--- Disturbance, Book 1: Convergence ---
Chapter C03 - Stupify
Disclaimer: The fun about this sentence is that by the time you realise it doesn't say anything, it's too late to stop reading it. Also: See first chapter.
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-Yeah, bringing you another disturbing creation-
-from the mind of one sick animal who can't tell the difference-
-and gets stupified-
"This is so lame," Trunks sighed irritably, blowing his bangs out. The Junior Competition had been underway for a few minutes, and he was already bored out of his mind. Turning his attention to the dark-haired child sitting against the wall beside him, he asked, "So, whatcha buyin' with the money?"
-I've been waiting my whole life for just one fuck-
Turning to look up at the older boy leaning against the wall, Goten just grinned in his usual cheerful way, replying with a laugh, "Toys, I guess."
Trunks just sighed again, muttering, "You're such a toddler."
-And all I needed was just one fuck-
Irritated by that remark, but not letting himself show it, Goten retorted, "Well, what about you?"
He just turned away, shrugging, "I'm not sure what I'm gonna buy."
Laughing again, Goten commented, "Yeah, I guess when your family's the richest in the world, there's not much you don't already have."
-How can you say that you don't give a fuck-
Across the room, a tall blonde boy, who towered over most of the other kids, walked through the warm-up area like he owned the place, commenting, "Look 'et all these kids. One hit from me an' they'll start cryin'." Pausing, he noticed the lavender-haired child at the end of the room - his first opponent - and grinned what he felt was a callous grin.
One of the two toadies he had with him asked, "Who are you fighting first Idassa?"
Laughing he turned around, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb as he replied, "Oh man, just look, it's that kid over there."
Looking around him, the boy commented, "Whoa, he's, like, puny."
The second toady chuckled, adding, "I say we give him a scare."
Turning his head again, Idassa replied, "We will."
-I find myself stupified, coming back again-
Stepping away from the wall, Trunks turned to his friend, commenting, "Maybe I'll just buy you a better haircut."
"Hair what?" Goten asked, confused. Thanks to his Saiyan heritage, he, unlike Trunks, had never really had to have his hair cut much; his hair as it was now was pretty much how he'd been born.
-All I wanted was just one fuck-
Before Trunks could reply, an obnoxious voice drew his attention, calling, "Hey half-pint. You're gonna be my first victim. I hope you're wearing your diapers. You're gonna need the extra padding." The older kid then proceeded to throw a punch at his head; Trunks just stood there, one eyebrow raised as if to ask 'You're kidding, right?' When Trunks didn't so much as bat an eye, the kid withdrew his fist, asking, "Don't you flinch?"
-One tiny little innocent fuck-
Trunks just grinned slightly, turning to the boy and replying, "Not from... weaklings." Vaguely, he noticed Goten climbing to his feet beside him.
"What!" the boy shouted.
-And when I feel like I'm shit out of luck-
Still grinning, Trunks commented, "You had best walk away."
Ignoring his two toadies cries of outrage, Idassa laughed, "You just sealed your fate shortie. I'm gonna beat you so hard you're gonna have a concussion."
-I find myself stupified, coming back again-
"That's a big word," Trunks commented derisively, "Do you want some ice before your brain overheats?"
As the older boy shouted more empty threats before walking away, Goten just tilted his head to one side, confused by the whole thing, and muttering, "Gee..."
-Why, do you like playing around with-
Watching the fights below, Oran was bored out of his skull. Turning to his mother in the row behind him, he whined, "Mom, do we have to watch this? I'm bored."
"Me too," Lime added, also turning around, "Can we go play somewhere else?"
-My, narrow scope of reality-
Smiling mirthfully, April asked, "Don't you want to show Goten and Trunks your support?"
Oran just snorted, "Please. We all know that Goten and Trunks are gonna reach the finals, but until then, this is just a waste of our time."
-I, can feel it all start slipping-
Turning sterner, April replied, "Be that as it may, I can't just let you wander around on your own."
Before the twins could plead their case, Kat piped up, "I'll go with 'em, keep 'em out of trouble for you."
April smiled, "Well, in that case, sure, but you two better behave."
-I think I'm breaking down-
Grinning, the twins cried, "Thanks mum!" With that, they jumped out of their seats, hopping from foot to foot impatiently as Kat followed them out.
Before they could leave, Avarrdo commented, "On your way back, could you pick up a few things?"
"Sure Pops," the redhead replied, with a shrug and a grin, "What can I get ya?" With that, everyone began rattling off their orders, after which Avarrdo handed her a wad of bills. As the trio began walking off, Kat just commented dryly, "I 'spose it's a good thing I've got you guys here after all. I'm gonna need a hand carrying everything."
-Why, do you like playing around with-
Kaen smiled, pausing in his gorging to comment, "Looks like the Junior Comp has started."
"Oh?" Pi asked, "How can you tell?"
-My, narrow scope of reality-
"Because the twins are getting antsy," he replied with a half-shrug, before finishing off his meal. With a satisfied burp, he commented, "Maybe it's the fact I haven't had it for a while, but your cooking seems to have gotten even better, and I wouldn't have figured that possible."
-I, can feel it all start slipping away-
"Why?" Pi asked, half-serious half-joking, "Are you saying I can't improve?"
Kaen just shrugged again, replying in an off-hand tone, "How do you improve on perfection?"
-See but I don't get it-
Blushing slightly at the praise, she changed the subject, asking, "So, what did our father's want to talk to you about earlier?"
-Don't you think maybe we could put it on credit-
He grunted sourly, commenting, "Well, my dad was just pissed that I took his shield generator without asking, although he did grudgingly admit he was impressed with the quick patch-job I did to get it working. Your dad, however, proceeded to bitch at me about this." He pointed to the angry scar running across his right eye.
-Don't you think it can take control when I don't let it-
"What did he have to say about it?" She prompted.
Kaen scowled at the memory, "Basically, he was just really unimpressed that I'd actually gotten hurt in what was obviously a sword fight, as he's the one who taught me how to use it properly. What really got me though was when he said
'If you can't learn well enough to protect yourself, how can I trust you to protect my daughter?'"
"Oh Kaen," she started, "He doesn't-"
-I get stupified-
-It's all the same you say, live with it, but I don't get it-
"He's right you know," Kaen interrupted, "As has been proven many times, I can't always protect you." Before she could argue - and she'd already opened her mouth to start - he quickly kissed her, silencing her protests, before adding, "I guess it's a good thing you're more than capable of looking after yourself when I'm not around then isn't it?"
-Don't you think maybe we could put it on credit-
Smiling, she commented, "You know he was just saying that to piss you off?"
He nodded, "I know."
-Don't you think it can take control when I don't let it-
Standing up, she asked, "Is this why you don't want to go to them for help with this problem of yours?"
-I get stupified-
He sighed, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder, before replying, "I'd be lying if I said that wasn't a reason, but it's not the reason. I guess I just need to prove this to myself, that I can take care of problems on my own. I mean, so many things have happened to me that I keep wishing I'd handled better, and some times I feel like I haven't gotten any better, and-"
-I get stupified-
She cut him off with a kiss, before commenting, "You talk too much when you're nervous." Kissing him again, she added, "I trust you, and I'm willing to let you do this your way, but don't expect me to stay out of it if I feel you'd be better off with a little help, understand?"
He smiled, "I wouldn't have it any other way."
-All the people in the left wing rock-
"Henry is out of the ring; Krishnikov advances!" The announcer called out, announcing the end of another match in the Junior Comp. Looking down at his clipboard, he declared, "Let's bring out the next pair: eight-year-old Trunks versus fifteen-year-old Idassa."
"Yeah," Goku commented, "He's finally up."
"Trunks, do your best!" Krillin called out, before realising something, "Oh, wait, Trunks' best might actually hurt someone..." With that in mind, he called out, "Do okay!"
-And all the people in the right wing rock-
"Try not to cripple the kid!" Gohan added, a grin on his face.
"How strong are they anyway Gohan?" Videl asked; she knew that, if Gohan said Trunks could cripple his opponent, he could, so didn't question that part.
Gohan just smiled cryptically, replying, "Strong enough."
-And all the people in the underground rock-
"Are you ready to cry short-stack?" Idassa taunted, as the pair walked up into the ring.
"Please," Trunks replied sourly, "Don't talk."
-I find myself stupified, coming back again-
"Ha, you sure you don't wanna beg?"
Trunks just tuned him out, just like he tuned out the comments from the crowds about how one-sided the match was stacked against him.
-All the people in the high rise rock-
"Idassa, I'm here!" A fairly rotund orange-haired woman shouted, standing up to wave to what was obviously her son, and not noticing how her frantic arm movements smacked Yamcha in the head. Sitting down again, and tuning the former martial artists protests out, she commented, "I wish they would match Idassa with a bigger kid. This won't even warm my boy up."
-And all the people in the projects rock-
Bulma just scowled in the woman's direction, before standing up and shouting, "Get him Trunks! You make that boy sorry he ever met you!"
-And all la gente in the barrio rock-
As the blue-haired woman sat down, the other kid's mother scowled at her, muttering, "Hon, you're dreaming." Bulma, ever the bastion of maturity, stuck her tongue out at her.
-I find myself stupified, coming back again-
"Let's go!" The announcer shouted.
Falling into his fighting stance, Idassa growled, "Come on you little short cake, fight!"
-Why, do you like playing around with-
Still just standing there, Trunks replied, "Don't you worry, you'll feel it soon enough big mouth." Before the boy could reply, Trunks dropped to the ground, sweeping his leg around to kick the other boy's legs out from under him, before, sending him skyward bound with a quick soccer-kick to the back, much to the shock of the crowd, Idassa's mother especially. As Trunks began walking off, the shrieking boy plummeted back down to the ring, landing headfirst. Calmly exiting the ring at the same pace he'd entered, Trunks commented, "Oops. Guess I shouldn't have hit him so hard, but... at least he's quiet."
-My, narrow scope of reality-
Walking over to check on the older boy, the announcer declared, "This boy is out cold. Trunks advances." This shocked most of the crowd, except a certain group of people, a certain blue-haired one of which was smiling tauntingly at the fallen boy's mother.
-I, can feel it all start slipping-
Awaiting his friend's arrival at the building, Goten said, "You sure did beat that boy fast Trunks."
"You see now why I wanted to fight in the adult division?" Trunks asked, folding his arms. Goten just nodded.
-I think I'm breaking down-
-Why, do you like playing around with-
Several more fights carried on like they did before - that is, boring - but finally it was Goten's turn. Trying to keep the crowd interested, the announcer cried, "Here we go. We've got Ikosa, an expert fourteen-year-old, against Goten, a seven-year-old boy. Come on folks, let's hear it for these young warriors." Standing there, witnessing the full size of the crowd for the first time, Goten felt quite nervous, but, remembering his training, forced himself to remain calm as he and his opponent walked towards the ring, to the announcement of, "Here they come. Oh my gosh, it looks like David verses Goliath; Ikosa has a full head over young Goten."
-My, narrow scope of reality-
Turning to his opponent, Ikosa grinned, muttering, "You look nervous." Goten just rubbed the back of his head in typical Son fashion.
-I, can feel it all start slipping away-
"Alright Goten! Woohoo, yeah!" Goku shouted cheerfully.
"Wow, he looks like a miniature you Goku," Krillin commented.
"He does doesn't he?" Goku replied, a smile on his face.
Grinning, Gohan called out, "Don't hurt him too bad Goten!"
-See but I don't get it-
"Small fry!" The large woman shouted, "Tear him up Ikosa! Remember what happened to your brother! Show no mercy!"
Cupping her hands, Chichi cried, "Goten! Relax, you'll do fine!"
-Don't you think maybe we could put it on credit-
Scowling at her, the fat harpy of a woman shouted, "That vulgar little preschool tiny tot doesn't stand a chance against my big strong Ikosa. Woo, let him have it son!"
-Don't you think it can take control when I don't let it-
Grinning, Bulma commented, "Hey, wasn't that your other big strong son that my little boy knocked out cold earlier with one little kick?"
-I get stupified-
Shoving Yamcha aside to come face-to-face with her, the harpy cried, "So? That little pipsqueak punk was your son? Well he got lucky! One miracle's enough for one day!"
-It's all the same you say, live with it, but I don't get it-
Looking around the arena, Goten commented dazedly, "I can't believe that all of these people are here."
-Don't you think maybe we could put it on credit-
"It's enough to make you wanna run home cryin' isn't it kid?" Ikosa taunted. "Look, I don't wanna embarrass you in front of all of these people. For your sake, I'm gonna end this quick. Understand?"
Goten just scratched his head, muttering, "Uh huh."
-Don't you think it can take control when I don't let it-
"All right fighters are you ready?" The announcer called. Ikosa pounded his fists together, while Goten just bowed politely. "Let the match begin!"
-I get stupified-
"Come on Goten! You can do it son!" Chichi shouted supportively.
Growling, the harpy shouted, "Ikosa! Beat the who-ha outta that little runt!"
-I get stupified-
Sitting backstage, Trunks just fumed to himself at being forced to be in the Junior Division, while vaguely aware of the other kids warming up around him. Noticing him sitting there, one of the other kids asked, "Hey, what's the matter? That's your friend out there fighting isn't it? Don't you wanna see his match? Well don't you?"
Still scowling slightly, Trunks replied, "Already know the result."
Looking up, the boy shouted, "Hey, he says his friend's gonna win. Let's go see!" All the boys in the room quickly raced to the entrance to watch the fight, commenting how unlikely it was that Goten would win; well, all bar Trunks, who continued to brood to himself.
-Mefached-
Dancing from foot to foot, Ikosa taunted, "What's the matter kid? Scared? Come on, it ain't gonna hurt that bad. Let's do it." Goten just stood there, watching the older boy throwing punches at the air, with a slightly confused look on his face.
-Mefached- (English translation: "Scared" or "Afraid")
Watching the boy pant from over-exertion, Goten asked, "Are you okay?"
"Me?" Ikosa replied, "Yeah right kid, gimme a break. Am I okay? Man you're asking for it!" Growling, he threw a punch at Goten's face, but the younger boy merely raised a hand, stopping the blow with a single finger on his weak hand. Panicking slightly, Ikosa withdrew his feet, before lashing out with a kick, which Goten stopped with just his left arm.
-And don't deny me-
Pushing the leg away, Goten muttered, "Hey, stop foolin' around. Come on, let's be serious."
Dancing from foot to foot again, while trying to hide his worry, Ikosa replied, "Touché. So, you know a little martial arts after all. Not bad for a pint-size kid."
-No baby now, don't deny me-
"Oh ho ho ho ho, look. He's too scared to throw a punch at my Ikosa!" The harpy declared shrilly.
Still grinning, Bulma commented, "I'll give him five minutes at the most, and that's only if he's extremely lucky."
Growling, the harpy shouted, "Knock him out. Ikosa, floor him. I want you to knock that kid's block off, do you hear me!"
-And darlin' don't be afraid...-
Ikosa threw punch after punch at Goten, as well as the occasional kick, but Goten calmly blocked every blow with the palms of his hands; his legs hadn't even moved since the match started. "Gosh, this is it?" Goten commented to himself, "This isn't very fun..." With that, he delivered a quick jab to Ikosa's chin, which caused an immediate stop to the incoming attacks, as the older boy stood there stunned. After wobbling for a while, he fell backwards, and didn't get up again. Goten just bowed at his fallen opponent.
-But I don't get it-
As the crowd shouted praise to Goten, the announcer went to check up on Ikosa. Shaking the boy, the announcer mused, "Whoa, what a punch. He's out. Out cold. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner over here! Let's here it for Go-ten!"
-Don't you think maybe we could put it on credit-
As the crowd roared their approval, Bulma proceeded to, once again, stick her tongue out at the other kid's mother, who sat there frozen in shock, before growling, "I'm going to kill you!" With that, she charged towards Bulma. She was thrown back quickly as, with a single punch from Chichi, over the head of a quickly ducked Bulma, she collapsed to the ground.
-Don't you think it can take control when I don't let it-
Standing up to brush off her hands, Chichi commented, "Come on. Who do you think taught him?"
The rest of the group grinned, Raene commenting, "Nice punch. I give it a five-point-seven."
"I'd say five-point-eight myself," April replied. Chichi just turned to face them, took a bow, and calmly sat down like nothing had happened.
-I get stupified-
"Hey, dude, your friend knocked out that big guy Ikosa with one punch!" One of the other fighters shouted, running back to tell Trunks the results.
Trunks, however, was not impressed, replying, "Yeah yeah, I know. I told you I knew the result."
The other boy just blinked, "Yeah, right..."
-Look in my face, stare in my soul, I begin to stupify. Ah!-
The rest of the matches proceeded in much the same fashion: first a bunch of boring fights as two kids duked it out, then either Trunks or Goten would come out, win without any effort, advance, and the boring fights resumed. Finally, however, it was down to the finals, and, as expected, it was Goten verses Trunks.
-Look in my face, stare in my soul, I begin to stupify. Ah!-
Spinning his microphone, the announcer cried, "And now the moment you've all been waiting for! The Junior Competition Championship, between eight-year-old Trunks, and seven-year-old Goten. Which one of these fabulous young fighters will be the next World Champion?"
-Look in my face, stare in my soul, I begin to stupify. Ah!-
As the two walked in side-by-side, Trunks turned his head, grinned, and commented, "I think being the World Champion is gonna be fun."
Grinning in kind, Goten replied, "I'll definitely let you know how it is."
-Look in my face, stare in my soul, I begin to stupify. Ah!-
High up in the stands, the Z-Fighters were finally going to see the match they'd been waiting for. Grinning at his sister, Oran commented, "This should be good."
-Look in my face, stare in my soul-
She grinned back, "Yeah. You do know Trunks is going to win don't you?"
He rolled his eyes, "Of course you'd say that. Me, I reckon Goten'll take it home."
-Look in my face, stare in my soul-
She stomped her foot, "You're just saying that to annoy me!"
He grinned again, "Yeah, and?"
-Look in my face, stare in my soul-
"Shouldn't you two be informing your brother to come back now?" Avarrdo interrupted, lest the two continue on like this for any longer.
The twins just nodded, replying, "Right," before flaring their ki like their brother had told them.
-Look in my face, stare in my soul-
Kaen sighed, absently stroking Pi's hair, as he felt the signal, "Well, looks like our time is up."
Pi sighed in turn, her head lying against Kaen's chest, as the pair lay together on the capsule house's couch. "Damn, and I was so comfortable too..."
-Look in my face!-
"You and me both," Kaen replied, "But there'll be plenty of time once the tournament's over."
Standing up, Pi asked, "Tell me again why you decided to enter the competition?"
-Look in my face!-
"To show off," was his simple reply, as he too got to his feet.
She smiled for a moment, before turning serious, "Kaen, I just... Be careful, all right. I've got a bad feeling about today..."
-Look in my face!-
"You too huh?" Kaen replied, stunning her for a moment, before he wrapped his arms around her again, soothing her by saying, "Don't worry. Together, we can handle anything this universe can throw at us." She smiled, and together, the two walked out of their home away from home, capsulating it again, and heading off to the tournament, unaware they'd soon regret those words.
-I begin to stupify! Ah!-
To be continued...
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Author's notes:
Heh, looks like I've just earned the M rating for this fic with this song alone.
As I'm sure you've noticed, I decided to centre the song lyrics, to help improve readability in the story. By the time I will have posted this, I will also have gone back and editted the previous two chapters.
