AN. So I'm dropping us smack bang in the middle of the finals now. Goku vs Tien, and all that entails. I hope you enjoy.

Big thanks to CommanderAIK for looking over this chapter for me and reassuring my anxious mind. You're the best!

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chiaotzu held out one finger, his other hand gripping tight to the brick wall surrounding the ring. His face was beaded with sweat, his mouth set in a trembling line, as he looked at the fight raging before him. Disgust swirled in him, twisting his insides into knots. After all he had promised and all he had sworn, here he was again. Interfering.

Again. Shen's voice echoed in his mind, cold and firm.

He nodded shakily and his power shot from his fingertip and wrapped tight around the boy in the ring. Goku froze, pain stretching his features, and Tien let out a cry of triumph as he slammed his fist into the tailed boy's face. The boy fell heavily to the ground, the power around him stretching slightly before reforming around where he lay, unable to rise. Surprisingly, the boy could still move, and grabbed at Tien's leg guard, a soft muttered statement that Chiaotzu couldn't hear leaving his lips.

The count began. Tien stood beside the fallen child, a frown on his features. Chiaotzu could hear Shen's telepathy, urging the triclops to strike the final blow, to kill the boy who had murdered Tao.

As he held the boy stationary his mind flashed back to the previous day, the semi-finals. Since his surprising victory by ring-out Tien had been even more closed off, snapping at Chiaotzu at dinner and then meditating by himself overnight, getting maybe an hour of unsettled sleep. Chiaotzu had not been able to sleep much either; his mind continually flashing back to the brief telepathic conversation he had had with the Turtle Hermit. If Roshi had said such things to him, just what had he been saying to Tien?

Now, as he watched, Tien's frown deepened, and sudden understanding flashed across his face. His voice sounded in the telepath's mind, his tone flat as though he already knew the answer, Chiaotzu, is this your doing?

Chiaotzu bit his lower lip, not responding, knowing that Tien would be able to feel the shame filling him.

The triclops bared his teeth in a silent snarl, his telepathic voice furious. How dare you!? This is my fight! I did not ask for, nor do I require your help. Let him go.

Chiaotzu turned his head and looked up at Shen, uncertain how to respond. He didn't want to do this, didn't want to interfere, but Master Shen had told him to and so he had complied.

Shen was saying something along these lines, but his words blurred together and became intelligible to Chiaotzu as he met Tien's eyes. There was anger there, certainly, burning brightly, but there was also a very slight hint of concern, something that Chiaotzu wasn't completely sure was actually there or if it was just a figment of his imagination.

Eventually Shen's words became clear as he issued an order, one that made Chiaotzu's muscles tense with anxiety. Kill him, Tienshinhan. He killed Tao! Your master! Kill the brat! That's an order!

"Stop it!" Tien shouted, and in shock Chiaotzu's whole body flinched, his hand jolting backwards, opening slightly, his power flickering out.

Goku immediately leapt to his feet, bouncing away, his face twisted with disgust. "Why you cheating…"

He darted forward, only to be stopped by his own master's shout, "Goku, stop!"

The tailed boy screeched to a halt on the white slabs, blinking wide-eyed at Master Roshi, as Tien stood with his hands curled into fists and his head down.

"Tienshinhan…how dare you disobey me…? Your master, your mentor! How dare you?"

"I…I just want to win with my own ability, I don't need Chiaotzu's help…" Tien said hesitantly, clearly choosing his words carefully. His hands were curled into tight fists and his posture shrank away slightly, revealing his anxiety, but his voice was steady and his face was calm.

"I ordered you to kill him!" Shen snapped back, ignoring the gasp from the crowd. The fear and disgust that rippled through the people surrounding them made Chiaotzu flinch and sink closer to the wall. Tien had clearly noticed it too because his face set, an odd distant determination in his eyes.

"I won't kill him, Master…I'll be disqualified. Besides…" Tien turned his head to the side, avoiding Shen's furious gaze. Chiaotzu felt an odd lifting in his chest, a pride that he hadn't felt for a long time. "I don't want to be an assassin anymore…"

The fury that filled Shen was so potent that Chiaotzu recoiled slightly, his eyes widening, fear overwhelming the swell of pride he had felt at Tien's words. He felt frozen in space, his muscles locked with terror, as their master started to climb the wall, ranting about the Turtle Hermit and insolence. "All right, we'll kill both of you! Chiaotzu, paralyse them both!" Horror filled the telepath sweeping up through his body in a sickening rush. He didn't move as Shen turned towards him, brandishing his fist. He couldn't. He wouldn't. He...Kami he was so afraid.

"I'm sorry, Master," he said, his high voice trembling, unable to take his eyes away from the furious snarl before him, uncertain where he was finding the strength to say the words, "I will do anything you ask of me, but…but I won't hurt Tien…"

Shen was silent for a moment, then his hand twisted in the front of Chiaotzu's surcoat and the telepath was yanked roughly upward. "So dissent spreads through the ranks," the Crane Hermit hissed into Chiaotzu's face. "I will kill all who disobey me."

His hand drew back and formed the Crane strike. Time slowed to a crawl. Chiaotzu's eyes flicked to the side, meeting Tien's, seeing the fear and the helplessness there. The pride blossomed again. Tien couldn't save him. Tien couldn't move fast enough, not with the fear and the obedience still holding him, and wouldn't be able to stop the strike before it landed. He was glad he had been able to keep his promise, to resist and stand up and not hurt his brother at Shen's command.

His eyes squeezed shut. Tien's voice screamed his name, desperate and afraid. The Turtle Hermit chanted something in the background. And then his entire world was blue, gleaming even through his closed eyes. His surcoat was pulled roughly to the side and then released suddenly, leaving him falling. He managed to catch himself in mid-air, his eyes still clenched tightly shut and fear making all of his muscles tremble.

Chiaotzu! Are you okay?!

His eyes shot open, his hands lifting and settling on his chest. He was intact. He was alive. He looked into the ring and met Tien's concerned gaze. The triclops relaxed visibly as their eyes met, his hands unfurling.

Tien… I'm… We're… Chiaotzu let out a soft laugh, his smile widening. Yes, I'm fine.

He was more than fine. Shen was gone. Roshi's blast had carried him away, far from the tournament maybe even far from the island. He was gone. They were free.

AN. And there we have another chapter. A turning point, I hope, and things will get better from here! Hopefully, anyway. Hope you enjoyed, see you next chapter (where they're gonna start getting a bit longer too) :)