Inkaliber: Hello everyone! Welcome back to another exciting chapter in Keira's journey! Believe you me, there is loads of excitement to be had here. I can't say all of it will be fun for the characters, as stated by the title, but it'll be a nice read for the rest of us. Anything to add before we begin, Zem?
Deadpool: "I'm Blem! I call people insects and steal Boss's Mac and Cheese!"
Inkaliber:... Wayde not this again. Where is he?
Deadpool: "Who's Wayde? I'm Gem!"
Inkaliber: Dude, you aren't even saying the shorthand consistently.
Deadpool: OH WAIT! How about "I'm Dem, one of the stinky stink guys that…" He's right behind me, isn't he?
Zemrocku: You're stealing my thunder. Let's go camping Deadpool. You'll LOVE it.
Inkaliber: Later. Right now he needs to feed the Saibamen again. You can kick him into the room though. Put on the spiked boot. He actually hates it.
Deadpool: Don't tell him that!... AH BLEEEEP! MY KEISTER!
Inkaliber: Thank you. Now where was I? Oh right! Review time! Looks like there's only one but I'll answer regardless.
Fregreg- I'm glad you enjoyed it! He could have indeed shared some interesting details. The Twenty Second World Martial Arts Tournament hasn't even happened yet so it's not the Red Ribbon's time in the villainous spotlight just yet.
Inkaliber: With that one done and over with, let's begin! I don't own Dragon Ball in any form. I do own original characters, locations, and concepts unless stated otherwise. RIP Akira Toriyama-sensei. Hope you like the story too!
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."
February 12th, Age 750, Kame House
The sound of grunting filled the air of a construction site, the newer workers looking baffled by what they were witnessing. Keira and Krillin carried large steel beams over their heads as they pulled them across the site, Krillin struggling more as he huffed. The duo began putting the beams in place, working together to hammer the rivets into them. As soon as they were done, the welders were able to move in and start melting the pieces together. The supervisor smacked one of the men on the back, laughing at the sight.
"You rookies haven't seen anything yet!" cried the head worker. "Now GET BACK TO WORK! WE HAVE DEADLINES TO FILL BEFORE ELECTRIC CREW ARRIVES AND YOU'RE JUST STANDING AROUND!" The new hires gasped as they quickly went to work, not wanting to be upstaged by a bunch of teenagers. "Stupid fresh meat."
He walked through the site, keeping an eye on the martial arts duo. "It's like they've never seen kids actually work before." He growled as he watched Keira begin to set another beam down. "HEY! TWO INCHES TO THE LEFT!"
The saiyan girl immediately moved the beam as instructed, the supervisor nodding his head. "Good. The big boss is coming today so we can't afford any mistakes! Keep it up!" Keira grinned as she grabbed another beam, pacing her steps to try and get an accurate placement.
One of the newbies sent Keira a glare, having trouble moving a wooden post by himself. He noticed a loose pile of metal pipes, smirking as he subtly kicked the side. The pipes began to roll her way, the girl suddenly tossing the steel beam into the air as she gathered up every single pipe. She moved faster than the normal eye could see, slamming each pipe where it needed to go before catching the steel beam with a huff. The newbie gawked, his jaw nearly hitting the ground.
"How?" whispered the guy. "How did she do that?" One of the more seasoned workers placed his hand on the youth's shoulder, causing him to jerk as he slowly looked his way.
"Quite the 'accident' that almost was, huh?" questioned the man. "Do that again and you'll be finding another job. NOW MOVE IT!" The young man began huffing faster, sweat pouring down his face all the way. Krillin stood high above as he held a beam in place for the welders, laughing at the site.
"Like that could have actually got Keira," stated the boy. "She's the best." The boy then looked away from the scene, his eyes widening as he saw a crane swinging wildly. "WATCH IT!" He jumped before the machine could hit a beam across the site, the metal falling towards the unsuspecting Keira.
The metal nearly landed on her tail, only for Krillin to grunt as he got between it and the limb. He pushed with all his might, the force causing his muscles to ache. Keira turned as the boy threw the beam away, only for the crane to begin knocking over more metal. The girl jumped away as she growled, only to cry out as a tire ran over her tail. She immediately fell over, writhing in pain as the limb popped unnaturally.
Something snapped inside Krillin, the boy's eyes narrowing as he picked up a steel beam. He threw it at the crane, wedging the wheel of the vehicle to where it wouldn't move. A man in a suit jumped out of the vehicle, running away with a huff.
"STOP WORKING!" roared the supervisor. "We've got an injury! Get a team in here, stat! We're shutting down until a crew finds other mistakes.!" Krillin suddenly jumped rather far, as he chased down the man in the suit.
He landed on the individual, the man passing out from the force. The boy reared his fist back, only to take a deep breath as he calmed himself. He lifted the man over his shoulders, his eyes narrowed.
'Master Roshi would be angry if I attacked a civilian, even if he deserved it,' thought the boy. 'Still, he doesn't look like one of the workers. The police will have to get involved.' He dragged the man behind him, also carrying the suitcase he had. The man was placed in a chair, the supervisor sighing.
"This is the Structural Engineer. He was supposed to be in charge of the blueprints, but it looks like he decided to take a joyride in the crane." One of the workers walked over, a frown on his face.
"I know exactly what happened," growled the grizzled man. "He kept changing his mind on where something was supposed to go, eventually deciding he'd do it himself. I don't think he even has a license to operate heavy machinery. He just wouldn't listen." The engineer moaned, shaking his head.
"I've worked this job my entire life under my father," growled the young man. "Your crane is out of date." The worker growled, shaking his head.
"We never needed high end machinery to do our job. That girl is gonna need a trip to the hospital and it's your fault. Wait until the Director hears about this. We'll need to pay for damages and the hospital bill to avoid being sued." Krillin looked away, his mind racing.
'Crap!' thought the boy. 'If they send Keira to the hospital, they'll find out she's not human!' Master Roshi approached the group, a blank frown on his face.
"I already have a specialist on the way," stated the old man. "She'll be meeting me at my home so I'll be taking my students there. I can send you the bill from there. No need to make an even bigger scene." The supervisor sighed, nodding his head.
Krillin carried Keira in his arms, noticing how her tail was hanging. He frowned, realizing that it would drag at this point. He took a deep breath, squatting his legs a bit.
"NIMBUS!" The golden cloud spiraled down, the boy placing its master on it. "Don't let her tail drag on the ground, Nimbus. She's hurt and we need to get her home." He began guiding the cloud, Master Roshi following behind with a hidden smile.
'To think that runt who bartered his way into my training through lewd magazines could be so caring. He's only helping his case with her at this rate.' The group soon reached the building, Nimbus slowly lowering into the same space as her bed. It then quickly flew off, allowing Krillin to rub the girl's forehead. The sound of yelling came from downstairs, stomping footsteps making their way upstairs before Launch forcefully opened the door.
"Where is she?" growled the pink skinned girl. "Where's-" Krillin shushed her, gesturing towards the unconscious Saiyan. "Oh no." She was immediately at the girl's side, looking over the injured area.
The tail was bent at odd angles, showing that it wasn't in good shape. "She's going to be in so much pain when she wakes up. I don't know if we even have any pain medicine… What the heck were you knuckleheads thinking!" Krillin narrowed his eyes, a growl escaping his throat.
"Some nutjob engineer lost control of a crane," huffed the boy. "I tried to keep her from being hurt but-" He received a smack to the face, Launch narrowing her eyes at him.
"Tried isn't good enough! She'll be lucky to train after this!" Master Roshi looked into the room, a frown on his face.
"Now, now!" cried the old man. "Let's not argue amongst ourselves. If Keira had shown us anything, it's that she heals rather quickly. After the specialist looks her over, she'll be fine. I've known this doctor for many years and she can make miracles happen." Launch narrowed her eyes, Krillin taking deep breaths in order to calm his wrath.
"I don't wanna hear any excuses, Muten. If this happens again, I'll remind you what my Blonde side could do. Now, both of you, out until the doctor arrives." Krillin stood up, stomping out of the room as he clenched his fists. He slammed the front door open, spooking Turtle into his shell as he stomped his way into the forest.
The boy stood at the edge of the trees, taking a deep breath as he began to perform Tai Chi. He focused only on his breathing, moving his limbs exactly where they needed to go. Master Roshi was suddenly a few feet behind the boy, nodding his head with a sigh.
"That definitely could have gone better, my boy. I can say that I am proud of you for controlling yourself, Krillin. Gohan failed to do that in his training when a civilian passerby got injured. You shouldn't beat yourself up over this. Construction tends to be a process involving injuries so I expected something would happen. I had hoped neither of you would be the ones afflicted with an injury, of course." Krillin opened his eyes, still practicing his movements.
"You know, you could have warned us that this could happen," huffed the boy. "Launch thinks it's my fault now and I'm almost inclined to believe her. If I had been faster and stronger, I could have been more helpful. Now Keira's hurt and I can't do anything about it." Roshi shook his head, a frown hidden under his beard.
"Let Launch believe what she wants for now. We can explain everything to the doctor when she arrives. As for faster and stronger, my boy, the only thing you can do for that is to work harder in your training. You have plenty of room to grow stronger, especially in your awareness. To grow past the human limitations, you must always push yourself past your boundaries and breaking point."
Krillin took another deep breath, focusing his movements further as he practically meditated on the words of his master. The boy spent over an hour at the forest's edge, feeling droplets fall on his skin from the leaves. The more he focused, the more he began to feel the air flowing around him. He could hear the animals around him, the beasts of the woods continuing on with life while he took in the full experience of the atmosphere. His ear twitched as he heard groaning, his eyes widening as he dashed towards Kame House.
Keira slowly opened her eyes, feeling pained from doing just that. She slowly lifted her head, looking towards her bent tail. It hurt to even think about moving the limb, her body feeling numb. In spite of the numbing sensation, pain shot throughout her entire being. Launch forced her to lay her head back down, the teen shaking her head.
"Try not to move, Sweetheart," cooed the demonic teen. "I sent the stupid boys away so they wouldn't bother you." Keira's face went pale, the girl shaking her head.
"Wha… what happened?" questioned the Saiyan. "The last thing I remember, Krillin pushed me away from a falling beam and I had to dodge a bunch more. After that… I only remember a lot of pain… I wanna see Krillin." Launch shook her head, a frown on her face.
"Nope. You're not seeing anyone until the doctor gets here. You're on bed rest so that you don't excite that tail. I know you won't like this but you can't let your tail move while it's broken and you need to have the bones reset. Don't you dare try resetting them yourself or you'll regret it."
Keira shook her head, an upset look on her face. The door to the room bulged, the lock keeping in place. Launch frowned as she rolled her eyes, hearing Krillin's voice on the other side.
"Launch!" cried the boy. "I know she's up!" Keira smiled a bit, only to gasp as her tail twitched in pain.
"No visitors unless it's the doctor! You better stay out, acorn boy, before I get the gun!" Keira began to feel tears of pain and annoyance build up in her eyes, a growl escaping her throat. "I know pain isn't something that normally bothers you so you're annoyed, but you've got to get used to it. This can always happen again." Keira looked away, clenching her fists.
"It's stupid!" cried the Saiyan. "I can go all day with pain but my tail betrays me when it's hurt! I want my mate! I need him!" Launch placed her hands on her hips, looking down at the girl.
"Trust me, Keira. Your tail WILL move and unless you can control it you'll just hurt yourself more. Please trust me on this. I'm not trying to keep you separated. It's only until your tail is reset and in a cast."
Keira pulled the pillow from under her head as she hid her face in it, trying not to display how she was bawling like a little girl. The sounds only made Krillin more anxious on the other side, his fists clenching as he took a few steps back. "I'll get you some food so don't you dare move." Launch quickly exited the room, noticing how Krillin was curled up against the nearby wall with his hands on his head.
His breathing was erratic, his eyes wide as he tried to stay calm. He gasped as he was pulled by his ear, being forced downstairs by Launch. "Stop sulking and help me make her something to eat. She can't get better on an empty stomach." The boy narrowed his eyes, scratching at his lower back.
"For the record, I didn't cause her to be like this," huffed the boy. "I was trying to keep it from happening in the first place." Launch sighed, clenching her fists on a spoon she had in her hand.
"Krillin, I don't care HOW this happened. All I know is that she's in pain and you being in the same room as her makes her wag her tail, which is currently broken in five places as far as I can tell. There may be more I'm not seeing. Either make yourself useful or go whine about it like a bi… like a baby. You need to think about what she needs instead of what you two want."
The boy yanked a cabinet door open, his strength controlled rather well. He dropped some ingredients on the counter before slamming his fist down on a potato. It split into even parts, the boy beginning to skin it. "What do you think you're doing?" The boy shot a controlled glare at the demonic girl.
"What does it look like? I'm making her favorite foods. If I can't be in there I can at least make sure she's actually getting the things she likes. Stop judging me for once and pass me a knife please." The older teen hid a smirk as she passed him the requested blade, the boy chopping so fast that the onions flew rapidly into the pot.
Not a word was stated as Krillin went to work, even ignoring the itch in his lower back as he narrowed his eyes. Two hours went by as the boy placed his focus entirely on the meal before him, blood from the meat he was cutting splattered on his face. Several large plates were laid out, foods of different varieties all spread out. "There. Guess I'll make myself vacant if this is all I'm good for right now." Launch still smiled at him, noticing how tense the boy was.
"Don't be so upset, Krillin. I don't like keeping you two separate but to be an adult means being responsible." The boy looked back, still having a glare in his eyes.
"You're not an adult. Even if you are a thousand or something year old demon spawn, you're still a kid just like us." The girl didn't let up her smile as she pointed towards the ceiling.
"I'm almost seventeen, meaning I'll be an adult in a year and a half. That means I have to take the initiative to be responsible." The boy took deep breaths as he stepped towards the front door, placing his hand on the knob.
"Just let me know when I can actually see her again. I can't have my scent in the house or else she'll come running for me. Might as well stay out, seeing as all I ever do is mess up until someone kicks my butt." The boy slammed the door behind him, making his way back to the forest. He sat in a meditative stance, feeling the itch in his lower back as he growled.
He scratched at the area, shaking his head. "I haven't even gotten the transformation potion yet and I'm already itching." He pulled his shirt off, sighing in relief. He looked back, humming to himself. "I thought I waxed this four days ago. How is it already growing back this much?"
He shook his head, sighing as he closed his eyes. "Maybe this is some guy hormones or something. I really need to read more biology." He took a deep breath, trying to find the pace he needed for his mediation. He finally found the trance he needed, feeling the air over his body once again.
Master Roshi walked by, humming as he noticed his student. He slowly picked up a rock, popping it in his hand. He threw it towards the boy, watching intently to see what would happen. Krillin's head actually weaved out of the way, though it was a rather close scrape. Master Roshi nodded before repeating the process, his student moving more and more each time.
'Good,' thought the old man. 'Your growing fast for your age. I know Gohan wasn't this fast of a learner and I haven't even begun teaching you this yet. That dedication… perhaps my next set of students should also be a boy and a girl. I'll need to be more strict with the rules but I think I like this dynamic.'
The sound of a hovering device filled the air, the old man humming as he looked up. A flying vehicle lowered to the ground, a red-headed woman in a doctor's uniform stepping out. "Ah! Doctor Mito! So nice to see you again." The woman rolled her eyes, a small smile on her face.
"Roshi, we both know what you really miss about me," sighed the woman. "Where's the patient?" The old man chuckled as he led the doctor inside, Krillin still meditating as he didn't even notice the arrival.
"You, my dear, haven't aged a day since we met. You are quite lovely, Lady Mito, and I-" Roshi gasped as he received a punch to his head, the woman laughing as she shook her head.
"The patient, Roshi. If all you called me for was to flirt then I'll have to charge double." The old man gestured towards the stairs, the woman making her way up. Keira watched as the door opened, the woman being allowed in by Launch. "Now then, everything will be alright young lady."
Mito gently picked up the Saiyan's tail, humming as she carefully examined it. "Five major breaks and twelve fractured segments. Tell me what happened. The skin feels rather durable so there must have been a lot of force applied." Roshi poked his head in, a serious frown on his face.
"A vehicle ran over tail while she was dodging several falling beams of metal. An accident in the construction zone I told you about. The fool responsible is facing serious consequences and the supervisor has offered to pay for the damages." The woman hummed as she continued to examine the monkey girl's tail, making sure not to bother it. She finished her application of slight pressure as she nodded her head.
"I count forty or more segments in her tail. The structure of her muscles and the bones suggest that it's normally able to curl up, so it's not as severe as a broken arm or leg would be. It'll need a cast regardless so that it can heal properly. I brought my equipment so I can begin the operation immediately." She set a suitcase down, Keira gulping at the sight of it.
Outside, Krillin continued to meditate as the air around him became more focused. The more his mind zoned in on himself, the more he heard a turmoil inside himself. He placed his hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat increase. He could almost hear something in his mind, only for it to subside. He took a deep breath as he went back to focusing, his fists clenched as he lowered his head.
Back inside the house, Lady Mito began to apply a paste to Keira's tail. The saiyan was obviously not a fan of it, her hands clenching as her body screamed for her to move away. The doctor nodded her head before taking off her gloves, beginning to put her equipment away. "There. Was that so bad?"
The woman stood up, brushing off her lab coat a bit. "You shouldn't move your tail until the cast is hardened, young lady. If you don't let it heal properly, I'll have to break it so that it will. I'll be back in about a week to see how well it has healed. Roshi, I'm sure you know what to do with the bill and it's not starting up a tab." The old man of the house chuckled as he received the long paper, nodding his head.
"Trust me, I'll get this to the construction team once her cast has hardened," stated Roshi. "I can see her deciding to move around sooner if I end up leaving, especially since she wants to see her little boyfriend so much." Doctor Mito chuckled as she shook her head, a smirk on her face.
"I see. In any case, she can train as usual so long as she doesn't move her tail. I would advise keeping her off exercises that could force her to move it. Being a martial artist, I'm sure you have alternatives ready. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another client in a few hours."
The woman made her way out of the room, Keira moaning in displeasure from the paste on her tail. She was made to lay in bed for the rest of the day, food and water being provided for her. As the day began to near its end, Krillin could still be found meditating in the setting sunlight. Launch approached, a concerned look on her face. She poked him in the head, trying to get his attention.
"Krillin?" questioned the girl. The boy's eyes began to flutter open, the focus in them growing as the tiefling girl giggled. "You could have visited Keira an hour ago. What are you still doing out here?" Krillin rubbed his head, humming to himself.
"I must have been in deep meditation," stated the boy. "I didn't even hear the doctor get here. What did she say? Is Keira gonna be alright?" Launch held her hands behind her back, a small smile on her face.
"She'll be in the cast for a week, maybe more if she ends up moving her tail wrong or if it doesn't heal properly. She said she'd have to break it so that it'll heal properly if nothing changes. She can still train but Master Roshi will have to put her on alternative exercises." Krillin stood up, stretching as he popped his back. 'He had to be sleeping, right? I don't think anyone can meditate through a loud engine like that.'
The boy slowly approached the front door, scratching at the hair on his lower back. He had his robe in his arm as he walked inside, looking around to see if Keira was in the living area. Not seeing any signs of her, he threw his robe back on before going upstairs. He carefully opened the door to the girl's room, hearing the sound of sniffling inside. He closed the door just as quietly as he had opened it, knowing better than to let Keira catch him seeing her in a vulnerable state.
He waited for a moment before knocking on the door, hearing a gasp on the other side. The sound of a sleeve rubbing against a face caused him to smile, the boy knowing he made the right call. He had his hand on the doorknob as he heard a cleared throat ring through the air.
"Come in!" cried the voice of Keira. Krillin slowly opened the door, watching as the monkey girl's face lit up. "KRILLIN! Get in here before Launch kicks you out again!" The boy chuckled as he carefully sat on the side of the bed her tail wasn't on, looking her in the eye.
"She's the one who said I could visit so I should be fine," revealed the boy. "So long as you don't move that tail of yours, there's nothing stopping me from seeing you now. So, how's my monkey doing? You're not too bored are you?" Keira flopped back onto the bed, her arms spread out.
"I'm SUPER bored. They made me lay down all day and I don't like it. Now I can't even do the fun training like dodging bees or swimming away from the hungry sharks. I gotta do some 'Al turn ateive' crap." Krillin chuckled as he shook his head, a smirk on his face.
"You know, most girls would actually be terrified to do those exercises." He noticed the pout on the girl's face, humming as he rubbed his chin. "Well, if you're going to sulk then I'll just grab the scouter. I thought we could read something together, maybe even one of your little books, but-" Keira immediately sat up, her hands on his shoulders.
"You can't read those! They're private! No boys allowed! It's against the rules!" Krillin laughed boisterously, holding a hand to his forehead.
"Well then we can just read together. I'm sure there's something not so private that you'd love to read. I can even try to make funny voices if it's a goofy one. Anything to help you feel better." Keira had a confused look on her face, her head tilted.
"Saiyans don't really do anything goofy or silly. That's only human stuff." Krillin hummed, rubbing his chin.
"Well… I guess there's more history books we could read. I bet you haven't touched everything yet. Let's see…" He hummed as he looked through the chips, finding one that looked out of place.
He pulled it out, looking it over. "This one looks like it was crudely put together. I wonder if someone made this sooner than the rest. Let's have a look." He put the Scouter on his ear before scooting next to the Saiyan girl, waiting for the words to appear.
He narrowed his eyes, trying to get a better look. "'King Sadala: The Founding Saiyan. In the times of old, when we evolved from Oozaru, the Saiyans were scattered tribes. All tribes fought against the terror that was the Thunderjaw: the Apex Predator of Planet Sadala. In those days, Saiyans survived in small tribes of two mating pairs and their children.'" Keira grinned, leaning against Krillin.
"Like us! You're not a Saiyan but we're starting our own tribe at some point." Krillin smirked back at the girl, scratching her head to make her sigh.
"'That was until the day the first Great King united us. With our greater numbers, we were slowly able to hold territories and battle back young Thunderjaws. We created the six great Clans: The Lords of the Ice Mountains, the Beasts of the Deserts, the Masters of the Great Plains, the Coastal Tribes, the Volcanic Riders, and the Wandering Clan of the Forests. Together, the clans and the tribes that followed them became the masters of Sadala. For many generations the kings of Sadala led the Saiyan Race into our age of fire… but then the Tuffles came.'"
The boy narrowed his eyes further, subconsciously committing the name of the enemy to memory. "'They were far more advanced than anything the Saiyans were prepared for, annexing our kingdom and enslaving our people. Almost everything to do with our history was scrapped, the Tuffles turning those of us they found attractive into pets. Some Saiyans were used for sport to face the animals of our own planet, alone.'"
He heard Keira growl beside him, knowing better than to stop at this point. "'We were close to extinction until Yamoshi was born. He was a natural warrior, able to fight any Tuffle. They tried to break him, to make him bend to his knees, but they made the mistake of putting his own sister to death. That day, he became the Golden Oozaru: the Super Saiyan, the Hero of the Saiyan Race.'"
He felt Keira's body purr beside him, his own interest being peaked as he continued. "'For many weeks he strived to free us and we took back what was lost. Yamoshi began to lose himself, however, as his power became too much for even himself to bear. We gathered into the last ship, hundreds of children with barely twenty adults that were still alive. We left Sadala behind as our home world was destroyed by Yamoshi's power.'"
Krillin gulped, a little spooked by the described power. "'The Saiyans found the planet of Namek. We were looked after without asking. They fed us the fish of their rivers and gathered great spheres of power. They called…' DRAGON BALLS!?" Keira blinked, her eyes being rather wide.
"Wait," requested the girl. "There are Dragon Balls on other planets? Keep reading! What does it say next!?" Krillin took a deep breath, nodding his head before continuing.
"'With them, three wishes were made. The first helped us to remember the lost history of our ancestors. The second wish was to find a new home for us, back then named Planet Niono after our new King was chosen. The final wish sent us there, giving us a chance to start a new history with knowledge of the past. In the modern day, our world is known as Planet Vegeta.'"
The boy tried to make the data chip go further, only for it to gently pop out. "And that's the end of the chip. Someone took a lot of time to make this. It's like it's not supposed to be known in the first place." Keira looked towards the bed, hugging her legs to her stomach.
"But… why would our history be left out? That doesn't make any sense." Krillin rubbed her back, trying to help her relax.
"We'll figure this out. I bet there are more hidden history chips. We just have to look for them. Right now, however, someone's stomach should be rumbling right about…" No sooner than the boy paused, the Saiyan girl's stomach erupted in a loud growl
Keira giggled as she rubbed the back of her head, surprised that she was called out so easily. "I'll look at making you another feast like I did earlier today. Keep that tail from moving too much. I shouldn't be long, especially if Launch decides to help out." The boy hopped off the bed, making his way downstairs as he felt Keira's eyes on the back of his head.
As soon as he was out of sight, she grabbed the hologram disk from nearby. She twisted it to where it would show off an image of her mother, the woman wearing the outfit she based her dress armor on. She let loose a deep sigh, staring into the eyes of the image.
"Hi Momma. Been a while since I talked to you, even if you're just a hologram thingy. I'm learning about who I am each and every day… Why do we always get bullied? We're supposed to be super strong warriors, but some guys that sound like they're one letter away from being food were able to play with us like toys."
She laid down on her stomach, still looking at the image of her mother. "I wish you and Papa were here, 'Ditz too. I miss our family, but I'm gonna make my own soon. Krillin and I mate a lot so we'll have a baby just like you had me and Raditz. I hope any girls end up as pretty as you are."
The girl eventually yawned, lowering her head as she began to take a nap. "Krillin better get that food soon. I'm hungry." She closed her eyes, happily waiting for the promised meal.
Krillin hummed as he continued to work on the meal, having it to where he could almost call it done. He moved as fast as possible while still being careful not to drop anything. As soon as he brought the last plate to the table, Master Roshi cleared his throat.
"Krillin," greeted the master in a serious tone. "A word." The boy narrowed his eyes, slowly walking over.
"Yes, Master," greeted the boy. "Everything alright?" The old man's response was to pull out a small vial, a glowing blue liquid inside it.
"I have finished the transformative potion. It will be a rather painful procedure, so it would be best to take it overnight so the pain will be lessened." The boy carefully took the vial, holding it in his hands. "By the way, you owe me a hundred million zeni." Krillin nearly dropped the glass before catching it, his eyes widening.
"A HUNDRED MILLION ZENI!? WHERE AM I SUPPOSED TO FIND THAT KIND OF MONEY!?" The master pointed towards the boy, his mouth hanging open.
"What? Did you think that was for free? You don't have to pay for it all at once, boy! As long as it gets to me eventually, I won't have to beat the lesson into your head!" Krillin gulped, slowly nodding his head.
He actually hid his tension well when he brought the food to Keira, letting the girl gobble it all up before he excused himself for the night. The boy eventually sat down on his sleeping mat, looking at the potion again. He sighed as he shook his head.
"All that money for something this small… Keira's worth it. I'll work all my life if I can make this better for her. Maybe I shouldn't tell her until after the tail comes in though. Not like I'll wake up the next morning with it as it is watered down."
He popped open the top, a bit of blue mist flying into his nose. The liquid turned orange in color, a sight that didn't bode well in his mind. "Well… down the hatch." He was thankful for his lack of a nose as he downed the liquid, only to hum as he popped his lips a few times. "That wasn't so bad. I-"
His body seized up as he fell back on the mat, the bite mark on his neck glowing as he silently screamed. Flashes of a massive creature popped into his mind before he slowly lost consciousness, his body still jittering. A loud roar echoed throughout the night, going unnoticed and unchallenged.
The Next Day
Krillin growled as his eyes scrunched up, a sense of exhaustion hitting him. He gritted his teeth, feeling something poke against the inside of his mouth. He stretched on his side, his back bending further than he was normally used to. The moment he heard a pop, energy suddenly rushed through him. The boy pushed himself up off the mat, feeling a need to stretch more as he pulled his arms back. He scratched at the back of his head as he felt an itch, only to hum as something soft covered his hand.
"What the…" began the boy. He sluggishly made his way upstairs, each step feeling a little off. He leaned against the wall right outside the bathroom, huffing as he shook his head. "Why does my body feel heavier? What's going on?"
He pushed his way into the bathroom, looking down at the sink as he braced himself against the counter. "I… was the sink always this short?" The boy slowly looked towards the mirror, yellow eyes and a full head of hair looking back at him. He screamed as he fell backwards, falling into the bathtub. He gasped in extreme pain as he landed on something, rolling over to try and stand up.
He waved his arms as he tried to regain balance, feeling his body almost naturally do so. He looked around, his eyes wide as saucers. "Why does everything look smaller? Why do I have hair? What happened to my eyes? And what the heck is this thing attached to my butt?"
He gently grabbed at the offending object, slowly pulling it into view. His eyes proved they could open even wider as he saw a black tail with red stripes spiraling around it and a black tuft at the end. "It… it worked. It actually worked."
The boy took a deep breath, nodding his head. "Right. I'm gonna go back to the mirror and not freak out this time." He slowly walked over to the mirror, looking himself over as he noticed the new height he stood at. He flexed his arms, chuckling a bit.
He then did a power flex, waving his eyebrows. "Hey. I look pretty good… why is my whole body itchy?" He began to remove his robe, surprised by how it seemed to irritate him more. As soon as it was off, he saw that his entire torso save for his stomach and chest had the same fur as his tail.
He screamed as he fell back again, Launch looking up from where she was making coffee downstairs. She looked like she was about to go upstairs, only to hear a chuckle nearby. Master Roshi walked into the room, shaking his head.
"Don't worry, Launch," stated the old man. "He's just getting his bearings." The master took a deep breath as he cupped his hands in front of his mouth. "TIME FOR TRAINING, KRILLIN! YOU'RE PULLING DOUBLE FOR KEIRA!" The monkey girl ran down the steps, growling as her tail was forced to be straight.
"I don't need him to do anything for me!" cried Keira. She almost fell down the stairs, grabbing the railing to keep herself up. "I can train by myself! I only need him for sparring!" Master Roshi shook his head, chuckling under his breath.
'Children. She doesn't realize just how off her balance will be for a while.' Keira eventually reached the bottom of the steps, the master nodding his head. "You and Krillin are going to have an interesting few days. I think now's a good time to up the weights of your turtle shells." Keira grinned as she nodded her head, only to be spooked by the sound of a door slamming.
"I'M COMING!" roared the voice of Krillin. The boy began running down the stairs, only to trip and fall as he began rolling like a ball. Master Roshi pulled Keira out of the way as the boy crashed into the wall, groaning in pain. "Why is my balance so off right now?" He fell on his side, his tail flopping for Keira to see.
"KRILLIN!?" cried the Saiyan. "YOU HAVE A TAIL!?" The boy got onto his hands and knees, chuckling nervously as Master Roshi adjusted his glasses.
"Did you really think everything would be the same when you drank that potion, boy?" questioned the old man. "You need to relearn how to walk now that you have that tail. From the looks of you, it seems I may have made that potion stronger than I thought it would be." Krillin eventually stood to his feet, Keira purring as she saw his bare chest. He actually stood a foot taller than her, the dynamic shift causing the hairy boy to chuckle again.
"Um… surprise," stated the boy. "I know it's a bad time but I read how Saiyans show their emotions through connecting tails so… Yeah. Is… is this okay?" Keira began to grin, the purr in her throat growing stronger.
"Is it okay?" questioned the Saiyan. "When my tail's all better, you and I will be exploring every inch of you." The boy blushed, his own throat purring as Master Roshi chuckled in a perverted manner. Launch popped a rolling pin in her hands, making him sweat all over his head. He cleared his throat as he sent a hidden side eye towards the couple.
"Don't you two have some training to do?" questioned the master. "Get to it! Oh, and Krillin? Remember: a hundred million zeni." The boy sighed, leaning forward.
"Yes Master. Come on, Keira." The monkey girl followed behind him, her eyes on his tail the entire time. The moment they began putting on the heavier shells, Krillin had to wave his arms a bit. He squatted a few times, trying to get a better sense of himself. Keira frowned at the sight, shaking her head.
"Not like that, Krillin," denied the girl. "Your tail is supposed to help you balance. You're just letting it stay still. Let it move freely as you walk." Krillin hummed at this, performing squats as the limb flowed around a bit.
"It's a lot harder than it looks. How do you do this?" Keira shrugged at this, her own tail being stuck straight.
"I just do. I've had mine all my life so it's just natural." The boy hummed looking towards the striped limb.
"Just natural, hmm? So I basically have to treat it like a baby learning to balance to walk. It's simple but not so easy in practice. Maybe it's somewhat like riding a bike, only I have to let it move with me." He attempted a walk, finding that the wavering of his steps had lessened. Keira giggled at him, shaking her head.
"Now you're walking funny! Walk more!" Krillin rolled his eyes as he shook his head, focusing more on straightening his stride and letting his tail move freely. This became a bit easier when they began the milk jog, having to pay extra attention during the entire training session. He hadn't even noticed that he was beginning to pull ahead of Keira, the girl having to deal with her own wobbling steps.
The more they traveled, the easier things got on both of them. They had trouble in the river section, Keira finding it harder to move. She gasped as she began to lose her footing, only for a striped tail to wrap around her wrist.
"Ain't this familiar? First day of training, you did the same for me. Glad I can return the favor." Keira puffed out her cheeks, her pride taking a hit. They continued as usual, the monkey girl trying to pull ahead of her mate as he actually began to skip again.
"NOT FAIR! STUPID TAIL AND THE STUPID CAST!" The run eventually stopped, Keira stomping back and forth with her arms crossed. "Stupid vehicles with their stupid tires. Stupid steel beams and stupid crane drivers."
She roared as she punched open air, sparks forming in her eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to get a handle on her rage as the lightning stopped. "Just you wait, Krillin. Once this thing is off me, I'll be on top again. Then I'll show you who's really the best."
Training continued as scheduled from there, save for Keira being made to do the alternatives Roshi had planned for her. Little by little the day went by, the girl unknowingly growing stronger simply from having the added weight on her body. Not to mention her tail injury was making things more interesting as she felt the muscles becoming tougher. Eventually the day finally neared a close, the girl landing on her side as she took deep breaths. Krillin sat beside her, his tail wagging as he also gasped for air.
"Wow. Master Roshi wasn't kidding about upping the training, huh? If I didn't know about the increased weight, I would have thought I had lapsed or something. Can't start slacking or else I can't give you my best in the tournament." Keira finally smirked for the first time since the training began, only for the duo to look up as they heard an engine running.
A plane rolled onto the grass in front of them, a logo with two "C"s in it on the side. "Is that…?" Master Roshi approached, letting loose a sigh.
"That girl," growled the old man. "I told her to wait for the tournament like all the others." Bulma popped out from the vehicle while wearing a red bikini top under a wool jacket, a pair of shorts, and brown sandals. The master's tune changed at the sight, blood trickling from his nose.
"Hey guys!" cheered the genius as she slid the jacket off. "You would not believe the weather on the way here. It's snowing in West City, probably the last snow for the northern hemisphere this year. That means up north, Keira." The monkey girl in question lowered her hand from where it had been raised, Master Roshi nodding his head towards the teen.
"Sounds like a good time," stated the man. "It's been a while since I had a nice snow day." Bulma rolled her eyes, an annoyed frown on her face.
"Well maybe if you lived with the rest of the normal people, you'd see some snow now and then. Not like you're some kind of predator or something." Roshi chuckled at this, shaking his head.
"I'll be fine in more humid environments. I prefer to stay away from tornadoes and earthquakes. I can fight any tsunamis that come my way, but tornadoes and earthquakes are not as easy. I can visit if I ever want a snow day." Bulma crossed her arms under her chest, smirking knowingly.
"Somehow I'm not surprised to hear you say that. You just want to stay here so you can ogle bikini girls." The master chuckled as he held his gut.
"You bet your fine ass I do! Of course, ya can't beat the view I have right now. Maybe you can show off a little more for-" Roshi cried out as he received a frying pan to the head, the genius shaking her head as she sighed. She opened her eyes, only to gasp at the sight of Keira's tail.'
"KEIRA! YOUR TAIL! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU!? I SWEAR IF SOME CREEP ACTUALLY HURT YOU-" The saiyan huffed, looking towards the limb.
"Yeah," sighed Keira. "A truck ran over it while I was dodging steel beams that were knocked over. I don't like things with big tires anymore. The doctor is supposed to come back in a few days." Bulma narrowed her eyes, clenching her fists.
"Why would people still be using tire vehicles? Dad made flying ones to avoid things like this." Master Roshi slowly stood up, shaking his head.
"Did you not ride around in a mobile home at Fire Mountain, young lady? Not everyone can afford the fancy new technology." Bulma frowned, crossing her arms.
"The mobile home was Oolong's. I'm surprised he can afford the beer he chugs." Krillin rolled his eyes, putting his hands on his hips.
"Not everyone can be richy-rich, ya know?" stated the boy. "Heck, I'm currently a hundred million zeni in debt to Master Roshi." Bulma looked towards the boy, freezing up as she noticed his appearance.
"I… is that a tail? Why are you covered in fur and look like a cover guy for some magazine?" Master Roshi rubbed his head, feeling the whelp from where he was hit.
"Cooked up the potion myself. It wasn't cheap to make. He's lucky as it would normally cost five hundred million to make. I was feeling rather generous when I made it." Krillin jerked back at the mention of the true price, sweat coating his body as his tail darted between his legs. Bulma rolled her eyes, an annoyed look on her face.
"That's not much at all. I spend that much in a month." Krillin looked away, clicking his teeth.
"Show off," huffed the boy. "I wouldn't even know what to do with that much cash." Bulma smiled as she pulled a capsule out, waving it in the air.
"I can give you a little job if you want money, but we can talk about that later if you really need it. So Keira, I actually came because I wanted to bring you something. By looking at the broken scouter and comparing it to the one you have, as well as studying that pod you lent me, I was able to throw this little beauty together." She pulled out what looked like a headset, an arm with a screen on it. The girl held her hands together, looking rather worried.
"Is the Attack Ball okay?" questioned the Saiyan girl. "I just learned that's what it's called." Bulma waved her free hand, nodding her head.
"It's fine! I made sure to keep track of every single part and put it back together how it originally was. I think I could improve on Daddy's hover tech with the knowledge I gathered from it. He's even studying it himself in hopes of recreating one with Earth tech. He'll have a prototype of it reverse engineered by the time the Tournament's over depending on how many drinking parties his colleagues pull him into."
The genius grinned as she kept her eyes closed, the device still in her hands. "Anyway, the old scouter you were using had different parts than the new one you found, very old looking parts. That told me that the tech was outdated, but I was able to work around that. The gear in your scouter looked pretty old too, but I was able to improve on both models. It wasn't easy to translate the code, but a genius like myself isn't deterred by unknown programming languages." Krillin shifted towards Keira, a deadpan look on his face.
"Wow," sighed the bald monk. "She really likes to prop herself up, huh?" Keira giggled at this, watching as Bulma sent Krillin the stink eye.
"ANYWAY, if my data is correct I should be able to get you in touch with your brother. I couldn't replicate the battery in your scouter so that's the only weakness in my design. Either way, I can transfer the code from your old scouter to your current scouter using my own design to make it work." Keira grinned at this, the idea of hearing her brother again causing her to bounce up and down on the balls of her feet. She blitzed so fast there was a slight breeze as she ran around the room while cheering.
Bulma had the broken scouter, Keira's scouter, and her own machine sat around each other as she quickly went to work. Sweat began to pour down the genius's brow as she turned her device on speaker mode, clearing her throat as Keira peeked over her shoulder. "Testing, testing. Paging Radish… Did I say it right?" Keira crossed her arms as she growled, only for the static to be interrupted by a growl.
"Who is this?" questioned a gruff voice. "How did you get this code?" Bulma grinned as she stood up, brushing off her hands.
"I'm a genius among men and women. Go for it." Keira jerked the device off the table, grinning as she held it close to her.
"'DITZ!" cheered the monkey girl. "Bulma made a new scouter and transferred the code stuff I don't understand! It looks funny but it works!" Bulma growled at this, her fist shaking at the idea that her design looked weird. A boisterous laugh was heard on the other side of the line.
"So, the human woman actually made a working scouter," stated the teen boy. "I will admit I am impressed. Most primitive races can't even understand the basics of advanced technology." Keira giggled at her brother's words, her tail wagging in excitement. Bulma leaned over the monkey girl's shoulder as she growled.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING PRIMITIVES!?" cried the genius. "I just advanced humanity by hundreds of years in only a few months, and you have the nerve to bash my skills!?" The brother of Keira laughed again, causing Bulma to clench her fist again.
"So you did. You're likely the first to accomplish such a thing this quickly." Bulma put her hands on her hips, pushing her chest out a bit in pride.
"Enough chatting with Bulma!" cried Keira. "There's so much I gotta tell ya, 'Ditz! I started learning to control the Oozaru thing! I'm now trying to change on nights that don't have a full moon, and I'm so close to making it work! I-" She heard a growl on the other side, causing her to stop.
"SLOW DOWN! You can change into an Oozaru without the full moon!? It should be impossible for a Saiyan to do such a thing! We have always relied on the full moon for our transformation." Keira grinned at this, putting a free hand on her hip as her tail wagged.
"I focused on the Blutz Waves and made myself change. I had to meditate a lot to control the form first but once I could I started trying to draw in the Blutz Waves each night. I can do it at will now but I can't move around without changing back." Krillin grinned at the pride Keira had in her eyes, unsure why he could see it better as he heard Raditz laugh on the other side.
"What I wouldn't give to see the look on Prince Vegeta's face if you turned without a full moon! It would be hilarious! Perhaps I should test your methods for myself. In any case, you'll have to explain what happened since the last time we made contact." Keira grinned, having to keep her tail from wagging as she instead turned her hips.
"Right! The scouter broke that night. So, we found my Attack Ball. It wasn't destroyed like Gran- Gohan said it was. We found all my stuff in it, including a bunch of data chips on Saiyan life as well as some fruits that I've been growing behind Kame House. Krillin's been helping me tend to the fruits." She heard a hum on the other side, along with the sound of smacking lips.
"I assume you've begun growing Paopon, given that they were always your favorite. It's been forever since I've had proper food that filled me after eating it." Keira grinned at this, her head tilted.
"Yep~! They should be fully grown in a few more months!" She heard a sigh of happiness on the other end.
"With the fruit, alongside my archive of animal DNA zygotes, we can clone them to create a proper ecosystem for our people. At least… for those who are left." Keira blinked at this, her tail drooping a bit.
"Wha-what do you mean? You make it sound like there's not a lot of us." The room was silent for a moment, only for an annoyed huff to sound off from the other side.
"Keira, as far as I'm aware, you are the only female Saiyan I have heard or seen in eight years. You may very well be the last female of our kind." The monkey girl slowly began to shake, her tail nearly touching the floor.
"Bu-but what about Momma? She… she said-" A sigh interrupted her, Krillin clenching his fist as his eyes narrowed.
"Keira, I wish I could have told you this in person. Mother and Father were on Planet Vegeta when it was hit by the meteor. Personally, I am not entirely sure it was a meteor that caused the destruction of our planet. Saiyans normally would have destroyed such a thing before it could make landfall but regardless it happened. I was sent away months before it happened, doing my duty as part of Prince Vegeta's vanguard. I'm sorry, but we are the last of our bloodline." Keira felt her whole world nearly shatter, her tail threatening to move as it itched.
"Momma… she said they'd come for me. She told me not to forget… but she's not even here anymore. I only just started remembering them, but they were already gone. I-" She looked down as sparks began to come from her eyes, Krillin holding her
"Keira, listen to me," stated the bald boy. "Take deep breaths. I know you're hurting and your pain is valid, but you have to remain strong. I'll be right here with you, whatever you want me to do." The monkey girl took deep breaths, her eyes narrowing as she growled.
"...I'm bringing them back." Bulma and Roshi jerked, their eyes widening in shock. Krillin tilted his head, confused by the statement.
"What? Honey, I need some context here." The monkey girl looked towards her mate, red lightning beginning to zap from her eyes.
"I'll use the Dragon Balls to bring them back. Planet Vegeta, Momma, Daddy… Everyone." Bulma immediately began moving, a frown on her face. Krillin didn't know what to do as he slowly moved the headset back.
"Dragon Balls!? YOU FOUND-" Bulma chuckled nervously as she ripped the device out of Krillin's hands, tapping wildly at the device.
"LOOK AT THE TIME!" cried the genius. "BATTERY'S ALMOST DEAD! GOTTA GO! BYE!" A loud growl was heard on the other side as she finally located the button.
"WOMAN, I SWEAR IF YOU-!" The girl pushed the button hard, ending the transmission. She then looked towards Keira, receiving a glare in return.
"Keira, listen to me. You can't just say things like that, especially since we don't even know if the Dragon Balls can bring back an entire planet. That's not even considering the wish to bring back an entire race. Don't get your hopes up." The monkey girl growled, stomping her foot in anger.
"THEN I'LL FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!" cried the Saiyan. Tears began to roll down her face as she grabbed the sides of her head. "It has to… I have to see them. I don't wanna be the last! I-I WANT MY MOMMA!" Krillin was immediately by her side, gritting his teeth as a bit of red lightning zipped from her eyes and shocked his teeth.
"Keira, breathe," stated the boy. "We can figure this out, but you need to breathe." He risked more pain as he rubbed his mate's shoulders, the girl's teeth gritting together. She pushed past Bulma, running for her room with no explanation. Master Roshi sighed, a small frown on his face.
"Well, that went swell," huffed the old man with a tone of sarcasm. "You, my dear Bulma, have a knack for upsetting Keira. Perhaps you should have waited until the tournament like I told you and the others before reuniting with her. Now was not the best of times to bring this mess into her life." The genius shook her head in denial.
"How was I supposed to know her parents are dead!?" cried Bulma. "I just wanted to help her reconnect with her brother! Is that such a bad thing! Besides, I'm just being realistic about the Dragon Balls. We don't know what Shenron can do or if he will do it at all."
The girl placed a hand on her chest, her eyes still narrowed. "I didn't know he'd bring up something that serious after months of no contact. We also don't know if anyone could have been listening in, and I personally don't want an alien armada poised to attack the Earth or something. Do you even realize how terrifying that would be, to have our own lives uprooted because someone in space learned about magical wishing orbs?" Roshi shook his head in denial, a frown on his face.
"I doubt aliens would be focused on Earth when there are likely bigger fights to be had, but you have a point. We have no clue what the Dragon can do." Krillin narrowed his eyes, clenching his fists.
"I haven't heard a lot about the Dragonballs, but it wouldn't hurt to try. We just find them and-" Bulma shook her head, glaring at the boy.
"It doesn't matter anyway. The Dragon Balls were already used and won't be active for another seven months." The bald monk immediately shook his head in denial.
"Even then, that didn't give you the right to cut off the call. How would you like it if you hadn't heard from your family for months and someone cut that off too." The bluenette narrowed her eyes, not liking the anger directed at her.
"Look, Buster, Keira's not in the best state of mind to call anyone. When she's calmed down we can talk with her about this. If she's done with this little tirade, then we can call Raditz back. I'm a girl, so I think I know girl problems more than a stupid little boy." Krillin clenched his fists, a growl escaping his throat.
"This 'stupid little boy' has been living with Keira and learning more about her than some spoiled daddy's girl could ever understand. You could have handled that so much better than you did, especially since she's a Saiyan and not a human!" Bulma looked towards Launch, a growl escaping her own throat."
"Back me up, Launch. He's not getting it at all." The pink skinned girl stood up, a frown on her face.
"While I agree that cutting off Raditz wasn't the nicest thing to do, Keira does need time to let herself think," added the changing girl. "You saw how she reacted to hearing her parents being gone. While I hated my parents, I don't wish them to be dead. I would mourn them because I did love them at one point, remembering the good along with the bad." Krillin looked down, a low growl escaping his throat.
"I'm going outside. I can't believe you two." He stomped out, hearing the sound of some capsules being active. The boy took a deep breath before kicking at the air, trying to deal with his anger without exploding on anyone. He spun as he punched at open air, Master Roshi being on the other side of the air.
"Krillin, I understand that you are upset but the ladies are correct," stated the master. The boy turned around, kicking at the air more as he let the man continue. "Keira needs to grieve as she has never had to deal with such sorrow before. She's focusing on the one thing she can think of to fix her problems. She shouldn't make the Dragonballs her solution to everything, however, as relying upon such magic will destroy who she is at her core."
Krillin gritted his teeth, continuing to kick at the air. "You need to-" The boy stomped his foot down, grabbing the sides of his head.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO!? I CAN'T JUST SIT BY AND WATCH HER SUFFER! The way she looked when she heard the news when Bulma cut the call… I never, ever, want to see her like that again. You can't expect me to just do nothing when the love of my life is hurting." He felt a sturdy hand on his shoulder, closing his eyes as he took deep breaths.
"We have all suffered in one way or another, Krillin. It is an inevitable part of life. If Keira's goal is to solve the problem with the Dragon Balls, it will only hurt her more. When the time comes that the Dragonballs can't help her, she will either shut down completely or turn to darker things. There are twisted forms of magic that exist that you do not want her to go towards." The boy began clenching his fists again, a deep sigh escaping his throat.
"Then what AM I supposed to do? I can't help feeling terrible for her, but this is literally my first ever romantic relationship. I don't have the answers ready and waiting for me to use them. Please, I need wisdom." His master nodded his head at this, his face remaining serious.
"Go to her, comfort her, and be by her side. You must be her rock when she cannot stand, for even Saiyans have their moments that they need that rock. Every creature has their moments of weakness, even if they refuse to think they have any. In short, if your damn wife needs you then go to her instead of throwing a tantrum like a child. If you want to be a man, then act like it."
Krillin moved as soon as he was released, not wanting to go back through the house as he whistled for the Flying Nimbus. He hopped on it as he flew up towards the window to Keira's room. The old master could only sigh as he shook his head. "That boy needs to stop looking to me for answers, but at least he's learning. Those fools at the Orin Temple have lost the way Master Orin paved for them. That old coot must be turning in his grave at this point."
Krillin reached the window, watching as Keira sat down on the bed. The monk slowly pushed the window open, making his way inside. He slowly moved to sit beside the monkey girl as she was looking at her hologram of her mother and father, a sigh escaping her lips.
"I… I miss her," huffed the Saiyan. "I barely remember everything about her but it feels like something is missing that I know she's gone forever. Then I went straight to thinking about using the Dragonballs when bringing back Gohan only made me hurt more. Why did I even think-" Krillin placed his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently.
"You were hurting, so it's understandable you'd try thinking of ways to fix it," stated the bald boy. "So… are you not going to use them?" His mate nodded her head in response.
"I don't even know if they can bring back a planet full of people and animals. Even if they can, how will that help me? I still know they were dead and it still happened. If the dragon wouldn't let that blue imp have his wish to rule the world, why would he bring back a bunch of random people. It just… it hurts so much that I'm possibly the last girl of my kind and I don't know why."
The solitude she felt allowed her to let more tears fall, this time devoid of red lightning. Krillin hesitantly pulled her towards him, forcing her head onto his shoulder. He said nothing until he felt his tail wrap around her waist much like she would have done for him.
"Keira, I'm not going to pretend I know the pain you're feeling. Saying that wouldn't help anything. What I do know is the pain of losing people you care about. Just talk to me." Keira sighed, her tail drooping while still hugging her mate.
"I know what losing someone feels like. I lost Gohan before this all happened but now it feels more hollow and… empty. All I know is that it feels like something's missing, and it burns." Krillin moved his head to where his chin rested on the top of the Saiyan's head, feeling her body hum.
"Keira, you still have Master Roshi, Launch, and me. We'll be here for you, whenever you want us and whatever you need." He felt her hug against him, blushing slightly as her chest pushed tightly into his own.
"I… I want to have a baby. I need to make sure the Saiyans don't disappear." Krillin chuckled as he shook his head, the embarrassment he used to feel being absent.
"Let's talk about that after the Tournament. We can't exactly have you be pregnant so close to time. We need to be in fighting shape to show the bozos in the tournament what we've got. They won't know the power of this dynamic duo." He pulled back as he held Keira's shoulders, watching as the Saiyan looked at him with hardened eyes.
"Then I'll fight you as if it's the last day on Earth. I'll make you fight until you can't move. Then, we'll do it right in the ring. I don't care if Bulma yells at me or anything." Krillin held a finger up, wagging it as he grinned.
"I think a forest much like our first time would be a much better place for that. I like to have you to myself as I'm jealous like that." He watched the girl grin, her hand brushing against the fur of his tail.
"Aww! But then I can't show the world I beat you in every way." The acorn boy laughed as quietly as he could.
"You're reading too many of those romance novels. I'll admit they have a strange charm that I can't understand yet, but there are rules we need to follow." The monkey girl pouted at this, placing her hand on his chest as if to try and "persuade" him.
"But public mating is always so exciting to read! According to the archives, Saiyans would do it all the time to provoke others that tried to take their partner." Krillin held the hand, placing his forehead on hers.
"How about we find a better place to do that than a tournament where we'll be banned. Maybe we can do it somewhere that there'll be a risk of getting caught, making it more exciting?" He felt the girl jitter with excitement at the thought.
"We'll see. Maybe I can hide that we're doing it. Then it's not breaking the rules. It's not against the rules if nobody knows, right? This'll be so much fun and I WILL win this time." Krillin purred, placing his hand on her cheek.
"I love it when you're so confident. I guess we'll see who comes out on top then. Keep that up and I might pull that stunt on you if I'm feeling confident enough. You take away my inhibitions and make an animal come out of me." He watched the girl narrow her eyes, a silent vow to win being on display.
The boy smirked as he stood up, his new tail unwinding from the girl. "Alright then. Game on, Keira."
Inkaliber: That's all for the chapter. Keira gets injured while training at a construction site, forced to learn to walk without her tail as it heals. Krillin also takes a transformative potion, gaining a tail but also some extra power. Raditz also makes a reappearance, leading Keira to learn of the demise of her people. Only time will tell how this reveal will shape her story going forward.
Zemrocku: Personally I enjoyed this chapter. Ink wasn't completely onboard with the tail injury but she'll come out stronger.
Inkaliber: Yeah, yeah. I get it. So sue me if I felt like it was a bit cruel.
Zemrocku: Everyone has accidents and Keira kinda needs it to be reminded she can be hurt.
Inkaliber: Fair enough. Anyway, I gotta end the chapter. Maybe go see if Wayde needs another intervention or something.
Deadpool: Did someone say my name!? I was just teaching the Saibamen to swear, but don't tell the Boss… Oh… Hi Boss.
Inkaliber:... Zem? Go nuts.
Zemrocku: Hmm I wonder what Wayde candy tastes like.
Deadpool: Like cancer and a load of BLEEP! I tried it one time. I don't recommend it or asking me how I know about it.
Zemrocku: Well burning sounds fun as well. Let's go start a campfire. Bye Ink.
Deadpool: OOH! Can we have marshmallows!
Zemrocku: You are the marshmallow.
Inkaliber: And I am cutting that off. I do not want to hear what Wayde has to say about that. Anyway, time for the closer.
What did you guys think about the chapter? Do you like Krillin's change? Will Keira be able to overcome this loss? Let us know what you think down below and I'll try to respond by the time the next chapter is posted, be it through direct messaging or in the review section of the next chapter. This is Inkaliber and Zemrocku, signing out.