Chapter 34: Training, Big News, Jasper's Dark Side, and a Visit from a Shinobi
(Opening Theme: Unbreakable by Fireflight)
The Lookout
Rachel and Beate reached The Lookout in about three hours after having to look up the directions a few times. They found Dende and Mr. Popo waiting for them. "Thank you for having us, Dende-sama," Rachel said as she and Beate bowed. "When the Supreme Kai of Time explained things to me, how could I refuse? You need to train for a good cause," Dende said as he bowed back. The small Namekian child had grown much taller and had wrinkles around his mouth, after all he was in his nineties by Earth years, and wore clothes similar to his predecessor, Kami. "I regret not acting on Yuu Lupei before now," Dende said as he led them to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, "He is a monster, but before he was no great threat. There have been many like him throughout Earth's History, he was evil, to be sure, but he was a minor evil in the grand scheme of things." "I just hope that we'll be strong enough to beat him after this," Beate said. "You may not want to focus on power," Dende said as they reached the door to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, "Yuu Lupei is powerful now, but he is a murderer, not a fighter. You should work to sharpen your skills as well. If he was not a warper, Rachel-san, you could easily destroy him yourself. He has grown more powerful, I know that much, but from what little I have found he is still a rank amateur in terms of skill."
"Thank you for the advice," Rachel said as the door opened and she and Beate went inside. "The door will open when 24 hours has passed in our dimension," Mr. Popo said, "Good luck to you." Rachel and Beate bowed once more to Dende and Mr. Popo before the doors shut. As soon as they did they felt as the room became hotter, and gravity seemed to increase around them. The seals that Shurayuki had given them only increased the pressure as well as they walked out of the main shelter. "Damn, I might be a Super Saiyan 3 by the end of this," Beate said. "Alright," Rachel said as she opened a Capsule and various objects appeared out of it. "Time to get to work."
Day 30 in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber
Beate went for a kick only for Rachel to dodge it and land a Hamon powered punch to Beate's stomach. Beate took the hit and backflipped away before blasting a ki ball crackling with Hamon energy at Rachel. The dhampir jumped up to avoid it and pulled out a length of wool. Hamon crackled around the wool fiber as it hardened and went straight at the Saiyan. Beate caught the wool fiber and pulled, bringing Rachel closer. Rachel however was ready and went with the pull, twisting around as Hamon and ki shined out of her, "Enhanced Twister Overdrive!" Beate blocked the kick with her arms and was sent back a hundred feet, but she stayed on her feet. "Alright, let's kick this up a notch!" Beate said as she turned Super Saiyan and flew at Rachel.
Day 99 in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber
"Hamon Net!" Rachel yelled out as Beate landed in her trap. Beate saw the Hamon infused fibers as they closed in on her. Beate saw she was caught, but quickly poured Hamon and ki into her hand to form a golden blade and spun around quickly, severing the net. "Got you!" Rachel said as two fibers wrapped around Beate's legs and Rachel pulled her to herself. Rachel landed a hard kick ot Beate's stomach, making the Saiyan gasp a little before smiling. "Good one babe," Beate said. Rachel smiled then took off her mask, "I think our bodies have adjusted now, we can try without the masks." "You do that if you want, I need more time," Beate told her. Rachel started breathing the right way as Beate was released from the wool holding her. "Alright, let's go again," Beate said as she went Super Saiyan once more, golden Hamon energy crackling around her.
Day 206 in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber
Beate was without a mask as Hamon crackled around her Super Saiyan 2 form. She and Rachel clashed in the air, battling the higher gravity and the seals on them as well as each other as their fists and legs clashed. For thirty minutes they focused solely on each other, struggling to keep up with one another. The fact was that Rachel was the better Hamon user, that combined with the strength she was gaining through their intense training meant that Beate had to struggle to keep up, despite her confidence that she had the higher ki Power Level. Their legs clashed in two powerful spinning roundhouse kicks enhanced with ki and Hamon, creating a blinding light between them. Beate was blinded, but Rachel quickly wrapped her wool fibers around Beate and used her ki enhanced Hamon to tighten the bindings. "I got you again," Beate said triumphantly. "Not quite," Beate said as she breathed and focused her Hamon on her arms.
Beate struggled against the strengthened wool, when suddenly it was torn, and Beate blasted Rachel back with a gold Hamon ki ball. Rachel hit the ground hard and jumped up, struggling to breath the right way to maintain her Hamon level. "What was that?" Rachel asked. "Time out," Beate said, and Rachel stopped her Hamon breathing to breath normally. Beate kept up her breathing and walked close to her and showed her arm, it was crackling with Hamon. Rachel looked closer and gasped, "You…sharpened the fine hairs on your arm!? But…they're so thin!" "Ki and Hamon together made them as strong as steel, maybe stronger," Beate told her. Rachel shook her head, "All this time I was thinking about using tools, and you were enhancing your body and ki techniques." "Hey, it's useful! You've caught me like, what, a thousand times with your string? If I was a vampire, I think I'd be dead by now. I've just seen your stuff enough times that I've thought up how to counter it," Beate said. "Right," Rachel said. "Now then, you ready for Round Six?" Beate asked. Rachel smiled as she resumed her Hamon breathing and they continued their spar.
The Lookout
Dende and Mr. Popo opened the door to the Hyperbolic Time Chamber to see Beate and Rachel in a white and blue gi and a red and black qipao respectively. Both of them looked worn out, it was obvious they hadn't cut their hair in their year inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber as Rachel's hung down to her knees while Beate's was down to the middle of her back. A year of training had led to them both being thinner of face, what they could see of Beate's body showed she had gained muscle and toned her muscles as well. But one thing that hit them was the smell. Dende had a drop of sweat down the back of his head as he said as politely as possible, "I see you were especially focused on your training…" Beate smelled her armpit and both women blushed. Rachel answered as they came out of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, "I'm sorry, Dende-sama…I wanted us to focus on our last four days of training…" "Well…it's not as bad as Goku and Vegeta at least…" Dende said, "Mr. Popo will lead you to our bath room, and you can clean up there. We'll prepare lunch when you're cleaned up." "Thank you, Dende-sama," Beate said as they followed Mr. Popo down several halls to a red door.
Mr. Popo opened it to show a massive bath room, with a pool in the center positively steaming as the scent of lavender and lotus blossoms seemed to emanate from it. "That's a bath!?" Rachel and Beate both yelled. "The water is about four and a half feet deep," Mr. Popo said and pointed to a wall, "There are towels and wash cloths here. Enjoy the bath." "Thank you, Mr. Popo, we will," Beate said as she started taking off her gi shoes. "Leave your clothes here, I'll see to it they're thoroughly cleaned," Mr. Popo said as he turned around to give them their privacy. Rachel and Beate stripped down and went into the massive bath and got on their knees so only their heads appeared over the water. "Alright, you can take them away," Rachel said. Mr. Popo collected their clothes and before shutting the door said, "I'll check in on you in an hour."
For about thirty minutes Beate and Rachel focused on washing themselves before Rachel said, "Hey, babe, let me wash your back." Beate turned around for her and Rachel cleaned her off, seeing the muscles that Beate had developed in their time inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. She gently washed every curve before she reached around and pinched Beate's nipples before her hands went lower. "It's been an entire year, you never complained about us not doing it," Rachel whispered as she rubbed Beate's snatch. Rachel kissed her neck and told her, "Think of this as your reward." Beate moaned as Rachel's fingers went in her and curved in a 'come hither' motion. Rachel sped up and in no time Beate came, Rachel kept on going and bent her girlfriend over the edge of the bath, stroking and kissing her faster and more intensely, not stopping until Beate came a second and a third time. "You were really pent up, weren't you?" Rachel said as she climbed up and sat on the edge of the tub. Rachel spread her legs and motioned with her head. Beate kissed up her legs until she reached her snatch and kissed right above it.
"You gotta shave before we go," Beate told her. "Well eeeee!" Rachel couldn't finish as Beate started licking up and down her slit before forcing her tongue inside her. Rachel held onto Beate's head and moaned out as she pleasured her. Rachel lost track of time as Beate kept on going, it felt too good after so long without that Rachel didn't know how many times she came before Beate finally stopped. Beate climbed out of the bath and pushed Rachel down before getting on top of her, their mouths came together as they reminded each other what making love was like.
ONE HOUR LATER
Mr. Popo opened the door to see Rachel and Beate were…occupied. The caretaker quickly shut the door, his whole body turning red as he walked off.
THREE HOURS LATER
Mr. Popo held his ear to the door before opening and heard the sound of moaning inside, and he quickly left. He met Dende as the God of Earth was meditating. "Still 'occupied'?" Dende asked. Mr. Popo nodded, "It would seem that lunch will turn into dinner." "Most likely," Dende agreed.
EIGHT HOURS LATER
Beate and Rachel finally emerged from the bath room, their longer hair tied into braids down their backs and wearing matching leather jackets with sleeveless white undershirts and black gi pants and boots. Mr. Popo was waiting for them and sarcastically said, "I take it that you're hungry now?" The two women's stomachs answered for them. "Follow me then," Mr. Popo said, and they followed him to a large table filled with numerous dishes, meats of all kinds, salad by the pound, drinks, and a generous helping of cakes. "Help yourselves, I'm really familiar with Saiyan appetites," Dende said as they quickly bowed and said, "Thank you for the food!" The two of them ate with gusto, Dende was reminded of the times he saw Goku, Gohan, Trunks, and Vegeta eating, but Rachel astounded him the most, for almost an hour she matched Beate dish for dish and drink for drink before she finally had enough, while Beate kept eating for another two hours. Beate sat back and sighed, "I wouldn't mind living here, it's awesome." Mr. Popo swallowed nervously at the thought of catering a Saiyan's appetite more than occasionally, but Rachel quickly said, "Sorry, babe. But it's time for us to go." "Alright," Beate said and cracked her knuckles.
Rachel and Beate headed out and bowed to Dende and Mr. Popo one last time, "Thank you for having us." "Take care of each other. And remember, Yuu Lupei may be powerful, but he lacks skill," Dende replied. Rachel took out her portal gun and set it to the Universe she wanted to go to. "Get ready, Beate. Time to see Blade," Rachel said as the portal opened. "Who's that?" Beate asked as they went into the portal.
Cashew Village
When everyone arrived in Cashew Village the first thing they did was see how Kenshiro was doing, then they went to the Hospital and bought a lot of 'Get Well Soon' gifts for Jinbei and Kamiki. By that point they were no longer sedated and were grateful for the extra company. They only left when Tsubaki told them that visiting hours for non-family members was up. They were given permission to stay at Jinbei and Kamiki's house for the night, and they did so. The next morning, Pearl woke up beside Kenshiro and stretched out a little, her feelings mixed. She was happy to spend the night with her boyfriend, but nothing really had happened. Kenshiro was too occupied with thoughts of his Grandparents' wellbeing to perform. Something inside Pearl was frustrated, extremely frustrated. Images of the other men in the house, Barit, Bage, Brocc, even Kenshin, went through her mind before she hit her head to get rid of the thoughts. The image only coalesced as she imagined what each would be like in bed, before she hit herself so hard that it woke Kenshiro up.
"What was that?" he asked. "Nothing," Pearl quickly said as they got out of bed. "Things might get difficult, there's only two bathrooms, and a lot of us," Kenshiro said as they headed downstairs to the kitchen. They saw that Barit, Kaoru, and Kenshin were already making breakfast, while Bage was reading two notes at the table while Jade and Brocc were sipping tea and talking. "Where are Kenji, June, Amaya, and Hirohito?" Kenshiro asked. Bage showed him the notes, from June and Amaya. June's note said,
"To Everyone,
I'm heading back to Conton City to train. I'll be waiting for you to get back.
Love,
June."
Meanwhile, Amaya's was a little more personal,
"Dear Bage,
A personal matter has arisen, Hirohito and I must go. I don't know when we'll get back, but I hope that it will be soon. Keep up with your training Darling.
Love,
Amaya."
That one was actually sealed with a lipstick imprint of a kiss. "Kenji's still sleeping," Kenshin explained, "He'll wake up when he smells the food." "So, what do you think of Cashew Village?" Kenshiro asked. "I like it here," Kaoru said, "It reminds me of home. With the money Shurayuki-sensei left us, we could…start over…" Kenshiro smiled at this, "We'd be happy to have you. Cashew Village always helps anyone that needs it." "Thank you, Kenshiro-san, but we aren't settling down yet," Kaoru said, "Not until that monster is dead." The hard look in her eyes was resolute. "I understand," Kenshiro nodded. The food was ready and Kenji came down the stairs, rubbing his eyes before he saw the food. Everyone sat down to eat after Kenshiro made a small offering to the shrine of his parents, Pearl saw that there were now two places to burn incense, but it had the same picture, of Shiro and Shurayuki together with the newborn Kenshiro.
In the middle of breakfast, Bage's phone went off and he checked it. "Well, things have gotten interesting now," he said. "What is it?" Jade asked. "Warpers can have bounties on their heads, so their enemies can pay other Warper mercenaries to go after them. Me, June, Taoretta, Ryo, Amaya, Rachel, even Hirohito are worth a lot now," Bage said as he showed everyone. Taoretta had a Bounty of 140000000 Zeni, June's Bounty was 75000000, Rachel's was 15000000, Amaya's was 30000000, Hirohito's was 3000000, to their surprise they saw that the Soon from Ryo's Universe was worth 105000000, while Ryo's own Bounty was a whopping 2105000000, and Bage's was jumped to 2800000. "I've never seen so many zeroes before!" Kaoru exclaimed, "Your enemies must really hate you!" "They can try their best," Bage said, "But I don't die easily, Amaya's too much for anyone that wants to try, Hirohito's more powerful than you imagine, same with June. The only one I'm really worried about is Rachel, but she's training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, she should come out of that more powerful than ever."
"This one hopes you're right," Kenshin said as they continued eating. After breakfast they all decided to return back to Conton City and get cleaned up there, then take the day off to do as they wished, while Kenshiro stayed to look after his Grandparents' and their farm. Before Pearl Instant Transmitted back to Conton City, Kenshiro gave her a kiss and whispered, "I'll have that necklace by tomorrow." Pearl's heart fluttered a little and the next second, they were back in Conton City.
Conton City
"What did he mean, 'necklace'?" Barit asked. Pearl had a large grin on her face then as she said, "We're getting married!"
C-O-M-P-L-E-T-E-S-I-L-E-N-C-E from everyone for one solid minute before Jade and Kaoru immediately squealed in delight and Brocc turned to Bage smugly, "Pay up!" "What, but…where's your ring!?" Jade asked Pearl. "In Cashew Village you have to make a necklace to make the engagement official, but he asked, I accepted, it's happening!" Pearl excitedly explained. "About time," Barit said. "Congratulations Sensei!" Kenji said. "Indeed," Kenshin said with a smile. "WAIT!" Jade said, "We gotta call Mama and Papa, tell them the news! And Jasper too!" "Yeah," Pearl said, not sure what to think of her brother. His fights with Beate and Shurayuki had…unnerved her, yet at Shurayuki's funeral he was nothing less than completely respectful. She wasn't sure what to think. "Alright, I'll call Mama and Papa," Pearl said, "Jade, you can tell Jasper, after we get cleaned up and change." "Sensei," Kenji said as Pearl got ready to head to her apartment, "Can we please train some today?" Pearl looked down at Kenji's big eyes and his excitement. She couldn't say anything else but, "Alright. In an hour we'll go to the Bamboo District. Is that alright, Kenshin-san, Kaoru-san?" "One hour, that's plenty of time," Kaoru said. "See you soon," Pearl said, and she and Barit headed back to their apartment.
Pearl took the shower first and cleaned herself up, then got wrapped in her towels and headed to her room. She looked around, trying to think of an outfit before she finally decided to just mix and match some. She put on a purple qipao top with black sleeves and black shorts from Videl's Orange Star High School outfit, her weighted armbands and boots. Pearl checked herself in the mirror and thought aloud, "Wow…my legs look really skinny with these puffy sleeves…Oh well." Pearl cracked her neck and knuckles and took a leisurely stroll to the Bamboo District and started stretching out some. Majins didn't need to stretch as much as other species, but it still helped. Her Mama always said that being nice and loose kept you fast and strong. She got to stretching, making sure to touch her head to her knees and then stretch back until she could grab her ankles. She stretched her arms and legs out as far as they could go then shook them out before shadowboxing the air.
After thirty minutes of this Pearl assumed the Lotus Position and meditated as she waited for Kenji and his parents. After five minutes they all arrived and Pearl stayed silent, to see how long Kenji would wait. After another silent five minutes, Pearl opened her eyes to see Kenji wearing the Krillin's Armor set she bought for him, sitting in the seiza position patiently waiting. "You know to be patient, that's good. Kaoru-san, Kenshin-san, you taught Kenji-chan well," Pearl said. Kaoru had a proud smile on her face at that as Pearl stood up as did Kenji. Kenji and Pearl bowed to each other before Pearl said, "Assume a fighting stance." Kenji raised his fists and assumed a horse stance. "No no, the horse stance is a training stance, not a fighting stance. You're too wide open," Pearl explained. "Your groin is wide open, your body is on full display, and your legs are too stiff. Let me show you," Pearl said as she threw a kick to Kenji's groin, but stopped before she hit, then threw punches to his stomach, then top fo his head as Kenji struggled to block.
"Now, put your stronger leg forward, like that, unbend your legs more, a little more, yes, now, separate your hands, one to guard high, the other to guard low," Pearl explained as Kenji moved the way she instructed. Kenji was now in a true fighting stance and Pearl nodded, "I'm going to attack you, I want you to avoid my blows." "Yes, Sensei!" Kenji said. Pearl lowered her Power Level close to Kenji's and threw her punch to Kenji's face and Kenji narrowly ducked under the punch. Pearl tried to sweep his legs, but Kenji jumped up and backflipped away. "Yes, that's good. Now I'm going to attack you again, and I want you to not just avoid, but counter attack as well," Pearl said as she went at Kenji again. The little child backed away to avoid Pearl's kick then charged forward for a punch that Pearl blocked. She then tried a knee that Kenji blocked with both of his hands and tried a round kick that Pearl blocked with one hand then she tried a backfist. Kenji ducked below the strike and tried to kick Pearl's legs out, only for her to jump up and avoid his shorter legs before trying to stomp on him. Kenji rolled away and quickly jumped up to fly at Pearl.
Pearl blocked and countered every blow Kenji threw at her and let him counter her own attacks. The boy was already quite powerful she could tell as his ki aura grew around him as he tried to land a hit on her while Pearl's own ki aura barely showed at all. Eventually Pearl caught Kenji's right fist, and then his left and held him at her longer arm's length. "You're captured, your opponent is larger than you and you can't counter anymore. What should you do?" Pearl asked him. "Try a ki attack?" Kenji asked. "If you have time for one," Pearl told him, "Remember, I can still hit you with my legs." Pearl demonstrated by lifting her foot to his groin, then his stomach, and finally his chin. "Your opponent may not allow you to use ki. They may continue their attack, or use their environment to their advantage, like pounding you into the ground," Pearl said as she lifted him up and then pretended to slam Kenji into the ground, "Or a wall or tree, or pole. They can also use their head." Pearl pulled Kenji closer and gently touched her forehead to his to demonstrate.
"That was a good answer Kenji-chan, but it's not something that is immediate. Only a master can instantly blast ki from their mouth or eyes, or even their feet. Another thing you can do is use your opponent's momentum against them. Contract when they expand, retreat when they advance, pull when they push is one strategy you can use," Pearl said. Pearl went to head butt Kenji, but he quickly took her advice to heart and leaned back and pulled, using Pearl's own momentum against her to toss her behind, her back hitting the ground. "Very good! It took me five tries to understand that principle!" Pearl said as she let go of Kenji and stood up. "Sensei, are we going to learn techniques now?" Kenji asked. "No, Kenji-chan, the fact is that you shouldn't be using ki yet. You need to learn the basics first, how to defend, attack, counter, and move before you can learn techniques. Ryo gave you the scroll before you were ready. Instead, I want you to focus on your body and mind, for now. Later, we'll focus on your spirit, that is, ki," Pearl said. "I understand, Sensei," Kenji said as he bowed to her.
"Now, you will need a strong body to enhance your strength in ki. A healthy body generates ki more efficiently, and the only way to have a healthy body is to eat the right food, avoid too much of the wrong food, and exercise. Now, let's begin your exercise," Pearl said as she started to jog, Kenji followed with Kaoru and Kenshin close behind. Pearl ran and Kenji followed close behind, though it helped that Pearl kept her pace slow enough for him to keep up. After three laps around Conton City, Kenji was starting to slow, but wasn't giving up. Pearl led him through one more lap before she stopped at the Bamboo District again. "Alright, now, to stretch," Pearl said, and led Kenji through the right stretches for twenty minutes. "Keeping a flexible body is good for your speed, your strength, and your balance. Majins like me are naturally very flexible, but a human like you needs to stretch your muscles to maintain your flexibility. You should stretch everyday after waking up, and again before getting ready for bed to keep your flexibility, and stretch before you train, and after you train," Pearl said as she helped Kenji stretch.
He was quite flexible already because he was so young, but he nonetheless said, "Yes, Sensei!" "Also, don't be afraid to rest. A strong body also needs to rest, after a few days of training, letting your body rest will allow it to be stronger," Pearl taught as they finished stretching. "Now, for the exercises," Pearl said as she led him through pushups, sit-ups, leg lifts, crunches, punches to the air, and kicks to the air as well. By the time they were done with the exercises Kenji was sweating profusely, while Pearl was barely winded. "Kenshin-san, can you get some water for Kenji-chan while we stretch again?" Pearl asked. "Of course," Kenshin said as he went to get water while Pearl helped Kenji stretch. Pearl couldn't help but remember training with her Mama then…
Seven Years Ago
Pearl let fly with her kicks as Buudikka blocked and dodged them. "Keep your balance," Buudikka said as she swept Pearl's foot. Pearl slapped the ground to avoid getting too hurt and rolled back as Buudikka went for an axe kick. Pearl jumped up and stretched out her hand for a punch that Buudikka caught, then Pearl pulled back her arm and charged at Buudikka at the same time for a kick. Buudikka blocked the kick with her knee and smiled, "Very good Pearl! Get creative! Be flexible! That is the Bouncing Way!" Buudikka said as they continued to spar. Pearl never landed a single strike and took many from her Mother, yet Pearl would not give up for the whole hour. By the time Buudikka finally stopped, Pearl was bruised on her stomach and arms and her legs felt so sore she was glad Majins didn't have bones, they'd probably be broken.
Pearl fell on her butt as she struggled to breath. "It's no good Mama, I'm just not strong like you! I'll never be as strong as you! Jasper, Jade, Amber, they're all stronger than me, even Silver's Power Level was higher than mine when I was born. I'm just a weakling!" Pearl said as tears welled up in her eyes. Buudikka sat down in front of her and said, "Pearl, my Precious Pearl, look at me." Pear looked up to see her Mother smiling at her with pride. "It's not about the strength of your body. You may not have that, but you have two things that matter more," Buudikka said. Buudikka reached out her hand and touched Pearl's chest, where a human's heart normally was, "You have a brave and good heart, like when you protected your sisters from those bullies." "Jasper ended up saving us," Pearl said. "Did you know he'd show up?" Buudikka asked. Pearl shook her head. "You still stood up to them anyway, to do the right thing. You also have a nice, big brain in here," Buudikka said, poking Pearl's forehead, "Your teachers always tell me that you're their top student. You don't have to be a warrior to make me proud. Just be you."
Present Time
Pearl had finished helping Kenji stretch and Kenji drank the water Kenshin brought for him before she stood and asked him, "Are you ready for one more round of sparring?" "Yes Sensei!" Kenji said. He looked very tired, but his eyes were focused and filled with resolve. "Alright, this is the end of your training for today. I want you to go all out, use everything you have, let your ki flow through you and let it strengthen you," Pearl told her student. She activated her Scouter Glasses as Kenji let out a loud kiai and his Power Level grew and grew until at last it topped out at 25000. "Amazing!" Pearl said as Kenji flew at her. Pearl blocked and avoided all of Kenji's punches and kicks, all the while praising him. "That's it! You truly are a prodigy Kenji-chan, your Power Level is 30000, you have the strength of 6000 normal people flowing through you!" Pearl went on the offense then, and Kenji struggled to keep up and counter her attacks. For every counter he tried, there were many more where he struggled just to defend. After fifteen minutes Pearl landed a blow to Kenji's stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
Kenji fell to the ground struggling to breath as Kenshin and Kaoru ran to him. "Wait!" Kenji said, "I can…do this!" Kenji said as he forced himself to stand. Pearl hadn't hit him hard, it was obvious that Kenji had used up all his power and was thoroughly exhausted, yet still he stood, ready to keep on going. "That's enough for today," Pearl said and stood up straight. Kenji did the same and they bowed to each other, and then Kenji fell back with a smile on his face. "Kenji!" Kaoru and Kenshin yelled as they helped him up. "Did you see me…Oka-san? Tou-san? Did I do good?" Kenji asked. "You were magnificent, son. We're so proud of you," Kenshin said. "You were amazing," Kaoru assured him as they picked him up. "Can we train tomorrow, Sensei?" Kenji asked. "If you can, we will," Pearl told him, "Remember to stretch tonight to keep your body flexible." "I will, Sensei," Kenji said as he nodded off to sleep. "He pushed himself too hard," Kaoru said.
"I'm sorry," Pearl said. "Don't be," Kaoru said, "It's been too long since I've seen him smile so much. Thank you for giving him this, Pearl." Pearl bowed to the Himuras and said, "It's a pleasure teaching Kenji-chan."
Jade
Jade was wearing her blue and green qipao as she made her way to an apartment, she just felt for his ki signature and followed that. It wasn't Jasper's apartment from what she could tell, it was too far away from any restaurants or bakeries like all Majins liked, then again that diet and training regimen Jasper had been on called for him to cut back on sweets. The Majin girl followed her brother's ki signature to the right apartment and knocked on the door. After two minutes and a few more knocks the door was opened by a blonde Saiyan woman with a mohawk and wearing torn orange pants, and she was topless, displaying some sizable knockers for all to see. "Yeah?" the topless Saiyan woman said. "Hi," Jade said, "Is my brother Jasper here?" "Yeah, come in," the woman said. She walked in to see Jasper coming out of a shower in just a towel.
"Oh shit!" Jasper said, "G-give me a minute Jade!" The male Majin quickly ran into a bedroom and shut the door. "Sit wherever, I don't care. Just don't break anything," the woman said. Jade sat down on a recliner, it was that or a couch that looked a few seconds away from falling apart. "So…hi, I'm Jade, I'm Jasper's little sister," Jade introduced herself to the topless Saiyan woman. "Name's Mitsuba, kid," the woman said as she laid down on the couch and stretched. "Aren't you gonna…get a shirt?" Jade said. "Why? You think my tits are sagging?" Mitsuba said as she sat up. "NO! Uh…never mind," Jade said as Mitsuba smirked. The apartment had second hand furniture, even the dining chairs and table looked well used, while the walls were decorated with various old Kaiju and Mecha movies. Jasper came out with his black gi pants on, "Sorry Jade, didn't expect you to show up. This is Mitsuba, my new friend, and this is her apartment."
"Yeah, brought Blob Boy home to see how he is in the sack. Ain't had a good screw since High School, till now," Mitsuba said. "You're racking 'em up like Sensei did, Bro," Jade told Jasper. "What can I say, I'm irresistible to any man-lover," Jasper smirked and stretched back to show off his abs. "Well, that's not why I came, I got some big news!" Jade excitedly said. "What?" Jasper asked. "Pearl and Kenshiro are getting married!" Jade screamed. "WHAT!?" Jasper yelled in surprise. "Yeah! He proposed to her yesterday, and she said yes! Thing is to make it official he needs to make her a necklace, he said he'd have it by tomorrow! I can't believe it!" Jade quickly yelled in excitement. "Whoa," Jasper said and plopped down next to Mitsuba, "Pearl getting married… Always thought she'd marry a nerd like herself, not Kenshiro." "Kenshiro…Pearl… Oh yeah, your sister's the one the Supreme Kai of Time chose, right?" Mitsuba said, "Grey, nerdy, no tits?" "Hey! She's got boobs, they're just not that big," Jade said, "But yeah." "Kenshiro's the hot goody two shoes Human with the big dick, right?" Mitsuba said.
"When'd you see his dick?" Jasper asked. "Few weeks ago some ninja came and attacked the new spa, him, Pearl, some albino chick with a bunch of scars and a yellow Namekian beat them. Everyone saw them," Mitsuba said as she dug her phone out and showed video of Pearl and Barit fighting shinobi. "Damn…Pearl never told us about this!" Jade said. The video showed Pearl screaming as her and her friends struggled to cover themselves before she Instant Transmitted them away. "Damn, guy like that with a girl like her… How greedy," Mitsuba said as she got up and went to her fridge. "Anyway, I guess this calls for a drink, to Pearl and Kenshiro, hope they don't break the bed," Mitsuba said as she pulled out three bottles and tossed one each to Jasper and Jade. "Um…what is this?" Jade asked. "Apple juice, strong apple juice," Mitsuba said with a smirk as she pulled the cap off and chugged her bottle down. Jasper smirked a little and did the same, leaving Jade. "Go ahead Sis," Jasper said, "I won't tell Mom and Dad if you don't." "Thanks," Jade said and opened the bottle and took a sip. She gagged a little but swallowed, at least it tasted like apples; apples and hair spray.
"Take your time kid," Mitsuba said, "First time hits hard." "Thanks," Jade said as she slowly drank the 'apple juice'. She felt a little dizzy when she was done, but was otherwise alright. By the time she finished drinking, Jasper was already dressed in his shoes and a denim jacket with a weird symbol on it. "Alright, let's go Sis, it's been a while, we haven't talked much. I'll take you home and you can tell me what's going on," Jasper said. "Alllright!" Jade said as she stood up, she almost fell but Jasper caught her shoulders. "See you later Mitsuba," Jasper said. "I'll call ya later Kid, Barack might wanna talk to ya too," Mitsuba said as Jasper led Jade out of her apartment. "Who's Barack?" Jade asked. "I joined a…club, where I met Mitsuba. Barack's the Club's Leader," Jasper explained, "But enough about me, what about that little guy that was hanging out with you at Shurayuki's funeral?"
"Disz? Nah, he just sold me, Sensei, Mama, Pearl, Rachel, and Beate our bathing suits. Mama made him pass out, and later at the beach Sensei made him her new boy toy is all. He was just being nice," Jade told him. "My boyfriend is that blue skinned hunk of Saiyan meat, Brocc." "Brocc huh? So, how serious are you?" Jasper asked. "We screw regularly," Jade said and giggled, whispering in Jasper's ear, "I even did the Naked Apron with him. God, Super Saiyans are huge! Then he went Super Saiyan 3, I swear to Dende it must have been this big!" Jade stopped and spread her hands over a foot apart. "I get it! Jeeze! Too much information," Jasper said as they continued walking. "He a good fighter?" Jasper asked, wanting to change the subject. "Oh yeah! He killed a bunch of Units himself, even went toe to toe with the strongest one, Unit 124, and since he's a Saiyan I bet he's even stronger now!" Jade said. "Really," Jasper said, "Think he'd be interested in a little sparring match?" "Yeah, as long as we're not here in the city, maybe at the Time Machine Station like when you fought Sensei," Jade suggested. "Alright," Jasper said as they reached her apartment.
Brocc was already there, dressed in a full Ginyu Force White Armor set, drinking a smoothie. "Hey Babe," Brocc said, "Hi…Jasper, right?" "Yeah. So you're the guy that's screwing my little sister," Jasper said with a cocky grin as he extended his hand. Brocc took it and the two of them squeezed each other's hands tightly. After a minute Jade said, "Alright, quit the dick measuring contest! You got him beat in that department when you go Super Saiyan, Brocc." "JADE!" Jasper yelled as he let go of Brocc's hand. "Oh don't be so angry, Sensei told me that it's all about skill and stamina anyway, not size. She would know, she screwed like three hundred guys and over two hundred girls or something," Jade flippantly said. "Sheesh! And Kenshiro's her only kid!?" Brocc asked. "Yeah, she only wanted kids with someone she loved," Jade said, starting to feel sad. "I'm sorry, Jade. But it was her choice, she didn't want to come back. I guess she did all she wanted to," Brocc said, then turned to Jasper, "So, what do you want?"
"Jade told me you can go Super Saiyan 3. I wanna test that out," Jasper said with a smirk. "Oh yeah?" Brocc smirked back. "Well let's go then." Jade rolled her eyes but still followed them as they headed to the Time Machine Station. Along the way they saw Pearl as well as the Himuras, Kenshin was carrying a sleepy Kenji. "Hey, where are you going?" Pearl asked. "Jasper and me are having a friendly sparring match," Brocc confidently said. "You sure about that?" Pearl said, remembering when Shurayuki had a 'sparring match.' "Yeah, I am," Brocc said as Pearl and the Himuras followed them. Pearl followed after Jade, "Jade, you should stop Brocc now…I don't think he can win against Jasper, and…I…feel something different about our brother now." "Come on, Sis, it's Jasper! He can control himself," Jade said, trying to get her to stop worrying, but Jade had some doubts herself. They reached the Time Machine Station and Jasper said, "No time limit. We fight in the Mountains. Think you can handle it?" Brocc cracked his neck and said, "Bring it."
They set the conditions with the right robot, and in a flash of light they were gone, and appeared onscreen in the Mountains. The second the fight started Jasper went right at Brocc, Jade couldn't follow, but Pearl looked like she could and she knew Brocc had as he nimbly dodged a punch then kicked Jasper back and went Super Vegeta. "Come on, give me a challenge at least," Jasper said as he lifted his hands and blasted Assault Rain into the sky. Brocc dodged every falling blast and went for a punch that Jasper caught before Brocc kicked his legs out from under him then kicked him back. Jasper spun up and hit Brocc with an Explosive Ki Wave, knocking Brocc into a mountain before appearing in front of him and kicking him through it. Brocc dodged a large ki ball Jasper sent his way and quickly went Super Vegeta 2 and flew at Jasper. He threw a punch that Jasper caught and another. "Anymore bright ideas?" Jasper asked him. Brocc's answer was a Break Cannon from his mouth right in Jasper's face, blasting him back as Brocc held on to his hands. Jasper came back fast, like a rubber band and aiming for a head butt only for Brocc to axe kick him to the ground before letting him go.
Jasper got up and smirked, "That the best you can do?" Before Jade could see what happened, Jasper had Brocc by his throat and tossed him into the ground before launching an Explosive Buu-Buu Assault, his fists raining down on Brocc before he jumped back. Brocc got up and spat blood, looking a lot worse for wear. "Come on, Super Saiyan 3, show me your real power," Jasper said, Jade thought she saw a dark aura around Jasper for a second, but then it was gone. "You asked for it. I admit, I overestimated how much stronger I am. But remember this man. You. Asked. For. This!" Brocc yelled as he yelled out with all his might, and his hair grew longer and longer as the mountains all shook around them until Brocc at last turned Super Saiyan 3. "Let's go!" Brocc yelled. Jade couldn't follow them, the two of them were moving too fast for her to see, but she saw Pearl was following closely. "Who's winning? I can't tell!" Jade asked. "Jasper, still. They're about even, neither one is hitting the other, but Brocc's a lot more hurt than Jasper is."
Jade saw brief flashes between noise and shockwaves, Jasper blocking an elbow, Brocc dodging a kick, Jasper and Brocc's legs clashing between them, and many more. It was all so fast, yet Pearl was following it easily. Suddenly there was an explosion of light, and when the light dissipated it showed Brocc and Jasper locked together. The two stretched their heads back and slammed them into each other hard enough to create a shockwave, then again, and again! Time Patrollers watching winced as the two literally butted heads, after ten clashes Brocc's forehead was bleeding, yet he kept on going. Blood was soon covering Brocc's and Jasper's heads, all of it was Brocc's, but he refused to give up. "JASPER STOP!" Jade screamed at the screen, but neither warrior did as their heads clashed again, harder than before. Brocc's knees buckled then and Jasper fell back then let go of Brocc's hands before kicking his stomach, sending him sky high. Jasper wasn't done though, as he flew up and grabbed Brocc's ankle and yelled, "Say my name, bitch!" Jasper slammed Brocc into the ground hard enough to leave an imprint then lifted him up again to slam him again, but Brocc's Super Saiyan form disappeared, and he was knocked out. "K.O.!" the screen declared as it shut off, and in a flash of light, Jasper and Brocc returned to Conton City. "BROCC!" Jade screamed as she went to her still unconscious boyfriend. Jasper looked down at him and Jade stood up to her older brother and said, "You didn't have to do that!"
"It was a fight, we both said we'd go until one of us was knocked out," Jasper said. "You dragged it out! You didn't have to humiliate him like that, you could have beaten him before he went Super Saiyan 3, but you deliberately held back to make him transform," Pearl told him. Jasper looked at Pearl and said in a voice Jade didn't like, "You think you can take me now, Toothpick?" Jasper's ki aura flared out around them swirling around and making a lot of Time Patrollers back off from him. Kenji stirred awake and held Kenshin tight when he saw Jasper, and Kenshin held his son tighter. "Jasper, calm down. You need to control yourself better," Pearl calmly said. Jasper snorted and said, "Congrats on your guy proposing," then turned and walked away, people giving him a wide berth as he passed them. "What am I going to do with him?" Pearl asked. Brocc woke up and said, "Ugh, my head feels like it exploded." "It almost did," Jade told him as she hugged him then helped him up. "Man, your brother's tough," Brocc said.
"He's stronger than I thought… And he's a lot…angrier now too," Pearl said. "What's his deal?" Brocc asked her. "I don't know…Jasper always liked fighting, but Mama taught him to stay in control, he never…went off on people before he came here… Jade, how was he before now?" Pearl asked. "Well, he was…Jasper! Happy go lucky, showed off his latest FWB, said he joined a club with her, he got a little macho when he heard about Brocc, but I didn't think it mattered since he's always been looking for guys to fight," Jade said. "Who's his latest FWB?" Pearl asked. "Some blonde Saiyan punker girl, uh…Mitsuba. She called you flat, but she didn't seem all that bad…" Jade said. Pearl shook her head as Kenshin said, "Something is very wrong here."
Cashew Village
Kenshiro wiped his face after he finished planting the soybeans, lettuce, and daikon his family grew since first settling in Cashew Village. He looked at the field feeling proud of himself, even if he had destroyed his weighted wrist bands, the weighted boots he wore still slowed him considerably, but he managed to plant all the crops by himself. He took a minute to drink from his canteen and remember as a kid Grandpa and Grandma hired about twenty young men as old as he was now to help them plant their crops. He thought about Praxtic's visit earlier to tell him that he was now rich, inheritance from his Mom. He simply couldn't imagine what he would do with all that money. He dispelled those thoughts checked the sun and saw he had to clean up now before seeing his Grandparents in the Hospital, if he hurried he'd have about four hours before visiting hours ended. Kenshiro put his tools away and took off his coat and undershirt before he heard something flying towards his head.
Kenshiro dodged the shuriken thrown at him and caught it, searching for a ki signature. He didn't find any, his opponent was good. "Come out," Kenshiro said, "If it's Oroshi Shurayuki, my Mom, that you're after, you're too late. She's dead." Kenshiro felt the air behind him and quickly turned around to block a spear with his hands and tear it out of his attacker's hands. The shinobi was tall and thin and tossed something that Kenshiro quickly grabbed with his coat and shirt before tossing them aside and blasting the shinobi with ki. The shinobi dodged the blast but Kenshiro quickly ran forward and slammed his knee into his attacker's crotch. The shinobi ignored the pain as he grabbed Kenshiro, but he quickly grabbed the shinobi's arm and slammed him into the ground before putting him into a tight arm lock. "Give up now, or I'll tear your arm right off!" Kenshiro said. The shinobi sighed, he had a man's voice, "Yuki was right, you truly are an amazing fighter." "Who are you?" Kenshiro asked. "I am…was a friend of Yuki's," the shinobi said. "Why'd you attack me?" Kenshiro demanded. "To test you myself, to make sure you really were her son. She taught you well, boy," the shinobi said. "How can I know you're telling the truth?" Kenshiro said.
"Your Father's last words were, 'Yuki run,' and then he died tossing you to her," the shinobi said. Kenshiro blinked and let him go, his Mom had indeed told him that, the same day he was born and his Father died, the day she got the scar on her face. She had only told him and his Grandparents that, he thought. The shinobi stood up and took off his mask, the man was bald and had once been handsome, but a scar that had cost him sight in one milky eye and another that split his forehead in two took away his good looks. "Inside," Kenshiro said as he grabbed his coat and shirt. "Shake them out, I use glass shards in my happō," the shinobi said. Kenshiro shook his clothes out several times and checked to make sure all the glass was out, then headed inside after the shinobi. "Why are you here?" Kenshiro asked him. The shinobi lifted his hands, "My name is Kuwabara Hatori. I was a friend of Yuki's, I came here to give her something, but by the time I arrived, she was already dead. I guess this is yours now. I'm taking it out of my shirt, it's in a Capsule." The shinobi, Kuwabara Hatori said as he reached in and pulled out a Capsule and pressed the button on it.
The smoke cleared to show a scrapbook with numerous news clippings and photographs in it. "What is this?" Kenshiro asked as he took it. "You may not believe this, but your Mom and I were more than friends," Kuwabara said. "You and about six hundred other people were 'more than friends' with my Mom. I walked in on her enough times to know that," Kenshiro said. "Fair enough," Kuwabara said, "But I was in love with her. Not many women would want to be with this without monetary compensation," the shinobi indicated his face, "But Yuki said she didn't care even after I got these scars. But it was more than that. We must have saved each other's lives dozens of times. She always talked about you, she always called you her 'Greatest Achievement." "Mom never mentioned you, or any 'friends'", Kenshiro said as he looked through the scrapbook. There were clippings of Yakuza bosses, pimps, human trafficking rings, corrupt politicians, and other scum assassinated, children mysteriously appearing in orphanages, anonymous donations to those orphanages and other charities devoted to helping poor families.
"You saying my Mom did all this?" Kenshiro asked. Kuwabara nodded, "Yuki always said she would go to Hell for the horrible things she did to avenge Shiro, but I never believed her. I made that to show her that she was better than she realized. After she had her revenge, something changed. Before, she was like all shinobi, willing to kill anyone for the right price. But afterwards, she stopped. She never stopped accepting contracts, but she wouldn't accept contracts from just anyone anymore. I asked her once about it, and she said that she had enough innocent blood on her hands, and didn't want anymore." Kuwabara looked at the shrine to Shiro and Shurayuki, especially the picture as he turned his back to Kenshiro. "I had hoped…this could have been me. But she said that she didn't want you to be part of the shinobi world, and with two shinobi parents, you, and any child we had would have to be part of it too, or risk being killed by our enemies. I respected her wishes. I only wish I could have seen her one last time," Kuwabara said.
"Look, thank you, for this. Is there…anything I can get you?" Kenshiro asked. "No, I doubt that we'll see each other again," Kuwabara said and looked in Kenshiro's eyes. "You inherited the best things of your parents, I hope that you have a long and happy life, Kenshiro," Kuwabara said. The shinobi left through the door and leapt into the air, jumping far outside of Cashew Village. Kenshiro watched him go, then went back inside, putting the scrapbook on the dining table to read later, he had to see get to the Hospital before visiting hours ended. But, he felt a little better, seeing the pictures of children his Mom had saved.
Unknown Dimension, Twilight Universe
Shadlyn watched as Yuu Lupei slaughtered the Cullens with the powers he had gained from the Hellsing Universe. They were blown up with magic playing cards, tore each other apart under the veil of illusions, and even now the Cullen Patriarch was being riddled by bullets that changed direction in mid-air. She watched in satisfaction as their mansion burned, and Yuu walked out of the flames carrying a woman's right arm. "That felt good, Round 2 goes to me," Yuu smiled a bloody smile. "All of them are dead?" Shadlyn asked. "I left Renesmee and Bella alive for you to finish. They're somewhere in the woods, I think that Jacob guy might be there too, I lost track of all the werewolves after six," Yuu said as he took a bite out of the arm he had, then coughed up glitter. "Figures," he said as he threw it back into the burning mansion. "Aren't you worried about your daughter?" Shadlyn asked. "No, I guess I can't turn her to our side. Oh well," Yuu said, then looked at the woods, "I never wanted kids anyway. You better hurry up before those bitches get away. I tore their legs off, but these fairies are still pretty fast." Shadlyn smiled as she flew into the woods, ready to kill some more. Yuu wondered what Universe to visit next, there were so many more interesting vampires to visit, and absorb.
(Ending Theme: Whispers in the Dark by Skillet)