Author's note: Hey, guys, thanks for the reads, and the reviews. I love getting those alerts. Please feel free to keep them coming, and let me know your thoughts as the story progresses.
Chapter 21
Korin's Tower
Chiaotzu hovered over the center of Korin's Tower. His eyes faintly glowed blue, and a blue sphere surrounded the top level of the structure. Piccolo, Roshi, Oolong, Korin, and Yajirobe stood inside his protective field.
"A few years after Goku defeated me." Piccolo started. "I was training in preparation of our next battle. I was ambushed by a group of warriors and let them think they had killed me."
"You let yourself appear to lose?" Roshi questioned.
Piccolo growled. 'I'm similar to, but not equal to, my father." He looked back to the group at large. "At the same time they were attacking me, their teammates were attacking Goku's home, his wife, and Gohan. They secured the dragon balls and their leader, Garlic Junior, used them to become immortal."
"So, that is within their power." Oolong said.
Korin nodded and Piccolo shook his head. "Goku, Gohan and I challenged them on Kami's Lookout, but due to the wish we couldn't put him down for good. He was defeated, but that's it. Well, he lashed out with an unusual technique, created by his father. He created a portal to another world, a world of infinite void if I recall, and tried sucking us in." A smile creased his lips. "Gohan didn't like that, and in the first fit of rage I remember from the boy, he forced Garlic Junior into his own attack, a prison of his own creation."
"Well." Yajirobe stepped forward. "If you could kick their butts back then, why not just do it again? I mean, he won't use the same attack twice, but maybe we can seal find another way to seal him?"
"I am far, far more powerful than when they last invaded." Piccolo flexed his arms but kept his power suppressed out of reflex. "If they were as strong as they were back then it would be a joke to detain them. You could probably do it yourself, now, actually."
Yajirobe deflated. "I feel a but coming."
"But they're a lot stronger now too." Piccolo continued. "If I went up there now, if all of us went up there now, there's nothing any of us could do. Not against the group anyway."
"You trained with King Kai, didn't you?" Roshi asked. "Couldn't you use that same power Goku has?
"To overcome some of them? Sure, in a one on one fight I could probably work my way through half of them. The rest though would pick me apart, and as a group, I'm not suicidal." Piccolo spat off the edge of the tower, not noticing as his saliva turned to smoke when it hit the barrier.
Oolong flopped onto his back. "So, in short, we're all doomed. Once Chiaotzu's shield goes down and they notice us, they'll just come slaughter us like animals."
Chiaotzu began to speak, the inside of his mouth faintly glowing with the same light as his eyes. "I spoke with King Kai." All heads turned to face him. "Piccolo, I assume he gave you the same message? The Sacred Water. We need to use it, pour it over the side of the Lookout, and we only have a day, a day from when this started, to do so."
Piccolo nodded. "I'm not sure how we're going to get it though. Attacking would be suicide."
Korin whipped his staff in a half circle in the center of the group. As if out of thin air an ornate bottle appeared, hooked over the tip. "I may have a solution." He held the container level. "The Ultra Divine Water. It will unlock any untapped potential of whoever drinks it."
"Here comes another but." Yajirobe groaned.
"But it's poison." Korin said. "We have senzu beans, so there's a good chance you'll live. However, if you're not pure it'll rip right through you. I tried drinking it once but I had to spit it out before it even had an effect."
With little hesitation Piccolo scoffed before shaking his head. He had been trained by the gods. He had learned the basics of and was on his way to mastering their techniques. He wasn't under the impression he was pure though, not by any stretch of the imagination. He contemplated, for a brief moment, using his explosive demon wave to kill everyone on the tower, maybe pure evil would work. He quickly dismissed the thought, using it as proof he wasn't ready, if he ever would be.
Roshi declined next. He had trained under Korin, and he knew what the old master was like. Roshi didn't consider the cat a saint, but he knew he was more pure than himself. If Korin couldn't do it back then, whenever then was, well, he knew he couldn't do it now.
Yajirobe would have shook his head next, but instead found himself trying not to vomit. He didn't consider himself particularly impure, but he knew that bottle. He hadn't known what it was, but when doing some organizing he had encountered it. He had drank from it. He had fallen violently ill and the thought of trying it again was too much. Plus, if Piccolo couldn't handle this in his current state, he knew that even if he could keep the water down, it wouldn't be enough to bridge that gap.
Chiaotzu's eyes faded slightly as he remembered his time in the Crane school. He wasn't Tao, but he did admire the man. He had never killed in cold blood, but he aided those who did. He knew what he was doing now was good, and his motives were pure, but he doubted that would be enough. He didn't know what metric the Ultra Divine Water would use, but if it was ones impression of themselves, he'd not do well. He shook his head.
As the group stood in silence, contemplating their next move, King Kai spoke to them. "Why are you just standing around? You need to stop Garlic Junior."
Piccolo clinched his fist and spoke through gritted teeth. "Do you have any ideas?" He felt his power rising and quickly relaxed. "We can't exactly go up there and fight them."
King Kai hummed in their minds. The sound helped take the edge off the group. A minute later he spoke again. "No. You need to use the Sacred Water, and your time is running out. I don't know how you'll beat the demons though."
"King Kai." Chiaotzu spoke softly. "I have a question. If Garlic Junior was trapped in his own attack, how did he get out? Shouldn't he have been gone forever?"
"I believe it is due to the Makyo Star." King Kai responded. "You probably can't see it yet, but their home world is a rogue planet that passes by the earth every five, maybe ten, possibly twelve thousand years."
"So, when the planet is close, they get more powerful?" Chiaotzu asked.
"That's cheep." Yajirobe said. "How could they get a power boost from a planet being near?"
Piccolo scoffed again. "That's where you draw the line? Saiyans turning into giant monkeys when the moon is full is fine, but a failed boy band getting more powerful when their home is here, that's too much?"
"Anyway." King Kai spoke over his student. "Their strength is multiplied several times over. It's not forever, but the closer the Makyo Star gets, the more powerful they'll be."
Chiaotzu lips pulled tight and his eyes glowed brighter. 'So, after their planet is gone, they'll be as weak as before, and we can stop them then?"
King Kai thought for a moment, filling the air with another hum, before finally responding. "They won't be as weak as their first attempt on Earth, but yes, they'll be far weaker than now. You and Piccolo should be able to handle them at that point."
The spots on Chiaotzu's face began to turn from red to blue. "When will the Makyo Star be gone?" He asked eagerly.
King Kai took another moment to respond. "Just over two days before they're back to their normal abilities." He took a deep breath. "They're going to get more powerful before then though, and their power will decrease at the same rate it increased. You may be able to beat them in a day and a half."
"So we just need to hold out until then." Piccolo smiled. "Korin, you have somewhere we can hide here, don't you?"
Korin nodded and pointed at one of his pots, but King Kai spoke before he could.
"That won't work. Well, it will, but not well." King Kai wasn't hiding his frustration. "If you don't use the Sacred Water before then the people of Earth will never be the same again! I've been to hell, and it is downright nice compared to what Earth will be like without the Sacred Water."
Silence fell over the group. Korin lowered his staff. He felt awkward being so willing to retreat while chaos rained below.
Chiaotzu's cheeks faded slightly. "If he was able to escape, why haven't Yamcha and Kami escaped too?" He asked.
"I'm sorry." King Kai said. "Kami is not powerful enough to escape. Yamcha is close, but not yet there." He thought back to their training. 'If he were to use the Kaio-Ken he could likely rip his way out of the Dead Zone, he's probably already working on it if I had to guess, but he wouldn't be able to bring Kami with him."
"So, the dragon balls?" Chiaotzu asked.
"They are fine. As long as Piccolo lives, the dragon balls will as well." King Kai was glad to deliver some good news, but the thought of Kami trapped in the void did unsettle him.
Roshi cleared his throat. "So, we need to use the Sacred Water, which is somewhere on the Lookout, but we don't need to defeat them yet, correct?"
"Correct." King Kai agreed.
"Do we know where the Sacred Water is stored?" Roshi asked. "If so, could we steal the water, use it, and wait for their power to decrease again?"
Korin's head fell at the suggestion. He was willing to hide, well, he thought he was, his stomach ached at the though, but hearing one of his bravest students suggest it, it was wrong. "Yes." He said. "I know where the water is. I can draw a map."
"What's stopping them from just reusing the Black Water Mist?" Yajirobe asked. "It will buy us some time, but not much."
"Could we steal both waters?" Chiaotzu asked.
Oolong squealed in frustration. "How do you propose we go about stealing divine artifacts from a demon populated fortress?"
Roshi tapped his staff on the floor, getting everyone's attention focused back on himself. "I have an idea." He lowered his head, mirroring Korin's. "I don't like it. It is a bad idea. But, it's an idea."
Under Garlic's Lookout
A pair of pale white hands grabbed a thin metal rung underneath the Lookout. Chiaotzu stretched and swung and barely grabbed onto the next bar. When he grabbed the third one he hooked his feet through second. He wasn't afraid of falling, but he wanted to stay as still as possibly, and hanging from his arms alone wouldn't help with that.
Continuing to climb the latter he came to the third window, the one Korin indicated. He reached out to the glass, forming a small sphere of psychic energy at the tip of his finger, bisected by the glass. He grew the sphere until it was roughly the size of his head and poked his finger through it, shattering the contained glass.
The circle of glass noiselessly gathered at the base of his orb. Once they settled he morphed the sphere into a tube, and directed the glass to fall freely down to the ground. He reached through the hole, placing his fingertips on a shelf a few inches below it.
A dark brown snake slithered from around his waist. It went through his robe, down his sleeve, and through the window. Once it settled on the ground it nodded back to Chiaotzu and vanished into the palace.
Chiaotzu adjusted his grip to the outside rails of the latter and let him slide back to the base of the Lookout. Once he was several rungs below the last window he spun in place and sat. Hopefully he wouldn't have to wait long.
Inside Garlic's Lookout
The snake was glad Chiaotzu used his arm as a bridge. The glass was cleanly cut, but at an angle, and it would have sliced him open if he wasn't careful. He left the room he entered through and looked down the hall to either direction.
He flicked his tongue out, and he knew he wasn't alone. He had hoped that the Spice Boys were observing the collapse of humanity from the temple grounds, but of course he couldn't get that lucky. Pigs still couldn't fly.
He swung right out of the room and stuck to the base of the wall as closely as he could. His stomach filled with butterflies as it scraped over stone. His serpentine eyes flitted left and right, looking for any hint of life. He didn't need to go far, turn left down the next hall, take the spiral stairs down, and the first chamber on the right should have the water.
The turn came into sight. An open door to the right, a wide hall to the left. He flicked his tongue out again, the taste was stronger and the enemy was closer. He froze in place, the only movement being his eyes. He was still alone.
He slithered up to the turn, to the opposing open door. He stuck his head past its boundary and studied the interior of the room. A pair of bulky warriors were there, in what appeared to be a bed chamber. He pulled back immediately. He knew what they were doing, and he knew it was unlikely he would be noticed. He also knew that if he was caught he'd be bacon bits in no time.
He retreated a dozen feet and thought back to Korin's map. There were alternative routes, but he'd have to go through the temple's main entrance to reach the stairs, the stairs that were just down the hall from here.
Oolong closed his eyes, trying to come up with a solution. The barely audible growls from the room only served to distract him. He was able to change forms, but not as quietly as he would have liked. He had shrank several inches, and sprouted four legs. He touched the wall, and when he stuck to it, he quickly climbed up.
The spike footed lizard climbed the wall and in a matter of seconds was over the open door. He watched as a short red devil wearing a partially complete set of armor left the door and looked both directions, as he did minutes ago.
"Anything there, Salt?" A voice called out from inside the room.
"Nope, we're good, Vinegar." The red man responded before reentering the room and closing his door.
Oolong let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He kept a grip on the ceiling and scurried down the branched path. Reaching the stairs he climbed down the wall and clung to the underside of the glistening rail as he went down the stairs.
At the next level down he came to a long curved hallway, spiraling to the right out from the stairwell. Moving back up the wall he silently followed just under the ceiling line.
The first door he came to was closed. He tasted the air, and knew he still wasn't alone. The second door he came to was open, a large turquoise man with long white hair stood in his underwear next to a basin of bubbly water. He dunked a chest plate into the tub before scrubbing it aggressively with a brush.
Spice looked over his shoulder, out the door, before getting back to his work. "Damn it, Mustard." He gritted his teeth and continued the stain removal process.
Oolong left the laundry room behind him as he continued his search for the first chamber on the right. It took a few minutes, and over a dozen doors on the left, but the endlessly tightening corridor came to an end. A heavy door was at the end of the hall, a window that shouldn't exist was to the left, and an arch lead to the right.
Oolong stuck to the ceiling as he entered the chamber. Bookshelves lined the round room, cluttered with jars, bottles, and boxes. His head began to hurt before he even started his search. Overwhelmed he gave the room another quick look and was glad to notice that at the opposite end there was a carved out circle in the shelves and a crystal bottle sat atop a pillow, in the center of a wooden shrine.
Oolong quickly poofed himself in to his original pig form and grabbed the bottle. It was beautifully carved blue glass. The liquid inside was not visible, but he felt it shift as he tried putting the bottle into every pocket he had. It wouldn't fit, he'd have to carry it like it was.
He studied the bottle for a moment. He didn't need to memorize it, but he needed to focus. He'd never graduated shape shifting school but he still thought he'd still be able to rely on what he did know. Here he was, surrounded by the enemy, in the halls of God's home, attempting to smuggle the only hope for humanity out without being seen. If he was caught, if he broke the bottle, the Earth would never be the same again. The Earth may as well not be again, if he failed.
His hands began to sweat and he didn't trust his grip. Looking around he noticed the pillow. It wasn't thick, but it was soft. He laid the bottle on it, thankful the glass topped cork was water tight, or at least Sacred Water tight. He rolled the pillow around the bottle, making sure to envelope the base, and hugged it to his chest.
He peaked his head around the corner, the coast was clear. He walked slowly, as quietly as he could. He breathed softly, not as quietly as he wanted to though. He didn't think he could right now. Feeling sweat drip from his forehead he wondered if his heart racing was audible to the rest of the Lookout. He then wondered how he was sweating, he didn't think pigs could do that. Then again, who was he to question physiology.
Matching the rate of his heart he heard clicking coming from further down the spiral. He lunged into the nearest room, thankful he wrapped the bottle, hoping it was well enough. Coffins lined the walls of this room. Most of the coffins were closed, polished black lids seamlessly connecting to their bases, a set of years etched into each base. All except three, or two. A pair of coffins, joint at the foot, stood open to the right of the door. The next one, beside the door, was half the height of the rest, and only had one year on its marker, this year.
Taking inspiration from the environment, and his limited exposure to the effects of the mist. He vanished in a cloud of mist and reappeared, taller, thinner, and teal skinned. His eyes were yellow, his hair was a brownish red, and his hands were wrapped in purple gloves. His teeth, his fangs, made it hard to close his mouth, but he knew, he hoped, this would work.
He unrolled the pillow and set the Sacred Water atop it. He bent it slightly, cradling the bottle, but keeping it presented. He stepped out of the room of retired guardians and continued his trip. It wasn't long before the hulking red haired Mustard came into view.
The giant of a demon raised his hands to the vampire. "Who are you, what are you doing here?"
"Sire." Oolong bowed deeply, keeping the water, and pillow, level. "It is an honor to meet you." He bowed again. "I am Fangs, a loyal subject to you and Lord Garlic."
Mustard cupped his chin, studying the Earthling. He let out a long grunt. "I see." He grabbed the bottle in a meaty hand. "What is this?"
Oolong's heart nearly exploded and he felt his hold on the transformation begin to weaken. "It." He stammered. "It's an artifact that Lord Garlic desires me to bring to him."
Mustard held the bottle up to the unnaturally lit ceiling and sloshed its content around. "More water?"
"I believe so." Oolong bowed again.
Mustard flicked his wrist and sloppily tossed the bottle to Oolong. The vampire dove to the side, leading with the pillow, and barely caught the bottle before it impacted the stone floor. "When I'm done exploring I am going to take a nap. My armor will be at the foot of my bed. I expect it to be clean when I awaken."
Oolong bowed once more, this time lowering the bottle protectively. 'Yes, sire, of course, sire. I will begin washing it as soon as it is off."
Mustard slowly pealed both his large boots off and placed them on either side of the Sacred Water. Their smell was rancid. "Start with these. Be on your way."
Ducking into a quick bow one last time Oolong quickly continued his walk down the spiral. He tried counting the doors as he passed them, but he forgot how many there were between him and the laundry room. Crossing his fingers under the pillow he marched on. He was surprised when he found the stairs, the one doing laundry must have finished, or closed the door, Oolong didn't really care.
Climbing the stairs he prepared to encounter Salt and Vinegar. He didn't know what he would tell the pair if they didn't believe him as Mustard did, but he didn't care. At this point he knew it would be suicide, but he felt if he was confronted, he would just run. Thankfully, the door at the end of the hall was still closed, and he was able to return to his entrance without being confronted again.
He set the pillow on the shelf under the window, and carefully laid the bottle of Sacred Water atop it. Transforming back into a snake he carefully slithered out the window, stretching his muscles to the extreme to avoid cutting himself. He latched onto the latter and crawled down to where he knew Chiaotzu would be. He avoided looking down, he knew what was below him, and he knew pigs still couldn't fly.
Oolong slid down Chiaotzu's arm. He twisted around the psychic's waist and laid his head back on his shoulder. "The water is inside the window. The bottle won't fit through." He spoke as softly as he could.
Chiaotzu nodded and began the climb back up. When he reached the window it was effortless for him to produce another sphere of energy around the glass, and shatter a larger opening. He put the bottle inside his robe and Oolong wrapped himself around it, holding it tight to his companion. Together the pair continued ascending.
Garlic's Lookout
At the second to last rung Chiaotzu stopped and Oolong started. The fighter pulled the water from his robe and sat on his perch. The transforming pig slithered his way up Chiaotzu's arm and onto the platform. He thought back, and couldn't remember ever being here before, it was nice.
With as much casual haste as a snake could travel with Oolong searched for the Black Water Mist. He didn't know exactly what it looked like, but King Kai gave him a good enough idea. He circled the palace exterior and there was no sign of it. He went down the first row of the garden, nothing, nothing except Kami's staff. Don't think about it, don't think about it. The next row over was the same, without a heartbreaking symbol.
The third row was occupied. Just as King Kai had described him, Garlic Junior was laying on his back atop a hedge row. A staff similar to Kami's was in his left hand, and a bottle was in his right. Found it. Oolong slid under the hedge and worked his way down to the demon. He slowly climbed through the brush until he was a foot beneath his target. For good news, he was asleep. For bad news, there was no way Oolong could grab the bottle without directly contacting Garlic Junior.
Beating a hasty retreat Oolong reported back to Chiaotzu. "He's napping on a bush. He's holding the bottle. I don't think I could grab the bottle without waking him up."
Chiaotzu gestured for Oolong to join him on the rung, and the pig transformed back into his borrowed vampiric shape. "I'll get it." He poked his head over the ledge and didn't see anyone. "King Kai said the water has to be used on the deck of the Lookout. Not here. Once I head out, start pouring it over the side, as casually as you can."
"Casually?" Oolong asked. "You want me to casually pour water off the edge of the Lookout?"
Chiaotzu nodded and Oolong shrugged. The psychic climbed the last rung first and crawled to his feet. Oolong was on his heals. As soon as he was standing Oolong turned around and stuffed the bottle down his pants. He unbuttoned his fly and uncorked the Sacred Water, letting it pour out. He sighed in pretend relief.
Chiaotzu kept his power level suppressed as he used his psychic power to noiselessly traverse the platform. It didn't take him long to find the hedge row Oolong indicated, and he was thankful the demon fell asleep where he did. He kept low to the ground and close to the hedge. His short height was a positive at the moment. If Garlic Junior woke up and looked around he wouldn't be able to see anything suspicious.
At ten feet away Chiaotzu broke cover and levitated another two feet off the ground. His head and shoulders were over the bush, and level with the bottle. His eyes and cheeks began to glow, as did his hands. He pointed at the bottle, at Garlic Juniors fingers. Slowly the invader's grip loosened, and just as slowly the bottle rose.
Garlic Junior's hand was open, and the bottle had left it. He felt something change, but he didn't know what. He clinched his fist, scratched the bottle with his nails, and sat up. He looked around, not noticing anything in front of him. He investigated the bottle, it was glowing, and hovering? Out of the corner of his eye he saw Chiaotzu's shocked face.
With his hand already extended it was easy for Chiaotzu to form and send a Dodon Ray. Unfortunately Garlic junior was just as quick as he was and he swept his staff in front of the beam.
"WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!" Garlic Junior shouted as he deflected more Dodon Rays.
Sensing the rest of the demons quickly closing in as they blew through the Lookout Chiaotzu gave up on the Dodon Ray. He clinched his outstretched fist. With little fanfare the black bottle shattered and as Chiaotzu's grip crunched it, the pieces fell to the floor.
With his job done Chiaotzu turned to flee. He was lucky Garlic Junior hadn't fought back yet, but he knew why. He ran head first into the exposed midriff of what appeared to be a viking god. Mustard grabbed the little warrior in both hands and with just as little fanfare as the bottle, popped his head off his body.
"Search the Lookout." Garlic Junior instructed. "He may have had friends."
Mustard nodded and took off into the air. He quickly scanned the outside of the Lookout. Garlic junior and the little man's corpse. The previous guardian's staff and a loose watering can. The minion was pissing off the side, and, and, "Sir, where's the other bottle?"
"Hurry up!" King Kai shouted into Oolong's mind. "It's working, it's working! Hurry!"
"What other bottle?" Garlic Junior asked. "What are you talking about?"
Knowing he was busted Oolong ripped the bottle out of his pants. He shook it upside down over the edge. The diversion bought him a few seconds, but how would he save his bacon!
The giant appeared behind Oolong. "What are you doing?" His arms were crossed, digging into Oolong's back. They threatened to push him over the edge.
"Um." Oolong stammers. "Uh." His hands are as wet as the interior of the bottle. "I, I had to pee?"
"IT'S DONE!" King Kai shouted. "GET OUT OF THERE!"
Mustard growled. "Liar." He thrust forward and nudged Oolong off balance.
Oolong spun as he fell. Pigs still couldn't fly, but they could still bite. He threw the bottle down, smashing it on Mustard's exposed toes. As he continued falling, back to the Lookout, head first, he took some time to finally look down.
As far as deaths went, this wouldn't be awful. He could see it coming, but it would only take a moment. The green blur of trees slowly came into focus. A spec of marble turned into Korin's Tower. A distant cloud turned into a pink puttering seat as the Flying Nimbus swept Oolong out of his fall and into the tower below.
Korin's Tower
Yajirobe didn't mean to, but he did catch Oolong. While falling he had transformed back into himself, and he bowled Yajirobe over.
"You're back." Yajirobe observed. "Where's Chiaotzu?"
"He didn't make it. Oolong, they think you're dead as well." King Kai spoke to the group, but told Oolong. "It's time to hide, all of you."
Korin's eyes began to water. He was wrong, he didn't want to hide. He didn't see value in hiding. It didn't matter if he lived. So long as Piccolo was here to take care of the threat once he could, what did it matter if he left. If he abandoned the people he watched over for centuries, well, were they even still alive? How long had it been since he checked in with the village at the base of his tower.
"What happens now?" Roshi asked as he approached the others. "I assume the answer, but, tell us. What happens while we hide?"
"As long as they are unopposed." King Kai said. "They will do what they like with Earth. I don't think they'll destroy it, I don't see why they would, but, it won't be pretty."
"They're going to go on a killing spree?" Roshi didn't ask, so much as he confirmed. "Will anyone live?"
"You will!" King Kai shouted. "Now, forget your pride and hide!"
"KING KAI!" Piccolo shouted. "The moment I can fight them, you let us know." He growled. "The instant I can stop it, I will. Not a second longer. Do you understand?"
"Yes." King Kai sagged. "You can't die though. You, more than anyone else, need to live." He kicked the ground in frustration. "I, I think I know how to get Kami out of the Dead Zone, but, but I need to research Namekians."
"What's your idea?" Piccolo asked.
"WHY AREN'T YOU HIDING YET!" King Kai shouted.
With that Korin flipped the lid off a particularly large pot and gestured towards it. "This won't be pleasant, but they won't be able to find anyone inside."
Oolong pulled himself up the pot and looked inside. Instead of seeing a ceramic basin he saw a long, dark cave. Yajirobe, in his hurry to enter, pushed Oolong in first, and this time the samurai landed on Oolong.
Piccolo, Roshi, and Korin exchanged glances. Roshi nodded towards the jar and Piccolo dove in after the Earthlings.
"You're not coming." Roshi said, as if he was commenting on the blueness of the sky.
"I can't." Korin said.
Roshi nodded in confirmation. "They're going to kill you."
It was Korin's turn to nod in confirmation. "I've experienced worse by better."
Roshi looked into the jar. He couldn't see, or sense, the others within it, but he knew they were there. He picked the lid up and studied its lack of detail. "I'm staying with you."
Korin swiftly hit Roshi on the head. "Do I need to remind you that I am still your master?" He pointed at the pot. "You still matter, you still have a role to play in the lives of those around you. You will follow them, and you will survive."
Roshi's eyes began to water as well. "And you don't?" He turned on the cat. "You don't think you matter? You don't think you have a point anymore?"
Korin smacked Roshi in the face with his staff, sending the martial arts master to the ground. "I didn't teach you to talk back to me." He growled at his student. "well, I didn't teach you, not first, but I know you respect your elders, I hope you respect me."
Roshi got to his hands and knees. "I do." He pushed himself to his feet. "Which is why I'm not going to let you die alone."
"I know what you're trying to do." Korin said. "It's not going to work."
"They're coming." King Kai said. "It's do or die time."
"Do." Korin hissed at his student.
"Die?" Roshi asked.
"Die." Korin confirmed.
With that the turtle hermit bowed respectfully. When he straightened he was surprised Korin had extended a paw. Roshi shook it, no longer able to stop the tears from flowing. He stepped to the pot, sat on its brim, and swung his legs in.
As Roshi vanished Korin replaced the lid and approached his railing. "Where am I going to go?" He asked.
"You've lead a good life." King Kai said. "Your students don't want to see you, they hope you'd never die, but, but they'll welcome you with open arms during your visit to Heaven."
Author's note: I love how this chapter turned out, and hope you did as well. Please leave a review with your thoughts, and let me know if you have any feedback.