Blending In
10



A key-card swished through its proper slot.
Nothing happened.
"The strip's on the other side." Greg stated from behind.
Tonkeshin sighed, turned the card over and tried again. The lock clicked and he pushed the door open. The smell of freshly-dried carpet shampoo greeted him. He kept his head down in case the doorway was low and stepped through.
The key-cards here were tricky, the magnetic band was on the opposite side to the ones on his credit cards! He'd have to remember to keep the raised writing towards the thin side of the slot.
"Okay, I got the room right across the hall." Greg stated, "Want me to tell you what's where?"
"Yeah, sure." Tonk grinned, "Makes it easier than finding everything with my kneecaps."
"Like your phone at home?" Greg snickered as he rattled his suitcase around. His footsteps approached and his voice hinted a smile.
"We're standing at six o'clock. There's a short corridor leading into the room. The wall's behind the door, stretching all the way from seven o'clock to twelve o'clock. At nine you have the television sitting on a tray. You've got a window at twelve o'clock, the curtains are open, but the glass is tinted so people can't see in. There's a table at two, your bed and nightstand are at three and the bathroom is at five. The room itself is about the size of your bedroom at home. Nice and cozy. Shall I do the bathroom too, or do you want to handle that?"
"Nah, I'll do that later. Thanks, bud." Tonkeshin plopped his suitcase down long enough to pat Greg on the shoulder. "You go out and mess around all you want. I'm going to settle in a bit before I head for the beach to train in peace."
Greg slid past him, smelling a bit of sweat and aftershave. "Sure thing, Tonk. See you later for a smoothie? I heard they're the best at the bar here."
"Sure thing! Wouldn't miss it."
The door across the hall clicked shut. Tonk closed his door as well.
Finding the room on his own would be easier than he expected. Number ten on the first floor. All he needed to remember was to always enter the west-facing door, keep the reception desk on his right when he came in and on his left when he went out. A row of three sweet-smelling potted plants were set up between each room. If he counted ten rows and turned right, he had his room. Easy as pie!
Tonkeshin lifted his suitcase and started towards the bed. Eight steps. He dropped his suitcase on the springy mattress, testing it. It sounded comfortable and didn't squeak. That was always good, it meant the mattress was new.
Tonk headed for the window, felt around for the lock and held it open while he pushed sideways. The window didn't budge. He tried pushing out. The window slid right open with little to no effort. Warmth from the sun blasted down on his skin. A gust of hot sea breeze blew in, telling him the water was warm and choppy from the earlier storm. The ocean sounded as if it were only a stone's throw away. It whooshed, hissed and sizzled in its own rhythm.
Tonk lifted his head and inhaled deeply of the fresh air. He swore his lungs said 'ahh'. A smile stretched his lips upwards. He wondered if the view was as beautiful as it felt and sounded.
"What the hell am I still doing in here?" He asked himself, laughing. "Don't worry, beach, I'm coming."

Tonkeshin didn't remember putting a pair of jean shorts into his suitcase. Greg probably stuffed them in at the last minute. Regardless of how the shorts found their way into his luggage, Tonk was glad they were there.
He walked barefoot along the beach, wearing just the shorts and nothing else. His cane dug zig-zag patterns in the sand, shifting occasional shells and pieces of trash aside. The hot sun beat down delightfully on his bare skin. Seagulls flapped and chattered all around.
The seagulls were pretty tame. They waddled aside to let him pass, but few actually flew away. And there seemed to be thousands of them hanging around. Waiting to steal a forgotten scrap of food, picking at sand crabs and just making a racket.
Tonk stopped walking when the sounds of people became just a distant murmur over the churning water. He promptly sat down in the lotus position, folded up his cane and settled it next to his right hip. In a few seconds he'd become almost as still as one of the many grains of sand surrounding him.
Letting go of everything, Tonkeshin blanked his mind to all but the ocean and the wind. He inhaled as the surf rushed in and exhaled as it washed out. The breeze whispered by in the heartbeat between each wave. A rhythm that only changed if someone walked by and blocked the airflow.
A moment later found Tonk completely focused. The air itself moved against objects like rain. Painting the world with a new clarity. He could 'feel' everything within about a ten foot radius.
Like the buildings behind him. A rock formation on the left. The crab moving from right to left directly in front of him.
"Once you learn to focus, you'll be aware of even the smallest of things." Nail once told him.
Suddenly, Tonkeshin snatched something form the air above his head. He lowered his fist, smiled and opened it. The fly he'd captured took off.
An energy signal came to Tonkeshin's attention. Not two seconds later he both felt and heard someone touch down behind him. He remained focused. The person lunged forward. Tonk tilted his head to the right and felt a fist whiz past his ear.
"Your teacher trained you well," Piccolo's deep voice sounded from above. He spoke in such a monotone that Tonkeshin couldn't figure out if it was sarcasm or a true compliment.
Tonk smiled with pride and stood up, turning to face Piccolo, "That he did." His head cocked curiously, "So what brings you all the way out here, Piccolo?"
Something rustled with the breeze. Tonkeshin suspected it was a cape of some sort. He heard Piccolo's gruff reply, "Just came to check up on you, I guess. I sensed your power focusing and figured you were training."
"Heh, yeah, that I am. But don't you dare ask me to spar you," He chuckled, "I don't want to give away all my moves before the Tournament."
Piccolo snorted a small laugh. "Somehow I doubt I'll be too overly surprised. But I look forward to seeing what you've got. If we don't get a match together in the Tournament, we'll just have an unofficial one somewhere else. How does that grab you, Tonkeshin?"
"Sounds good to me." Tonk lifted his brow ridges. "Hey, maybe we can hang out at the bar by the hotel a little later. My buddy, Greg, says he heard they have great smoothies there. Wanna come chill for awhile?"
"Thanks, but no thanks." Piccolo answered sharply. "Hm, there's a female approaching. A lady-friend?"
"What's she look like?"
A brief pause. "Blonde hair and a two-piece bathing suit that shows almost too much. She's definitely heading this way."
Tonkeshin felt his heart sink. He tightened his fist. "She isn't exactly a friend. . .not anymore, anyway. I swear she's stalking me."
"Heh, sorry. Can't help you there. I'll be going now." Piccolo's tone sounded amused this time. There was a rush of power and a swishing noise. The airspace where Piccolo had been standing was now vacant.
By then, Tonk's focus was gone. His senses were once again what they were in everyday life. He heard the sand shifting and felt eyes on him. It made him suddenly embarrassed about not having a shirt on.
"Oh my, I didn't know there were more green men like you around." Carol mused from behind.
Tonkeshin really wished Piccolo would've stayed. Somehow he didn't think the bigger Namek would stand for Carol's embarrassing advances. He shook his head to clear it. Just what he needed - more clouds in his mind.
"Yeah, well. . .I'm not the only Namek in the universe." He faced Carol without putting on his usual smile. "What do you want, Carol?"
"What do I always want?" She countered seductively. A camera clicked, then she giggled, "You without a shirt. I just had to get one picture."
Tonk scowled and knelt down to where he knew he left his cane.
It wasn't there.
He moved his hand in a circle around the area. Maybe someone kicked sand over it by accident.
Still nothing.
Growing trepidation welled up in his stomach. He could be independent as long as he had his cane. But without it he was almost completely helpless. Being without it in the Tournament ring would be one thing. But on a beach without any landmarks? He was completely lost! He didn't feel comfortable advertising his helplessness by asking favors from strangers. And there was no way in Hell he'd take Carol's arm.
Carol seemed aware of his distress. She chuckled, "Looking for this?"
Four clicks. Tonkeshin knew that sound well. His cane was being unfolded. The tip tapped against his ankle and rubbed up the inside of his leg. All the way up. He backed away from it, now becoming very uncomfortable. Sweat beaded on his brow and dripped down the sides of his face.
"Carol," With his temper flaring quickly, Tonkeshin forced calm into his voice, "That's not funny." He turned his face and eyes towards her breathing and held his hand out, his face expressionless. "Please give me my cane."
The cane folded again. Click-snap, click-snap, click-snap, click-snap.
A giggle sounded, "Come get it yourself, big guy."
To Tonkeshin's horror, Carol's footsteps were already running away.

Author's note: There goes another chapter. . .and there goes Carol with Tonkeshin's cane! Oh no, what is Tonk going to do now? Isn't Carol just sick? chuckles

I got the idea of focus in this chapter from listening to Dragonball. The episodes about the crown and the forest were pretty cool. It gave me some great ideas for Tonkeshin's training. I just hoped I got what Mr. Popo meant right. Sight to the blind. You know, that is kind of possible in real life. Sound shadows, which were already explained in earlier chapters. Works best on windy days, although I don't think I'd be able to catch a fly like Tonk did. grin

By the way, I suggest everyone go check out The Life Of A DBZ Gangsta by The DBZ Dealer. Tonkeshin, Greg and groans, then laughs Carol are in it(with my permission) and it's a lot of fun to read. Great laughs and a cool storyline! Go check it out!