Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball.
Betaed by: Zim'smostloyalservant & my best friend.
Previously on Dragon Ball IJ:
Last time, the tournament continued...
First, Jackie Chun left the crowd stunned with his alleged song and dance talents.
Then the noble warrior Nam stepped up, fighting for the future of his village. Alas, a noble cause did not let this stoic warrior overcome young Goku's sheer strength, skill and bizarre move set. Thankfully, none other than Master Roshi stepped in, giving Nam a happy ending despite his defeat. Way to be a cool old guy for once, you pervy old turtle, well done!
And with that, the first round came to an end.
The semifinals begin today, on Dragon Ball: Intended Journey.
Chapter 10
"Alright folks, the ring is ready, the clock has run down. Time for the second round, match one! Launch vs Yamcha!" the announcer said as the two walked out to the arena. Yacmha took a breath, focusing. Launch smirked, taking her spot.
"You may be pals with Goku, but don't think I won't break your face," Launch told him.
"Li-likewise," Yamcha said, trying moisten his lips.
"Go, Launch!" Krillin cheered from the wall.
"Go Launch and Yamcha, you can do it!" Goku yelled.
"Goku, you can't root for both sides," Krillin admonished him.
"How come?"
"Launch, win!" Chichi cheered, before swallowing her hotdog whole and taking a drink from her cup.
"You'd better win, Yamcha, or we're though!" Bulma yelled, swallowing her bratwurst just as quick and grabbing another one from the cardboard box full of refreshments the Ox King was holding up for the two of them.
"Huh?" Yamcha said, turning from the match to look at her.
"Alright then, begin!"
"Ready or not, pretty boy, here I come!" Launch said, charging at Yamcha. His attention snapped back to his blonde opponent.
'As fast as I thought!' Yamcha thought, deflecting her punch and then ducking under her kick. Even deflected, he certainly felt that punch. Lashing out with a sweeping kick, he tried to sweep her feet out from under her, only for her to hop over it.
She landed, only for his fist to catch her under the chin.
"Not a bad hit," she muttered, drawing back and shaking her head.
'Did I hold back because she's a woman? No, she's tough, remember her fight with Giran. She won't break easily,' Yamcha reminded himself.
"Yamcha lands the first solid, blow but it doesn't seem to have slowed Launch down any!" the announcer said, "We have two strong fighters here; they know the other can do damage and take damage, but only one will advance to the finals!"
With a battle cry, Launch charged him again. Yamcha wove around the first jab. Blocked the kick aimed at his stomach, and caught her wrist as she landed a punch to his chest. Even planned, that blow stung, and he almost lost the grip he'd bought with that trap of an opening.
Almost, but he didn't, turning her jab into him, throwing her hard onto the tiles. She landed on her back, the air audibly knocked out of her. Yamcha raised a foot to bring down a heel on her in a vicious kick.
His heel slammed into her palms. Yamcha's eyes widened, taking in her grin as she grabbed his foot. Then he was flying wildly as she tossed him. He landed badly, but was able to roll to his feet, watching as Launch advanced, smacking a fist into her palm.
"Slippery for a wolf, ain't ya?" Launch asked.
"You want a wolf? Try this. Wolf Fang Fist!" Yamcha unleashed his old school's signature move. Feeling like a giant wolf was bursting from him in battle, he closed the distance between him and Launch. She blocked the first two blows, but still staggered. The follow-ups found their mark; he especially felt her stagger as he landed a left hook to her face.
Coming out of it, he backed off, breathing hard but under control. His opponent was still standing, a hand pressed to her right eye, but firmly on her feet as she straightened up.
'She may fight like a brawler, but she's tough like a rock! And hits like one,' Yamcha admitted, gulping a little. He was certainly feeling every blow she'd landed on him, blocked or not.
"Heh, hahaha! This is fun! Sweet combo, Wolf Boy, Goku told me you once laid him out with that move, and I can see why. Let's keep going," she laughed, but instead of charging, lowered herself into a stance. One he recognized.
'That's like Jackie Chun's!? I should have known she had formal training if she studied under the Turtle Master. And Jackie may be a former student, as he knows the Kamehameha. Don't panic, Chun's an old master. Right, she may be a skilled fighter, but I still have the edge in skill. As long as I keep this contest of skill and not brute force, I can win.'
She decided to stop waiting, and came to him.
Her blows were still scary strong, but easier to predict than her wilder style from before. He wasn't going to let her chip away at him; he'd evade her until he had the perfect opening for the Wolf Fang.
"Watch where you're going, idiot!" Bulma yelled. Launch let up her assault, falling back grinning and falling into a new stance.
Yamcha glanced around and froze for a moment.
"Oh my, folks! Yamcha evaded Launch's assault, but it seems she backed him into a corner. Was it just a coincidence, or has she played him? But what now, can she get the ring-out she's looking for? Can Yamcha escape?"
Yamcha shifted his feet, and she followed him, not even a step behind. The process repeated three times.
'She's not a bruiser at all. She wasn't taking Giran seriously. She can read movements too well to count on striking her. Can she keep up with my speed? Maybe. But agility? But if she lands one good hit on me here, it could all be over. I need to use the Wolf Fang Fist again, she's getting a black eye from last time, that can force my way out and hurt her in the bargain. Then I can have more room to strategize. I won't let her block me in so easily again!'
Yamcha assumed the stance for Wolf Fang, and Launch shifted her own stance, grinning to show teeth.
"A showdown it is!" his opponent cackled.
"Go Launch! Take off!" Chichi cheered.
"Knock her blonde block off, Yamcha!" Bulma cried out.
The crowd cheered with both fighters' names.
On the sidelines, the other competitors watched tensely.
"Never thought I'd see a woman hold the edge in strength and toughness over a guy in one of these," Ranfan remarked. Jackie Chun stroked his beard next to her.
"It's because Launch has broken the barrier of humanity with her training. Yamcha has come close to it, and indeed crossed it briefly with his Wolf Fang Fist. But he has yet to make that important step fully to superhuman potential. However, Launch lacks his experience and level of skill, and that has kept her from victory. And unlike Lunch, her love of fighting can make her overly eager. Against a wise opponent, that could be costly," Jackie said.
"What do you think, Goku? You've fought Yamcha before," Krillin asked.
"It's over, Launch is going to win if she uses that move there," Goku said simply.
"Eh, what move?" Jackie asked, turning from the fight.
'Here goes everything,' Yamcha thought.
"Wolf Fang Fist!" Yamcha yelled out his signature move, charging into action.
"Rocket Launch!" Launch yelled, springing from her stance in a leap, fist pulled back for a blow.
"What! That's stupid!' Yamcha thought, as Launch left the ground, leaving herself hanging in the air as they closed. Her grin made him go cold for a second, before she burst forward through the air into his defenses.
"Bye!" she yelled, punching him in the face with all her momentum behind it. Yamcha went flying back as Launch recoiled in the air from the impact to make a three point landing.
Yamcha saw stars and felt himself bounce on the ground before skidding to a halt. Trying to blink his vision clear, he rolled to his side, and grabbed a handful of grass.
'Grass? I'm out of bounds,' he realized.
"Yamcha is out! Launch advances to the finals with a ring-out!" the announcer yelled. The crowd roared, and Yamcha rolled onto his back, groaning. The rush was already fading, letting him feel every hit she'd landed on him.
'Well, it was a good fight at least, right?' he thought, staring up at the cloudy sky. Was it going to rain? Did this tournament have a rain delay, he thought, mind wandering a tad. Then a familiar face cut him off from the sky.
"Yamcha," Bulma said, glaring down at him.
"Bulma…" he answered.
"We're through. All that time you spent training, and you couldn't even make it to the finals. I could take some negligence, but being a loser too? I don't need to settle."
"What? But-"
"Don't act surprised, I've been pretty clear you were fighting for more than a title and cash money today," Bulma frowned.
"But, but-"
"For old time's sake, I'll give you a week to move out and find other arrangements. But be gone by then, or get thrown out," she told him.
Then she was gone. He thought he heard her and Puar arguing, but he didn't care, he just stared up at the sky.
"Hey, you okay? Ya been cloud watching for a bit there," Launch said. Yamcha lifted his head to see his opponent had stepped out of the arena. Seeing he was awake, she held out a hand, frowning slightly. He took it and let her pull him to his feet.
"That was a good match. If this were a real fight without a ring, it wouldn't have ended that quick," she told him.
He nodded and said something, he wasn't sure what. Next thing he knew, he was sitting back in the waiting area.
His Budokai was over, and he'd lost in more ways than one.
X X X
"Hey Yamcha, what's the matter?" Goku asked, standing in front of his sitting friend.
Yamcha made a few noises.
"Huh, did Launch hit you so hard ya can't talk?" Goku asked, poking him in the head.
"Don't poke the man, Goku," Krillin told him.
"He's just glum because that Bulma girl dumped him," Launch commented.
"Wow, talk about a double whammy, losing to a girl and losing a girl in one fight," Krillin gulped. Then shivered as Launch loomed over him, grinning.
"Is losing to a girl something to be ashamed of, cueball?" she asked, cracking her knuckles.
"No ma'am, nothing to be ashamed of!" Krillin answered.
"Atta boy," Launch said, patting him on the head.
"I don't get this," Goku said to Launch.
"Count yourself lucky; me, I ain't ever been on a date, and I don't feel like I missed much," Launch said.
"Clearly the boys have no sense round where you grew up," Jackie Chun said.
"Flattering, old man? After the way you lunged for those panties earlier, I was half-expecting you to hit on me. Prefer women much weaker than you, like Ranfan there?" Launch asked, pointing to the purple-haired girl sitting on a nearby bench.
"Hey, don't drag me into this, 'kay?" Ranfan observed.
"Uh, I have my reasons. And anyway, Goku, while some concern for your friend is good, it's almost time for our match."
"Oh boy! This should be fun," Goku cheered, running out onto the ring to the crowd's applause. Jackie smiled at the antics.
"He really is pure, isn't he?"
"Yeah, but the world has a way of ruining stuff like that," Launch said somberly.
"Of course, the world wouldn't be real if it was pure. For good or ill, there needs to be balance, and progression will also bring about destruction and decay in its turn."
"Quit philosophizing and go get beat up by the squirt, old man," Launch snorted. Chun gave her a two-fingered salute before walking out.
"How come you get all the good lines?" Krillin asked Launch.
"Take some initiative, Krillin," Launch retorted.
X X X
"Wait, you broke up with Yamcha!?" Chichi gasped. Bulma had returned to her seat on Ox King's shoulder, stuffing a handful of snacks into her mouth. After swallowing, she took a drink and answered.
"I made my ultimatum. If I didn't honor it, I would lose credibility."
"I thought you were just being mean to motivate him," Chichi said.
"I was trying to motivate him, but it didn't work, did it!?" Bulma huffed.
"Did you try positive reinforcement? Maybe a few hugs, some kisses? A 'good luck in the tournament' gift basket?" Ox King asked. Bulma flicked his helmet, frowning.
"What is he, a chick? I'm the one who should be getting pampered. Besides, you've not dated in ages, it's a dog-eat-dog dating scene these days that takes no prisoners and war crimes are frequent. Get it?"
"No," Chichi admitted.
"Keep it up, sweetie," Ox King told his daughter. Chichi started crying into her hands.
"But still, it's so sad! Your get together was so romantic! On a battlefield and everything!"
"Of course it's sad, we broke up! You think I stuff my face when I'm happy? You made a good pick with Goku, Chichi; he's adorable and he'll probably be a sweet guy who's still insanely strong when he grows up," Bulma sighed. Then cursed, realizing they'd eaten through all their snacks.
X X X
"Okay, up ya go," Launch said, grabbing Yamcha's shoulder and pulling him to his feet.
"Huh?" the bruised fighter asked. He turned to see his recent opponent was spotting quite the black eye where he'd hit her. It didn't make her glare much less intimidating.
"One, I don't know much about break-ups, but if it's like being arrested, there's no point in moping. You gotta grit yer teeth and start plotting the breakout."
"I've actually never been to prison," Yamcha admitted.
"Heh, some former bandit. Never even checked into the gray bar hotel. Anyway, second, yer Goku's pal, right? Do get over yourself and don't miss his match," she commanded, marching him to the doorway as the announcer introduced the contestants.
X X X
Roshi considered Goku as they stood in the ring.
'This will be tricky. My students have grown more than I realized. Comes from not having someone else to handle the cooking and cleanup, probably. That attack from Launch, it's like a broken form of the Sky Dance technique, only she weaponized the bursting effect instead of correcting it. To think she, of all people, was able to harness her ki! Could Goku have helped with that, with his mini-Kamehameha? I can't assume to know every trick Goku has just because I'm his teacher. And a ring-out won't work easily with that tailcopter trick of his. Can't really see him yielding. It'll have to be a knockout then. And I can't forget Launch is waiting in the finals. I'm not worried about taking those two back-to-back. But I had better go serious from the start.'
"This is an anticipated match, folks. The Kame School has been sweeping through this tournament, Goku here defeating the older and mighty Nam last round. But Jackie Chun shows you shouldn't count seniors out, with his defeat of Krillin. Will the Turtle School continue its anything but slow and steady advance, or will Mr. Chun have another bowl of turtle soup!? There's no need to wait, the second semifinal match begins now!"
Goku and Roshi faced each other.
"Lad, this is not the final, but I'd say it's not the time to hold anything back. You agree?" the disguised Roshi asked.
"Of course! Let's do it!"
"Be careful, Goku!" Chichi called.
"You can do it, Goku, avenge Krillin's defeat! Send that old man back to the nursing home!" Bulma yelled.
"Uh, you two can start," the announcer told them.
"HYOOOH!" Jackie let out as he charged Goku. Goku leapt high over the charging man, easily evading any attack. Only for Jackie to spring off the ground without returning, tucking himself into a flip through the air towards Goku's back, and came out of the tuck to strike Goku in the back with both feet. Goku was sent flying off course with a startled cry as Jackie landed easily on the ring.
"Egads, Goku's heading out of the ring! Could this match already be over?!" the announcer asked.
"Of course not. Don't you remember the trick he pulled on Nam?" Jackie asked the younger man.
"Oh, right. That," The announcer said, as Goku tail-helicoptered back into bounds, waving at the applauding crowd.
"I don't suppose you have a name for that technique?" the announcer asked as Goku landed.
"Hmm, 'tail spin'?" Goku offered.
"I've heard worse. There you have it folks, Goku once again averts disaster with his trademark move, the Tail Spin!"
"Still, that really stung," Goku said to Jackie, smiling.
"Heh, I knew that wouldn't end the match, but still, leaving yourself so open was foolish. If this were a lethal contest, it might have cost you your life. Most anyone else would have lost as it was to that mistake."
"Well, even if I didn't have a tail, I could always use the Kamehameha like you did against Krillin," Goku pointed out. Jackie's face hardened.
"Don't joke about that. Even if the Lord Muten Roshi showed you how that venerable technique works, it takes more than twice your lifetime to properly master. You might be a genius, but arrogance has to have limits, boy," Chun snapped.
"Hey, I have mastered it!" Goku objected.
Roshi hesitated a moment, recalling Launch's attack. Could he have…?
"No, I do not simply accept something so absurd. I know for a fact that the fastest anyone mastered it was more than thirty years. Want to prove me wrong, then let's see how your Kamehameha compares to mine," Jackie said, falling into the stance.
"Works for me! I'm not a liar, I'll show you I can do it as well as the turtle guy," Goku said, mimicking the stance.
"Folks, this is downright extraordinary! When Jackie Chun first used that legendary technique, it was not only sudden but used in an unusual way. Now it seems we have the privilege to brace ourselves and witness the Invincible One's signature attack two-fold!"
"Ka… me…" the two fighters said, adjusting their stances, pulling their cupped hands back.
"Is it true Goku, have you truly surpassed your grandfather that much?" Gyu Mao asked.
"Grab onto something everyone! This is going to get bumpy!" Bulma warned, wrapping two arms around the nearest horn on Ox King's helmet.
"No way, the power that wipes away a mountain?" Yamha stirred from his funk, eyes focusing.
"ha…"
"Huh?! That's fancy kung-fu talk, right?" Ranfan blanched.
"Show him what you can do, Goku!" Krillin cheered. Launch started laughing maniacally, wringing her hands.
"me… HA!"
The two let loose in tandem, surges of energy surging as beams over the ring. Colliding in the center between them, the forces sent light exploding, shadows turning on their pivots, and thunder filling the air.
The moment seemed to stretch as the waves of energy pressed against one another, then in a flash of thunder and wind, burst apart. Goku was sent rolling, Jackie to his side, and the announcer out of the ring, while the audience was knocked down.
As the dust cleared, a frazzled Bulma was wrapped around Ox King's head while he unfolded his hands to show Chichi safe in his grip. Launch put Krillin down, having picked him up and wiped dust out of her eyes. Ranfan blinked, then blushed a bit.
"Thanks, but you can let me go now," she told Yamcha, who was shielding her with his body, having been knocked off his feet and rolled onto his side.
"Uh?! No problem!" he said, jumping back to his feet like nothing had happened.
"Heheh! Told ya I could do it," Goku said, getting to his feet sprightly, while Jackie slumped to stand.
"Everyone, today we witnessed history!" the announcer said, sitting up on the grass as the audience collected themselves.
Jackie Chun frowned at Goku.
'Incredible. That was as strong a Kamehameha as I dared. I'm not trying to kill, much less decimate this island, after all. But he matched it. Knowing Goku, that was his best shot, so he hasn't surpassed me in mastery, but that's useless, as I can't risk upping the ante. And still he's full of vigor! Face it Roshi, this isn't just a foe you have to take seriously, it's really going to need strategy and the whole bag of tricks to make sure he doesn't win this and get arrogant on his laurels.'
"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it, but here we are. Surely your grandfather smiles on this achievement in the other world," Roshi said as Jackie Chun.
"Yeah! That's my future son-in-law!" Ox King cheered, slapping a bullman standing next to him in the audience on the back.
"Oh daddy, you're making me blush," Chichi said, hiding her face.
"How many crazy strong perverts over retirement age are there, exactly?" Bulma asked.
Nearby:
"That was scary!" Pilaf declared, adjusting their set and getting the picture back.
"I toldya, Goku's more of a menace than ever," Oolong said.
"Emperor Pilaf, maybe we could invest in an election campaign to take over the world instead?" Shu asked.
"Nonsense, Shu, the coolest leaders don't go begging for power, they seize it!" Pilaf shouted down the reasonable suggestion.
"Everyone, in case you didn't notice, our tent is gone, so you may want to refrain from discussing our plans?" Mai said, pointing out that with their tent blown away, they were basically just sitting on a snack and tech-littered picnic blanket in the Budokai's crowd.
"Ya know, you could probably see it live instead of watching a TV on site," a helpful goatman pointed out.
"Don't tell me what to do!" Pilaf said, practically hugging his screen.
"Mommy what's wrong with those people?" a little boy asked, tugging on his mother's pants and pointing.
"Don't stare, dearie, holidays bring out all kinds, we're a tolerant family."
X X X
"Yay! This is fun, what's next?" Goku asked Jackie.
"Bah, still not taking this serious. Very well then, let's see how you handle it when we take this out of the realm of force," Chun said. Striking a stance, Chun's image faded, an afterimage.
"Huh, that again? Then it must be, here!" Goku jabbed out with a punch as Jackie appeared. His fist passing through the image as the image stuck its tongue out.
Jackie's kick caught him square in the back, and Goku was punted across the ring. He collided with the wall cordoning off the waiting area like a cannonball, a chunk of it collapsing on him.
"Dang," Launch whistled, while the others gaped.
"Even with that force, kicking him out of bounds was no sure thing with that tail of his. Time for a nap to reflect on priorities," Jackie said.
"Uh, that was some kick," the announcer said, as Chichi wailed that she couldn't be a widow before she was married.
"Take it easy, Chichi, it'll take more than that to kill him," Bulma said.
"Hey, start the count already," Jackie said to the announcer.
"Oh. One. Two. Three. Four. Five," The man in shades counted, before the rubble shifted and Goku emerged, stretching his back.
"Man, first Nam in front, now my back… This tournament really is great, it's been a long time since someone could hit me that hard," Goku cheered.
"Goku has just walked off that cannonball kick and being buried alive! I think we are all feeling like Jackie Chun is looking."
"Toldya," Bulma said.
"Heheh, hey Goku, why don't you stop playing with your food? I wanna fight the winner," Launch called out.
"You want to get mixed up in that?" Krillin demanded.
"That you're hesitating just shows why those Temple wimps were using you as punching bag for so long, Krillin," she told her fellow student.
"That was a good move, here's mine," Goku said, fading from sight.
"Monkey see, monkey do, is that it?" Chun said, ignoring the image appearing behind him to jab in the face of Goku appearing to his left.
"You couldn't fool Nam, did you really-" Chun cut off as his jab went through thin air.
"Up here!" Goku said, descending from the sky.
With a 'konk', Goku brought his hands together to hammer a blow on Jackie's head.
"You did double, and I did triple," Goku said chipperly as Chun got to his feet, hand atop his head, "Was that good, did you like it?"
"Erk, I can't believe you kids can use such advanced techniques. An old man has to really work hard to stay relevant these days, it seems," Chun cursed.
"Huh? So does that mean you liked it or you didn't?" Goku frowned.
"He's stalling, Goku, don't let him catch his breath!" Bulma yelled.
"But Bulma, it's no fun if it's over quickly!" Goku called back.
"This is the Budokai, Goku! Stop messing around!" Krillin shouted.
"So, think you can toy with me? You're still too early for that, kid; genius, savant or whatever aside. Let's see how you handle this, URP!" Jackie belched as his stance loosened and he swayed in place.
"Huh?" Goku went, as his opponent stumbled around.
"Something's wrong with Jackie Chun! Did Goku hit him too hard?"
"Hard nothing, I know that stumble anywhere!" Bulma objected. Launch nodded.
"Yeah, it's the old barfly ballet-"
"He's acting drunk!" Bulma and Launch said in unison.
"Can it be?" Yamcha wondered, rubbing his chin.
"Did Jackie Chun hit the sake between matches?" the announcer wondered. The elder fighter stumbled around Goku, who started to pout.
"If we're not fighting, I'm not interested," he said. Then Jackie stumbled backward and slammed an elbow into the back of Goku's head.
"Whoopsie!"
"Hey!" Goku turned angry and charged at Jackie, only to hit nothing as Chun spun limply out of the way and swept his feet out from under him with a flying kick.
"Uh oh!" Jackie said, losing his balance to fall on top of Goku, elbow planting itself in Goku's back, making him cry out in pain. Goku wiggled free and Jackie stood on wobbling legs belching again.
"Don't be fooled, Goku! It's the False Drunken Fist! It's a master level style of fighting, he's still trying to beat you!" Bulma yelled.
"Why didn't anyone tell me getting cronked can make you a better fighter?" Launch demanded of no one in particular.
"Come on Goku, sober can beat drunk any day!" Bulma urged as he tried and failed to hit Chun. Even as Goku barely evaded the drunken attacks, the match fell into a stalemate.
"I don't know about being drunk, but I do know about playing pretend," Goku declared.
"Huhwuh?" Jackie slurred, as Goku just stood there, eyes going blank.
"What's this, is Goku trying some new tactic of doing nothing to deny Jackie's odd style ammunition against him? What will happen if this turns into a waiting contest of who makes the next move?!"
"Hey, Goku! What are you trying to do?" Krillin demanded.
"You seem to know a lot, any ideas?" Ranfan asked Yamcha.
"I don't think Goku has ever been drunk, so I doubt he can mimic Drunken Fist. But he doesn't seem the type to just wait for the fight to move around him."
"NRAAWW!" Goku growled, canines displayed, tail bristling, and eyes whitening out.
"What the heck?" Yamcha went, along with Krillin, while Ranfan squealed and Launch blinked.
Goku charged a startled Jackie on all fours, and a panicked sway only moved the master right into line with his tackle. And so it went, that the stumbling was harassed at each turn by the primal pouncing and probing of the young fighter.
"Son Goku seems to have regressed to some animal state; it's like a drunkard fighting a monkey! It's not going well for the drunk," the announcer commented, as Goku landed on Jackie's face, knocking him to the ground.
"That's it, go for the eyes!" Bulma cheered, as the crowd either winced at the old man's face getting scratched and pummeled, or a few joined her bloodlust.
Jackie smacked Goku aside, or rather tried to, but Goku leapt away, leaving a very sober and angry Jackie to get to his feet. Panting, he glared at Goku.
"Isn't that something!? I called you a monkey boy and here you prove it goes deeper than a tail. Clawing my face like that, the youth just don't respect elders anymore,"
"Stumbling around drunk doesn't exactly inspire respect," Chichi commented.
Goku 'ooked' and turned his butt on his opponent, smacking it playfully. The crowd laughed as Jackie reddened in anger.
Jackie charged him and let out a barrage of attacks, all of them dodged by the monkey before he vanished.
"What?! The afterimage? How can he do that in such a state?" Jackie said. Between his feet, Goku wrapped his tail around an ankle, and with a dash pulled Jackie off his feet. Getting up, Jackie could only blink as a kick lifted him off the ground and sent him flying into and cracking the other side of the wall.
"Grah!" Jackie gasped. Getting up, he stumbled as the wall crumbled behind him, leaving another gaping hole.
"Goku has practically repeated Jackie's earlier feat, literally bringing the house down," the announcer stated.
"Keep it up, Goku! Chun's running out of steam!" Yamcha yelled.
'Blast it, he's right,' Jackie said, as even the announcer declared Goku had the upper hand, 'It's all adding up on me. No one's given me a beating like this monkey mode in a long time, and my Kamehameha was just too much wasted energy. I lost my temper and let him land that blow. I need to stop worrying over who I'm fighting and focus only on the shortest path to victory. Yes, that's it. An attack on the mind that he won't be able to resist in such a state.'
Taking a centering breath, Jackie gave a calm look to the monkey boy, making him 'ook' in puzzlement.
"Well done, but I wonder if you have any counter for this," Jackie sad, weaving his hands slowly and watching Goku get drawn into the movements.
"Rock aaaa byyyee baby on the treetop," Jackie chanted, power distorting the words.
"What's this? A lullaby?" the announcer asked.
Thankfully the crowd fell silent, either in awe, puzzlement, or a few being chumps enough to fall under a spell not directed at them. As Jackie finished the chant, the swaying Goku fell onto his back and began to snore.
"Well, that's that. I believe this is where you count," Jackie said to the announcer.
"Now, just a second, that was hypnosis, right? Is that even legal in a martial arts tournament?"
"It's called Min Min Ken, The Good Night Forest or some such. With a fancy name like that, it counts as martial arts at least as much as Goku climbing down to the roots of his family tree just now," Jackie snapped.
The announcer looked to a group of monks in a huddle on the side. They broke out of the huddle after a moment, with the chief priest meeting his eye, and giving a nod.
"Well, apparently it stands. One. Two."
"Goku, get up!" Krillin demanded.
"Squirt, if you lose to something this dumb, I'll punt you clear over Kame House!"
"Wake up, it's time to start the day!" Bulma pleaded, sing-song.
"Say what you want, kids, it will take more than words to stir him from this slumber," Chun chuckled.
"Seven. Eight!"
"Of course! Goku, dinner's ready!" Chichi yelled. Goku sprang to his feet as the word "nine" was uttered.
"Dinner? I'll have dinner! Where's dinner!? I don't see it! Dinner?!" Goku called out blearily, dashing around the ring.
"…Absurdity upon absurdity," the disguised Master Roshi grumbled.
"So Goku's up. Looks like this match won't be decided by a nap!" the announcer cheered the audience joining in.
"Oh right, the match! Say Jackie, you just did something sneaky, right? I won't fall for that again, and you must be getting desperate for something like that," Goku said giving Jackie a confident smile.
'Blast it, when it comes to fights, he can be sharp. I have no choice, this battle has cost me more than I expected. And Krillin surpassed my expectations too. This is what I get for letting my own training slide, I suppose. Just never thought my own students would close the gap so quickly. I need to end this now. But if he counters my Kamehameha again with his timing, I may end up on the losing end there. Forgive me, Goku, but for your sake, you can't beat me yet, and that means using that move.'
Jackie Chun stared stoically at Goku as he folded his sleeves back. A hush fell over the arena.
"Son Goku, you have done well. I can say with certainty even your teacher never saw this battle coming. But this fight is about to end in your defeat."
"Huh, how do ya figure?" Goku asked.
"This move, I have only used it twice against an opponent in my life. You will be the second," Jackie said, spreading his knees and capping his hands together over his chest.
"The first was your grandfather, the great Son Gohan!" Jackie declared. Goku recoiled in surprise.
"You fought Grandpa?!" Goku shouted.
Jackie didn't answer, sparks coming off his form as an aura seemed to surge around him.
"Even he fell before this power, and today so will you." Teeth gritted, he moved his hands, the tips of the fingers still touching, sparking power arcing on the palms. Pulling his hands apart, the palms now glowed with golden energy.
"Wow!" Goku went in awe of the display of power.
"Thunderclap Tempo!" Chun bellowed. Lightning sprang from his hands in many bolts, striking Goku.
As Goku screamed, shouts of alarm rose from the spectators. Goku was lifted up into the air above the ring, still screaming.
"There's no escape! You must yield!" Chun declared.
"No!" Goku shouted back.
"Fool!"
"Incredible, Jackie Chun has caught Goku in some kind of lightning attack, folks! Is this the explosive end to the fight?!" the announcer wondered.
"Goku! Oh no!" Chichi screamed.
"Give up Goku, this is too much!" Krillin pleaded.
"Enough Goku!" Yamcha yelled, as Ranfan blanched at the awesome display.
Goku continued to struggle against the lightning.
"Come on Goku, you did good, live to fight another day!" Bulma shouted.
"Nuh-uh!" Goku ground out.
"FOOL BOY, PRIDE ISN'T WORTH YOUR LIFE! EVEN SON GOHAN DIDN'T WITHSTAND IT THIS LONG! LISTEN TO YOUR FRIENDS AND LIVE!" Chun bellowed.
"…Good fight Goku, pack it in!" Launch ordered.
"Grrr! I don't wanna, but if you all think…"
"That's it! Say you yield!" Chun pressed.
"I… yield!" Goku ground out.
Chun turned his hands into fists, and the lighting vanished in an instant. Goku dropped through the air.
"Rocket Launch!" Launch called out, zooming into the ring and catching him on bent knee.
"That was, quite a bit harder than I expected," Chun said, wiping sweat off his brow.
"Jackie Chun is winner by forfeit! The final match will take place in fifteen minutes between him and Launch!" the announcer declared, as Goku was carried out by Launch, and Chun slowly followed.
X X X
'Blast it all. I feel like a broken record, but it's just true. I underestimated my own students. I really have gotten old. I never thought any of them would force me to use that dreadful move, much less use it for so long,' Roshi thought, seated on a bench while the others saw to Goku. The boy had woken up in less than a minute, and his first question had been if he'd won. He wasn't happy at the loss, and even made a dramatic statement on never giving up again. Roshi was grateful Launch had bopped him over the head for that so he didn't have to.
Still, Goku was going to be fine. There had been a moment when he had genuinely feared he might kill his student. No lesson was worth the life of your charge, one of the key differences between the Kame School and Tsuru School.
"Hey Jackie," Goku said, coming over to him.
"Hmm, shouldn't you be resting?" Roshi asked.
"I took a little nap after you zapped me."
"Er, I'm pretty sure being knocked out doesn't count as a nap."
"Really, huh? Anyway, that was a great fight, let's do it again sometime," Goku said with a smile.
"Heh, you bounce back just like rubber, don't ya? But let's save that rematch for the next tournament, what do ya say?" the old master asked.
"That long?" Goku whined.
"Heh, you kids have inspired this old man. Made me realize I've been slacking, losing my edge. I may be old, but I'm not ready to surrender the torch to the next generation meekly yet. So I'm going to train like I haven't in decades to make sure if I'm going down, you youngsters will have to work for it."
"Wow, so you'll be even stronger!?" Goku smiled.
"If I'm not, I'd have no business competing. Just make sure you don't slack off in the meantime, alright?"
And soon enough Goku was back with his friends, talking about how much he was looking forward to the next tournament and what he might do to get stronger by then.
'Excellent, he's on the right track. But there's still one to go.'
"Say, old man," Goku said. Roshi started, having not noticed the monkey boy coming back.
"What?" Roshi asked.
"Krillin said you might die before the next tournament since you're so old. Would you mind not doing that?" Goku asked.
"…I'll try and manage that," Roshi deadpanned.
"Hey Goku, why don't you go wave to Chichi or something, she's probably worried since I carried you back here," Launch said, walking up.
"Okay," Goku agreed, running off. With him gone, Launch looked him over.
"You look like crap, Chun."
"I was in a fight. It happens," Roshi shrugged. He almost reached to push up his absent glasses.
"You sure you're up for this?" she asked him.
'Not entirely, no,' he thought. What he said was different.
"You're not as fresh as a daisy yourself, young lady. That boy left you quite a shiner," Roshi said, pointing to the black eye that had almost shut one of her eyes.
"Please, I put up with worse than this while doing high-speed chases."
"And I've fought on while far more strung out. The tournament isn't over, and to be clear, I still intend to win," he said, meeting her gaze. She grinned, showing off her teeth.
"Heh, good. Let's give these folks a show, then."
"Will the finalists please enter the arena?" the announcer called out from the stage.
Author's Note:
I am sure some are disappointed in this chapter. Sorry about that. I hope someday you will be able to see that the real giant murder monkey, was the fun we had on the way.
One more chapter to go.
Long days and pleasant nights to you all.