Chapter 14: Spirit Tag
As the bright light and disturbed dirt particles cleared from the wreckage of the woody crash site, the creator of the powerful energy blast descended to ground level with his victorious laughter. In only a temporarily stunned state, Gohan lifted the heavy weight of the collapsed tree trunk from his chest, throwing it to the side as he rose to face his opponent. Eyes widened under his heavy, triangular brows. The trials often involved two or occasionally three competitors for the Elite title, but there could only ever be one victor to claim the ultimate prize. He did not therefore expect to see one who had already earned his honourable title, stalking forwards to greet him. Nappa dragged another, barely breathing body behind him, and finally ruthlessly threw it towards Gohan, to bounce across the space between them. The Demi-Saiyan swallowed back, as his eyes descended to the defeated opponent's very still form. He was a young Saiyan, probably around the same age as Gohan, but his battered and bruised body bore the mark of ultimate defeat, along with a gaping, clotted hole forced straight through the gut, as though a fist had forced its' way through his armour without breaking a sweat. Nappa on the other hand, placed one blood-stained and gloved hand on his hip, and pointed at the Halfling brat with the other.
"You're next runt!" He jeered confidently, throwing his now discarded, bloodied glove at the boy, to wipe the blood stain that was not his own, from his dirty cheek with the back of his large, hairy hand. But the son of Kakarot merely stood completely still with a calm countenance, clenching his fists together in acceptance of the challenge. Gritting his teeth and dipping his head, he charged his ki in the temporary flaring of a white aura. Without any other warning, he took flight, charging at the Elite with his fist raised back. Knuckles connected, time and time again, as the long-awaited battle between them finally commenced.
"Ahahahaaa!" Nappa mocked further, as he snuck a quick, blinding blast that gained him the advantage. A strong fist managed to lightly crack the plating over Gohan's chest. He then succeeded in pushing the briefly stunned teen's face repetitively into his knee, gripping firmly at his hair to hurl him like a rag doll against the next receiving tree with a loud, snapping crash against the trunk.
"Looks like I'll be back in time for supper!"
Or not, as the 'runt' emerged from the smoke, soaring straight for the un-expectant, laughing hulk of a man. The hammering uppercut caught his jaw, launching him upwards to crash against the faster teen, who had already appeared above him again, ready to deal the next attack in the well-planned series.
"Think again," the half-blood smirked, as he initiated a roundhouse kick. On impact, it sent the confident Elite soaring over tree tops, slowly descending in a straight line through jagged spikes of unrelenting branches. Gohan knew it wasn't nearly over, but it was enough time to recover his breathing, and press a wincing hand against the bruising at his chest beneath the sure cracks in his armoured shell. His opponent was slowed by his larger size, but his attacks were strong and well aimed. He would have to alter his style to take advantage of both speed and tactical evasion.
Right on cue, another energy ball, quickly covered the gap between the two opponents. Gohan merely knocked it aside with his forearm, but as a furious Nappa cleared the gap quickly in head-first flight, more ki balls followed. It was a distraction, and he knew it, but they were well targeted and so Gohan could do nothing but continuously smack them aside while preparing for the real onslaught. Arms barely had time to form a cross shape, as Nappa's blocked shoulder barge came with a follow-up knee strike. As the again winded semi-Saiyan keeled over, the Elite followed through with the overhead hammering punch straight into the teen's hunched back. Landing on the ground on all fours like a cat, Gohan quickly rose to produce an elbow-jab that now winded the Elite's dumb advance.
As the two Saiyans continued to answer each others attacks, a fan of dark lashes fluttered open to reveal narrowed cerulean eyes, as Videl came to her senses. Only to feel a heavy weight pressing over her back. Struggling to lift herself, she found the only way to break free, would be to slowly scramble and crawl out from beneath the chunk of fallen and snapped tree surrounding her. Luckily it wasn't the whole trunk, else she might've surely been completely squashed. Physical weight wasn't the only thing she sensed however, as her chin lifted to witness the two mis-matched bodies colliding repetitively against each other dead ahead of her, through the gaps of miraculously still standing trees. Clumsily rising to her feet and taking a moment to get her balance straight, she pressed her body against one supportive trunk, and flinched for Gohan, as the large, bald Saiyan lifted the younger opponent with such ease. She even felt the ground beneath her give a light shake, as the demi-Saiyan's back was snapped over a raised knee, and then dropped against the cracking ground. Yet despite the brutal onslaught, the groaning boy quickly reacted to the foot about to slam directly into his neck, with the defensive hands that reached up and grabbed the sole of the lifted foot.
Nappa had the runt right where he wanted him; at his feet! Laughing as he pushed against the boy's strength, he licked his salty lips as his foot got closer…and closer….and…
Wham!
Even Gohan was surprised by the bright light that suddenly shot through the trees, hitting the unaware Elite in the back of the head without fail. It was the distraction he needed, to roll out from beneath the raised foot, sweep kicking against large ankles in the process. The brute lost his balance, and fell down to one knee, still wide-eyed in shock as to where that tap against his head had come from? Turning, he briefly caught the blur of movement between the trees, and a new snicker found his lips. Caught by the sudden spinning jump of the brat's thigh against the side of his face, the teen spun over his shoulder, bringing his elbow down at the brute's skull. The attacks were quickly administered, until Nappa was briefly bent over on his hands and knees, to lift upwards in a barging recovery. Fists were caught by large palms and fingers that easily squeezed over knuckles. Kneecaps met kneecaps squarely, until a head butt against Gohan's forehead, sent his head cracking back with a pained cry. As expected, the blur appeared again from behind the trees, this time moving forwards as the female figure emerged with a mighty battle call.
"Leave him alone!" She cried, using the ground as her springboard to launch her flying kick into the raised eyebrows of the bald brute. But meanwhile, he'd already crashed his fist into the teen's face again, leaving him to fall backwards. All in good time to move slightly to the side, and grab the leg that almost shot straight past him. The girl's surprised yelp was drowned out by her body being spun in a circle, before she was thrown like a Frisbee back in the direction she'd spawned from.
"A-HAHA! You trained a human to protect you?" He mostly exclaimed in further amusement, stooping to pick the injured teen up by the hair, and dangle him up, inches from the ground with an outstretched arm. "You're not even half a Saiyan!"
A series of punches later finally dealt another series of worthy cracks in the armour, and the halfling bucked with the choking of his own blood, rising in a spewing of crimson copper from his split lips. Nappa had seen enough, and with the intention of being back to the ship in time for a victory feast to sate his grumbling gut, he dropped the boy in a crumpled mess.
"That's right," he pulled his hand back, and begun to charge a final blast. "Stay down, where you belong!"
He noticed the sudden flux in energy far too late, as his own indulgence blinded his senses. So the charging woman who suddenly leapt on the Elite's back with arms squeezing around his neck in a ruthless choking, definitely caught him off guard for long enough.
"Get off'a me!" He wailed, hands gripping at the leech's arms, trying to pry her off as his clumsy feet stumbled around in circles with the taxing of his heavy weight. But the human only responded with a primal growl, squeezing harder against the bulging of the man's windpipe and holding on tight with thighs wrapped around his waist. He wasn't quite smart enough to stampede her against another tree it seemed, preferring to use brute force in attempts to force the choking arms apart. Videl felt her grip lessen, but used the element of continued surprise to her advantage. Suddenly, she let go, and fell backwards into a perfect handstand, kicking her feet against the brute's back to continue her walkover, while gaining her enough time while he stumbled forwards and clutched at his aching neck.
"So! You wanna play rough huh?" He grinned, turning directly into her follow up, improved 'Eagle kicks,' each one landing without fail, making him stumble backwards once again. The follow-up, charged 'Falcon Punch' however, was met by the rock solid block of his large arm. Growling, she ducked under his attempt to grab her hair. Something had snapped in her the moment Gohan had fallen, and now, in a surge of overwhelming, sense clouding feelings, it was his voice that echoed clearly in her mind. His unique, musky scent, and his softer, more boyishly rugged face, appearing in her focused mind.
'Rule number one: never underestimate your opponent.'
Rules from the training, that Nappa was clearly falling victim. His slow moves suffered the weight of his over-confidence, as he expected to be able to grab the woman without too much effort on his part. Her ducking evade was followed by an elbow jabbing upwards into his hooked nose, and then another well timed duck, as his other hand grabbed at her.
"NO ONE TOUCHES MY FACE!"
'Rule number two: use your body and your speed. Combine evading with attacks. Make those larger opponents work harder to catch you.'
"Grrrr!" The brute felt the light thud of her flat foot smacking against his exposed rib area, as again she out manoeuvred his attempts to get a hold of her. "Come 'ere wench!"Yet his eyes widened, as she answered the request with a knuckle sandwich, right between the eyes. Apparently finally realising that he was actually going to have to fight this Earthling, Nappa growled with a powering up aura, that managed to force her stumbling back slightly in waves of gathering ki that surrounded him and pushed out against everything else.
'Rule number three: Heh, but I guess you already know this one. Never give up.'
Her attention shifted to the very still teen who still littered the floor in a bloodied and bruised mess, and grit her teeth hard as she shifted into a stance of more defensive priorities.
'I won't give up Gohan!'
The first punch came high, barely ducked by her bending spine. She didn't have time to even think about attacking this time though, as she completely rolled to the side instead, avoiding the following upper-knee-cut. A male groan behind them both, caught their attention, but Videl was quick to distract the brute again with her barging 'bear blow through.'
'Come on Gohan! Get up!'
Nappa laughed at what was a pathetic attempt to un-root his feet, and this time managed to hook his arm under the human's waist, and toss her aside like a rag doll. She rolled, but fluidly found her feet with the push of her arms, and was sprinting back towards her opponent with ragged breaths before he could advance any closer to halt the attempting recovery of the coughing half-breed. As he turned to snatch at the air where he predicted her to run against, she on the other hand lowered, to slide between parted and slightly bent legs. He again snatched at the blur that passed beneath him, twisting at the waist just in time to see the small hands reaching up for the one weakness he'd never anticipated her to know about.
"YEEEEAAAARGH!"
The mighty roar caused the very sky to tremble, as Videl tugged and squeezed at the furry appendage caught in her tight grasp. A large white boot lifted, attempting to stomp the creature that had dared to touch his tail, but she rolled quickly, making sure she took the tail with her.
"LET GO OF MY TAAAAAIL!" He practically screamed, bending in slow, paralysis, as she only squeezed tighter against the still limb. It was hard to avoid two groping hands and stomping feet though, so inevitably, the Saiyan caught hold of the girl's leg, and dragged her out from beneath him by the scruff of the neck. Forced to let go of the tail as a kneecap smashed into the solid hard rock of the armour, Videl was certain she felt the attack go straight through to the sure bruising against her winded abdomen.
'GOHAAAN! I can't….hold him…for much…n-ugh!'
She breathed a sudden breath, wincing as he squeezed at the back of her neck, lifting her feet from the ground effortlessly. The bulking Saiyan heaved heavy, dangerous breaths, and one particular breath that when exhaled, propelled a ball of saliva into the girl's face. Videl closed her eyes with a disgusted grunt, tilting her head in time for the spit ball to hit her cheek at least, and flinching as she felt the slimy moisture slide down to her jaw. Then came the pressure of his thumb and fingers against the back of her neck, as he brought her closer to his growling and snarling face. Eyes almost crossing, as she managed to bend her spine and lift her legs up in her last, squirming and futile attempts to kick out against the Saiyan. Ignoring that, he heaved a victorious laugh at last, catching one foot with his free hand, and grinning as he shoved the knee upwards, against her own armour. Videl winced at the damage she caused herself, but there was one thing she knew that Nappa didn't, as her eyes slid to the by now, fully standing, official competitor. The smile that spread across her face, was noticed far too late by Saiyan, who released her foot to cover the top of her head, and squeeze with each of his fingers. She was quite sure he could've crushed her skull if he really wanted to, but for now he responded to her loud cried, with the added offensive of his roughly textured tongue, lapping across her other cheek in primal dominance. It was all that was needed to tip the edge of the scales further, as a sudden, enraged power level, finally alerted Nappa to the wild energy that was now exploding in an intense burst of loud, roaring light behind him…
The first thrusting fist crushed against the yellow padding at the brute's back; knuckles forcing against the cracking of armour, until they dented the thick skin beneath it. The hand that held Videl's neck in a vice grip, instantly loosened to let her fall, as a second fist met the same area as the last, breaking directly through to pound against the flesh. She scrambled aside, catching her breath and fervently wiping the back of her hands over the soiled areas of her face. As much as she wanted to throw herself back into the battle, something within her told her that it as important to stay back. This was no longer her fight. The large Saiyan's spine meanwhile arched forwards with the force of each attack, accompanied by the loud howls that translated the pain behind him. Before he could turn, the half-blood had leapt and rolled over the beast's head, landing with a raised kick into his gut. Once again, the white boot crushed through the orange shell, and the man's spine bent in the other direction. A knee raised as Gohan sprung upwards, hovering in mid-air for Nappa to finally witness the extent of his visible power. The wavering flames of his light grey aura tinted by bright sparks, surrounding him entirely. Leaving little more time for the brute to stare in astonishment at the higher state of being reached by the brat, he instead bore the berating slaps caused by the side of the side of Gohan's raised knee once, then twice, and three times, back and forth across the brute's face. The fifth scolding cracked a tooth free; spat out in a collection of bile and saliva, as another fist found the gut.
Nappa stumbled backwards, clutching at his stomach in clear discomfort as he keeled over, while the calm just Gohan silently lowered himself to his feet, observing the damage so far, and glaring in cold contempt at the beast who had dared to touch the pure beauty of his 'human.' Even when faced with his defeat, Nappa found the air to breathe insults.
"You will never be a true Saiyan!" He barely finished the yell, as he suddenly flew backwards, gaining himself the space needed for his final attack. Tightening his raised fists, sparks of sudden electricity jolted around his own, powering up aura, with another loud yell that cracked against the darkened skies. Gohan braced himself, concentrating on all his ki, as he fell into a defensive manoeuvre. The Elite was far too predictable, and since he was apparently done playing games, it was now time for his true and ultimate power to reveal itself.
"BREAK CANNON!"
It was unlike any attack Gohan had seen before, not in non-Oozaru form at least, as the bold Elite wrenched his mouth open wide. From it, shot a wide and immensely powerful, blue and white beam, travelling at a high speed down to the prepared teen. Having already brought his palms together and drawn his hands back to his left side, Gohan charged a similar attack, until he knew he was ready at the last, possible moment. Hurling his own, pale blue ki beam directly into Nappa's, as the blasts collided, it provoked the intended, intense power struggle, and therefore the true test of mettle. Completely male yells filled the skies with the rumbling of rolling thunder overheard, as the desperate Gohan strained his body in order to overpower Nappa's winning beam. Watched on by the wide-eyed Videl, she held her breath as it seemed like the Gohan was losing, and clutched her hands at her chest in the most deep-feeling of gestures, as she reached within herself. In the last possible moment, the tides suddenly turned. A sudden surge of energy passed through the gap between the two teens, reaching Gohan and reminding him why he was fighting. Who he was fighting for. With a jolt of the exact amount of energy he needed, the balance was tipped in his favour. The last thing Nappa saw, was the lightning speed of the overwhelming half-breeds ki, as it engulfed him entirely in an explosion of only the most desperate, life-stealing proportions. Two wide sets of eyes, patiently waited for the cloud of smoke to clear, leaving only the blank, empty space where the Saiyan Elite had once levitated…
At last, sure that the deed was done, Gohan collapsed to the side as his energy left him with the dimming of his aura entirely. Padding feet rushed forwards from the safety of the trees, trying to catch the Halfling's descent before his body hit the grass entirely. Though she failed with her timing, she didn't give up, as small, shaky hands gripped at the battered armour, trying to use it to lift him. Part of it just snapped away in her palm, causing wide eyes to stare in disbelief, as the realisation of the Saiyan's powerful attacks dawned on her.
"Gohan!" She called, tossing the armour fragment aside, to lift him from the shoulders, up onto the slope of her kneeling thighs. He was heavier than she expected, but she managed to secure him there before he tumbled off with quick arms that gripped and tugged at bruised arms. Only as he frowned with his prolonged wince, did she realise it had probably been a bad idea to move him. With her own depleted energy though, there was no way she'd be able to carry him as he had done with her.
"You've got to get up!" Attempting to lift him again with her arm behind the neck, he finally responded; twisting to the side in a rushed motion complete with defiant growl. Launched by his arm, he diagonally sprung upwards, managing to stumble several steps, before falling again. Videl was there in seconds, following behind him, and ready to duck her head under his arm, and even the balance a little. The weight slumped at her back put strain on her knees, but she could be just as stubborn, and right now, he was pushing her to her limits.
"Come ON! We've got to….ugh!" Knees bent further, as she hoisted the male weight over her failing back again with panted breaths. "T-To find somewhere to…t-to fix you up!"
Though where was another question, as Videl had no idea where she was, or what direction she was now leading them. Without realising, she sniffed at the moist air, until ears pricked to the rumbling of water nearby. That was a sure start. Neither of them realised the true extent of their injuries yet, especially Gohan. He really tried his best to move his feet in time with the supportive human's, as his chin dipped to hang his head almost shamefully at the energy he'd been forced to spend. But the higher state he'd reached was now taking its' toll on him, while he recovered from the emotional fit with vibrating trembles down his skin and spine, down to his twitching tail tip. Hoarse breaths signalled the almost mechanical movements of his body, despite the constant drooping of eyelids back and forth to the motion of stumbling feet, passing beneath him…
To Be Continued…