met him. And don't ask how I know that." She shook her head and headed for the door. But she stopped at Tien's side and looked up at him. "I've said too much, so you better keep quiet, or I'll kill you if I find out, 'kay?" Shakily, he nodded. She looked forward and sighed again, the motion of breathing making her brush her arm against his. He held his breath and blushed. "Just watch out wherever you go, Tien. There are too many people you can't ever trust." Then she continued to the door.

He was a bit confused by her words, just for the fact she spoke them. Why was she giving him advice? And did she mean anything by it? He looked at her as she put her hand on the handle. Hallie tilted her head and looked back at him. "Oh, and by the way, Tien, I'm going to beat you. And quite badly. Just because you're good looking and I like you better than the others, I'm not in any way going to show you any mercy. It's just the way I am." And she turned away and left the room.

Tien just stood there, stupidly, staring at the empty door. The blush on his face grew. She liked him? Half of him wanted to be happy, the other was completely nervous. Just then, the door opened, and Hallie rushed back in. She pushed past him to the vending machine. "Forgot Saria's soda. Damnit." She fumbled with the coins and put them into the machine. When it spat out the Coke, she grabbed it and ran to the door, winking at Tien as she left once again.

Tien shook his head. Come on, Tien, snap out of it. There's no chance of you with a chick like her. Besides, it's suicide. Snapping back into reality, he left the rec room and rejoined his friends in the lobby for the beginning of the second round, not mentioning a thing that happened between him in Hallie, more in fear of his life.

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And Hallie held the soda tightly, not even realizing it because she was fighting a blush on her cheeks. Jeezus, Hallie, what's up with you? she asked herself. But the guy is cute…despite the fact he has three eyes. Better not let Saria in on this…though knowing her, she already knows. But then she looked up at the roof, and then frowned.

No. No, this time, she won't get the best of me. When we win our next two rounds, we'll be facing each other…and it's about time to show her I'm stronger than I look. I can hide my thoughts from her. And I'm going to.

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SariaSubi: Woot! Okay, now tell me if Saria's language should be French, Italian, Spanish, or German. And PLEASE review. I'm sorry for the lack of updates. But now I don't have camps for a while, so I can update more. I just kinda wasn't in the DBZ mood for a while. But I am now! So review and tell me what you think! Love you all!