Welcome to the afterlife, son!

Chapter Seven: Gohan vs. T'Nass!



Last time...

Pikkon was not the one to toy around with an opponent or show off, so he simply kicked him out of the ring.

That was naturally as expected and once the alien announcer guy grabbed the mike and declared Pikkon winner the crowd cheered.

The next fight would be Gohan, the tournaments newcomer, versus T'Nass, the amphibian fighter from the East quadrant. The crowd was anxious to see how the newcomer would fare against the battle tested and clever fighter.

But they should find out soon...

Now the continuation...

"Ladies, gentleman and everything in between, now we'll see the fight of Gohan from the North quadrant and T'Nass from the East quadrant! Now we'll see what this young  newcomer is capable off! He's beaten East Kai in her test, he's the Son of the last two tournaments winner Son Goku and he looks like he's determined to show us what he can do!" the alien announcer guy exclaimed.

Meanwhile Gohan was cracking his knuckles. Yeah, finally a fight with rules against fighters who honoured the thought that stood behind fights, and not soulless machines who only sought to kill and destroy...

Trunks! suddenly shot trough his mind, I hope you're doing good down there, my friend, I promise that I'll get stronger and be prepared if we should ever be wished back. Just don't lose hope! he thought, and his determination to do his best in this tournament increased even.

The fighter in him, his Saiyan side enjoyed the prospect of the upcoming fights, and he would do his best! He would not fail again!

In the spectators seats a young human woman was hanging after her own thoughts of this young man.

So he is the son of Son Goku! I've never seen Son Goku fight, but as far as I know he won quite a few tournaments... Videl Satan thought.

She had read everything that had been available on martial arts, including everything she could get her hands on about the Tenkaichi boudokais. So this Son Gohan came from a family of fighters, as it looked...

Videl was anxious to see what this young man could really do. What he had shown of his capabilities and abilities in his first fight had been breath taking, and she wondered what else he could do.

Gohan was currently talking to his dad, and the way he stood there impressed her. He had the attitude of a warrior now, he was completely concentrated, that she could tell.

She herself had been trained in the art of martial arts and fighting, and she had thought before she had been killed by those Androids that she was pretty good.

And she knew when she saw a good fighter, and Son Gohan seemed to be an outstanding fighter. Silently she wondered how he had been killed...

Down in tournament grounds...

Goku and Gohan were now standing side by side, and Goku tried to give his son some tips for his first afterlife tournament.

"Son," he began, "I don't know much about your opponent as I never fought him before, but don't hold back against any of them. Most train since thousands of years, and besides, they have already seen that we can transform into Super Saiyans. Vegeta and I have done it before, so show them what you've got!" he finished and patted his son on the back, smiling his goofy Son grin Gohan had missed so much.

Unconsciously Gohan mirrored this smile, and seconds later it was replaced by a look of grim determination.

"I will, dad. I will show them what a Son can do!" he said, and it sounded like a promise. Then he walked towards the ring.

Goku nodded. He was glad that this tournament was being held, for it could help his son to overcome what he had experienced on Earth.

What he had told him about the deeds of the Androids was terrible, and he hoped that a tournament with so many fighters competing in it would show him that there were people who fought just for the sport of it, not for shear survival.

Sure, fighting was sometimes necessary in order to ensure survival, but Goku had always liked it better to compete in a fight rather than to kill. He had only done it if it had been absolutely necessary...

And he had sensed that during their training Vegeta had changed, too.

He was not the cold-hearted Saiyan prince he had been, and Goku was not sure what had caused this change, but he was glad that the Saiyan prince did not see him as his enemy he had to better any more, rather than a comrade with whom he could compete.

Yeah, they would be prepared if they should ever be wished back...

Well, who knew, maybe Vegetas son Trunks would be able to give the world they had left a better future. Maybe he would be the one who could set things right...

Gohan had reached the ring and jumped into it.

"Yeah, I'm ready." he exclaimed and flexed his muscles.

From the other side of the ring his opponent T'Nass came walking in. Or rather scuffing in.

Silently Gohan wondered how strong this being could actually be.

Cmon, he seems to have barely enough energy to walk upright! he thought as he surveyed his opponent.

King Kai came running to the boundaries of the ring, and cheered him on.

"Come on, Gohan, I know you can beat him! Show him what you've got!" he exclaimed.

AT the same time East Kai cheered her fighter on, but her methods were slightly different from King Kais...

"If you lose, T'Nass, you'll spend another 500 years of training! So go and beat this little rookie! And don't make me look bad! Everybody is watching!"

After that was said Grand Kai gave the sign. The battle was on!

Gohan instantly fazed out of sight. He had taken the words of his father to heart, he would not take it easy just because his opponent looked like a weakling.

The audience gasped. Seldom had they seen someone this fast! Gohan reappeared right in front of T'Nass who tried to protect himself from Gohans attack, but Gohans fist was much quicker!

He landed his punch with deadly accuracy under T'Nass' jaw, and the Amphibian was sent high into the air. Gohan had put a lot of strength into his punch, and T'Nass was sent onto a prolonged 'space flight'.

Hmm, this guy seems to be really weak... Gohan thought as he saw how far T'Nass flew.

East Kai did not take it so well that the rookie, even so he was the Son of Son Goku, the last two tournaments winner, had such a free field.

"T'Nass, use your special power! Now!" she screamed, and Gohan wondered what exactly she meant by this.

Hmm, maybe there is more to the guy than I thought? Gohan mused, while the audience (and a young human girl who was admiring the powerful body this Son Gohan had) was waiting what T'Nass would do...

Suddenly T'Nass stopped his uncontrolled flight trough the 'space' above and halted. Then his eyes began to glow golden, and Gohan wondered what he was about to do...

What da... was all he managed to think, before T'Nass unleashed waves of energy that were aimed at the tournament ring.

A blinding light filled the ring, and when it cleared it became obvious what T'Nass had done! The ring that had formerly been a normal stone field was now a water cube!

Somehow T'Nass had been able to turn the whole ring into water!

Oh no! Videl Satan thought, how shall he fight in there? while she was chomping at her fingernails. She did not know what, but there was something around that young fighter that attracted her greatly...

And she hoped that he would not be harmed!

Meanwhile said young man was having trouble. Seconds before he had stood on firm ground, and then he had suddenly floated in water!

Right now he was thankful for his Saiyan heritage, for he could hold his breath much much longer than other beings. Up to 30 minutes if necessary.

Due to his intelligence he had understood what this guy had done.

Naturally! He is an Amphibian and was disadvantaged through the normal tournament environment! So he just changed it into better conditions for him! Clever...

Now I've only to find a way to fight him properly, for he will have huge advantages here...

T'Nass, who hovered above grinned. He was sure that he had the full advantage now, and he was determined to use it!

He flew towards the ring and practically jumped into the ring. Yeah, he was in his element! Here he was unbeatable, for his strength and speed were increased magnificently in his natural environment.

This young rookie might be strong, but in here he would be outmatched!

T'Nass circled around his opponent, and then he attacked! He sent a barrage of kicks and punches at Gohan, but the demi-Saiyan was able to block all of them.

But then T'Nass used his superior speed and attacked him from behind. He managed to land a punch that drove Gohan forwards, and T'Nass made a wide circle in order to have a good start-up.

That was however when Gohan decided that he had had enough.

Okay, he has had his fun. Now I'll get mine... he thought and started to power up.

Suddenly a white aura surrounded Gohan, and soon this aura began to change. Then his hair began to stand on end and his aura changed completely to a blinding gold. His eyes turned turquoise and his muscles bulged, and in the blink of an eye he had used his speed advantage that came with the power up and was out of the ring.

He instantly fired a Masenko into the water-turned ring, and the impact his favourite signature attack made was quite gigantic.

Tons of water were thrown high into the air, and the surprised T'Nass who had still been looking just where his opponent had disappeared to all of a sudden was taken up high into the air with the water and landed very ruggedly on his butt.

Outside the ring...

The ring had turned into stone again, and seconds later Gohan landed swiftly inside of the ring, still in his Super Saiyan form.

The alien announcer guy looked at T'Nass.

"He's out of the ring! The winner of this round is Son Gohan!" he exclaimed.

The entire crowd cheered, but one young human woman even more than the rest, much to the displeasure of a certain father of this young woman.

But this did not matter to Videl Satan. She liked what she had seen. He had put up a superb battle. To top it all, he had somehow transformed himself! Wow, she had to meet this special young man!

Meanwhile Gohan waved at the crowd, and suddenly he caught the look of a pair of azure-blue eyes. Those eyes belonged to the young woman who had seemed to be so interested in him before, and he caught himself as he smiled at her.

Man, what's up with me? he thought.

You like her! another voice said.

Like her? I don't even know her!

Then go change that! She's a darn eyecatcher! the first voice said.

Gohan shook his head and pretended to be cleaning his ears from all the water, while his thoughts were evolving around this young woman.

"She surely is an eyecatcher..." he muttered to himself, "my voices are right, I've gotta come to know her! But after the fights are over..."

Gohan then walked over towards the other fighters of the North quadrant and received their congrats. His father patted him on the back and smiled proudly at him. Yeah, he had survived his first baptism of fire...

to be continued...


== Ah, the joys of Gohan and Videl... who knows, maybe they'll come together here too... Please R&R! It always makes me soooo happy =) ==

And as always a very special thanks to my beta, who is doing a great job! Thx!

Oh, and sorry if some things seem a bit whack with the formattings, but that new quick-edit-thing is a real pain in the a°°! Nothing fits as it did before, no use of special characters any more and and and... they should change it right away! Hope the chappie was readable, though...

REVIEWERS RESPONSES:

Goten's Girl12: You're right, as some basic conditions were set in the last chappie and some minor fighting. Hope you liked the fighting scenes in this one!

Raid-Scion-of-Randomness: Thanks, and it's good to be back. I had a very good vacation/honeymoon, so much is for sure! As for your question: see the mail...     

Digi fan: Cool you liked it. Here's the next... 

Marshmellow13Dragon: It's not clear yet who Gohan's opponent will be, but you can be sure that it will be one hell of a fight. And no offence taken, it was boring due to story develepmomt...         

DBZ Chick1: He will, believe me! Hope you liked this one...     

animeprincess1452: Glad you liked it! Here's the update...