AN. We've skipped forward about a year and Tien is now 16. Almost an adult! Almost into canon! Cuh-razy! Anyway, I hope you enjoy. Gonna revist a theme from an older chapter :)

Chapter Eighteen

Chiaotzu approached the training ring, his heartbeat hard and fast, thrumming in his ears, and anxiety twisting through him like snakes. Master Shen had called him to the central square, requesting his presence, and he had taken his time getting there from his meditation. Tien was in the centre of the ring, moving smoothly through attacks, his face blank. Chiaotzu knew that the triclops zoned out completely when he was fighting, his mind settling into a meditative state which was hard to break. Shen was standing on the grass outside. Chiaotzu wasn't sure that Tien even knew they were there.

"There you are, Chiaotzu," Shen said softly. Tien didn't react, now bracing various parts of his body in defensive positions.

"You called for me, Master?"

Chiaotzu didn't try to keep his voice soft, hoping to alert his best friend of their presence, and sure enough Tien blinked and faltered, his head swinging around. One hand lifted to wipe sweat from his eyes, his tensed muscles relaxing.

"Master?" Tien asked, his voice hesitant. Shen looked momentarily displeased, as though his plan had been interrupted.

"Yes, indeed. Tienshinhan, you need to practice sparring more."

Tien was getting a lot better at keeping his emotions from showing on his face when he wasn't fighting, but Chiaotzu could still read him like a book and could see the very slight signs of confusion and frustration.

"But, Master, I'm too good to fight the other students. They can't compete with me."

This was true. Tao Pai Pai had gone out to fulfil his own contracts about six months prior and in his absence none of the other students were game to face Tien. He was just as brutal to fellow students as he was to strangers in tournaments; more than one person had had to leave the school completely to recover.

"Perhaps." Shen smirked and Chiaotzu's stomach dropped. "You haven't faced Chiaotzu for a long time. Perhaps he could challenge you."

Tien's face fell and his eyes met Chiaotzu's with a frantic intensity. He still hadn't forgiven himself for hurting Chiaotzu so badly in their last match and had refused to spar with him again.

"Master, Chiaotzu isn't very strong. One to one I don't know how he'd do."

"Chiaotzu has other skills," Shen said, and the telepath's skin went cold, as though he'd been dunked in ice water. "I think if you both go all out he may just match your level."

The two students stared at each other for a moment, before Chiaotzu climbed into the ring, standing opposite the sixteen year old. Tien was still only a teenager, but was now at his (hopefully) full height of just over six feet, broad and strongly muscled. Standing next to him made Chiaotzu feel like an even littler kid than he was, diminutive and frail. The idea of facing him one-on-one made the boy's blood run cold.

"Ready?"

Tien ducked into his fighting stance, using a defensive position, his eyes narrowing slightly. Chiaotzu remained standing but tightened his muscles and lifted a millimetre from the slabs, his feet not contacting the ground at all.

"Begin."

Tien hesitated and, sensing his only chance to gain an advantage, Chiaotzu threw both hands forward and wrapped the triclops in bands of his power. He didn't tighten them, just holding Tien in place, trying not to use too much pressure. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open slightly as Tien closed his eyes and with a single sharp movement snapped out of the bind, his arms drawing towards him, his balance shifting.

The broken bands of Chiaotzu's power flickered out of existence and he blinked in surprise as Tien regained his balance and then darted away. Chiaotzu kept still, casting his mind out, then sensed Tien's presence off to the side. He flew up in the air and watched as the triclops sailed under him, his elbow forward. He was unable to stop a slight smile as he reached out his power again, catching Tien under knees so he tripped forwards.

Tien surprised him again, catching his weight on his hands and using them to propel him into the air, his body twisting in mid-air. His leg caught Chiaotzu's side, making the breath whoosh from his lungs. His ki-control faltered and he fell a few feet in the air, catching himself just before the ground.

He whirled to the left and flung his hands out. Immediately Tien froze, his fist raised. He was barely a foot from Chiaotzu, and his eyes were wide with surprise.

"Got you," Chiaotzu said, his triumph showing clearly on his face.

Tien visibly gritted his teeth, trying to snap his arms free again. Chiaotzu concentrated harder, his arched brows coming together in a frown, his power crackling visibly around him. With a start he realised that the teenager was still moving, his muscles straining as he moved as though in slow motion, like he was swimming through treacle. Even at his strongest he couldn't completely immobilise the triclops.

He hesitated, not wanting to move his power to Tien's stomach, not wanting to actually hurt him. He knew that Tien had held back when he'd kicked Chiaotzu in the side; at full strength he would've too winded to regain his control in the short distance to the ground. At the same time, Tien was definitely going to win if he didn't.

He couldn't make up his mind, and as he dithered between the two options Tien managed to break free again and shot towards him. He wasn't able to get his hands up in time and only just managed to block as Tien collided with him. The larger boy pushed him backwards, their forearms locked together.

Chiaotzu couldn't help the swell of pride in his chest as Tien easily pushed him backwards. He reached the edge of the ring and flew backwards, landing gently on the side of the ring, unable to help the slight smile that turned up the corners of his mouth.

"Not good enough."

Chiaotzu's stomach dropped and his face fell back into its usual doll-like countenance. He turned and looked at Shen, who was standing at the edge of the ring and frowning at Tien.

"You need to strike fear, I've told you before."

Tien hesitated. Chiaotzu could see the conflict in his eyes; the gut reaction to obey his master's command battling with the promise he had made to his brother. Tien straightened, his hands clenched into tight fists, and bowed low to Shen. When he spoke his tone was low and firm. Chiaotzu thought he was the only one who could see the slight tremble in the young man's lower lip, the fear in his eyes.

"Master, I've won this fight. I don't need to do anything more."

There was a long silence. Chiaotzu felt a strange combination of joy and fear and pride. He knew how difficult it was to go against a literal lifetime of teaching to defy his teacher. But he was also afraid, because Shen was not used to his star pupil disobeying.

"Tienshinhan, your insolence is very disappointing."

"No insolence meant, Master." Tien's voice was less confident now as he straightened and looked at Shen. "I simply believe that anything further is unnecess -"

He was cut off by Shen slapping him across the face, the old man moving almost faster than Chiaotzu could see. Tien remained standing, his face turned to the side, his eyes clenched shut. Chiaotzu bit the insides of his cheeks hard, trying not to interfere. Shen turned to him and he only had time to open his mouth to speak before he had been slapped as well, tottering backwards before he could regain his balance, colliding with the side of the ring.

"Weak, the pair of you."

Shen turned and strode away, his disgusted words hanging in the air. Chiaotzu lifted one hand and pressed it to his sore cheek as Tien opened his mouth, stretching the muscles either side of his jaw.

"Damn," Tien said, and Chiaotzu was shocked by the smile that appeared on the triclops' face. "That actually went better than expected."

"Tien…"

Tien's eyes softened as he looked down at Chiaotzu, his smile widening slightly.

"You don't have to say anything, Chiaotzu. I promised."

Chiaotzu felt the sting of tears and dropped his eyes, rubbing hard on his cheek, hoping the pain would snap him out of this welling emotion. Tien sat on the edge of the ring and gently rested his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Thank you," Chiaotzu said quietly, and smiled luminously up even as tears spilled onto his cheeks. It was a wonderful feeling, knowing he came above Shen. He felt important, and valuable, and loved. He had never felt so cared for in his memory. Shyly, he said aloud what he had been calling Tien in his head for years, "Onii-san…"

AN. And that's another chapter, done and dusted. My husband has finally (finally!) agreed to watch through Dragon Ball with me, so my watch through has been restricted to the Japanese version (gotta watch 'em both!) so I can't write while watching anymore! So I'm slowing down a little. Hopefully will be able to write a little more in the coming weeks :) Please leave a review, it's always appreciated (Sonar and Ryu no Ohi and commanderAIK [who sent me a lovely PM and has also published their Tien & Chiaotzu friendshippy fic, gooooo read it!] get particular shout outs in this regard! "Yo!" That's a shout out. I'm a very literal person) and I will see you next chapter :D