Author's Note: Hey guys! A little note before I let you read. I updated the first chapter and made the beginning a little more interesting and allowing for a sliver of insight about what will happen much later in the story.
Also sorry for updating so soon. I'll be gone for labor day weekend so I figured it'd be best to give you something now instead of 2-3 chapters later (^-^')
I will warn you...this chapter may be a little boring (more so than the last chapters). I'm trying my best to push through the tournament as fast as I can without making it feel too rushed and without leaving out some relatively important information and feelings. Things should get better once it's over.
Ok now you can (possibly) enjoy this next chapter.
Chapter 3: The Tournament Begins
Piccolo couldn't believe it. Of all the chances he had to get that one. There in Vegeta's hand was the number nine ball. He tossed it to the man who was writing down the names and walked over to Saiyia.
"Looks like today is your unlucky day Bitch." Saiyia's arms were crossed again and she lazily glanced down at Vegeta and then back at the lineup board. "Don't you dare ignore me! I'll pummel that ugly face of yours into the ground!"
"Maybe…" Saiyia said, only half hearing him.
Piccolo couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Either she's completely nuts or she has some secret we have to worry about."
The encounter didn't last long. Vegeta was fuming and refused to look at her anymore so he stormed out of the room. The man in charge didn't seem to notice what happened and called out Tien's name. Tien slowly walked up to the box. He had a fifty fifty change to be paired with Yamcha and he wish that was the outcome instead of Trunks. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. He pulled out the number fifteen ball, pitting him against Trunks.
"Great. I should have quit long before I signed up." Tien sighed and retreated back to the group.
"Don't worry Tien, I promise I'll go easy on you. Maybe if I feel nice enough I'll let you win." Trunks laughed placing a hand on his shoulder. Tien smiled weakly.
"Hey Tien lighten up." Yamcha said. "At least you know about the person you have to fight. I'm sitting in the dark here."
Ramria was the only one left so she had been automatically written into the last available spot; as Yamcha's opponent.
Tien thought quickly about what Yamcha said. "Yeah, I guess you're right Yamcha. But at least your opponent is something to look at."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Trunks asked.
"If I could have all of your attention please." The announcer for the tournament had arrived and was now trying to address them. "All of you should know the rules by now so I don't think it's necessary for me to recite them. But here is the line up for this year's tournament. Round one: Tye vs. Viktor; Round two: Krillin vs. Crippler Hitman; Round three: Goku vs. Gohan; Round four: Isha vs. Lance; Round five: Vegeta vs. Saiyia; Round six: Ma Junior vs. Clay; Round seven: Yamcha vs. Ramira; and for round eight: Tien vs. Trunks. I'm anticipating a great outcome for all fights and for no one to leave during the tournament." He eyed Goku accusingly who only scratched the back of his head and laughed nervously in response. "The tournament will start in twenty minutes so prepare yourselves and I will see you then."
He left without another word leaving the contestants to do their own thing. The Mantai students were the first to leave. Saiyia eyed them all as she passed.
"We'll see you in fifteen." She said.
"Don't beat me too much with those strong arms of yours." Ramira coyly smiled at Yamcha as she passed him. The man's face turned red and he stiffened but didn't say anything back in fear of sounding stupid.
"Isha, you'll help me warm up right?" Tye looked at her expectantly.
"Sure thing kiddo." Isha smiled. The two followed Saiyia and Ramira and their school mate Clay slowly followed behind. He glanced back at the group before he entered the hallway and glared. Piccolo wasn't sure what it was about but he knew it wasn't good. That boy was just as hard to read as Saiyia. During the entire organization of the fights Piccolo had noticed he had been brooding over something and mood had gotten even worse when he was paired up with the boy. He shrugged it off and followed the others to who knows where until the tournament started.
Fifteen minutes had passed and the Z fighters were heading to the lobby next to the ring. When they entered the Mantai students were already there. Isha and Ramria were relaxing in one corner while Saiyia and Tye meditated in another. Clay stood, eye closed and arms crossed, close to the ring entrance; not paying the Z fighters any mind.
As soon as they entered the room Ramira noticed them immediately and stood up.
"Hey guys." She was as smiley as ever. It was an innocent and care free smile that was similar to Goku's. "You guys ready for this?" The confident smiles they gave her was the only response she needed. She looked as if she was about to say something but the sudden roar of the crowd prevented that. The announcer stood in the middle of the ring and made a welcoming speech and didn't waste any time getting the tournament underway.
"You're in for a real treat ladies and gentlemen!" He began. "This year's show much promise for good fights. So let's get this moving! In the first round we have Viktor and Tye!"
Viktor maneuvered his way to the entrance with Tye close behind. The two walked next to each other up to the stage.
"As you may know Viktor made it all the way to the semi-finals in our last tournament and no one doubts he is here to try and take the title this year. But his opponent this year is isn't a push over! He may be young but Tye is well known for being a fighting prodigy and overcoming more obstacles anyone can imagine! Not only has this young boy learned his fighting under Master Raiden's guidance but he has also been given the privilege of training under Saiyia, one of the top three student at the school, who taught him how to overcome his blindness! You heard me right folks, young Tye is in fact blind and has still managed to make it here today!"
"Hn. I give the boy two minutes to lose." Vegeta grumbled.
"I give him two minutes to win." The Z fighters looked at Krillin curiously. "I mean think about it. They wouldn't let any blind kid just walk into a tournament. He has to have some sort of skill to get this far especially if he's been trained under two people at this point."
"Ha, what a wild imagination you have. But we will see who is right momentarily."
"Ring out! Tye is the winner!"
Vegeta stared out at the ring in disbelief. Not only had that runt proven him wrong, he had done it in barely a blink of an eye. Ramira and Isha's laughter rang through the room.
"The looks on your faces are priceless." Isha wiped a small tear from her eye.
Piccolo was barely conscious of what was going on. He was more focused on the strange behavior Saiyia was displaying. The boy was now at her side and the two were talking. She praised him with a smile he didn't think she had in her. She had been very distant and sometimes crude to them and even to the other two women at times but this was a very different and there was something else there, mainly in the way she looked at the boy, but he couldn't quite place a finger on.
"She looks at the boy in the same way you look at me." Gohan stood next to him and watch the two interact. "She's proud of how well he has done and proud of what he will do in the future. But that feeling isn't new to you at all, now is it Piccolo?"
Piccolo just smiled and placed a hand on Gohan's shoulder. It was no secret how proud he was of Gohan. He wasn't going to worry about the woman anymore. He could hear the announcer claiming Krillin as the victor of his easy match which meant it was Goku and Gohan's turn to fight, which was going to be quite promising.
"Now for a match I'm sure none of you will ever forget. The next fighters are a previous World Champion, Goku and his son, Gohan! While these two may be family outside the ring, they are now rivals in this tournament and will stop at almost nothing to make it to the next round!"
The announcer hadn't been far off either. Both Goku and Gohan gave much of what they had and gave the crowd the show they would never forget. They did their best to keep their speed down so they could be seen but every now and then they would get carried away and disappear from the spectator's sights putting them in an awe of sorts. Although the fight looked like an even match Piccolo knew better. Gohan's devotion to his father and his lack of training in the past months were putting him at a disadvantage.
Slowly Goku began to obtain the upper hand and when the moment came he struck. Gohan left his blind side open for attack and Goku took it, knocking Gohan to the ground; outside the ring. The announcer announced Goku as the winner while he went to help his son off the ground. The crowd cheered and the two men waved to them all before heading back to the waiting room.
The Z warriors congratulated them on their well fought fight and then watched as Isha and Lance prepared for their bout. Lance made a desperate attempt to get on her good side by giving her a charming smile but all he received in return was another disgusted look. They all knew this would most likely not end well for the man but were eager to know what she could do, even if it was against the weakling of a man.
It ended seconds after it started. The man didn't even get a chance to speak before she struck him in the face with a high kick and followed it up with a round house that sent him flying into the adjacent wall. The announcer and crowd were shocked. Isha huffed silently and left the area. When she entered the room Ramira laughed at her.
"I hope you damaged that freaks face!" Isha laughed at Ramira's comment and was going to answer but was interrupted.
"A broken nose and a broken jaw." Saiyia said with a smirk. She was leaning against the wall now, glancing out the small window that over looked the area. "I doubt he'll be showing his "charm" any time soon."
The three laughed as if those words were part of some inside joke. Although Ramira and Isha's laughs were completely care free, Saiyia's was reserved as if something was on her mind.
"What are you hiding?" Piccolo wondered. He had no reason to think she was hiding anything but something in his gut said she was.
"Why don't you three more serious for once." Clay sneered from where he was standing.
"Why don't you lighten up, you stuck up asshole." Ramira turned her nose up at him. The Z fighters didn't know how to react to that. They had assumed the five of them were on good terms since they came from the same school but apparently that wasn't the case. Clay just glared at the three women and then looked away. Ramira and Isha turned their attention back to each other and Saiyia while Tye quietly stood near them. Piccolo wondered if the boy knew exactly what was going on in the room or if he was only understanding what was being said.
"Alright ladies and Gentlemen! Now that we know poor Lance will be ok it's time to start the next round! This round will be Vegeta vs. Saiyia!"
This was it. The moment Vegeta, and the others, had been waiting for. Saiyia moved from her position by the wall and walked to the entrance, meeting Vegeta on the way.
"Break a leg Saiyia." Clay sneered. Saiyia only snorted in response.
"Oh I'll make sure she will." Vegeta smirked but got no response from Saiyia. Piccolo assumed she enjoyed giving Vegeta the silent treatment. It did seem to be an effective method to annoy him.
The two walked up to the stage; matching each other's pace. Many held their breath and wondered what was going to happen.