Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball.
Betaed by: Zim'smostloyalservant & my best friend.
Last Time on Dragon Ball IJ:
Months passed as our heroes endured the harsh training of the Muten Roshi. Growing in not only strength but spirit, as many of them tackled some personal issues. At last their work culminated in Goku moving the rock set by Master Roshi as a measure to their progress.
But the old man did not teach them his legendary Kamehameha, instead urgung them to master their foundations before seeking such heights.
But the pursuit of such mastery will have to wait for now. Because the great tournament is at hand!
Chapter 7
"This is a weird way to fly," Goku said, looking out the window as the small plane took off from the airport.
"Actually, this is how most people do it," Krillin said flatly, unfolding a newspaper.
The passenger cabin of the small plane was full, but not quite tight, with the small aisle dividing rows of four seats into half. Krillin sat aisle-side next to Goku, while behind them Launch was seated by the aisle, her hat in her lap while Chichi sat window-side, taking in the view. Roshi sat across the aisle, next to a burly bearman whose sheer mass was intruding on the old master's space.
"Excuse me, miss, can an old man order a drink now?" Roshi asked, hailing down the pretty young flight attendant.
"Certainly, sir, what would you like?"
"Your cheapest beer. And some peanuts," he said with a smile, which she returned.
"Right away sir. Eep!"
"Heheh, that's also refreshing," Roshi said, grinning pervily.
SMACK
"Really, old timer?" the bearman asked, shaking his head.
"Hey now, I've been good for months, doesn't an old man, having lived so much of life already, deserve a few perks?" The bearman rolled his eyes, not deigning to comment.
"Same old Master Roshi," Chichi sighed, reaching into her travel bag and getting out a Where's Walliam book to pass the time. Then she noticed Launch looking pensively down the aisle, a reserved frown on her face.
"Launch, is something wrong?"
"This is the first time I've been on an airplane…"
"Oh, you too-"
"And not hijacked it," Launch said, clenching her first tight and biting her lips.
"…Please don't?" Chichi asked, sweatdropping.
X X X
"Wow, there are a lot more people living on this island," Goku said as they left the Papaya Island airport.
"I've never been to a big city like this," Chichi said, marveling at the building-filled surroundings and paved streets full of cars and trucks. Lunch laughed a bit in her palm, smiling.
"If you kids think this is something, wait until you visit one of the compass point cities or Orange Star. I hear you can fit five of these towns into them and have room left," the kindly woman said. Krillin frowned, while Chichi sparkled and Goku assumed a thoughtful pose.
"Please don't lump me in with these two, Miss Lunch. I'm not so easily awed by a bit of civilization," he said.
"Krillin, have you been to those places?" Chichi asked, getting in his face with wide-eyed awe.
"Umm, well, I am well-read on geography," Krillin said. It didn't seem to dampen her enthusiasm, while Goku sniffed the air.
"Lots of kinds of food around here. This place must have a restaurant!" Goku declared.
"Probably dozens, Goku, and that's not counting street vendors," Lunch told him. She clearly found this all utterly adorable. Roshi called from the curb, getting their attention.
"Hey now, this is no time to play tourist. We've got to get to the tournament temple in time to register," he reminded them, biding them to get into as yellow taxi cab.
"You say you're going to the tournament?" the driver asked, glancing back and twitching the cigarette in his mouth after they'd squeezed in.
"That's right."
"Nice to see a family outing vacation, three generations even."
"Oh my, do I look that old?" Lunch asked, gasping and trying to check herself in the window while Chichi blushed, Krillin remained stoic, and Goku didn't notice.
"We're not related, and we're not tourists, these kids are my students here to compete," Roshi asserted.
"Huh, well, so long as your money spends, old-timer," the cabby shrugged, making his way through traffic.
X X X
"Well, I'll be, the place has hardly changed. That's unusual in my experience," Roshi said, as they stood before the unbarred gate of the temple amidst a roaming crowd.
A monk with a fancy hat sat at a table with a pile of forms. Roshi led them in approaching.
"I'm sorry sir, this is registration, tickets are over there," the monk said politely.
"Registration is what we need," Roshi clarified as Lunch stepped up.
"Oh! Very well then, young lady, please fill out the form, I will give you a pass into the contestant area."
"Thank you, sir," Lunch said, leaning over and taking a pen out of a cup full of them.
"Us too!" Goku said, peeking over the table.
"What?" the monk went.
"You guys are going to be hosting an interesting tournament this year," Roshi remarked.
Soon their forms were filled out and passes issued. A man who didn't look to be a monk was standing on a box by a side door to the temple, announcing into a megaphone that this was the contestant entrance, insisting it was staff and contestants only.
"Well, this is where we part ways," Roshi nodded.
"You're not coming back with us?" Chichi asked.
"Of course not. You've been preparing for this since the day you started delivering milk. It's time for me to step back and let you little turtles swim in the deep water. But I do have something to see you off with!" Roshi said, holding up the bag he'd been carrying in one hand. He set it on the ground and motioned for them to reach in. Krillin reached in first and pulled out an orange gi, holding it wide to reveal the old-fashioned Turtle symbol.
"Uniforms for the Kame School. Having completed my training, I declare you full members of the school, with every right to wear its symbol and colors. I ask that you wear them with pride in this tournament, a testament to your hard work."
"Thank you, Master Roshi, but… are there changing rooms?" Lunch asked, glancing around at the crowded area.
Soon enough they were changed, and in Roshi's opinion they looked quite cool, walking together through the doors into the temple.
"Especially Lunch, why did I wait so long to train lady fighters? Well, before my own little costume switch, I'd best take in the area. I'll need a safe place to stash stuff," Roshi muttered to himself.
X X X
"I'm feeling kind of puny," Lunch admitted as the group held together, weaving amidst the four upraised arenas with the crowd of fighters churning about, with the odd monk hustling by. Most of the fighters seemed to be young to middle-aged men, and the bulk of them were hulking, with muscles and above average height, it seemed.
"Tell me about it. I feel like I'm back at Orin Temple almost," Krillin gulped.
"Ha, reflecting on good ol' times, lil' whiner?" a voice called. Krillin froze, and the other three students turned instead toward the voice. The apparent speaker was a thin-to-almost gaunt teenager dressed in a scaled-up version of Krilln's original monk attire, even with burn marks in a row on his shaved head. He was flanked by similarly-dressed burlier men.
He wore a smile that made all of them frown.
"We saw the matching outfits and realized another school must have sent a cadre; naturally we'd want to see who else had the moxy. But if that runt Krillin is with you, clearly you aren't worth the time," the smug smiler said, shrugging his shoulders dramatically.
"Nah, Krillin's always worth a good laugh, boss. Why, it always brightens my day, remembering how pathetic he looked bawling his head off, running from the temple. What kind of idiot shouts threats as he's running away like a dog with its tail tucked in!? HAHAHA!"
"Nah, that's an insult to dogs."
The leader never joined in the full mirth, only chuckling, but as the Kame School glared at them, his eyes swept over Lunch, and again, and a third time.
"Well, look at this boys, I think the round sign girl went into the wrong changing room," he said, stepping up to Lunch, who stiffened.
"Ohh, she's real cute," one of the burlier monks said, leering, only to be shoved back by one of his fellows.
"Too cute for you. Say, baby, what are you doing here? A pretty face like yours could get all ruined."
The leader smiled again, possibly thinking this one was charming.
"If you're looking to meet guys, no need to pretend you can swing a punch. We're right here now, and plenty interested. Or rather, I'm here."
"No fair, boss," one of the grunts said as he made to put a hand on her shoulder. Chichi glowered, and Krllin snapped out of his stare to frown.
Lunch grabbed his wrist before he could touch her.
"I'm a martial artist, not a sign girl, and stop insulting my friend," she said, shoving him back. He stumbled a bit and looked in surprise, flexing his wrist before blowing it off.
"Had a bit of training?"
"Hey look boss, the symbol of the Turtle!"
"Huh? Why so it is… Oh. Oh! Ohohoho. You have got to be kidding me, don't tell me you guys really think you trained with the Invincible One?"
"What of it?" Goku demanded.
"Heh, kid, even if half the stories of the Kame Senin were true, he'd be dead for like hundreds of years or something. And if he was alive, no way he'd train some brats and girls. Some old man conned you out of yer lunch money and sent you here to get stomped."
"Ah boss, it's so tragic!"
"I knew Krillin was dumb, but dang! That's just sad."
"Well, how about once she's beat, we make it up to her by beating up the old fraud. She could repay us with a few kisses."
"Shut up! We trained with the Muten Roshi. He had a driver's license and everything!" Chchi shouted. That made them all, even their boss, howl with laughter. But they left, leaving them all a bit sullen.
"So, Krillin, you know them?" Goku asked.
"Unfortunately. They're the top students at Orin Temple. They made my life miserable for years."
"They don't seem so tough," Chichi huffed.
"Don't expect them to play fair. They might dress like monks, but they'll stoop to anything to get what they want, and they usually get it," Krillin warned.
"They bullied you?" Lunch asked. Only Goku seemed to notice her tone, and watched her crack her knuckles after Krillin nodded.
"Goku, is that you? It is! It's been a while!" a familiar voice called out to Goku.
"Huh? Yamcha!" Goku greeted at the former bandit appeared from the crowd. He'd cut his once-flowing hair short and wore an orange headband complimenting his green tunic. Altogether, he was less scruffy than Goku remembered.
"Those uniforms, you really trained under the Lord Muten Roshi, didn't you?" Yamcha asked in awe.
"So nice to meet someone civil here. Hello, I'm Lunch," Lunch said, extending her hand. Yamcha noticed her and flinched slightly, gulping.
"Oh, hello? Has Goku told you about me?" he asked.
"Yes, after we met Bulma, we asked more about his adventures with her. Are you two still together?"
"Yes. I admit, I'm here in part to impress her. A rich pretty girl like that, it can feel like a guy like me doesn't measure up, ya know?"
"I don't get it," Goku said.
"We could fill books with what you don't get," Krillin grumbled.
"Wow, your tooth grew back!" Chichi said, pointing.
"My tooth? Wait, are you the Ox King's daughter?" Yamcha asked.
"You don't recognize me?" Chichi pouted.
"Well, you've gotten bigger, I mean taller, and the new outfit…" Yamcha said.
Meanwhile:
"Well, I didn't expect to see you here, my old student," Roshi said, shaking hands with his massive former pupil.
"I couldn't possibly not show up to support my little girl, master. And Goku as well."
"They are promising, but my other students are no slouches either. I hope one of them will work out as a proper heir, so I can retire for good," Roshi mused.
"See Puar, I told you that was the Ox King. Wait, Master Roshi?" Bulma said, emerging from the crowd with the floating feline.
"Well Bulma, I was hoping we could find you in this crowd, but here you found us," Roshi said, tipping his hat.
"Well, Gyu Mao is kind of hard to miss, though I see you've gotten a bit more mainstream with your style," Bulma noted of the hulking man; save for the horned helm he wore, his khakis, white shirt and suspenders were pretty unremarkable.
"Well, I wouldn't want to embarrass my princess for her first tournament. Here to support Goku?" Ox King asked.
"Yeah, and to see if that Yamcha can measure up. He'd better go far with all the training he has done," Bulma glowered at the ground.
"Watch out guys, Bulma's been a regular Miss Cranky since she went back to West City," Puar warned.
"I am not! But you'd better not try anything dirty, you- Hey, where'd he go?" Bulma said, realizing Roshi was gone.
"Oh, Master Roshi does this every tournament. Has to get those perfect spots. He'll check back in, but don't bother looking; he's a pro at getting the good seats undisturbed."
"You sure he's not just peeping?" Bulma asked flatly.
"Of course not! The tournament is more important to him than a little lookie-loo… Well, I think. 90% sure he's paying attention," Ox King admitted, tilting his helmet to scratch his head.
X X X
An elder monk wearing a sash of office and sporting a magnificent white mustache stood on a stage in the tournament hall, speaking into a mic.
"Once again, five years have passed, and the time has come once again to bestow the venerable title of Strongest Under the Heavens. We are honored to receive you, fighters who have traveled to this place from the four corners of the Earth. Without your skill and enthusiasm, this event would be nothing but a hollow gesture. Yet while all are welcome, only one can be acclaimed as Strongest Under the Heavens.
"Listen carefully, as I explain the preliminary rounds. As you can see, we have four standard square rings in this hall; these will be used for the preliminary fights. Violence outside of them is strictly prohibited and grounds for disqualification. Each ring will have only one fight at a time. Fights will be determined in four ways. Firstly by a knockout, secondly by a ring-out. Thirdly if one opponent surrenders. And finally, if the match lasts longer than one minute, the three observing monks will declare a winner based on performance. The ruling of the officials is final. Brackets will be divided into eight blocks; the winner of each block will proceed to the tournament proper in the public arena. While only block winners may proceed as entrants, you are allowed to linger and spectate the preliminary matches until their end. Now please proceed orderly and form two lines to the lottery tables, where your placement in the blocks will be determined. Thank you," the monk concluded with a nod.
"Wait, so we have a tournament to get in the tournament?" Chichi asked.
"Pretty cool, right? We'll get lots of fights," Goku grinned.
"Glad you're excited, I'm just hoping to not get knocked out in the first round," Krillin gulped. Goku frowned a bit at that.
"Whaddaya mean? You're plenty strong," Goku said.
"Maybe for a kid, but look at these guys; half of them look like they've been busting heads since we were in diapers," Krillin said. Lunch ushered them toward the lines.
"Now, now. Remember what Master Roshi said. It's not like we need the title or the prize money. Just think of it as a fun game, where we'll all laugh later about it no matter who wins," the bluenette said.
"Easy for you to say," Krillin grumbled as they got in line.
Unknown to them, a grey-haired man with a beard, piercing dark eyes and wearing a black outfit watched them.
'Oh Krillin, you've grown further than you realize. You've left those fallen monks so far behind they couldn't catch your dust if they tried. The greater peril is what will become of your own resolve, when you realize how high you have climbed. Though that applies to all of you,' the man known as Jackie Chun thought.
"Hey old man, the line's moving!" a burly man in a leather jacket yelled behind him.
"Oh is it, well, on our way then," Jackie chuckled, laughter showing off some missing teeth.
Soon:
Goku would be the first called into one of the rings, Yamcha joining the other Kame students to watch.
"Goku was already amazing, it's kind of scary to wonder how he'll be after training under a man some call the god of martial arts," Yamcha remarked, as Goku happily leapt up onto the ring.
"He's even more amazing now," Chichi assured Yamcha.
Goku's opponent stepped up into the arena with ease. A towering man with a stout frame squeezed into a leotard with a mustache wider than his face and a shaved head loomed over him
"What's this? A joke?" the giant demanded of the referee.
"No, he's a contestant. There's no rule for an age limit, it turns out."
"Bah, I've left bigger things than you in the toilet, brat," the man said, cracking his knuckles. Goku stared at him silently.
"Ha, scared speechless? Why don't you run to home to your mother?"
"Uh, you should begin now," the referee told them, waving his hand again, glancing at his stopwatch.
"Hey Chichi, is this guy related to you?" Goku asked, turning to face the crowd.
"No way! No one in my family would ever say something so crude," Chichi objected.
"Goku, look out!" Krillin warned, as the big guy lunged at Goku, grinning. Goku turned, and in one motion rushed forward under the guy's guard, slipping between his legs and landing a kick. With a cry, the big man stumbled out of the arena, the crowd drawing back reflexively.
"Ah, my nose, I think I broke it!" the man said, getting up on his knees and elbows as the crowd looked on in shock.
"Uh, ring-out victory to contestant Son Goku," the referee said.
As Goku's friends cheered, murmurs ran through the crowd.
"That kid won?!"
"No way!"
"What, are you blind? He just did it, plain as day," a man with a baseball cap on said. Now chuckling answered his statement, turning his attention to his companion.
"Got something to say, Sakamoto?" cap man asked. Sakamoto pushed his mirror sunglasses up his face and crossed his muscular arms over his white sleeveless shirt.
"Everyone's going into a panic for such a tiny bit of luck. That big galoot didn't get defeated so much as he defeated himself. Throwing his weight at such a small opponent was like trying to swat a housefly with a hammer. You just end up breaking the table, and he rung himself out. That boy did a bit of dodging, yes, but there was no real technique behind that tackle. A true martial artist doesn't just rely on brute strength and size. He was just waiting to be tossed aside in the sorting, that little boy just so happened to be there for the round."
Sakamoto and his friends laughed at the absurd fears of the other contestants, and soon enough that self-assurance swept back through the crowd as the matches moved on. Though not all who heard those words agreed.
A gaunt man, dark-skinned, clad in robes of orange and wearing a turban, frowned at the crowd's reactions.
'Can they truly not see? The giant was unskilled, it's true, but he was not incompetent. That boy, with only a moment to react, slipped under his opponent's guard and struck just right, hardly any movement was wasted. It may be to my advantage if this tournament is overflowing with those who lack the wisdom to see what lies before their eyes. But I must be wary lest I too fall into a trap of self-assurance.'
"Orange uniform with the symbol of the turtle? I will have to remember it," Nam told himself as he went to his own first match.
X X X
"You have got to be kidding me," Krillin gulped, looking at the arena while the boss of his old bullies climbed up into it, smiling like he'd just found someone else's lunch unattended.
"Well, Krillin, when I said it was like old times, I didn't really think we'd be doing a reenactment. But look on the bright side, when I go on to win the tournament, you can try to save face by saying you lost to the champ," the bully said.
"You haven't won anything yet!" Goku said, before sticking his tongue out on the sidelines.
"Beat 'em up, Krillin!" Chichi cheered.
"Do your best!" Lunch cheered. Yamcha leaned in next to Lunch.
"I take it he has some history with this guy?"
"Oh yes, it seems he and his cronies bullied Krillin at his old school. They're very naughty monks-"
"Winner, Krillin, ring-out! And a knockout?" the referee said, stunned. Looking back to the arena, they saw Krillin standing there frozen, fist extended from a punch and looking across the room they saw a cleared space by the wall where the bully was crumpling to the floor.
"Boss!?" his mooks cried out.
"Oh goody, it's like a sports movie, but we already did the happy ending at the start," Lunch clapped.
X X X
The curly-haired kickboxer with sports tape wrapped over his fists and arms frowned down at Chichi, looking to the referee.
"You seriously expect me to fight a little girl?" he asked. The referee sighed.
"Yes. She's a contestant, either fight her or forfeit, sir."
"Yeah, I filled out the form and everything," Chichi said, puffing out her cheeks.
"What's the matter, scared to fight a little girl?" a voice called from the crowd. He bared his teeth, before shouting at the hidden heckler.
"Shut up! My mom didn't raise me to hit girls! You got a problem with that, step up here and say it to my face!"
"…So, are you forfeiting?" the referee asked.
"Heck no! My momma also didn't raise quitters. So, listen up girl, I'll give you one free shot so no one can call me a bully, then I'm going to get serious. Just no crotch shots, okay?" the kickboxer said. Chichi blushed and let out a squeaking cry.
"You said the C-word! How vulgar!"
"Wha? I did not! I said crotch!"
"Begin!"
"You did it again! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?!" Chichi practically fell over in stunned outrage.
"Leave my mom out of this, you twit! That is not the C-word!"
"Yes it is!"
"Isn't!"
"Is!"
"Isn't!"
"Prove it!"
"…Hey, monks!" he pointed to the three observing monks standing by the ring. They were a trio of fat, skinny, and in-between, all looking surprised.
"You're supposed to give moral instruction, right? Well, teach this girl that what I said isn't a cuss word!" he demanded.
"Uh, you've used about half your allotted time already," the referee butted in.
"What?! Oh, for- just hit me already, you dummy!" he shouted at Chichi, getting red in the face.
"Okay!" she said, still red in the face herself. He folded over as her fist sank into his sixpack. Eyes bugging out, he squeezed out a word that probably wasn't a cuss word, then stumbled back and toppled on his side.
"…Winner by knockout, contestant Chichi," the referee proclaimed.
"That will teach him to cuss in front of a lady," Chichi said, tossing her hair aside.
"…Does that girl have a tail?" one of the spectators asked.
"So what if she does?" a dogman standing next to the first man asked.
X X X
"Heheh, the boss really was all bark and no bite. I knew he was neglecting training to go take girls out drinking, but he really messed up," the burliest of the Orin Temple monks said, getting into the ring, "Me though, I actually like building my muscles. The bigger and stronger you are, the easier life gets, smart guys like him always seem to forget that. But I also hate losing, so don't think I won't break that pretty face of yours. So why not just surrender, and I'll make it up to you with drinks and dinner tonight?"
"Begin"
Lunch charged him, weaving around his jab and slipping to the side. He followed her, with his eyes widening. The jabbing blow with her left fist took him right in one of those eyes and sent him off his feet onto the floor. Groaning, he didn't rise.
"I don't hang out with bullies. And while Krillin can stand up for himself, that's for him anyway. Hmph!" Lunch said, turning and walking out of the ring as she was declared the winner. Yamcha watched her go, sweating a bit.
"I didn't think she'd be weak. But seriously, none of their matches could really be called fights. Do I even have a chance?" Yamcha wondered.
He remembered his parting words with Bulma before entering the temple.
"Listen Yamcha, you've been a disappointment as a boyfriend. All 'training' this, or 'I have homework' that. And don't get me started about those girls making goo-goo eyes at you when you train in the park or those loser dojos."
"Bulma, I-"
"I don't wanna hear it! I put up with that because you told me you had an ambition to be Strongest Under the Heavens. I may not like being neglected, but I can accept an excuse for a big enough ambition. So, show me that time not spent with me wasn't wasted, or so help me I'll punt your bum butt right back to the desert!"
'She's pretty when she's angry, but also scary. I've been throwing myself into training and studying to be worthy of a girl like her. She's practically royalty, and I'm to date nothing but a disgraced student of the Wolf School and a bandit. I can't just give up. I need to overcome and prove myself as a man and warrior, even if it's monsters like Goku I'm facing.'
Nearby:
"Those four seem to be a class apart after all, Emperor Pilaf," Mai said, turning from adjusting the screens showing the preliminary tournament. The Pilaf Gang were arranged on the floor of a tent with their surveillance equipment in front of them, Shu working a battery-operated microwave oven.
"Bah, this isn't impressive. I'd like to see these muscleheads build a mecha with only half the parts the kit promised, or balance an annual budget while having to pay capital income taxes!" Pilar ranted sullenly.
"I'm telling ya, if they trained with that turtle guy, you can't underestimate him. He took the top off a mountain with just one move," Oolong said, blowing on some hot corn on a stick from his spot.
"A sketchy story to say the least, but I admit, the site of the former Frypan palace does have disturbing implications," Pilaf admitted.
"Ah, that's why you need me as your resident Goku expert. That kid will want his four-star ball back, and you need all seven to make yer wish," Oolong reminded him.
"Just be sure to be worth your pay. The Reich Pilaf does not tolerate incompetents and layabouts on its payroll," Pilar threatened, while struggling to open a bag of peanuts.
"Popcorn's ready! Oh, I just love a good martial arts flick. My favorite part is when the wimpy kid beats up the jerk jock," Shu said, taking his seat with a bowl of freshly-popped popcorn.
"Sorry Shu, I think that already happened," Mai informed him, trying to adjust some static away with a dial.
"This isn't a movie night Shu, this is serious intelligence-gathering for world domination. Now get off your seat and get me a refill!"
Oolong watched the trio, eyes half-closed, before taking a bite from his corn.
"These guys might be dumber than Goku. But so long as their checks don't bounce, I might as well stick with them. If I'm going to be surrounded by idiots, I might as well get paid for my trouble," the pigman grumbled.
"What is that?! Oh, it's hideous!" Mai cried, recoiling from the screen.
"Is it the boss fight? Where's the music?"
"It's not a videogame either, Shu!"
X X X
The man facing Lunch now was a very large, fat, yet muscular man with darkish skin, long untidy black hair, a bushy black beard, and thick hair on his chest and forearms. He wore khaki armbands, a pair of onyx-colored posers/tights, and black boots with gold toes.
Lunch stepped back, hands on her nose as he stepped into the ring, laughing.
"What is that?!" Chichi demanded, tearing up even as she covered her nose.
"Is that guy human? I've met dead animals that smell better," Goku complained, cringing.
"I believe it!" Krillin said.
"I have heard of this guy. He must be the infamous Bacterian, the self-proclaimed Smelliest in the World, with a stench that reaches the heavens!" Yamcha declared, "They say he lives in the vilest of landfills and the filthiest of garbage dumps, that he has gone his whole life having never bathed, showered, brushed his teeth or even washed his hands! To just be near him is as painful as taking ten mighty blows with one breath. No martial artist can fight him, as your hands will go to your nose by sheer survival instinct! To think the legends were true!"
"Poor Miss Lunch, how is she still standing?!" Chichi cried out.
Lunch was down on one knee, but looking forward, trembling visibly as Bacterian loomed over her.
"Heheh. Still awake? Since you're a pretty little thing, I won't draw this out – here comes the loogie!"
Lunch's eye twitched, and she shot upright.
"No," she snapped, hands still over her nose.
"Huh?" Bacterian blinked.
"No. No. Nonononononono!" Lunch screamed out, bursting into motion and kicking out with her right leg rapidly. Bacterian stumbled back under the blows but did not lose his balance. Near the edge of the ring, he planted his foot and stopped despite the hail of kicks, and a with a roar backhanded her.
The hand passed through thin air as she ducked. Her glare met his, and he flinched.
"Icky! Go away!" she screamed and leapt. Her knee connected with his chin, slamming his jaw shut. The remaining yellow teeth in his mouth cracked while the crowed watched, and his huge body was lifted off its feet.
Bacterian fell backward hard, eyes rolled up in his head and everything, but the heels of his feet out of the ring.
"…Knockout and ring-out, victory Lunch!" the referee said through his gas mask, giving a thumbs up, "Please get him out of here."
"Ahhh! I need to burn these shoes. And my pants touched it! Shower, please!" Lunch said, grabbing the nearest monk after throwing her shoes off.
X X X
Nam found himself facing the young girl wearing the Turtle uniform. The tail was a curiosity, but given the vast array of people in this world, hardly worth a second thought.
He bowed respectfully, and the child returned it. More courtesy than many of his adult opponent had demonstrated.
When the referee gave the signal, she did not wait for him to make the first move. He deflected the punch and countered with a kick. The blow landed, but despite being knocked back, she seemed more annoyed than hurt.
'As I thought, regardless of their age, I must hold nothing back against these warriors in orange. Whatever moral shortcoming in fighting children, the fate of my village is far more important.'
Focusing, letting the world fall away save for his opponent and the arena, Nam pressed the attack. As he'd thought, her short stature may limit her reach but it was also an asset, as he had not trained to fight such short opponents. Trained movements and reflex required that slight bit more thought which reduced speed.
Backing her toward the edge, hoping for a ring-out or for her to fumble a counterattack, she burst through his guard, forcing him back.
'What strength, she must be on my own level of power!' Nam thought as she leapt toward him. Speed and power yes, but the move was practically written out this time. Foregoing the obvious block on the kick she was aiming for his head, he instead grabbed her by the shin and twisted to slam her onto the ground.
Not giving her a chance to get up, he moved to pin her, pulling an arm onto her back and pressing down.
"Yield," he commanded calmly.
"No!" she shouted. It occurred to him that the rules had made no mention of pins as she struggled against him and he found himself struggling to hold the child down, even skillfully bring his weight down on her.
'She's going to get loose!' Nam realized in shock, as her wriggling took its toll on his grip.
"Time! Contestant Nam, please release your opponent, and both of you await the ruling in the arena," the referee said.
"Oh, right," he'd forgotten the time limit. Standing up, he offered a hand to Chichi, who took it pouting as she dusted herself off.
"You are alright?" he asked.
"Yes, you're the strongest I've fought here yet," she said, making the sign of reconciliation.
"As are you. Most impressive, you should be proud of your skills," Nam said, returning the gesture.
"Well, it's not like I'm the strongest of the master's students," she blushed a bit, rubbing the back of her head.
"Victor is Nam, for landing the only full hit of the match and getting the opponent into a hold. Contestant Chichi is eliminated."
The girl pouted, but waved goodbye before running off into the crowd. Several men approached Nam after he left the arena, happy to have one of the "brats" put in their place.
He wanted no part in their prejudice, but he had to focus on matters at hand. Having faced that girl Chichi, he was inclined to believe she truly had trained with the Invincible One. And she wasn't the strongest, that was likely the young woman Lunch, as a senior student.
'It matters not who trained them. For the sake of my family and people, I must overcover all challengers and return with the water to save the village. I must go all out, holding nothing back against the students of the Turtle crest.'
X X X
"Phooey, I lost!" Chichi said, rejoining the group.
"Don't worry, you did very well. You might have won if not the for the time limit," Lunch said, patting the pouting girl on the head.
"It was a good fight. I'm glad the real tournament won't have stuff like time limits," Goku said. Krillin gave him a look as the tailed boy didn't seem to notice Chichi droop a bit at the implication this wasn't the "real" tournament. Clearing his throat, Krillin stepped up.
"And don't forget how young we are compared to them. That Nam guy may have been training since he was our age. And Master Roshi said we're not here to win but learn, right?" Krillin said to Chichi, giving her a thumbs up. She smiled.
'It'd be wrong to say it, but I'm a bit relieved she lost. I was starting to think this quartet might be unstoppable. But if one can be beaten, then it's still anyone's tournament. Goku's probably the most dangerous, but I can't underestimate any of them. Nothing personal, but if I don't want my happily ever after to crumble in my hands, I need to go far in this tournament,' Yamcha thought.
"Contestant Yamcha, please report to ring three!"
"Looks like you're up. Good luck," Chichi said, smiling at him.
"Thanks," he said. He wished he didn't feel guilty saying it.
X X X
Two men faced each other in the ring. The young man Sakamoto adjusting his mirror shades and a bearded old man in black simply skidding into a stance.
"This match will determine the final spot for the main tournament, Jackie Chun vs Sakamoto," the referee declared.
"I'm impressed you got this far, old master. But I've never heard of any Jackie Chun; feeling your age and decide to make a final desperate lunge for fame?" Sakamoto asked.
"Well, I'm old, and you don't ever forget that. But I'm here more to check out the new generations than anything so personal as fame-seeking. And you're the man called 'Silver' Sakamoto, right? You've been making a name for yourself, always finishing second in martial arts tournaments over the last four years. The magazines make you look more handsome."
"It's 'One, TWO, Sakamoto'! That stands for how I win most of my matches in either one or two blows. That 'Silver' title is a mockery of my falling short."
"Eh? A string of second places is nothing to be ashamed of."
"Second place is just another way of saying you didn't win."
"Oh my, what a horrid attitude for someone so young. You'll never reach your potential, thinking like that."
"Begin!"
"Old fool! My refusal to accept anything less than the best is what drives me to get stronger!" he said, closing in for a kick. Chun caught the kick on his forearm and pushed it away.
"Ambition and motivations are important," Chun admitted, blocking a jab toward his gut and sending Sakamoto back a few paces, "But if you don't take the time to enjoy life and savor the simple pleasures, or appreciate your own achievements, you'll just wear yourself down with negativity and burn out before your time."
Sakamoto scowled and launched at Chun with a flurry of blows. Chun evaded or deflected them, before seeming to just bend around the younger man. Sakamoto turned, but raised his guard an instant too late, as Chun's punch took him in the stomach. Bending over, he took a ragged breath as Chun stepped back.
Jackie smiled as the young man grit his teeth and straightened up, raising his fists and skidding into a shaky but stable stance.
"Very good, you have a solid foundation. Try believing in yourself and respecting others, and you might make something of yourself," Chun said, smiling.
"DON'T PATRONIZE ME!"
He didn't even see the next blow coming, as Chun slipped behind him to chop him on the neck. Sakamoto's shades fell off, revealing dark bugging eyes before he collapsed.
"Winner Jackie Chun, by knockout. We have our eight contestants!" the referee announced as Jackie Chun stoically flashed a V for Victory sign.
"All eliminated contestants, we thank you for your participation and invite you to spectate the tournament. Please vacate the restricted areas of the temple in an orderly fashion, the first round of the main tournament will commence in approximately one hour,"
X X X
"Bulma! I made it past the preliminaries," Yamcha said as he and the Turtle students walked up to the table that the others were seated at in the dining area. Bulma smiled, giving him a thumbs up.
"Now that's more like it. Just keep it up, 'kay?" the heiress said, dropping her voice noticeably for the second sentence.
"Hi Bulma! Hi Ox King! Master Roshi, I got in!" Goku cheered, running up to the table.
"I'm the only one who didn't," Chichi pouted, stepped up by her father. With two fingers, Ox King patted her on the head.
"Not to worry, sweetie, I didn't make it past the preliminary rounds my first time either. You could say you upheld a family tradition," the Ox King laughed, getting a smile out of his daughter.
X X X
"I think I first heard of this tournament as a kid from my master. It's hard to believe I'm really here," Yamcha said as they followed a monk through a hallway in the temple.
"Your master?" Goku asked. Yamcha's smile slipped away.
"Story for another day, Goku," Yamcha said.
"Huh," Goku said.
"Leave it, Goku, some things are safer left in the past," Lunch said to him.
They entered a high-ceilinged room with four people waiting by an open doorway through which they could see the sky and hear a crowd.
"Wow, that's a big guy there," Krillin gulped, pointing towards a hulking monster with leathery blue hide with a yellow underbelly, wings on his back and a crest like a dinosaur on his head.
"We've fought bigger already," Lunch pointed out. The inhuman fighter glanced at them and frowned.
"If you think I'm all size, I look forward to showing you otherwise. Name's Giran, soon to be recognized as Strongest Under the Heaven."
Nam stood by the far wall, standing with eyes closed and arms held in a meditative pose.
"Hey there, Lunch right?" a woman wearing sweatpants with a blue top said, walking over. She was a pretty girl who had light lipstick on despite the venue, and her light purple hair was styled in a feminine afro.
"That's right. You're another contestant?" Lunch said, offering her hand hesitantly for a shake. The other woman took it, giving a fierce smile.
"Name's Ranfan, nice to not be the only peach at a sausage festival. Saw you take down the human dumpster fire. Nice," she said, squeezing Lunch's hand hard. Lunch didn't react, smiling.
"It was nothing really, the monks were so nice to track down shoes in my size, and they washed the smell right out of my pants."
"Uh, cool," Ranfan said, squeezing tighter.
"This is my first tournament, you know," Lunch said.
"…Really?" Ranfan asked. She released her grip and tried to pull her hand back, only to find she couldn't budge it.
"It's been fun so far. I don't mind a bit of competition. So long as people are nice about t, and don't act friendly when they aren't," Lunch smiled, eyes closed.
Ranfan flinched and bit down on her cheek to cut off a cry of pain, as Lunch briefly squeezed her hand 'tight'.
"Well, good luck," Lunch said, letting her go and moving on, with the boys in tow.
'Dang, that was unexpected. She seemed like a blue-haired bimbo who happened to have some training before. Is it all an act? Hope someone else eliminates her first, odds are my ultimate move won't work on her.'
"Are you alright, Miss? You seem a bit worried," a man stammered, bringing her thoughts back to the present.
'Oh, it's the cute one,' Ranfan thought.
"Oh, just hitting home that I'm here in the big tournament. It's a bit overwhelming," she said. She bent her knees slightly, cupping her cheeks, cuteness deployed. He blushed and fumbled his assurance a bit.
'There's a good boy. Nothing personal, whatever your name is, but sexiness and cuteness are assets to be used just like strength and intelligence, and my papa always said, never leave a useful tool unused on the table.'
"Hi, I'm Goku. You must be really strong to get this far, right?" Goku greeted.
"Actually, I'm the announcer and referee," the blond young man wearing shades and a black suit said awkwardly, "Anyway, once Mr. Chun gets here, we can begin selecting the brackets."
"I'm here," Jackie Chun said, stepping in from the hallway.
"Way to hold things up, old man. Get lost, or just forget what you were doing?" Giran griped, crossing his thick arms.
"No need to be rude," Ranfan said. Spotting her, Jackie leered, grinning widely; she gave him a wink and it grew wilder. Lunch sighed at the display.
"Oh dear, are all great martial arts masters too into girls? Why would that be? Do guys get into martial arts that much just to impress girls? No, of course not, that would be silly," Lunch laughed at her own thoughts; Krillin wilted a bit next to her.
"Uh, yeah, it would be a dumb reason to get into martial arts, wouldn't it?" he laughed.
'She must never know.'
X X X
"Everyone please, your attention. We will have a final drawing to determine who will fight who in the first round. From there, we proceed on a standard pyramid arrangement to the final match. Note that with the exception of no time limit replaced by a count of ten if you are penned or unable to get to your feet, the rules remain the same," the announcer declared. He gestured to a chart hung on the wall, while a young monk entered holding a box with a hole in it.
Yamcha drew first.
"Ranfan," he said.
"Lucky," Jackie Chun cursed.
'Yes, but not good luck. Sorry cutie, looks like you won't get past the first round,' Ranfan thought.
"Oh, I hope you aren't too rough on me," she pouted, putting a finger to her bottom lip and batting her eyelashes.
"Oh, don't wo-worry. It'll just be a fun match," Yamcha stammered.
"Pathetic. I'll go next," Giran declared. His hand was too big for the hole, so he just stuck two claws in and withdrew a piece of paper. Unfolding it, he frowned.
"Launch slash Lunch? What, don't know your own name?" Giran demanded, waving the piece of paper at the bluenette.
"Huh, that's what it says on her entry paper too. I thought she just misspelled it the first time," the announcer commented, flipping through his clipboard.
"Oh, it will make sense soon enough.," Lunch said, waving to him with closed eyes and a smile.
"Seniors next," Jackie Chun said, and drew a slip of paper.
"Krillin; which of you boys is that?" the old master asked the children.
"Oh crud," Krillin gulped.
"Then that leaves Nam vs Goku for the final fight of the round. Uh, you are awake, right Nam?" the announcer asked.
"I am," Nam said, opening his eyes and looking over at Goku, who smiled and flashed him the V sign.
'Victory, or is he saying peace as some sign of goodwill? As it is, I can't afford to meditate more once the matches start; I must search for any advantage over future opponents.'
"Hey, before we start, can I get lunch?" Goku asked.
"Out to get me, Goku? Sure you want to pick a fight?" Lunch giggled.
Ranfan sweatdropped, grimacing.
'Did she just tell a mom joke?' she wondered.
'So lame,' the announcer thought.
"So lame," Giran said.
'So witty as well as powerful. Legend never spoke of the Lord Muten Roshi having comedy talents,' Nam thought, regarding her with new respect.
"That wasn't funny the first time, Lunch," Krillin complained.
"Indeed," Jackie Chun agreed with a nod.
…
"What?" Krillin asked the old man.
"I mean, obviously that pun was stale from the word go, right?" Jackie chuckled.
'Saved it,' he thought to himself.
"So, can I get something to eat or not?" Goku pressed.
"Uh, the tournament starts in less than half an hour, are you sure you want a lunch now?" the announcer asked.
"Uh huh!" Goku grinned.
"Well then, I'll send word to the kitchen to prepare you a lunch," the announcer decided reluctantly.
"Hey, if there's going to be free eats, I'll have meat on the bone, as much as you got!" Giran demanded.
"Well, actually-" the announcer sweated a little.
"I'll have tea and rice crackers please, oh and a bit of dried fruit if you have some," Lunch said, raising her hand.
"I'm not hungry," Krillin said.
"I'll take some extra rice crackers in case he changes his mind; an extra tea cup too, just in case," Lunch amended her order.
"I couldn't eat anything," Yamcha admitted.
"I ate before coming," Nam said simply.
"Just tea for me, please," Ranfan added. The announcer sweatdropped, before flipping to the blank page on his notepad.
"Waiter was never in the job description," he muttered, getting his pen back out.
X X X
Nam had not lied when he said he had already eaten; the last of his rations had been eaten this morning to ensure he would be at the best fighting form he could. He'd done what he could to earn some money on the trip from the village to this island, and it had just barely been enough, alongside the money the villagers had entrusted him with. He could subsist on less for longer, indeed it was too late in his opinion to eat before a fight.
But he could not help but watch the scene play out. The boy, his opponent Goku, lit up when a tray laden with rice and other food was presented to him.
"Oh boy!" Goku said, snapping the chopsticks in an instant. His first bite was stopped short of his mouth by a cleared throat from Lunch, who was sitting next to him with Krillin on the other side.
"Oh, right. Thank you for the meal," Goku said to the monk who had brought it.
"Very good," Lunch said, smiling and accepting her plate of rice crackers and tea. Krillin, for his part, still refused it, looking over at Jackie Chun, who seemed to be trying to flirt with Ranfan as she sipped her tea. She whispered something back that made him grin like an idiot.
'Such strange people. Though perhaps that's not fair, maybe my people in our tiny villages are the odd ones in this wide world? The boy is ravenous; I'd almost call him a glutton, but he's not wasting a bite. Everything that leaves that bowl goes into his mouth. At least he seems to appreciate his bounty.'
What Nam could only describe as messy eating sounds drew his ire back to Giran. He'd gotten various meats on the bone as requested, on the largest plate Nam had ever seen. He'd have assumed it to be for a group to eat from, but the strange creature was hoarding enough meat that Nam wondered if it weighed as much as himself. Worse, he tossed the bones away with chucks of meat still on them and spilled his drink, both in guzzling and in recklessly overfilling his cup.
'So many have so little, not even enough to live, and he wastes meals' worth of food for no reason,' Nam glowered. Giran caught the look and shifted, pointing at Nam with a half-eaten haunch of something.
"Got a problem, skinny?" Giran demanded. Nam took a breath and tried to banish the dark look on his face. Getting angry over this was a pointless distraction.
"You had your chance to chow down, don't go blaming me for being smart enough to take full advantage of it," Giran growled.
"What horrible table manners," Lunch complained. That drew Giran's attention to the woman neatly eating a cracker before sipping her tea.
"What are you, my mother?" Giran mocked.
"If I was, I'd hope you'd have better manners by now."
"Heh, you say that while that boy's forking down food like he was starving?" Giran said, pointing to Goku, who was watching while still eating.
"Goku's a kid, what's your excuse, mister?" Lunch asked.
Nam couldn't tell with her tone if the question was innocent or an insult. Giran, with his clenched fist, took it as an insult.
"I'm going to enjoy putting you in your place. Somewhere a kitchen is missing a homemaker," Giran grumbled.
"Well, I do hope to settle down with a nice guy someday. But what man would put up with my issues?" she sighed.
'Issues? I am no expert, but she has every appearance of being good wife material. No, don't be foolish Nam, you've only glimpsed this woman in essence, who knows who she or any of them are. Only a fool trusts in appearances, and a greater fool still takes first impressions at face value.'
"Hey Mr., you want some of this?" Krllin asked having come up to Nam. The boy looked a bit queasy, holding out a plate with two crackers on it and the cup of tea, "Lunch insisted either I take some or offer it you."
"I give thanks," Nam said, eating one of the crackers slowly, and slowly draining the tea. That should be no peril, as he was the last match of the round, and it would be rude to refuse a gift entirely, even if it was unlooked for.
Soon enough, the diners finished their meals, and the beating of drums beyond the doorway proclaimed the start of 21st tournament was at hand.
'Stay strong, my people, I will bring hope back to you,' Nam steeled himself.
X X X
As the opening ceremony wrapped up, an old stout dogman in monk's robes wearing a black hat made his way to the announcer, who stood in the center of the arena.
"And in conclusion, before we begin, the chief monk of our host temple would like to give a word. Go ahead, Your Eminence," the announcer said, handing the stoic dogman the mic.
"…WOOF," the monk said, and handed the mic back before walking off.
"There you have it, folks! Now for the first match. Ranfan versus Yamcha!"
The two fighters came out to cheers from the crowd, shielding their eyes a bit from the bright sunshine. Ranfan turned the gesture into a wave, while Yamcha just lowered it to approach the announcer.
"Go Yamcha! Pound that loser into the ground or you're in the doghouse!" Bulma cheered, pumping a fist. Chichi turned to her.
"Are you supporting him or threatening him?" the girl in orange asked.
"Someday when you're older, you'll understand how to handle boys. NO MERCY! TAKE FIRST BLOOD!" Bulma shouted.
"Well, he is Goku's friend… Strike first, strike hard, NO MERCY!" Chichi yelled too, shaking a fist.
Ox King sweatdropped at the antics of the two girls sitting on his shoulders to get seats above the crowd.
'I should probably say something… Later. When I'm not outnumbered,' the retired fighter decided, taking a sip through the straw on his drink instead of speaking up.
Authors Note:
And so the Budokai begins! Alas Chichi got knocked out in the elimination rounds but Nam is not an easy opponent at this point. But we still have three young Turtles in the competition and my least favorite Budokai competitor got kicked out by Lunch.
I hope you tune in next week as the main tournament begins here on Dragon Ball intended Journey!
Until then long days and pleasant nights you all.