Chapter 21: Tao PoPo

Goku steered Kintuon as we flew over to the nearest Dragon Ball. The lands beneath us turned to a flat grassy land with many sturdy trees. We were close to the next Dragon Ball when we heard a young boy cry out for his father. I looked up to see an air craft. The man driving it held a crying young boy.

Headaches assaulted my head. The young boy transformed within my sight. His size stayed the same, but his fiery orange hair was tied back with a blue ribbon. The boy was wearing baggy clothing and oddly enough had animal feet, fox maybe. Foreign feelings squeezed my heart. My instincts flared.

I suddenly took to steering Kintoun. Goku yelped and clung to me, confused. We sped to be aligned with the air craft. When Goku recognized the plane he attacked the driver while I jumped after the falling child. I grabbed onto the fox child and held him gently, securely as I landed on Kintoun, next to the confused but happy Goku. I blinked when the boy in my arms looked up at me with a wide grin. My heart clenched before the mists of illusion in my eyes lifted to show me another young boy with a feather in his dark hair. He stared at me admiringly. I blinked and smiled.

"Are you alright?"

He just nodded and settled in my embrace until we landed next to a really tall and brawny man. The boy cried out, "Father," and jumped over to the strong man. I watched as the man picked up his son with tender care and place his son on his broad and strong shoulders. The warrior thanked us.

"It was no problem. I'm just glad he Upa is uninjured."

"Yeah"

That was when Goku and I saw the 4 star Dragon Ball. Great relief and joy flooded me when I saw it. Goku celebrated over it. When Upa's father questioned what it was and its meaning, I explained the story. I showed him the other Dragon Balls in Bulma's backpack.

"I see. So, these balls carry such a secret with them … that must be why they were so intent on stealing it…"

"Yeah, but we don't have anything to wish for, though, so long as we can get our grandpa's memoir, the 4 star ball, then we'll be happy!"

I smiled at Goku. I listen to his inquiry and the answer concerning the really tall tower. The legend says that if you climbed it to the top a sacred person will give you some mystical water to boost your strength. I wanted to climb the tower now. I laughed at Goku at his wonder.

"Hey, What's so funny?!"

"I believe the point of the tower is to climb it, not to ride your cloud up there."

"Oh, right"

He grinned and laughed. I grinned too until I sensed a powerful and bad person. I turned to the spot in the distance. Upa spotted the person too. I noticed that it was going to land on Upa and his father. I dropped the backpack and grabbed the father's warm and callused hand to jerk him out of the way just in time when a pillar embedded itself deep into the ground. The man riding on it landed on the end of the pillar still in the air.

I could feel my hackles rise at his greeting and demeanor. He introduced himself as the world's greatest assassin, Tao PoPo. Upa and his father are in danger.

"What could an assassin want here in the Sacred Land of Karin!?"

"I want nothing from this land, but rather from that boy and young lady over there!"

I growled and stood in front of Goku. My tail bristled. I was terrified. My instincts are going wild. I feel cornered by this older man. I noticed Goku tense in response to my defensive stance. That and Upa and his father were giving me strange looks.

"What do you want from us? We don't even know you."

"If I tell you I was contracted by the Red Ribbon Army, you should understand, correct? My job is to kill the boy and young woman who have been getting in the way of their hunt for the balls."

Goku bristled behind me at the mention of the army. I bared my teeth as I felt the ends of my hair stand on end, giving my hair a fluffier look, also making my presence bigger. Upa ushered his father to help us.

"That boy and young woman saved my son's life. If you do not leave at once, I will have to make you do so."

Goku spoke up behind me, "Don't worry about it, Mister! That guy's our opponent!"

"I agree with Goku. He is strong. He has the potential to kill us. I rather not see you die and leave your son behind."

Upa's father hesitated in his reply when my words sunk in, but his duty won out.

"It is still my job to protect this Sacred Land of Karin. Get back, Upa."

I strained to close my eyes, but I couldn't let myself lose sight of Tao PoPo. It pained me to step back to watch only. I can understand his call to duty and his instinct to protect, but this will only end in his death. This will leave Upa fatherless, all because of the Dragon Ball.

Pain pierced the back of my eyes as I saw a different landscape. A field of corpses and bones with armor and weapons, the little fox boy was in front of me sporting an impressive lump on his head I was treating. The little boy was telling his story of why he wanted to steal … something … from me. It was to avenge his dead father; because, his father died protecting him and the something that was important. The little boy was fatherless because of this something. A red and white blur came in front of me, picking up the little fox boy by his fluffy tan tail. The scene was fading.

I snapped into focus when I felt energies flaring. I could only watch as Goku get blasted by Tao PoPo's energy wave. I was in shock. Tears gathered in my eyes as I watched Goku's body slowly fall down. Tears streamed.

"Goku," I whispered weakly. I felt myself leaping into the fight in rage and grief.

I could only blink was I was jabbed painfully by Tao PoPo who now wore rags. I hacked up blood since my defense is at its lowest point. I fell over. Black consumed me.

When I woke, I was reminded of the pain in my stomach and head. I looked around blurrily. I then started to realize that a little boy was crying and hugging me tight. I shifted to hold him properly. I looked around again when I could see properly. I choked on the sight of Goku and Upa's father. Tears fell like waterfalls. It was my fault. I clutched to Upa as I shook with repressed emotions, but the dam broke, and I was wailing with Upa.

After a while, we both calmed down. I stood up with Upa settled on my hip. He was still sniffling.

"Come on … let's get started. Where do you keep … your shove?"

When we had gotten it out, Upa wanted to bury his father. I let him. I went over to Goku and picked him up. I curled around him like I did so many times. My tail curled around his limp one. I heard a thump of the 4 star ball falling from the place Goku was shot at. It made me conflicted. I wanted to hate it for being the reason for Goku's death, but I couldn't since both he and Grandpa treasured it. That was when I heard it, Goku's heartbeat. I looked at him and took a sniff. His blood was flowing. He was alive!

Goku twitched and woke up. I was so happy. I blubbered and hugged him. I gave him a couple of pecks. I also picked up the Dragon Ball. I thanked Grandpa silently.

"Look Goku, Grandpa is watching over us."

"You're right … I was saved by Grandpa."

Goku got out of my death grip and stood, perfectly fine. He saw Upa's father's grave. Upa stated his wish in sadness. Goku and I grew determined when we started at Grandpa's Dragon Ball.

"Yosh! We're going to gather up all the Dragon Balls and wish your dad to come back to life!"

Goku affirmed Upa disbelief in the wish. Upa also told us that Tao PoPo took the other Dragon Balls. Goku recounted his time in fighting. Upa suggested that Goku and I should climb Karin's Tower. Goku and I looked at each other. The silent question: Who goes first?

"Kagome, Let me be first, please. I want a rematch with him. I need to get stronger."

I blinked at his seriousness. The fight for being the first to climb was outweighed by pride. I crutched in front of him. I ruffled his hair and smiled. My face must be a mess right now with red-rimmed eyes and my cheeks tear stained, but I smiled anyways.

"Alright, I'll stay down here just in case Tao PoPo comes back and to take care of Upa. I was in too much shock the first time when he attacked me, so I'll get a real fight out of him. Now, before you go up there, provisions."

I rummaged through my new bag to take out a water skin and a small bag of food. I also gave him a small bag to tie the Dragon Ball to his belt. Upa and I stood back as Goku leaped on the tower, going higher and higher until he was already out of sight. I heaved a sigh and looked around. I looked to Upa.

"So, what shall we do first?"

Upa was going to say something until his stomach growled. I laughed a bit.

"Let's go find something to eat. What do you feel for today?"

That was when Upa noticed that the fish he was grilling had burnt up and fell into the previous fire. He turned sad with tears in his eyes. I realized that he must have fished with his father to get it. I picked him up and hugged him as he wailed into my shoulder. He cried until the growling of his stomach was too much.

"Hey, how about you show me where you fish and we can get more. I'll show you how I fish."

He nodded. I set him down. I followed him to a stream. I started to take off my jeans and t-shirt. That certainly shocked the little guy. I walked over to the deep end of the pool at the base of the river. I sent out my senses to see if there were any fish like the ones in our mountain. I found a couple but not a whole lot. Upa watched from afar when I stuck the tip of my tail in the water. I wiggled my tail and waited.

Suddenly a huge fish jumped out of the water trying to snatch my tail. I leaped up to jab-kick its gills. I sent energy so as to shock it. I ended up splashing into the water along with my fish. I grabbed hold of its tail and swam for the surface. Upa greeted me with amazement as I climbed over the rocks. I set my fish out to the side as I waded out towards the shallower waters.

"Alright, Upa, it's your turn to catch your fish!"

"What you mean I have to fish too," he asked as he waded over to me. I had to pick him up when he slipped into a small pool. I set him on my shoulder.

"Yes, you see I have a very big appetite, so that fish will be able to satisfy me. You will also need to eat so that you can become a big strong man like your father. I come from the mountains, so my fishing style may be different from yours. Will you teach me how to fish?"

He beamed. After a half an hour we got enough fish for the both of us. When we got back to his home, we searched the forest for fallen branches and twigs for the fire to cook our fish. After eating and telling some stories, I went into the hut nearby. When I lay down to sleep, Upa nervously laid down beside me. He relaxed when I wrapped my arms around him. He held onto me tightly as he slept.

The next morning, I woke with the sun. Upa yawned and we got up to start the day. We went back to the river to wash up in a quick bath. Little Upa blushed so hard as I washed his hair. He got over it quickly when I started a splash war. I suddenly felt Goku come down for a brief moment before going back up the clouds again. He felt stronger than before. For the next couple of days, it went on like this without Goku coming back down.

It was the third day, and I was in the forest gathering the chopped wood Upa and I cut. I had sent him ahead to put away his axe to come help me carry the large load of wood.

Wood in my arms dropped when I felt Tao PoPo land by the tower with Upa. I ran until I got in sight of the tower. Upa was thrown toward the tower at a speed where if he collides with the tower he will die. I kept running and I leaped to catch Upa as Goku caught both of us on Kintoun. Tao PoPo was shocked at our mere presence since he believed that we died.

Upa cheered Goku's return. I ruffled his messy hair.

"Alright Goku, go show us how much stronger you got. We'll stay up here."

He nodded and leaped off Kintoun. I sat crisscross with Upa in my lap. We watch Goku fight Tao PoPo. Upa fidgeted with anticipation. I placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Relax. Goku has gotten stronger. Believe in him."

Upa did relax, and he leaned on me. We both stiffen when Tao PoPo used his Dodon Ray. I flinched when Goku caught the energy beam. I relaxed when I saw he was alright. I hissed when Tao PoPo drew out a capsule that turned into a sword.

"Stay here Upa"

I hopped off Kintoun. I went into the hut to get Goku's Bo.

"Goku," I shouted to get his attention. I threw the Bo.

I saw Goku catch it and break Tao PoPo's sword with it. Then he threw the bo away, proclaiming that he would beat the assassin with bare hands. I stood off to the side to watch. I could tell that Goku was letting himself get beaten to gage how strong Tao PoPo is compared to him. Upa stress over how Goku was doing in the fight. Upa cheered when Goku got up relatively unharmed. Goku counter attacked.

When Tao PoPo noticed that the odds were against him, he got on is knee and apologized. That stunned us quite a bit. Goku asked whether we should forgive him. I noticed that Tao PoPo pulled a dirty trick. He threw a grenade in our direction as he jumped high into the air to avoid the blast. I was able to dash over to the falling grenade and kick it into the air near the assassin.

*BOOM*

We all fell flat to the ground at the force of the explosion. We cheered for the defeat of our enemy.