Inkaliber: Hey guys! Welcome back to another chapter! I know you've been craving real action from the story, and now it is time to deliver it! No more to be continued bull! It's time to actually start this tournament! You ready for this, Zem?
Zemrocku: Oh I'm ready I am. Looking forward to showing Roshi still gots it. So much hate on Roshi nowadays for some reason or it's just I can't find the good comments.
Inkaliber: I'm sure there is good stuff out there for him. I know I saw a short about his speech in the Tournament of Power so there's that. Before anything else, let's answer some reviews! And we actually have more than one reviewer this time! Shout out to Fregreg and Some1call4MR-E.
Fregreg- I'm glad that you enjoyed the chapter! The mysterious Saiyan will definitely stir things up a bit.
Some1call4MR-E- Welcome to the story man. You've definitely given us a lot to look over. I'll try to go over everything in order.
I'm glad that you enjoyed the first part of the series. There's a lot that we implemented that we hope to have a lot of fun with here in this story as well. We wanted to make sure that Keira can be set apart from Goku because in a sense she's more a character that could be born as his sister in a story. Gohan wasn't so much the villain but misguided in his handling of Keira's saiyan heritage.
In the first chapter of this story, Keira's transformation with the hairy bit is her trying to call on the Oozaru without the full moon. She's literally trying to turn into it whenever she wants. It's different from what Broly does.
I understand your thought in chapter two about her being fem Goku but I try to make these replacement characters more unique than just girl versions of the MCs. Keira is shown to be more intelligent than Goku, though she does have her own little quirks. Her and Krillin are growing together rather well.
Keira is also, indeed, a very wild girl as a Saiyan. Krillin is not becoming too OOC. In fact, the reason he's changing is because of Keira. As a character, Keira is the kind of person that naturally helps others to be better if they give her the chance. He's more around five feet at the moment, closer to the four side. He also keeps his hair that grew on his head.
This Supreme Kai development for Keira was a more recent idea Zem brought to me but it is a fun one nonetheless. I guess the hairstyle could be explained by it but that's more her own genetics. It is a fun break from canon indeed.
Zemrocku: And there's two more Supreme Kai on the way with Kabito being the new East Supreme Kai. Sorry Ink. Had to join in.
Inkaliber: We did not discuss or I don't remember that but I guess we will have to later. Anyway, with the reviews finished, let's begin. We don't own Dragon Ball in any form. That exclusive right goes to Akira Toriyama himself, rip. We do own original characters, locations, and concepts unless stated otherwise.
Voices
"Talking."
'Thinking.'
"YELLING!"
"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity talking."
"AUTHOR/GUEST/HIGH OR DEMONIC ENTITY YELLING!"
"Whispering."
"Author/Guest/High or demonic entity whispering."
May 7th, Age 750, Papaya Island
The sun was in the midst of rising as many fighters slept to retain their energy, a few desperate hopefuls having only recently fallen asleep. Wairu sat on the roof of the hotel, taking deep breaths as she meditated. The thought of all the food she had eaten the night prior left her feeling embarrassed, her outfit needing to be cleaned from some stains she had accidentally left. She would admit that she had never eaten beyond her requirements before, so this moment was the first time in her life that her stomach felt bloated. She opened her right eye to glance around before sighing in content as she laid back on the rooftop.
"Whis must never hear this, but he was right," moaned the Kai. "That was the best meal of my life." Her ear twitched as she immediately sat up, clearing her throat. "If you repeat that to anyone, Muten Roshi, I will end you whether you're the best candidate for Guardianship over this world or not." The old man chuckled as he sat beside her, a black martial arts uniform upon his body.
"You are still in your attire from the night before," observed the old man. "Did you sleep at all?" Wairu kept her gaze forward, a huff leaving her throat.
"I am a Kai. Sleep is a mortal concept, even if we enjoy it from time to time. We do not require it, at least not as often as you mortals do. It is certainly true that last night's meal has somehow left me a bit… drowsy, but I am still able to function." Roshi looked forward as well, a hum leaving his throat.
"I see. You seem to have a rather low opinion of us mortals." Wairu looked down at her hands, clenching them as she sighed.
"It's not that I hate mortals. There are simply circumstances that… I don't want to repeat." Roshi didn't look towards her, leaning back as he propped up one of his knees.
"Perhaps sharing can clear the air on what you mean. I only have a limited view at this point." Wairu closed her eyes, her fists clenching further before her hands went slack.
"...I was not supposed to become North Supreme Kai. I am very young for a Supreme Kai, despite my age sounding large for one such as you. I am only seven thousand years old more or less, yet a Supreme Kai tends to wait until they're at least a hundred thousand before taking the position. My Elder Brother was a North Supreme Kai himself. He became infatuated with a mortal woman who compelled him to embrace being selfish, even if only just a little bit." Roshi glanced towards the Kai behind his sunglasses, his eyes narrowing.
"I personally do not see how that is entirely a bad thing. However, I feel there is a deeper meaning to one such as yourself becoming selfish." Wairu sighed sadly, shaking her head.
"While it may not be a bad thing for a mortal, it is a grave sin among the Kai as we must always be selfless. We exist for others and the universe itself. If we become selfish, if we seek our own desires and personal pleasures, we become monsters. We begin to rot into demons as our minds become twisted. Where you can simply escape your desires and heal, the Kai fall deeper into desire until it is all that remains."
The girl looked towards her right hand, facing her palm upward. "My brother wished to be like the previous North Supreme Kai, an honorable man from before the destruction caused by… a great evil I am not permitted to speak of. He had been renowned for creating planets and species that stood the test of time, the God of Destruction not needing to destroy anything in this section ever since his reign. Everything he created still exists to this very day and neither I nor my brother have created anything remotely comparable to his work. You humans were one of his creations in fact."
She slowly closed the hand into a fist again, her teeth gritting. "As you can tell by me being here rather than my brother, things did not go as he planned. Just one dip into selfishness was all it took to see him become a monster I would not be able to recognize if I ever saw him. Father dealt with him swiftly as he could not be contained, leaving I alone to take the mantle I was and still am far too young to hold. I am a child having to do the job of someone more qualified and much stronger, yet it is a fate I cannot escape nor will I leave behind."
She looked towards the old man, her eyes narrowing. "Leaving would only lead to selfishness, so I must do as I am told and work within what is allowed of me. I live for only others and the universe, nothing more. If need be, I must also be ready to die for the universe." The old man sat up again, his legs crossed.
"I understand. It is a cruel fate indeed. I am sorry for your loss." Wairu looked away again, the tips of her ears lifting up a bit. She sighed once again, her eyes still being closed, though if one looked close enough they'd see tears threatening to break from them.
"It is not your fault. It happened two thousand years ago, long before you were born, but it still feels so fresh. It's like it only happened yesterday. As Whis said, a few years is but a drop of water for us. We live by centuries as if it were minutes whereas you live by the day. I do not expect myself to fully recover emotionally from the loss, so I tend to avoid contact with mortals whenever possible." Roshi stood up, his hands behind his back as he nodded his head.
"I may not be as old as you, but I have lived a long life even for my own people. Still, if you would humor me, perhaps avoiding us mortals isn't the solution. Perhaps a better solution is to interact with mortals from time to time without showing or telling them of who you are so that you may, in time, grasp what we are like without forming any tight bonds. I have learned to do so myself long ago, which is why I live on an island alone. After a great tragedy occurred, which I believe your friend spoke of, I was asked for help endlessly."
He turned his back to the Kai, the girl looking back at him. "People even asked me to perform duties they should have been able to perform themselves, so I put a distance between myself and them. If I were to be in the world and remain constantly active, others would always come to me to solve their problems instead of learning to care for themselves. While I understand that there's nothing wrong with lending a helping hand, I believe it is wrong to make someone entirely dependent upon you when they are capable of caring for themselves. In short, you can easily learn about us mortals without making it known who you are."
Roshi glanced back for a moment, his eyes still well hidden. "That is why my students will not know that I have entered the tournament in secret. They are not ready for the burden of winning this tournament, for they still have much to learn and much time to grow. I fear they will become lazy and think there are none who can stand against them. It is the job of those with strength and those in power to guide those who are in need while also not helping them in everything, a balance you will learn as you grow older." Wairu smiled a real smile at him, nodding her head.
"I can now see what Whis sees in you. You shall make a fine Guardian. While the Guardians my brother chose for other planets did a well enough job, they did not seem as wise as you. Earth always had the most interesting guardians until that Namekian took over by splitting himself in two. He caused so much chaos for this planet without dealing with the damned creature he created, saying that as in literally condemned."
Roshi's brows knitted, a sinking feeling forming in his gut. While he did not know what a Namekian was, the shadow of a rather vile creature popped into his mind with glowing red eyes. He gulped, feeling the hesitation in his old bones.
"What colored skin would this 'Kami' have? Did he have any markings upon his form?" Wairu floated up, feeling a need to depart suddenly.
"His skin is green, like that of all Namekians. I am certain you can figure out the rest." She teleported away quickly, watching from a distance as the building she had been on looked like it was beginning to shake. Roshi's body looked like it would almost expand, only for him to take a deep breath as it began to settle into its frail form again. He lowered his head, taking another deep breath to further calm himself.
Wairu continued to float in place, her eyes narrowing. "He is clearly the perfect choice. I pray this meeting with Kami happens soon. I must begin his training, after all." A laugh of glee sounded off behind her, causing her to jolt as she turned on a dime.
"I am so glad you agree with me, Lady Wairu," stated Whis. He grabbed her, holding her like a father would his child as he spun around with her. The girl flailed her arms as she growled angrily.
"Why must you always be so annoying!? LET ME GO!" Whis did no such thing as the gong at the arena began to sound off, a crowd beginning to make its way towards the location. The divine duo suddenly vanished in thin air, leaving no trace of their existence.
The crowd cheered outside the stadium arena, waiting to be given entry to the bleachers. Keira and Krillin moved through the crowd, the girl of the duo not used to seeing so many people in one place. She almost became distracted by a few food trucks in the area, as well as pop up stands. She was thankful to have Krillin tugging her arm to help her keep up, especially since he was far away from Chichi. She looked down at her current attire, smiling at it.
She and Krillin had both been gifted orange gi by Master Roshi to display their status as students of the Turtle School, the girl wearing her Saiyan spandex under the uniform while Krillin wore a black spandex leggings Keira had crafted with the Fabrication Gun. The outfits were completed by black belts to hold the gi pants up and blue martial arts shoes. She practically skipped as she felt the air flow through the gi.
"Master Roshi's the best!" cheered the Saiyan. "These gi's are nice, though I wish he got me pink shoes. Still, it makes me feel ready to take on the world! I'm ready to kick butt and take names as Launch says." Krillin smiled back at her nervously, tilting his head.
"You know, there's not normally a lot of girls in these tournaments," stated the human. "Are you ready for that? Some of them won't care how young you are. I know how strong you are and I'm not doubting you but not every martial artist is the best person." Keira growled at this, nodding her head.
"Oh I'm ready alright! If Chichi's gonna be here then I have to win and prove that I've become the strongest girl on Earth." Krillin nodded his head, knowing that he couldn't talk the girl out of it at this point. They soon approached the area where other participants were waiting, Keira stepping closer to her prize as she saw Chichi amongst the crowd. A monk approached the group, bowing his head.
"All participants meet in the inner temple," stated the man. "Repeat, all participants meet in the inner temple. If you have any armor or weapons, you must leave them behind or you will be disqualified." Keira was glad that she left the Power Pole with the others, stomping jovially as she followed the crowd into the inner temple. Krillin stayed nearby, concerned if Keira would see him being near any woman as a threat.
The monk stood by a table with a small box, nodding his head. "All participants will take a number. This will tell you which ring you will be fighting in. We have one hundred forty four participants this year, eight of whom will pass to the main tournament. Once you are assigned your number, head for your assigned ring as soon as possible."
Keira jumped up and down repeatedly, grinning as she waited as patiently as possible. "Each match will be sixty seconds with the person closest to ring-out being disqualified in the case of time out. With that said, please be aware there is no kicking or hitting below the belt and, of course, no killing. There will be no fighting between matches and there will be no weapons or armor permitted. Anyone caught breaking these rules will be disqualified. Tournament staff will pass out numbers randomly to ensure the utmost diversity in the brackets."
Keira held her hand up, trying to be among the first to receive a number. She eagerly took the ball, looking it over as she tried to read the number. She grinned as she showed it off to Krillin.
"Mine says ring 7, number 7. What's yours say?" Krillin looked it over, humming at it.
"Ring 2, number 5," stated the boy. He smiled towards Keira. "If these are our match numbers, it looks like we'll be trying to meet each other in the finals." Keira grinned at this, happy to have the challenge. Two individuals suddenly approached, snickering to themselves.
"Well if it isn't little Krillin?" stated a familiar voice. Krillin tensed at this, only to remember that Keira was right there as he took a deep breath. He looked towards two boys who were wearing the same robes he used to wear, bullies he knew rather well. "Whatcha think you're doing here?" The second one looked over Keira, grinning to herself.
"And who might you be, sweetheart?" questioned the lanky boy. "If you're looking for a real man then I'm your guy. I gotta say, you're not a bad looker." Krillin gritted his teeth, the air shift happening again as his tail wagged. His anger grew as he saw Keira smile at the compliment.
"Really now?" questioned the Saiyan. "We'll see how strong you are in the ring then." Krillin watched her look his way, taking a deep breath as he shook his head.
"They're monks from the Orin Temple, just like I used to be," stated the noseless boy. "They're the type that just used their size to their advantage and slacked off whenever the older monks weren't looking. They're not strong." Keira slowly approached him, the boy keeping his eyes on her. She leaned closer to him, her mouth by his ear.
"I guess that would say much about you if you were to lose to them, Dear Krillin. I mean, you were like them when you first started training with Master Roshi." Krillin grabbed Keira's arm, pulling her along.
"Unlike them, I grew up. I can tell they're still the same guys that Master Roshi wouldn't have taken time with." The large monk laughed, shaking his head.
"You actually expect us to believe THE Muten Roshi took you on as a student? You're nothing but a shrimp playing dress up with his little girlfriend." Keira pointed towards the kanji on her gi, the symbol that stood for 'Turtle'.
"We spent months outswimming ravenous sharks, dodging angry hornets while tied down, and plowing farmers' fields with our bare hands. Do NOT put disrespect on our master or the hard work we put in." The taller monk stuttered a bit, shaking his head.
"A-anyone c-could put a Kanji on a g-gi. Besides, what kind of training is that? That last one's just peasant labor. And why would the greatest martial artist like him teach a little girl?" Keira bared her teeth, only for Krillin to begin pulling her along.
"Keira, no," denied the tiger boy. "We aren't allowed to fight outside of the official matches. Besides, they're just trying to stall us so we'll be disqualified. These posers are just trying to lessen the competition so they don't have to fight anyone stronger than them." The true Saiyan growled as she shoved her hands into the pants of her gi, her tail curling in a show of anger.
"They're lucky I can't fight them. They'd be picking dirt out of their teeth for weeks." The large monk turned around, a sneer on his face.
"We don't need to stall to beat up a little girl that thinks she's stronger than us men. Come on, Li. Let's leave these losers." Krillin took a deep breath, his eyes closed as his tail curled just like his mates. He actually had to hold her as she looked furious, his eyes opening as he looked towards her.
"Save that energy for the ring. If you end up facing one of them, you'll show them exactly why they're beneath you. They wouldn't last two weeks training under Master Roshi, and that's actually being generous. Actions speak louder than words as they say." The monkey girl simply huffed at his words, slowly smiling as he wrapped his tail around hers.
The striped boy then grinned nodding his head. "Besides, we can't let anyone get in the way of us having our fight in the ring. Not gonna lie, it's exciting to think about actually facing off in the big ring. Maybe one of us will get what we want, whether it be in the ring or outside of it." Keira grinned as she clenched her fists, leaning over a bit as she tiptoed.
"I've been working on some fun tricks just for our fight! It's so super-secret that you won't even know what hit you!" Krillin chuckled, rubbing his mate atop her head.
"I look forward to it. We'll both be showing off all our cards in the battle so I want nothing less than your best. As long as none of the rules are broken, I want to see exactly where we stand. We'll see exactly who's on top this time, I'm sure of it." The saiyan purred a bit, leaning on the boy as she held her hands behind her back.
"You know, that's talking dirty for Saiyans. I look forward to seeing that power you have." Krillin blushed as he looked away, another set of footsteps approaching them.
"It seems we finally meet, Son Milla," greeted a new voice. Keira immediately jerked, her grin disappearing as she frowned in annoyance. The duo looked towards the new arrival: a tall boy with pale skin, spiky black hair that seemed to defy gravity, and onyx eyes. He was wearing a blue sleeveless unitard, white boots with yellow tips, and a brown furred belt. The unitard looked similar to Keira's Saiyan spandex, the girl purring as she sent a similar look his way that she would Krillin. The boy looked between the duo, his eyes narrowing.
'What's up with her?' questioned the monk. 'Is she… looking at another guy!?' Something inside the striped boy clicked, triggering a deep aggression within him. He looked towards the new guy, a stare down commencing as the pressure in the area began to rise. Neither male gave up, Keira actually looking both excited and intrigued as she looked back and forth between them.
He looked down the taller boy's form, narrowing his eyes. "Is that a tail?" The new arrival nodded his head, unfurling the furry limb.
"Indeed. I do not know much about it, but I am told I was born with this." Krillin looked towards Keira, noticing the growth in her interest.
'This guy's an actual Saiyan. Why else would she start looking at him? They're the same species. If I lose to this guy, it might be game over. I can't let her beat me if I don't fight this guy before her.' The gong rang again, signaling the last call.
Krillin forcefully grabbed Keira's wrist, his eyes still narrowed. "We have to get to the rings, now. Time's almost up. Let's go, KEIRA." The new arrival nodded his head, a small smile on his face.
"Thanks for the reminder. I'm in ring one. I hope to face you in the tournament." The boy brushed past the duo, his tail brushing against Keira's. Krillin narrowed his eyes, quickly using his own tail to envelop hers as if on instinct. The monk kept getting a feeling that this new boy wasn't telling them everything. Keira purred at the departing boy, a grin on her face.
"He seems rather interesting," sighed the monkey girl. "He has a strong scent and he's clearly a Saiyan. That's a man right there. I wonder if I'll get to fight him, to see who's more dominant." The shift happened around Krillin again, causing him to look away.
"Not if I kick his ass you won't," growled the boy under his breath. "Hurry to your ring. Time's almost up." Keira yelped at this, running quickly from the boy. Krillin took the moment alone to breathe, his anger converting into determination as he approached his ring.
He stood amongst the waiting participants, holding his hands in a meditative position. "Right. No playing around. This isn't just about testing myself anymore. I can't let my life with Keira slip away just because some Saiyan guy got her attention."
He heard his number be called, walking up to the ring. 'Sorry Master, but I can't be satisfied just testing myself anymore. No matter who I have to fight, I have to win. I'm no longer a monk of the Orin Temple, but a warrior of the Turtle School that can't afford to lose.' As if his words were immediately put to the test, he saw the first bully from his old temple stand across from him.
"So, you didn't run away," stated the bully. "I'm kinda disappointed, but I guess even pigs can't be expected to know their place. Once I'm done here, I'll show that girl of yours a good time before dumping her. She'll be a real woman after I knock her up." Krillin narrowed his eyes, his fists clenching.
"You?" questioned the monk. "A real man? You're an undesirable parrot who only repeats what the other lazy hardheads at the temple say. You don't even pay attention in martial arts class." The bully growled at this, looking more angered than Krillin.
"You think you're better than the masters or something? Most of them have won tournaments outside this one and even fight off the most feared beasts in the village." Krillin shook his head in denial.
"I'm not doubting the people that actually put the work in to get where they are. I'm doubting you. Besides, the Orin Masters pale in comparison to Master Roshi. He'd swat you like a fly." The bully groaned at this, rolling his eyes.
"Am I supposed to believe the Great Master Roshi trained YOU? Why would he train a half beat boy who can't even keep his own food from being stolen, much less a twink who runs from the slightest hint of danger?" Krillin smiled at this, tilting his head down.
"Wow. Did you practice in the mirror for that? I'm not the same kid from the temple, if it's hard for you to tell just by looking. That's more than what I can say about you, seeing as you're up to your old tricks." The bully became angrier and angrier, his fists clenching.
"You think just because you disappear for ten months, you're some hotshot now?" He clicked his teeth as he growled. "Whatever. I'll put you in your place." Krillin took another deep breath at this, slowly lowering into his combat stance as the referee chopped at the air.
"Begin!" cried the ref. The bully suddenly ran forward, Krillin remaining in place. The boy jumped at the fighter, his arm reared back.
"Time to go to sleep, Nut Boy!" Krillin waved his arm, slapping the larger boy on his lower jaw. The bully conked out from the hit, being sent flying out of the ring as he crashed into one of the safety pads. The referee ran over, pressing his fingers against the neck of the defeated fighter. The man nodded his head before waving his arm.
"He's just unconscious!" cried the man. "The winner is contestant number five!" Krillin turned away, not even bowing to the downed boy.
"Like I thought, you're all talk. Keira won't even have to think about you anymore." He walked down the stairs of the ring, watching as Keira simply tapped a muscular man to where he tripped out of the ring. He chuckled to himself, noticing the disappointed look on her face. He knew that she had gone into the fight probably thinking that the big guy would be a good mate.
If the boy was being honest to himself, it was probably the major reason the Saiyan even entered the tournament. Originally the battle was all her mind was on, but her period a few months back definitely changed her reasoning in a big way. He knew that she would eventually return to the thrill of battle, but at the moment he needed to keep her attention on him as her mate. As such, he did his best to fight through every opponent that came his way, not allowing himself any room to be pressured. He noticed how Yamcha and Chi-chi were also progressing, sweating a bit at how Chi-chi seemed to be throwing people left and right.
The male Saiyan was also doing well, beating enemies with ease. Krillin wanted to know where the boy had come from, as well as why there were now two Saiyans on Earth. He made a mental note to ask Raditz how many Saiyans were sent to Earth, seeing as one just suddenly popped up out of nowhere. He needed to know if he had to fend off any other male Saiyans, knowing how hard that would be with how strong Keira was. He heard the sound of someone running at him, simply kicking out his leg to strike the opponent in the gut.
The large man fell backwards, holding his gut as he rolled out of the ring. "Next time, don't leave yourself so open." The announcer raised his hand, nodding his head.
"Contestant number 5 of ring 2 has surpassed all other combatants in the ring. He will advance to the final eight. Your number was attached to your name when you arrived at the ring. Please await further instructions." Krillin nodded his head, walking down the stairs as he smiled lightly.
"I hate to admit it, but I probably would have had more trouble before I started training under Master Roshi and definitely before this furry situation. Having him as a master and Keira as a rival pushed me to be better than I was before." He heard someone cry out in pain and fear as they soared overhead, rolling across the ground when he landed. He looked towards the way the man came from, smiling as he watched Keira wrap her tail around a man's neck. She then threw him out, frowning sadly as the announcer of her ring declared her advancement to the quarter finals.
"That guy wasn't strong at all," sighed the monkey girl. "He just had big muscles and smelled funny. What a rip off." She walked down the stairs, her arms crossed as she growled. Krillin laughed at this, shaking his head.
"I'd hate to be one of the guys that actually trained for the last five years and had to face Keira here and now. She's an entirely different breed of fighter." He heard a shifting behind him, along with a growl.
"She has to be cheating!" cried the man who had been launched across the temple. "That shouldn't be allowed!" The monk who brought everyone inside shook his head.
"It was confirmed to be part of her body before entering the ring," stated the holy man. "It's allowed." The warrior growled as he clenched his fists, crossing his arms.
"I trained fifteen years for this! Every day of my life was devoted to this and I refuse to believe that tail is real!" Krillin rolled his eyes, an annoyed huff escaping his throat.
"There are pigs that can walk and talk, a dinosaur guy over there, and a man who uses stench to fight," stated the bald boy. "You're crying foul just because a girl has a tail?" Keira chuckled as she walked over, shaking her head.
"I got this, Krillin," stated the Saiyan. The boy suddenly felt a need to try and object, only to watch as the girl carefully showed off the connection of her tail to her body. "As you can see, it's real. Maybe if you trained harder and under a real master, you would have won." The man looked ready to burst, only for the monk to shake his head.
"Sir, there are other contestants who need to focus," stated the holy man. "Since your match is over, you can either wait for the preliminaries to end or leave immediately." Krillin suddenly felt an instinct take over him as he moved quickly grabbing the man's arm before he could try yanking Keira's tail, a growl escaping his throat as his eyes reflected the light in the area.
"No fighting between matches," growled the Turtle School boy. "If you ever want to compete here again, you'll take a chill pill and leave. The monks have every authority to remove you from the competition entirely. Now, get out." The glare in the boy's eyes actually caused the man to jerk back in anger, the fighter rearing his fist back.
"Leave," commanded an old yet authoritative voice. The fighter stopped in his tracks, a shiver running down his back. "Your match has finished. You lost, so learn what you did wrong and work on yourself instead of blaming others. If you continue, you will see yourself banned from future tournaments."
Krillin released the warrior, the man walking away in anger. The boy knew exactly who the old man was, Keira's badly hidden growl confirming the identity. The bald old man before them was immediately recognizable, from his bushy mustache to the wrinkles on his forehead. He was wearing a simple white martial arts top, black gi-pants, a white belt, and black martial arts shoes. Keira looked away, huffing as she folded her arms.
"I didn't need your help, Gohan," growled the Saiyan. "What do you want?" The old man bowed his head respectfully.
"I am simply here for the tournament, nothing more. I promise, my child. I see you've grown rather well. I knew Roshi would make you into a fine martial artist and an even better young woman, even when I had lost myself. Now we meet as rivals, and I look forward to seeing just how much you've grown."
Keira glanced back towards her grandfather, watching him bow slightly again. "Break the human limitations and face me in the final eight, Milla." Keira growled at this, only for Krillin to lightly place his hand on her shoulder.
"Keira, can we talk real quick?" requested the bald boy. "Gohan probably still has matches and we've caused enough of a scene. Anymore and the strong fighters might get eliminated from the distraction. You have every opportunity to show him what you really are in the real tournament." He didn't back down as the Saiyan glared at him, only for her to nod her head.
"Fine," huffed the monkey girl. "Just know, Gohan, that I am going to beat you. Then you'll learn the real human limitations. I aim for something much higher." She began dragging Krillin away, hearing the sigh from the man she once looked upon fondly.
Once they were in a more private area, the saiyan stomped back and forth. "He's still treating me like I'm some human and using that DAMN NAME! I'm KEIRA, a Saiyan warrior! Sure there are some strong humans but there's a big difference!" Krillin nodded his head, keeping his arms crossed.
"Keira, I understand you're frustrated. If I was compared to something I'm not I'd be pretty ticked too. I have utmost faith that you'll be able to prove yourself and make him see the difference. While I'm only starting to understand the Saiyan stuff, I understand pride as a man. It tells you to do everything you can to show everyone that you're capable of doing something, and from what I read from the files it's one of the Saiyan race's biggest driving forces."
He watched the Saiyan girl look down, her arms crossed. "Now, let's take a deep breath and see if we can find something good to eat before the quarterfinals begin. We both know how bad an idea it is for you to go into any physical activity on half a tank. As long as we're back in time for the rest of the tournament we should be good to go." He saw the small smile on the Saiyan girl's face, her tail wagging as she leaned towards the boy with her arms under her breasts. There was a sparkle in her eyes, one he knew very well.
"You just want me to make you food." She hummed as she hugged herself a bit tighter. "I wonder what I could make that'll make you say yes. So many options yet so little time." Krillin purred at this, a grin on his face.
"I love it when you offer a good time but can we save that for later? I'm rather famished even after that big breakfast we ate and I think it'd be nice to let everyone see who the superior chef is." He practically saw the growing grin on Keira's forehead, a look of determination in her eyes.
"Now you're talking! Come on!" The girl pulled Krillin along, the boy walking to keep up. Chichi watched the duo walk by, rubbing her stomach. She grinned as she wrapped her arm around Keira's.
"Lunch sounds great right now, especially after that dinner you made last night." grinned the princess. "I just finished my last match and I'm definitely hungry. The breakfast Daddy ordered felt so… boring thanks to you. I need to have some more of that!" Keira smiled at this, nodding her head.
"Alright. That's more people to help Bulma with the table while Krillin acts as MY assistant." Chichi giggled at this, shaking her head.
"You just want time alone with your guy, but I can't blame you for that. Wish I had a good man in my life." The monkey girl's tail wagged, a smirk on her face.
"Well, I do have an older brother somewhere out there. If not him, I think you could get with a strong looking guy I saw before the matches started. Then again if he proves to be stronger than Krillin…" The monkey girl gasped as she felt her tail being wrapped, the rubbing causing her to blush. Krillin smirked, a devious look on his face.
"You keep trying to set your brother up with girls, Keira," observed the boy. "First Launch and now Chichi. Is Bulma gonna be next? Also, I am NOT losing to that guy so you can shove that comment. You are MINE." Chichi gasped, her hand over her mouth.
"You were looking at another guy!?" cried the princess. "Why would you do that, Keira?" Krillin looked around the area before letting loose a sigh.
"Chichi, Keira's not human. She's an alien known as a Saiyan, her species being different from us. They pick their partners based on strength. Her brother and that other guy she talked about also being Saiyans so, with that other guy being one, he has the advantage of scent and strength where I have only one of them. I had hoped we'd built up a strong enough bond but, IF I were to lose to that guy, her instincts would drive her to latch to him." Keira's tail dropped within that of her mate's as she looked down.
"I can't help it," moaned the monkey girl. "I just felt drawn to him." Krillin scratched behind her ear, causing her to sigh.
"Can't exactly blame you for your biology, Babe. Just means I have to kick that guy's ass. He rubs me the wrong way anyway. I could tell he wasn't being entirely honest with us when we were talking, though it also felt like he didn't want to lie. Whether I get answers or not, I have to beat him."
He then moved his scratching to a different part of Keira's head, causing her to kick her leg a bit. "Now, let's go make the best food anyone has ever tasted." The Saiyan hummed at this, leaning into her mate.
"Maybe just a few sandwiches. We won't have a lot of time but we could also do a few chicken legs." Krillin laughed at this, shaking his head as the two of them began to walk.
"You say a few but that just means a few hundred. Can't say I'd argue with that, but I will feel sorry for everyone that has to go back to regular sandwiches after this." Chi-chi walked alongside them, a sigh leaving her throat.
"How are you so good at cooking, Keira?" questioned the princess. "I'll have to cook for my husband when I get one so I need to be good at it." The monkey girl smirked, her eyes narrowing.
"Well it helps that I can smell the ingredients to see what's fresh and what's dull or spoiled. I also work faster than a lot of people but it normally doesn't hurt my focus." She then clenched her fist with a smile, looking at it. "And with that Ki stuff we read about in those old scrolls that were part of Master Roshi's study training, I can cook even faster." Chi-chi tilted her head, humming as she narrowed her eyes.
"Ki? What's that?" Krillin smirked, pointing towards the sky as he nodded his head.
"Ki is the natural energy that runs through our entire world," began the boy. "Even the Earth itself produces Ki. Martial Artists use it to train every day even if they don't realize it, though not a lot of people actually train in using its purest form anymore these days. In the past, a fighter could manipulate the very fiber of their body, make extra body parts, alter their physical appearance, make oneself unseeable… The list can go on and on."
Chichi hummed, listening as the furry monk continued. "A true master, however, can form Ki outside their body and mold it to their desire. Master Roshi's signature technique, the Kamehameha, is an example of this. Just creating the Kamehameha or your own technique doesn't make you a master, however. It's only when you can control Ki in every way while it's in use that you can be considered a true master." Keira nodded her head, mimicking the boy with her opposite arm.
"Ki can move around the body in many ways when you manipulate it," continued the monkey girl. "Deep down, there is a complexity to it. Ki is made up of three different forces in the body. It all sounds simple but it can be hard to really understand if you don't pay attention. We don't have much more time so I'm only gonna say this once."
Chichi nodded her head, still showing her interest. "There is Genki, which relies upon one's liveliness. A person's overall health actually goes a long way into determining how much energy they can draw on. Then there's Yuki, which provides stability. It relies on your bravery, courage, and valor. If one has fear of a person, they will lose their Yuki."
Keira then crossed her arms, leaning into Krillin again. "Finally, there's Shoki. Shoki simply depends upon the soundness of the mind. If your mind is distracted or unable to focus, then so too does your ki lose its focus. If all three aspects fail, you won't be able to form any ki at all." Krillin ruffled the girl's hair, causing her to giggle before he stopped.
"When one's ki is balanced, even when you're low on Ki, you'll always be able to draw upon more power deep within yourself. I can kinda make a little ball in my hands but any more than that sees me using more energy than I can get back in the same moment. Keira over here, however, could use the Kamehameha as soon as she saw it being performed. I think it's a Saiyan thing, being able to understand techniques so quickly, but I like to think my girl is unique." Keira giggled at the complement before shaking her head.
"Anyway, I can use my Ki to heat up the pans and pots without making them melt. I can also give the food just the right temperature without burning it. I don't really understand everything Krillin said, but I get how it works. It's like the Turtle School way: Train hard, eat well, and sleep plenty." Whis could be seen sitting on top of one of the street lamps, humming in interest.
"Well now," began the hidden angel. "Your master is looking more and more worthy of his title the more I hear about him. I couldn't help but overhear how you would be making such delicious sandwiches. Would you mind if I partook in such a meal?" Krillin groaned at this, rubbing his temples.
"How are you always just there without anyone hearing or seeing you?" questioned the monk. "It's like you're moving so fast or you have some kind of magic, neither of which are off the table." Whis chuckled at this, shaking his head.
"I use no such magics, though it would not be the first time I have heard such accusations. You could say I dabble into the martial arts myself, though I do not compete in competitions as I do not seek out the acknowledgement of others." Keira tilted her head, confusion clear on her face.
"Why not?" questioned the Saiyan. "Fighting tournaments are so much fun because you get to meet and fight so many strong people." The hidden angel smiled at this, shaking his head.
"Oh I'm sure it is, especially for a Saiyan. Your people are well known for a love of battle, though there is much more to their culture than the average onlooker would see at a first glance. Your people even enjoyed crafting battle dances and even music for the sake of just making a game out of it. Let's just say that not everyone learns combat for the sake of combat, and this planet is not the only place where strong warriors can be found." Krillin narrowed his eyes, his arm protectively held out.
"You're not really human, are you?" questioned the boy. Whis simply laughed, shaking his head. 'Great. So now he's gonna be vague again.' The tall man then faked a gasp, holding a hand over his mouth.
"Did I say that out loud? In all seriousness, you would be correct. Though I will say, you aren't exactly going to be human for much longer yourself. It is rather interesting, the kind of creature your path has set you to become. In fact, many things about this planet has proven to be more exciting than I ever thought in my prior visits."
Whis then sighed, leaning back a bit to where any normal person would have fallen off the lamp. "Magic is such an interesting phenomenon, especially when it brings excitement and new discoveries. So much better than that terrible magic demons create. I do feel a tinge of pity for those born of demonic machinations though, at least those that actually have a soul." Krillin growled under his breath, his shoulders raising up.
"Are you always this cryptic? Who the heck even are you?" Whis then leaned forward again, humming in thought.
"Perhaps you'll learn in time, but today is not that day. Now, I believe we have some delicious sandwiches that dear Keira seeks to make and I do not intend to miss out on any of her original dishes. Perhaps after this tournament, if I have time, I can help teach her some simply amazing recipes. It'll get her into learning about truly amazing foods and I can only imagine the cakes she could create. Cake is by far one of my favorite desserts, so complex yet so delightful."
The man was suddenly standing on the ground, causing the young trio to jerk. "You humans create so many unique dishes unseen by the universe at large." Krillin was about to make a comment, only to be dragged along as his tail was still wrapped around Keira's.
"CHIT CHAT LATER!" cried Keira. "THESE SANDWICHES AREN'T GOING TO MAKE THEMSELVES!" Krillin chuckled nervously, sweat pouring down his face.
'At this rate, she's gonna pull my tail off,' thought the monk. 'She's acting like her cooking's been questioned or something. Maybe it was the fact that Wizz guy said something about humans making things no one else can. Either way, I better start walking.' The boy stepped onto his feet as he followed along, not wanting to lose his newest limb.
It didn't take long for sandwiches to be prepared, even with Keira taking her time with them. The tournament kitchen was out of bread of many kinds, though the outcome was worth the strange circumstances. The staff were given sandwiches of their own as apologies, many of them either having a similar reaction to Whis or praising the good work. Keira could be seen munching on one of her own creations as she moaned happily, her tail wagging behind her. Even Wairu could be seen sneaking a sandwich in spite of "refusing" at first.
"I swear the Kai would be writing up a schedule to have this child visit the Sacred World," moaned the hidden creator. "This goes beyond simple bread and fillings. She had to have been a master of creating food in her past as Supreme Kai of the West. I mean… unless she was like mother." The girl winced, her spine shivering as she held her stomach. The speakers in the room went live, causing everyone to look up.
"The World Martial Arts Tournament will begin in fifteen minutes!" cried a voice. "Attendees please make your way to the bleachers as soon as possible! Contestants, gather in the main temple in five minutes!" Keira suddenly shoveled as much food into her mouth as possible, almost choking herself a few times as she and Krillin ran for the main area. She hit her chest before letting loose a huge burp.
"RUN FASTER, KRILLIN!" cried the saiyan. Krillin followed behind her, huffing as they rushed for the designated waiting spot. They left the others in the dust, sliding into the main temple in under two minutes. They took deep breaths in order to conserve their energy, not wanting to overexert themselves. The other participants gathered as well, only a minute left to spare.
Keira bounced on her toes, a grin of excitement on her face. She heard the excited cheers of the people outside, her tail wagging in excitement. She looked around at her competition, not even angered by Gohan's presence as her adrenaline was at an all-time high. Her bouncing grew in intensity as Krillin rubbed her back. The announcer walked into the room, nodding his head towards the group.
"Right," greeted the man. "Let's go over the rules in case someone's forgotten. We've had some unfortunate cases of forgetfulness from time to time." The monk from before entered the room, carrying a small box. "This box has eight balls, each with a number."
The announcer held up an example ball, the object blank. "This will decide the bracket of who fights who. Please, try to put up a good fight. After the first round with the quarter finalists, we will pause the tournament for an hour to give fighters time to regain their strength. After that we'll have the Semifinals and, after another period of waiting, the final match will commence to see who will be named Tenkaichi: Strongest Under the Heavens. As a reminder: no below the belt hits, no weapons, no armor, no fighting outside of official matches, and no lethal techniques."
The man put the ball away, nodding his head. "Should you fall out of the ring in the match, you've lost. If you're down during the ten second count, you're out. Should you break any of the rules, you will be disqualified. And finally, as sad as it is that it even needs to be said, no killing. This is an official tournament, not a bloodbath."
He gestured to one of the cameramen pointing their equipment towards the ring, the area hidden from the view of the fighters. "This is a televised broadcast. The whole world is watching, so please put on a good show for the viewers. With that out of the way, come up one by one alphabetically and receive a ball." Chichi smiled at Keira before walking up, only to frown slightly as she noticed something off about the Saiyan girl.
She pulled out a ball before displaying that it had the number 5, the announcer taking it from her and writing her name on the bracket board. Gohan walked up next, pulling out a two ball. Then came the mysterious old man, pulling out a six ball. Keira ran over, pulling out a one ball. She almost wanted to cry out at not being matched with Krillin or the unknown Saiyan, only to freeze as she saw her name was added right next to Gohan's on the board.
She clenched her fists, an unreadable smirk on her face. Krillin walked up next, pulling a three ball out. The tan skinned man approached the box, pulling out a six ball. The mysterious Saiyan finally approached, pulling out a four ball. He turned slowly as if trying to display the number to Krillin, the bald boy noticing a hidden smirk on the boy's face. The name 'Tarble' was written next to Krillin's space, the bald monk realizing exactly what was being voiced by the action.
Yamcha went last, pulling out the lone eight ball. He handed it to the announcer, watching as his name was added to the board. He groaned as he saw the bracket line up.
"I have to fight the old guy?" questioned the former bandit. "I was hoping to see how strong Keira got." Krillin ignored the outcry as he continued to glare down Tarble, the hairs on the back of his head and the furs on his tail standing straight.
"Control your Shoki, boy," stated a familiar voice. Krillin looked towards the mysterious old man, the individual looking him straight in the eye. "You can't risk losing control before your first match. Out of everyone here, you have a look that says you have the most to lose." The bald boy tilted his head, his confusion visible on his face.
"Shoki?" questioned the boy. "You know about-?" The Announcer whistled, getting the group's attention. The fighters approached, the man gesturing for them to come closer. He nodded his head once they stopped right in front of him.
"The bracket is set," informed the announcer. "Our first fight is between the Champion of the Fifteenth Tenkaichi, Son Gohan, and Keira. The rest of you follow along as ordered on the bracket board. You two, please come out as soon as I call your names." Keira and Gohan nodded their heads, watching as the announcer walked into the ring.
Keira's tail wagged violently, a grin forming on her face as she heard the wild cheers outside. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN WELCOME TO THE TWENTY FIRST TENKAICHI BUDOKAI, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE WORLD MARTIAL ARTS TOURNAMENT! THIS HAS BEEN FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING, FOLKS! LET'S GET THIS FIRST MATCH UNDERWAY! HAILING FROM THE FIFTEENTH BUDOKAI, WE HAVE THE RETURNING CHAMPION: SOOOOOOON GOHAN!"
Gohan walked out onto the ring, bowing respectfully to the crowd. "Son Gohan has been seen in this tournament three separate times, his first loss being in the Semifinals to the one and only Jackie Chun. His second loss in the Quarterfinals to his own rival student and now ruler of the Ox Kingdom, Gyumao. This tournament could be his second victory and his reinstatement as Tenkaichi!" Gohan stood up from his bow, waiting patiently.
The announcer then gestured towards the other entrance to the ring, nodding his head. "AND NOW, DEBUTING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE TOURNAMENT, CURRENT TURTLE SCHOOL STUDENT: KEIRA!" The monkey girl zoomed out, leaping as she landed on the arena. "Ladies and gentlemen, we don't see many ladyfolk in these tournaments. Let's give her a warm welcome!"
A few voices in the crowd cheered, Keira bowing respectfully in response before standing straight. "These two both hail from the school of the famous Muten Roshi! He must have taken on new students recently, meaning we are going to see quite the show. Let's get this battle underway! Fighters, head to the opposite sides of the ring."
Keira and Gohan walked away from each other, a tension between them as Keira took deep breaths. She had to keep her head in the game, one of the few lessons she could actually thank Gohan for. She knew that the old man would use everything he knew about her against her, potentially even the weakness of her tail. Little did he know that she had been growing a lot, in more ways than just combat. She turned around as she reached her side, staring back into the eyes of her opponent.
She slowly took her fighting stance, earning an interested look from Gohan. She knew he would not recognize the style, seeing as it was not the one he had taught her. Her mind went back to when she had been paying close attention to the combat chips her father had left for her, every single moment she mimicked and adapted it to her frame under the watchful eye of Master Roshi. The master didn't normally teach the actual art of martial arts, so his help was something she was grateful for. The Saiyan closed her eyes as she took in her instincts, her hairs standing on end.
The announcer suddenly chopped at the air as he ran off the arena. "BEGIN!" Keira opened her eyes, knowing that Gohan would not go on the attack first thing. She watched his every movement, knowing that he was expecting her to come to him. The studying that her master made mandatory for her training paid off, allowing her to think clearly as she waited for the opportune moment.
The Saiyan fighting style consisted of brutal, straightforward strikes. There was clear planning behind the style, carelessness being the only weakness. As soon as she saw her opportune moment, she took a deep breath. She blitzed towards Gohan without a single sound, ignoring her blood's demand to release a war cry. If she wanted to win, not a single breath could be wasted.
She threw the first punch, not surprised when the old man blocked the attack. She made a surprised face as he went for an attack, only to smirk as she headbutted his ribs as hard as she could. His chest gave a slight struggle before he jumped back, the man sending a kick into her chin. The saiyan was able to hold on as she backflipped away, landing on her feet with a thud. Gohan coughed, spitting out blood before laughing while holding his ribs.
"I should have expected that," stated the old warrior. "I always did tell you to never go easy on a foe in battle, but I don't think I ever told you to use your head like that." Keira smirked, squatting a bit to loosen up more.
"I worked a lot on myself, especially after THAT day," stated the Saiyan. "You'll find I'm not the little girl you thought I would be stuck as." Gohan nodded his head, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Then let us both show our full strength. I will not hold anything back. Show me all that you learned, Milla." The saiyan girl jerked at this, feeling her blood begin to boil. Bulma growled from the stands, clenching her fists.
"That jerk!" cried the genius. "He knows how she feels about that name!" Whis hummed at this, nodding his head.
"That is precisely why he used it," stated the tall man. "He's trying to incite her rage so he can have the advantage. Keira is incredibly strong when angry, as all Saiyans are, but she could also be more susceptible to mistakes in such a state. She has to overcome his taunting so that she can keep thinking clearly." Keira took a deep breath, using the memories of her family to strengthen her resolve.
She opened her eyes as she immediately blocked a strike, dodging each strike carefully. She kicked her opponent back, the attack more meant to create distance than hurt him. She clenched her fist as she watched the old man resume his own stance.
"First rule, Milla. Never take your eyes off the opponent." Keira growled, her tail waving aggressively.
"Stop talking to me like you're still teaching me stuff. I already know that." Gohan shook his head in denial.
"You must always remember the basics as you continue to learn. Otherwise, you will become just like the men you beat in the preliminaries: weak and losing focus of where you came from. You are stronger than that, but you cannot think yourself above it. For example…" He suddenly disappeared from her view, kicking her hard in the back.
She grunted as she actually kept her footing, her instincts yelling at her. "Always pay attention to your surroundings." He felt something constrict his leg, being flipped forward as he caught himself on his hands. Keira used him as a springboard, her tail unraveling from him pushing his face into the stone as she landed away from him. She turned around as she took a deep breath.
"Take your own advice, old man. This is a battle, and I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm still learning, I know that. What I don't know, I make up for with hard work." The old man stood up, a bit of blood leaking from his nose.
"Indeed. It is as I came to understand during our time apart in my second life. I held you back in the world, from both growing into who you truly are and from becoming stronger. Your teaching under Master Roshi shows I lacked focus, your growth as a young lady becoming as clear as day. I thought of you as you were and not who you would become. I cannot hope to attain forgiveness, but I can bear upon you words of wisdom I should have shared when you were old enough to understand."
Keira listened to her instincts, blocking the man's attack before his image could disappear. She blocked and dodged a few more attacks, keeping his hands away from her tail as she wrapped it around her waist for added protection. "Good. You've been learning to keep your one weakness out of reach. However, just because it's out of reach doesn't mean it can't be used against you."
The man kicked her tail as it was around her waist, the saiyan hissing before she struck the old man faster than he could react. He stepped back a few feet, spitting out a tooth. "Even when you have removed the opening of a weakness, it doesn't mean that it can't still be struck." Keira began to grow annoyed with the lectures, having trouble holding back her anger. She looked down, hearing a voice echo in her head.
"When you can't control your anger, guide it," stated the masculine voice of her father in her mind. "A true Saiyan warrior can guide their primal fury like a river. This is how we become one with our Oozaru and how we become greater warriors. Feel for the beast inside and, RELEASE!" Keira felt energy jolt from her, Bulma gaining a fearful look in her eyes.
"OH SHIT!" cried the genius. "She's using that lightning stuff again!" Keira's features changed slightly as the energy arced off her in the form of red lightning. Her musculature increased slightly in size, the change slightly shocking Gohan. The saiyan took in every ounce of control she had, roaring as the red lightning turned into a red aura around her.
She swiped her tail around, creating a massive wave of air that ruffled people's clothes, some ladies in the crowd needing to hold down their skirts or dresses. Gohan tried a kick at her head, only for her to not even budge as it felt like he kicked a wall. The monkey girl grinned darkly, shifting slightly.
"Too slow." She then zipped out of the man's view, the stone below her cracking slightly. The old man looked very confused, his mind running too fast.
'She can control it?' thought Gohan. 'How? I tried for years and yet she never did it. Not only that, her mysterious power flows freely through-' His thoughts were cut off as he felt a tight squeeze around his ankle, the man being slammed upon the ground a few times.
He saw her tail swing freely as he was being slung back, desperately reaching for it. 'I'm sorry, my child, but this is where it ends.' He grabbed her tail, squeezing it as hard as he could. Keira gritted her teeth, only to hum as something felt off. Instead of feeling the pain she expected to endure, she instead felt as if her tail was just another arm being tightly squeezed. Gohan tried to sling her onto the ground with her own attack, only for the Saiyan to catch herself on her feet before striking him in the gut.
"Time out!" The old man actually stopped as she looked over herself, squeezing at her tail. "It… it doesn't hurt anymore. Did the accident-" She saw the world slowly shift around her, grabbing her head as a flashback entered her mind.
She saw a pink monster roaring like an ape before leaping at her, quickly dodging him as he flipped behind her. The pink energy that tore at her memory-self caused her to gasp, the cold feeling of death wrapping around her for a moment. She looked up, noticing Whis amongst the crowd and imagining the blue skinned man from her prior unknown memory. "L-Lord Whis?" She actually watched the man nod as if he heard her, only to look up as she saw the world shift again.
A light that looked like it belonged in a stadium rather than a temple above suddenly snapped, falling straight towards the confused Gohan. She narrowed her eyes as she crashed into the man to get him out of the way, catching the metal object effortlessly in her grasp. She tossed it into the grass over outside the ring, earning gasps from the people.
"WH-WHERE DID THAT LIGHT COME FROM!?" cried the announcer. "THAT DOESN'T BELONG HERE!" Whis narrowed his eyes, looking towards Wairu as she nodded in kind.
"Demon," stated the woman. "Is it sis… Towa?" The angel shook his head in denial.
"No," stated the man. "Whoever this is, they are much weaker. I will say, however, that the possibility of this being an underling of hers would not surprise me. She is crafty to say the least." Wairu looked towards the stage, her eyes wide.
"Why the subtle attack? She could have just forced Gohan into a raged state." Whis nodded his head in response.
"Unless something forced her hand. Keira, however, acknowledged me for my formal title." The kai beside him narrowed her eyes, looking towards the still standing Saiyan.
"So, she is beginning to remember her past life? How long do you imagine it will take for her to remember everything?" The angel shook his head, a frown still on his face.
"I cannot say, though Lady Chronoa's currently attempting to correct the flow of time along with Towa's attempted influence at this moment seems to not be working. I'll need to speak with your mother on the matter. As soon as our business is complete here, I must advise her against any further tampering unless absolutely necessary. We do not want Keira's mind to break, lest she become a demon in Saiyan flesh. That would be a rather dreadful situation, much like the days of Bibidi and his vile creation. Worst of all, we'd lose her delicious cooking." Wairu groaned at the last part, her thoughts being interrupted as the announcer raised his hand.
"AFTER CAREFUL DELIBERATION, AND WITH CONSIDERATION THAT NO ONE WAS HARMED OR ELIMINATED, THE FIGHTERS WILL BE GIVEN A MOMENT OF RESPITE BEFORE THEY BEGIN AGAIN!" cried the blonde man. "THE BATTLE WILL RESUME AS SOON AS BOTH CONTESTANTS GIVE THE ALL CLEAR!" Keira sat down on the stone arena, looking at her hands as she clenched them softly. There was a foreign feeling to her own skin, yet it also felt natural to the touch. Her irises remained red as she hummed, a bit of her lightning zipping around her as she began to collect her thoughts.
"My child," whispered Gohan to himself. "You have truly grown beyond what I could have ever hoped for. I could end this right now with a forfeit, but I would not besmirch your honor more than my past actions already have. There is only one way this can end." Keira stood up, looking towards the sky as if someone was looking back.
"Whoever you are, do not interfere again," growled the monkey girl. "Only we can control this fight and our destinies." She looked to her right, noticing that Gohan was standing before her.
"One more attack to finish this. I can feel my old bones groaning, so I want to give this one more shot to honor my opponent." Keira's face was unreadable, only for her to smirk. The duo walked to opposite sides of the ring again, Krillin watching from the main temple as he noticed a slight change to Keira's stride. As soon as both warriors reached their designated spots, they turned around and nodded towards the announcer.
"AND IT LOOKS LIKE BOTH FIGHTERS ARE READY TO KICK BACK INTO HIGH GEAR!" cried the official. "WHO WILL COME OUT ON TOP, FOLKS!? LET THE MATCH RESUME!" The duo took a deep breath as the announcer stepped back as far as possible, both of them lowering into the same stance. Gohan gritted his teeth, the frailness of his body slowly going away as he had slightly more toned skin.
"KA…ME…HA…ME…" Keira took a deep breath, holding out her finger as her red lightning formed into a ball of energy on the end with pink swirls flowing around it.
"Gohan, I will honor you as you honor me," stated the monkey girl. "This is the end." Jackie Chun's eyes widened from his spot on the other side of the waiting area, his eyes widening.
"I can't sense her ki," stated the hidden master in shock. "How is she performing that technique?" Wairu was suddenly at his side, an intrigued frown on her face.
"Divine Ki, good sir," replied the Kai. "You shall come to gain it yourself soon enough when we begin your training. This is happening because of outside influence, her mind becoming attuned to sensing it. Keira's old memories from her past life are returning." The hidden Roshi frowned, his eyes narrowing.
"Divine Ki? What are you talking about?" Wairu smirked, growing an understanding of Whis's fondness of being cryptic.
"I will explain in time. Know that you should feel honored to have such a student in your tutelage." Jackie looked back towards the match, watching as Gohan thrust his arms forward.
"HA!" cried the old student. Keira took a deep breath, the pink swirls in her attack growing more refined to replace some of the chaotic red energy. Her eyes flashed as she flicked her finger.
"Destiny Breaker!" cried the Saiyan. Two powerful beams suddenly crashed, creating waves of pressure that blew several loose objects into the air. Gohan gritted his teeth, trying to push more and more into his attack.
'This… this is the power hidden deep inside her. I had neglected her so much. This is my fate, my absolution.' His attack spurted out as he ran out of energy to give, the pink and red beam soaring towards him. Instead of a burning sensation, he felt a strong force begin pushing his body towards the edge of the ring.
He let himself fall gracefully, finding himself landing in a patch of unknown flowers. He huffed as he felt drained, the beam above him dissipating into particles of light as insects and birds of different kinds could be seen flying in the air. He looked towards the land below him, realizing that it was the grass around the stage. "Keira… her attack pushed me off the stage but I feel no pain." The crowd suddenly erupted into cheers of excitement, the announcer holding the side of his head.
"WE'VE WITNESSED SOMETHING INCREDIBLE, FOLKS!" cried the man. "Son Gohan has fallen out of the ring, ending his run in the tournament! Keira, our new debuting challenger, has officially won her first match in the Tenkaichi Budokai! Let's hear it for the newcomer!" Keira looked around, hearing the cheers of the crowd.
She heard a grunting noise, watching as Gohan slowly stood up. He held his gut as he began making his way for the back, Keira ignoring her pride as she felt a need to follow after him. The old man ignored the staff trying to help him as he waved them off, as he sat down. The monkey girl looked like she was about to follow, only to feel a presence approach as the cheering suddenly grinded to a halt. She looked to her left, noticing that Whis was now standing beside her.
"I must say that was an excellent display," complemented the man. "Such an interesting display of power 'Lady West'." Keira growled at this, her eyes narrowing.
"Don't call me that," denied the Saiyan. "I might have some memories about what a Supreme Kai is, but I'm not that anymore." Whis smiled at this, nodding his head.
"It is good to see you are well. I can imagine all of this is shocking for you, but your reincarnation has to mean something. Once your memories have truly returned, we can discuss what to do next. For now, I believe you intended to speak with someone." Keira simply walked away, the sounds of the crowd slowly beginning to return.
Whis smirked, slowly beginning to disappear. "This will be an interesting few years. It looks like I'll be spending more time on this planet than expected. I'll need to schedule my comings and goings carefully." He was soon gone, going unnoticed by anyone.
Keira walked through the area, Krillin quickly following along with a concerned look on his face. She heard a grunting noise, watching as Gohan slowly sat down on a bench. She ignored her pride's demand to gloat, having a feeling that a serious discussion required a level head. The monkey girl slowly approached, ready for anything. Krillin waited nearby as the girl let loose a small huff.
"Gohan, why do you insist on trying to be my grandfather?" questioned the saiyan. "You're trying to teach me all over again, but you made it clear you didn't want me to change from the little human girl." The old man looked up, a soft smile on his face.
"Despite what you believe, I truly did love you and still do," stated the old man weakly. "I am just as fallible as any man or woman alive. No one's perfect and I never claimed to be either. All I want, all I have ever wanted, was for you to be safe and happy. I lost my goal and myself along the way."
Keira stood straight as he reached out for her, only for him to rub the top of her head. "Milla, Keira, whoever you choose to be, I now see what Roshi tried to show me. I didn't listen, and now it's torn a rift between us. I have nothing left to teach you, whether I am able bodied or not. Know this: there will always be a home where you are loved, even if you don't feel that way anymore."
The Saiyan girl felt a part of her she thought died well up, gritting her teeth. "Just as the Power Pole belongs to you, the Son household will always be yours to carry forward. I am not asking for forgiveness nor do I deserve it. I caused you much pain upon my return. I should have stayed dead, but I will live the life you gave me and make the most of it."
Keira would swear the tears even formed if anyone asked, her tail drooping as she tried not to show her true reaction. "For what it's worth, thank you for opening my eyes when I didn't want to see the truth. I cannot remain back here, but I will watch the tournament to its completion. No matter what happens, I will always be proud of you, Son Keira."
The old man stood up, using the monkey girl's head to help him do so. "I must say, you've chosen a good future husband. Even now he stands ready to defend your honor even when you can do so yourself. Mayhaps I'll live long enough to see the children you one day create if I'm allowed such a thing. All I can say now is good luck."
The old man began to walk away, only for Keira to actually latch onto him. He felt the wetness soak his side, knowing better than to say anything. All he could do was keep his hand on her as she rubbed her head into him.
"I… I don't want to forgive you, but I can't hate you anymore. I don't know if I can feel the same way you do when it comes to love. I don't even think I really know what it feels like, but I did care for you before you tore a hole in my heart. Maybe… maybe we could try again after the tournament. I…" Keira felt the hand ruffle her hair softly.
"I would love that, so much. Thank you. I do not deserve your tears. When the tournament is done, we'll talk more. I look forward to getting to know you again."
The man was finally allowed to walk away, a slight limp in his leg. Krillin stood by, watching respectfully as the old man left. He then looked towards Keira, noticing that she was still going through a lot. He slowly approached, trying to think of the best course of action. All he could do was gently place a hand on her back.
"Are you going to be okay?" questioned the bald boy. "That was one heck of a fight." The female saiyan rubbed tears from her eyes, looking away with a fake smile.
"My tail hurts from being slung around but I'll manage," informed the Saiyan. "I'll be ready in time to kick your butt in our match. Don't think I've forgotten my plan. In fact, you could say I've come well equipped and a bit… underdressed~." Krillin blushed as the girl slid the shirt of her gi up enough to reveal that the spandex she had worn to the qualifiers was absent.
She then brushed her tail against his chin, eliciting a purr from him. "Now, go make good on your words and win that match so I can mate you in that ring. If you lose, I won't forgive you. I could even see if Tarble-" She gasped as her tail was rapidly stroked, the hairs still being sensitive.
"I wonder if it's just the spandex you removed or if there's a little more underneath. Maybe when I win, I'll get to find out later. Hope you enjoy this." The boy then ran, Keira growling out in anger at the state he left her in. He chuckled as he heard her roar.
"KRILLIN! YOUR BALLS ARE MINE! DO YOU HEAR ME!? MINE!" The monk laughed, happy to have a victory in making HIS mate verbally claim him as his eyes shined a bit.
Inkaliber: That's the chapter everyone! Keira has won herself a spot in the semifinals with more matches to come! Of course, she has also garnered the attention of Tarble and now must face her instincts if Krillin loses to him. With more exciting matches on the way, this crazy ride is only just getting started. Any closing thoughts, Zem?
Zemrocku: I look forward to seeing how Keira will try to get away with the mating in the ring and also Krillin if he loses.
Inkaliber: We'll see what happens next time. Anyway, I gotta close out the chapter. I have to stop Nappa from trying to catch "Mewtwo" again.
What did you guys think about the story? Did you like the fight between Keira and Gohan? How will Keira deal with her divine power and these divine interlopers? Let us know down below what you think and I'll try to respond as soon as possible, the start of the next chapter at the latest. Until then, this is Inkaliber, signing out.
Nappa: HEY! Who hid all my Pokéballs!? THIS BETTER NOT BE AN INTERVENTION!