Blending In
17



"So who's Piccolo up against?" Tonkeshin asked Pan when they came up next to the second ring. People stepped aside and let them by. A few required polite nudging before they moved.
Pan wiggled on Tonk's back. Her warm fingers tightened, stretched and relaxed against his skin. "Redclaw, he's an Indian! He's got a long braid and a feather on his head! He's real tall like Piccolo! He looks mean, too!"
"But I doubt he's strong enough to win."
"Hmm. I could beat him." Pan giggled.
Someone large and muscular bumped into Tonkeshin's side. He had to take a few skipping sideways steps to regain his balance. Whoever it was made the loudest breathing sounds Tonk ever heard. He might've been annoyed if he didn't realize it was an accident.
"They're starting!" Pan cried.
"Fighters. . .begin!"
Swish!
Fwapp!
THUD!
Cheers erupted.
"Ma Junior is the winner!" The Announcer's voice seemed to embody Tonk's excitement. "What a chop!"
Nobody spoke as Piccolo exited the ring. Tonk felt him swish past on the left, footfalls silent like his demeanor.
"Nice work."
"Feh." Piccolo turned his head to spit on the concrete floor. "It's going to be like this until we start facing off against each other. Save your congratulations for then."
Tonkeshin's heart sank at the news. He'd hoped beyond hope that at least one opponent would prove a challenge. The matches continued with the same outcomes. Bodies hitting the floor after one punch, kick, chop or weak ki blast. Matches between weaker fighters lasted a little longer, but proved just as lackluster.
One competitor, Exploder, had to be rushed out on a stretcher after Vegeta got done with him - one of the paramedics mumbled something about two broken legs and a fractured skull.
Everybody gave the Saiyajin a wide berth after that.
Tonk tried hard not to look too bored each time he was called into the ring, but how could he not when every foe fell after a single blow? One guy was so weak that a simple flick made him give up!
"Could be worse." Goten elbowed him from behind after the match, "You could've fought Vegeta first and gotten yourself splattered all over the arena."
"That's very true, Goten, that it is." Amusement snuck into Tonkeshin's voice, "Now here's to hoping he won't be my first opponent in the actual Tournament."
They both laughed, unmindful of a flying body that landed against the wall nearby.
"So much for Exin." muttered the bulky fighter who almost knocked Tonk over earlier. Tonk heard him turn around and lumber away.
No more fighting noises followed. A few taunts and insults passed back and forth amongst feuding participants. One person insulted another's mother. The offended party responded with something sexually vulgar. Other than that, it was just the general roar of chatter all around. Scents of sweat and blood wove itself in amongst the different voices.
Tonkeshin blinked. He faced Goten's breathing, staring blankly towards him, "That's it?"
"Yup, anticlimactic, isn't it? The real fun starts in the big ring." Then Goten's voice muffled, "Hey Trunks! I'm over here!"
Footsteps raced over. New sweat joined Goten's, this one with almost the same tangy overtone. Tonk struggled not to sneer. . .even if they were his friends, they still smelled suspiciously like Saiyajins.
He didn't like Saiyajins very much.
"I wish you could've seen Goten send that Captain Chicken guy to the ground." Trunks said, a smile behind his voice, "It was even funnier than you making that wolf man cry."
"Heheh, well I wasn't trying to be funny. It just happened. . .and he asked for it." Tonk touched the back of his head and grinned. "So where'd Pan go off to?"
"She's off teasing my dad. Just like Goten used to do."
"I did not - OOF! Hey, why'd you go do that?"
"Sometimes, Goten, you still act like you're eight. That's why." Trunks spat contemptuously. "Idiot."
Goten just laughed.
"Uh. . .and Piccolo?" asked Tonk, "Where's he?"
"Behind you," a telltale rasp cut in.
Tonk yipped and spun to face him, "Well why didn't you say so? You know I can't hear you walking in a place like this."
". . .I just got here."
"Oh," he felt his face flush, "Good point."
"Hmmmm," Goten's voice took on an odd tone. He seemed to be tracking someone. "Wow, Strawberry's going on to the Tournament. Heh, too bad she's wearing that hood that covers up her hair and face, I'd love to see what she looks like."
Trunks cracked up laughing. "Go ask her out, loverboy."
"Shut up!"
"Come on. We should head to the main arena. They'll be drawing lots soon." Piccolo pointedly stepped between Trunks and Goten, effectively ending their horseplay.
Tonkeshin automatically flipped his cane out of the pencil grip and took Piccolo's elbow. The other Namek's arm was even tighter than before.
"You're tense."
"Feh." Piccolo started forward with the same suddenness as last time.
Tonk adjusted his grip so Piccolo's elbow wouldn't slip out of his hand. His fingertips dented the tough skin. "We're not in a race here, calm down. Please?"
"I'm not going to walk you into anything."
"I'm well aware of that," said Tonk as they passed the scent of hot dogs and hamburgers. That meant they were close to the main arena. His excited nerves instantly stood on end, he couldn't believe it was really about to happen!
"Why the hurry? Something spook you?"
"That Strawberry girl Trunks and Goten were talking about. She was eyeballing us." No emotion in Piccolo's voice at all. He might as well be talking about the weather or discussing a bad TV movie.
Tonkeshin turned his face and eyes towards Piccolo's voice. He didn't have to worry about drifting off course as long as he held his arm. "So? We're not exactly wearing costumes like some of the other competitors here. We probably stand out like sore thumbs."
"It's something you'd have to be able to see to understand, Tonkeshin." Piccolo said. "She was sizing us up. I got the feeling she was going to try some funny business with us before we could get to the Tournament."
"I think you're just paranoid."
"Hmph." The taller Namek snorted through his nose. "You're way too trusting of people, Tonkeshin, it makes it easy for people to take advantage of you. Like those gangsters did a few days ago."
Tonk's eyes widened, "How do you know about that?!"
"I have my ways, but that's not the point. You - "
"I just prefer to be friendly first." Tonk cut Piccolo off. "If the other person shows they can't be trusted, then too bad for them. I've always been like this."
". . .yeah, I know." Piccolo's tone dismissed the subject entirely.
You know? Another wave of strange familiarity flitted through Tonk's mind. Nah, couldn't be. . .he probably knows so much about me from the news. But it's still strange.
Cheering, chattering and the general roar of a huge crowd filtered into Tonkeshin's ears. He followed Piccolo through a stone archway and the muffled sounds rapidly increased in volume. Almost like he'd had his hands over his ears the entire time and just now took them off.
Piccolo said, "We're in the courtyard adjacent to the arena. The others should be arriving shortly. I'd advise you to stay in this area. From here on out you're at risk for getting mobbed by reporters."
"Gotcha."
The arm in Tonk's grasp pulled away. A soft swish as Piccolo turned to face another direction.
Loud, obnoxious rock music and the boom of fireworks sounded from within the arena itself. Tonkeshin tilted an ear to the lead singer's screaming vocals. Definitely the Tossed Salad Group performing that old Mr. Satan ballad, the cheesiest song on the market. Tonk thought it sounded more like nails on a chalkboard.
Amazing how all these people think that oaf really beat Cell. What a fake! I always had my suspicions and now that I know the truth I just want to smack everyone until they wake up.
"Some hero he is."
"Mr. Satan?" Piccolo's soft rasp was barely audible above the music. "I don't like him either. Still. . .it's better if the public eye remains focused on him instead of us."
Tonkeshin still had his doubts. "Why?"
A strong hand settled on his shoulder, "Because the normal people wouldn't understand our powers. I know it sounds like an injustice for what my friends and I have done for this planet, but it's in your best interest to let the people keep assuming that Mr. Satan is their hero. They. . .need someone to look up to."
Nodding his head, Tonk smiled, "Yeah, I understand." He blinked. "Honestly, Piccolo, you remind me of someone I used to look up to when I was growing up. A warrior named Nail. . .he taught me every fighting move I know and showed me how to stand up to people who treat me badly. This vest," he touched it, "was his. I wore it to honor him today, I think he'd like that."
"I imagine he would."
Tonk's smile widened, "Who was your hero when you were little?"
A long silence.
Piccolo's response gave Tonkeshin the impression of an old soul in a young body, "People like me have no heroes." His deep voice softened, but remained devoid of emotion, "Only villains."
Tonk looked up towards the other Namek, his brow knit. "I'm sorry if I opened an old wound."
"Feh. We all have our scars. Some just don't show." The hand on Tonk's shoulder lifted. "Don't worry about it."
"But - "
Piccolo cut him off, "Focus on what's ahead. They're coming."
Any thoughts Tonkeshin had about the previous conversation were lost in the cacophony of approaching competitors. In a few moments the sea of people surrounded him.
"Ladies and gentleman and everything in between! In a few minutes we'll be ready to call your name so you can draw your numbers. Please respond as quickly as possible and remain here until everyone has drawn. Your patience is appreciated."
A few people heckled at that. Some complained about being hungry, Goten mostly. It made Tonk glad he didn't eat.
"I wonder who I'll fight first. . .I guess I'll find out in a minute." New exhilaration bubbled in Tonkeshin's stomach like carbonation in soda. Just a few numbers and several minutes worth of time were all that separated him from the Tournament!
Standing still became impossible. Tonk unwittingly treated Piccolo to an encore of 'the Happy Dance'.
"You really seem fond of that jig," Piccolo pointed out, amused.
Tonk laughed, "I can't help it, I'm excited!"
"All right, thank you for your patience!" The Announcer shouted, "It's time to get this party started!"
A grin curled Tonk's lips. I'm ready. . .more ready than I've ever been in my life.

Author's note: And so ends another chapter. Sorry that took so long, I've been hooked into RP a lot and didn't buckle down like I should have. sheepish grin It's addictive.

I threw the little Kenshin-ism in there just to poke a little harmless fun at Tonk's speaking voice. Did you catch it? grin