Chapter Twenty
So the tournament went on with Zarah facing Pan for the next fight. After a bit of controversy, about possible rigging to allow the couple to face each other, everything went on as usual. Zarah and Pan fought each other fluidly, thanks to the frequent fights and sparring lessons, and the match was a close one. Pan had increased dramatically in power as well as technique and didn't hesitate to make headshots like she had in the past. Zarah was sent reeling more than once and Pan was only tripped up once.
However, as all things must come to a close, the fight ended as it had begun, in controversy.
Pan leaped completely over her husband's head in a calculated move knowing he would catch her around the waist. Draped thus over his shoulder she was in the perfect position to grab his tail and she did, dropping him to the ground.
"Give up?" Pan smirked in victory as she carefully applied pressure to his sensitive organ, making me squirm beneath her as she sat on him.
"Disqualification!" Sasoli screamed in outrage as she climbed into the ring.
Pan stood up but didn't release her husband's appendage, unintentionally dragging him with her.
"You can't grab his tail!" Sasoli snarled at her.
"I am allowed to do anything in this match that will allow me to win," Pan snarled right back, "You have no right to interfere!"
"Actually, Pan," Zarah winced as he held her ankle lightly. "I think-"
"Zarah!" Pan tightened her hand unconsciously, "You're supposed to back me up!"
Zarah's head hit the ring with a thunk. A "sorry" was mumbled but the sound was lost as Sasoli and Pan screamed at each other over unspoken rules and fighting etiquette. It was only out of concern for Zarah that Maron stepped in to diffuse the situation, he was a really unhealthy color, especially since the angrier Pan got the tighter her grip.
With the help of Maron, the tail was declared a handicap since only two members had them and were vulnerable for it. Thus grabbing a tail was forbidden and the grabber would be thrown out of the tournament.
Bra wasn't the only one who was displeased with the agreement though she remained silent about the subject along with Goten and Trunks.
"But that's not fair," Pan lifted her chin defiantly, "This rule was just declared. You can't throw me out."
"Pan . . ." Zarah winced, tapping her leg to get her attention.
"It's your own fault," Sasoli had her arms crossed and a hip cocked, "You should know better than to grab his tail."
"Sasoli . . ." Zarah called to his sibling. Seeing he was getting nowhere he called to his dear sweet cousin, "Maron . . ."
Maron glanced at him and then quickly back to Pan, "Regardless, I think it's time to release his tail, Pan, you're hurting him."
"What?" Pan looked down at her hand and then her husband, "Zarah! I'm so sorry!"
She dropped to her knees and released his tail.
The couple whispered together softly for a moment before Pan nodded. She picked him up and helped him from the arena.
Maron and Sasoli glanced at each other when Pan returned after setting her husband down.
"I forfeit."
She went back to Zarah.
"Good, that's over," Maron smiled and went to leave the ring. "Good luck Sasoli."
Sasoli nodded and stayed in the ring to wait for Bra, their match was next.
Maron's brows creased at the sight of Trunks wincing as he laughed with Goten.
"Ow, Goten, don't make me laugh," Trunks rubbed his stomach, "I think I'm going to bruise."
"That's what you get for not powering up," Goten grinned at her over his friend's shoulder, "You're lucky she didn't break anything when she jumped on you."
"I know," Trunks returned the grin though his voice went dreamy, "That's probably not the only place I'll bruise."
"It's not nice to ease drop, Maron," Pan announced, startling the blond.
"Pan, how's Zarah?" Maron changed the subject easily.
"He's fine," Pan rolled her eyes, "We've been working on strengthening his tail so most of what happened looked worse than it actually was."
"So he'll be ok?" Maron saw Zarah sitting under a random tree, pouting as he examined his tail.
"In a couple of minutes," Pan nodded, "He's just being a baby."
"I've never noticed him so affectionate before," Maron nudged Pan's arm, "He always seems to be hugging you. I remember him being more reserved, you've changed him."
"Please," Pan scoffed, "More like he thinks he's allowed to touch me all the time so he does."
Maron's reply was cut short when the air filled with layer upon layer of tension, so heavy it was almost hard to breathe. Everyone turned to the ring at the same moment to see Bra and Sasoli facing off silently, lethally as they circled and watched for an opening.
"I hope my mom's ready," Trunks' voice was heard, though it did nothing to alleviate the pressure.
"My dad too," Zarah was among them suddenly and then there was no more noise.
Bulma knew the exact moment her husband's attention had wondered away. She had convinced him to tour her lab so he would know exactly what machines did what. He didn't really care but had agreed in order to make her leave him alone. Usually she would have flown off the handle but today that was fine, she needed him with her. She couldn't watch him if he was training.
"Vegeta?" She moved closer to him to regain his attention.
"What?" He answered distractedly as he started tracking his daughter's energy signature.
"You don't remember, do you?" She made sure her voice was sad, disappointed.
Vegeta's attention immediately snapped back to his wife. He automatically compared the date of that day with known dates of celebration. It wasn't her birthday, Valentines Day, Christmas, their anniversary, the brats birthdays, her parents birthdays, and it certainly wasn't New Year. He delved deeper into his memory, it wasn't the anniversary of their first union or the first time feelings were discussed. It couldn't be Ava's anniversary or her offsprings' birthdays.
"How could you?" Her eyes filled with tears.
He said nothing though his mind went into overdrive. It had to be something more personal. The day she found out she was pregnant with Trunks, no, with Bra, no, their first kiss, no, the day she broke it off with the puny human, no, she wouldn't celebrate that-
"Vegeta!" Tears were streaming down her face, "Are you just going to stand there and say nothing?"
"I have no idea what you're referring to," he answered calmly.
"So you did forget!" She twirled and dashed from the room.
"Bulma!" Vegeta followed her, he hated it when she ran from him and hid.
"I hate you!" She turned the corner in the hallway.
His eyes narrowed as he started to stalk his wife through their home. She wasn't going to get away with this behavior. She hadn't acted this way since the day she was pregnant with Trunks . . .Was she pregnant again? No, she couldn't be so what the hell was wrong?
"Bulma!"
17 snapped to attention when his wife's head turned sharply for no particular reason.
"What's happening?"
"It's Sasoli," Ave answered, "She's either fighting or about to start."
My cue, 17 thought as he blocked his wife's attempts to leave the cave.
"What are you doing, 17? Get out of my way!"
"Now, Ava, Sasoli is a big girl and can handle herself," was all he was able to get out before she punched him in the stomach.
"Your parental skills are appalling," she muttered as she went outside only to be tackled from behind as she tried to take off.
"I have an idea," he panted, trying to regain his breath, "Why don't you stay here with me?"
"17," she growled, "Get off of me."
"No," 17 smirked.
Well, this should keep us busy for a couple of hours, he thought as she flipped him into the ground hard and the ensuing fight began.
Bra and Sasoli had their hands locked together in an attempt to overpower the other. Energy sparked around them angrily as neither girl gave an inch.
"You've been training, Bra," Sasoli smirked, despite the sweat beading on her forehead.
"You've been slacking," Bra smirked in return before reversing the hold on the other's hands to yank Sasoli forward and into her knee. There was a satisfying gush of air exiting Sasoli's lungs, which the scientist savored, and she pushed her cousin back before yanking Sasoli right back on the same knee.
Sasoli winced as Bra tried to drive her knee through her belly but used the forward momentum shift to the side, avoiding the knee altogether but colliding with Bra's torso as a result.
They went tumbling across the ring and both vying for dominance.
Bra laughed triumphantly as she landed on top only for the laugh to turn into a shriek as Sasoli launched the scientist over her head. Bra twisted her body in midair like a cat and managed to land on her feet, perched on the end of the ring. Sasoli, by this time, had flipped to her feet and was prowling at the other end like a wild animal.
A smug laugh escaped the blue-haired warrior and she approached the other side of the ring languidly.
"What's this? I finally have the upper hand?" Bra sighed into her stance, "Is it my birthday?"
"More like your funeral," Sasoli spat at her.
Zarah buried his face in his hands.
"What is it?" Pan touched his arm in concern.
"She isn't going to follow the plan," he grumbled into his hands.
"What makes you say that?" Pan turned her gaze to the ring to see a flying kick barely dodged by Bra.
"Sasoli is seeing red," Zarah lifted his head in time to see Bra deliver a devastating blow to his sister's face, only for Sasoli to give Bra a look of death.
"Bra is winning," Pan flinched at the sight of Sasoli throwing Bra across the ring by her hair, "Or she was."
"Yeah," Zarah tilted his head to the side as he studied the fight. "It might not matter . . ."
"What do you mean?" Pan glanced at him.
He didn't answer.
Bra rubbed her scalp, pissed that Sasoli would pull such a stunt, though she had avoided the follow up kick with one of her own.
Sasoli barely managed to stop herself from rubbing her hip as she tried not to limp toward her opponent. Bra had definitely improved since their last squabble.
Tired of waiting for the spy, the scientist rocketed forward, catching the spy completely off guard.
"Shit!" Sasoli bent completely backwards to avoid the drop kick from Bra and straightened in time to for the uppercut. She landed with a thump but managed to catch the foot an inch from her face. With a scream of effort, Sasoli twisted her cousin's foot and swung her away from her simultaneously.
Bra oumphed, she was unable to catch herself and skidded a few feet.
Sasoli eyed her cousin with trepidation when she didn't get up instantly. Sasoli knew it would take more than that to take out Bra, so this was either a trick or a fluke. She inched closer when, suddenly, Bra's legs snapped out and swept hers out from under her.
Not wasting a moment, Bra mule kicked her while she was still falling.
Sasoli hit the ground on the other side of the ring and started rolling to lesson the impact. She spotted the edge of the ring almost too late and tried to stop her forward motion. She caught herself on the tip and, seeing Bra was still far away, allowed her body to relax momentarily. Her tail uncurled and dangled over the edge for a second before she brought it back.
"You're out, Sasoli!" Zarah jumped at the chance to disqualify his sister.
"What?!" Sasoli jumped to her feet and even Bra was stunned at the announcement.
"You're tail touched the ground," Zarah gestured to the wayward limb.
Sasoli's mouth dropped open at the accusation, "No, it didn't."
"Yes, it did, Sasoli," Zarah gave her a meaningful look which she almost ignored.
"Did anyone else see my tail touch the ground?" Was her last plea.
Everyone kind of shrugged because in all honesty no one had been paying attention to what her tail had been doing.
Sasoli's tail drooped in defeat.
"You win, Bra," she conceded and left to remove her name from the chart.
Bra blinked at her cousin's back before turning to everyone else, "Who's next?"
End of Chapter Twenty