Blending In
15



BAM!
Jingle-jingle-jingle.
Ding, ding, ding.
Every time someone punched the punching machine, the same sounds repeated themselves. It became so frequent that Tonkeshin stopped flinching at the high-pitched bell that indicated the machine's results. It became just another sound among many surrounding him.
For some reason the machine at the end of his line kept malfunctioning. He was half-tempted to sneak into the other line. Unfortunately the rules didn't allow that; once he was in a line, he had to stay put.
The wait became frustrating.
"What's going on up there?" Tonk finally asked.
"Vegeta broke it. Again." Gohan moaned, "At least he didn't blow it up this time."
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Holding back is a term beyond Vegeta's understanding." Piccolo added flatly. He sounded just as bored as Tonkeshin felt.
Pan sniffed. "Veggie's a grumpy old man that doesn't eat enough prunes with his cereal!"
Tonk was going to reply to Piccolo, but Pan's funny statement made him laugh.
"Heads up." said Piccolo, "The line's moving."
Tonkeshin nodded. He felt Piccolo's strong hand come down on his shoulder and guide him forward, then pull him backwards to signal they were stopping.
"Thanks."
No reply. Piccolo's hand inched him forward another step. Its presence felt reassuring in the chaos all around.
Suddenly the punching machine seemed close. Less bodies to muffle the sound. Tonk heard Gohan put Pan down and approach the machine. More jingling and dings. Pan took her turn. Another series of ringing bells followed.
"Next!"
"Tonkeshin, you're up. Remember, restrain your strength." Piccolo's hand withdrew, taking with it the peaceful order in the wild surroundings. "The machine is right in front of you."
Tonk smiled a quiet thank you and reached out. Yup, the machine was right where Piccolo said it would be. He pulled his arm back and aimed a full-strength punch at the pressure sensor. But at the last second he extended his finger to flick it like a switch. That took away most of the blow.
Poof!
Jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle, jingle.
DING, DING! DING!
"T-t-two ten from just a flick?!" Someone gulped.
"It's rigged!" cried another voice.
A shrill reply, "Is not! Mr. Satan tested both machines himself!"
Tonkeshin ignored the argument and faced Piccolo with a grin, "Did I hold back enough?"
His reply came when Piccolo took his turn at the punching device. He got the same score.

More waiting.
From what Piccolo said, Tonkeshin guessed it would be hours before everyone was done with the machines. The weak ones would be weeded out and the select group would continue to the preliminaries.
Gohan and Pan were gone to eat lunch. The others were probably in their seats already, so that left Tonk and Piccolo pretty much alone together. Both leaning on the same wall to widdle away the monotony.
"Hey, Tonk!"
Tonkeshin pushed off from the wall. "Greg! Hey, big man, how'd you find me?"
"Well it's not hard to spot a big green - " Greg cut his voice off when Piccolo rumbled under his breath.
"Are you the Piccolo Tonk told me about?"
"I am." Piccolo stated tersely.
Tonkeshin leaned over to Greg, "He's not very talkative."
Greg snorted, "I guessed that. Geez, he is bigger than you! Makes you look like a twig!"
"Gee, THANKS, Greg."
A snicker, "How big do you Nameks get?"
"Some of my brothers were in excess of eight feet. Saichirou was even larger than that." Tonk answered simply.
Greg was quiet for a moment. "Good grief." he laughed and slapped Tonk on the back, "Lay off the miracle grow, you guys! I'm serious, it's not everyday that you see TWO green guys in the same place."
Piccolo muttered something under his breath. "Humans. . ."
Tonk elbowed Greg's large side. "At any rate, Greg, this is Piccolo, Piccolo, this is my buddy, Greg."
Another grunt from Piccolo. There was the very brief slap of skin on skin as he and Greg shook hands. Piccolo never said a word.
"Well, I guess I should go get my seat. I'm gonna sit in the front row, right in the center of the west wall." Greg scuffed his feet on the cement. "See you guys later, don't start anything stupid before the matches."
"Bye, Greg, yell loud so I can find you when I get in the ring." Tonk grinned, raising a hand to wave.
"Will do! See ya!"
Greg's thick footsteps vanished into the crowd.
"Tonkeshin," Piccolo spoke up.
Tonk turned, "Yeah?"
"You don't have to stay here with me. Go ahead and wander if you feel the need. Return to this spot a few minutes before the preliminaries. I'll still be here."
"You sure, Piccolo?" Tonk faced him. "But you won't have anybody to keep you company."
Piccolo's soft tone carried a rare smile. "I'll be fine. Go on."
Tonkeshin grinned, "Mind pointing me to the bathroom real quick?"
"To the left of where I am right now. There's a potted plant by the door. Can't miss it."
"Thanks." He flipped his cane into the correct grip and headed forward. The ball-tip contacted a tall ceramic pot. Just beyond was a doorway.
Tonk slipped into the tile room. He poked around for the nearest urinal.
A moment later he was rearranging his belt back into place and emerging into the sun's warmth.
"Tonkeshin!" Called a light voice from far off.
He faced the sound with a warm smile. Excitement bubbled inside him like carbonation in soda. "Hey, Dende! You made it! Can you believe today's the day?"
Dende came closer. Tonk didn't hear him until he spoke up again, "I've only been to a few Tournaments. They're exciting. Even more so because I have a guest with me. I contacted him, told him about you entering and he wished himself here for the day."
Grabbing Dende's shoulder, Tonkeshin smiled, his eyes staring blankly ahead. "Who?"
"Me, boy." Answered a scratchy voice with a smile behind it.
Tonk heard the click of wood against the cement. A gasp caught in his throat. Thinking he was dreaming, he reached out towards the voice. His hands clasped an old, wrinkled one wrapped around the end of a long wooden stick. He felt his heart leap into his throat.
"Lians?!" Tonk's hands grasped the other Namek's waist-length vest. The tunic underneath reached all the way to the ground. And the scent. . .it was the same burning-wood incense scent he remembered from childhood. It made him feel like a four year old all over again. "Is that really you? I thought you were. . .gone. . ."
"I've lost the rest of my sight, but not my life. Last I checked, cataracts aren't fatal. So I'm not going anywhere. Not yet, not for a long time." Tonkeshin felt Lians' hands clasp around his and squeeze affectionately. "I have another good few centuries before my time comes." There was a warm smile within his otherwise harsh voice, which was thick with the Namekian accent.
"It's so good to see you again, m'boy." The wrinkled hands rose and explored Tonk's face lightly. Tonkeshin obediently closed his eyes and let the elder look at him. "You've grown up a lot, but your face is still much like I remember it. Yet much stronger."
That made Tonk smile. He reached up to see Lians' face as well. A few more wrinkles around his eyes and nose. The existing lines were deeper like old wood. But the narrow face - withered antennae, perpetually squinted eyes, sharp cheekbones, viper's head-shaped nose, pointed jaw and tight mouth - all was as he remembered.
He was really there! It wasn't a dream!
"Lians," Tonk barely controlled the joyous tears welling in his eyes. A few escaped anyway. Lians was like a beloved grandfather to him. One of the few people he missed most when he chose to remain on Earth.
He leaned forward to embrace the elder. The last time he did this he was barely up to Lians' shoulder, and now he was a few inches taller than him. Lians would've still been taller, but old age had also hunched his spine a little.
"I'm so glad you're here. . .you must tell me all about what you've been doing in my absence."
"Ahhh, yes." Tonk felt Lians' thin, but strong arms return the embrace. A familiar, rumbling chuckle vibrated through his chest. "Me too, Tonkeshin, me too. Why don't you show me around a bit, hm? Dende, would you like to come?"
"Yes, thank you, that would be nice." Dende answered from the right.
A smile spread across Tonkeshin's face. He slid back from Lians and gripped his cane correctly. "Take my arm, then, and let's explore!"
Long, calloused fingers wrapped gently around Tonk's elbow. "It's your show, m'boy. Let's be off."
"Well then." If Tonk's smile grew any larger, it would've split his face in half. "Off we go!"
"Where to?" Dende piped up excitedly. Following his question was the slap of his hands clasping together.
"How about. . .that way!" Tonkeshin faced a random direction and started walking. Letting his cane tap across his path like a happy cadence to match his pounding heart.
Laughter, some harsh and some fluttering, answered him. The entire way was filled with the sounds of Tonk, Dende and Lians having a humorous conversation about their current lives.


Author's note: Heh, surprise! A little holiday present for all of you Namek lovers out there. I know it's late, but I couldn't get on the computer on Christmas like I'd hoped. So call this a belated gift smile.

I've been toying with the idea of bringing Lians into this for so long. If I recall correctly, there's a few out there who really liked him. So here he is. grins Doesn't he remind you of that really old grandpa that slips money into your hands when nobody's looking?