Turtle school

I have come to a very careful conclusion after observing this Master Roshi, turtle hermit and best martial artist in the world. The conclusion is that he's a pervert through and through and that very thing could be his downfall. When requesting to train under him I had expected some task to be completed in order to earn his good graces so I was fully prepared when he said we would need to do just one thing. What ticked me off was that the task was to go out and bring him back a nice girl, when I refused he refused to teach me. Even Kakarot thought it a terrible idea to just go out and bring some random girl for him. How would that even work? How would we explain to the poor girl that we're bringing her back to an old man with massive perverted inclinations? You can't just do that to a person you know? So his request is not one we can complete for him and if he refuses to train us because of that then so be it.

"I guess you guys don't want this training bad enough" the old man taunts, lying on his beach chair with a magazine in hand. I could only imagine what he's looking at in there.

"We need the training, but your request is not something I'm willing to do" Kakarot voices both our thoughts to the old master, looking quite peeved still by how he is acting.

"Kakarot is right" I agree. "Here you are, a master martial artist with years of wisdom and knowledge and you're letting your perversion steer you. It's a bit pathetic that you want children to go out and bring you a girl, a girl who will be subjected to your horrible tendencies. And it's pathetic still that you refuse to train us if we do not complete your selfish task"

When Kakarot told me he was a pervert I had known what to expect but he far succeeded my expectations with his terrible behavior. How can he be a master Martial artist and the one said to be the best? I can sense that he's strong so there is little doubt that he's skilled, but he's just a terrible person right now.

If he won't train us, no matter. We can always train on our own even though it won't be as fruitful as having a master.

"Kakarot, I think it's best we find somewhere to train ourselves" I'm already retrieving my capsule, dead set on getting out of here since the old man is of no use. "I can teach you some techniques my master taught me"

"Yeah okay," the nimbus arrives within seconds, patiently awaiting Kakarot as the boy dumps his backpack onto its surface.

The old man is silent during it all, I'm not sure he even deigns to look at us anymore. I wanted to see what this number one martial artist was all about and I'm quite disappointed. Maybe next time. If only my master was still around, he would train us without question.

There's a long drawn-out sigh from behind me just as I get in my car. Looking back the old man is seated upright, his magazine having been discarded and he looks like he's watching me. It's hard to tell with the dark shades over his eyes, but I'm pretty sure he is watching me.

"You know Lao always despised me for that" he grumbles, sounding rather displeased at me.

"Well, his feelings were justified" of course my master didn't like him. His behavior is not honorable in the slightest, completely immoral.

"And you're just as prudent as him" he retorts, though he is smiling for some reason. "He's right and you're right, I do act like a complete fool"

I think the word I used was pathetic.

"I'll train you two idiots," he says with a wave of his hand. "It would a waste to let such great potential slip through the cracks of my fingers"

At least he isn't senile then.

"You're a really dirty old man, you know"

"You've made your point kid"

Kakarot seems happy with the turn of events, but he still hops onto the nimbus, apparently still seeing the need to leave for some reason. When my confusion shows on my face he makes sure to inform me of where he's going, simply stating that he had made a promise to some friends. He says he'll be back in a few minutes or so as he takes off with his cloud, shouting something about not starting before he returns.

It's all quiet after he leaves, leaving me to occupy myself with mister turtle here, who's quite the gentle creature. He's huge too, big enough for me to hitch a ride with him, that's for sure. Big guy must be at least three hundred years old going by all the lines on his back, each representing a year for him.

"What's your name kid" Master Roshi addresses me, calmer now apparently.

"Durian"

"You trained under Lao if the gi is anything to go by" he speaks. I'm not sure if this is heading somewhere or if he just wants to make conversation while we await Kakarot's return. "So it's a bit unexpected for you to seek training under another master. You must have a reason"

He's got a point there and I likely wouldn't train under him if I didn't need his guidance at the moment. He's skilled, even Master Lao admits it despite his dislike towards this man. It is an amazing opportunity to train under the likes of the great turtle hermit, the best martial artist in the whole world.

"If you must know Master" it would be rude to address him as anything else seeing as he is now my master. "Kakarot and I need to get immensely stronger if we hope to converse with god"

That seems to stun him into silence for a moment, leaving me to continue the task of counting the turtle's lines to estimate his age. I offer him some seaweed I had found to keep him a bit entertained, but he seems patient enough as he tells me of his long journey back after he lost his way. He had been lost for over a year, the poor guy. Luckily Kakarot found him and helped him back, otherwise, he would be wandering the world for years. Especially since he had been going in the wrong direction.

"You truly intend to go to Kami?" He wonders, sounding quite baffled.

"Yeah, and I know there's no way we'll get a chance of seeing him if we're not strong, so here we are"

He doesn't question me as to why we wish to converse with god and that is greatly appreciated. A silence falls over us once more, my focus returning to mister turtle as he tells me another tale, this one involving the old master here. Big guy must have several stories to tell with all his years on this earth.

Minutes pass with Kakarot not returning. Turtle and I sit by the shore trading stories while overlooking the ocean. It's quite nice the way the surface glimmers with the reflecting sunlight, though it's terrible to stare at. At some point, I spot something coming closer in the distance. At first, I had shrugged it off, not thinking it to be anything important, but the longer I watched the closer it got the more it started to look like someone on a boat. A small someone at that.

"Turtle, do you see that?" Perhaps I could be wrong and my eyes are playing tricks on me.

"Yeah" the turtle nods, confirming that my eyesight is not terrible yet.

There's really someone coming here. A potential student maybe.

Soon enough the boat gets close to the shore and a person comes jumping out of it, flipping through the air only for that shiny head to land in the sand. The muffled shouts of the boy alert master Roshi who's coming out of his little house to see what the fuss is about only to find a small monk headfirst in the sand. He looks at me with a question and all I can do is shrug because the guy just landed in the sand. I don't know him nor do I know why he thought that was a good idea.

"I think you should help him out" Master Roshi suggests.

I almost don't want to, but I oblige anyway, easily pulling the small boy out of the sand. He's small enough for me to carry around like a sack of potatoes. He coughs up sand and pats any off his head all with this embarrassed look on his face as he tries to play it cool. It's far too late for that, kid.

"You are Turtle hermit Roshi, correct?" He asks the very hermit he's looking for. When the old man nods he continues. "I am Krillin from a village far in the east. I have come all this way to receive training from the great Master Roshi"

He came this far just to find Master Roshi, I'll commend his dedication to the task. He wears this somewhat smug look on his face as master Roshi considers his words, that look not changing even when Roshi informs him that he is not taking any more students at the moment. This little guy came prepared because he pulls out a very dirty magazine, offering it as a gift to the old master. Apparently, his pervertedness is known around the world. The monk sure knows how to work the old man as he waits for him to take a look, smiling even more when he clearly enjoys what he sees.

It is at this moment that he looks at me, not impressed at first until he sees the gi. He looks taken aback, gulping in either fear or awe as he looks at me.

"That's the tiger school" he points out the very obvious, sounding amazed and in awe. "It's one of the greatest schools out there, its master said to rival even Master Roshi"

Yes, and after the little time I've spent with the old man and going off his ki, I can confidently say that my master could match up to this turtle hermit.

"You know your stuff"

"Of course I do. Any good martial artist would know of the best masters and their schools" he beams proudly at me.

Something tells me that had I been just some random kid who never trained under a master he would be looking down on me. I could tell just from the way he looked at me the very first time, before he took in the gi and realized that I do practice martial arts.

"It's your lucky day Krillin" Master Roshi beams, the magazine held protectively to his chest as he regards the small monk. "I'll take you under my wing, what's another student?"

~~~~~~~~~~

Kakarot returns not long after Krillin had been accepted, flying in on his nimbus and with him a young girl. This kid can use the nimbus as well. Huh, okay, that's impressive. Really makes me wonder what sort of force led me to meet this kid because his collection of friends are quite odd so far and the people he attracts are just as weird.

"Master Roshi, you remember Chichi right?" Kakarot motions to his friend rather casually tugging on the sash around his waist as he approaches us. He spares Krillin a glance, brow quirking in question as to who this new guy is.

"Ox's daughter, I remember her" he strokes his beard seemingly in thought. "She did say she wanted to train like her father"

Ox? As in the Ox king, the guy who guards his treasure at frypan mountain? Who would have thought he had a kid?

"It would be an honor to train under the great Master Roshi" she bows in respect and I think I hear her mumble something about his perverted tendencies. I suppose she's met him before then.

The old man sighs, looking upon us all with an unreadable expression. I wonder what's going through that head of his. In one day he managed to gather four students when I think he had intended for just two or even the one.

"Alright, we're going to have to move to a larger island"

~~~~~~~~~

The journey to the island is almost incredibly short, just five to seven minutes in a flying car and the Kame house has a new location. Looks like we'll be staying on this island for the duration of our training. Master Roshi has led us to a nice open space, not saying anything just yet. Kakarot is visibly anxious for what's to come next, a toothy smile on his face as he performs multiple stretches. His demeanor doesn't seem to impress Krillin as the boy looks down on Kakarot for some reason. Likely doesn't think he has any skills in martial arts, but little does the short monk know. As for Chichi, well, not knowing what else to do she joins Kakarot in his stretches.

Now, what is this old man planning on having us do right now?

"Training starts today" he announces, finally returning to us. "How many of you have experience in the martial arts"

Everyone safe for Chichi raises her hand, earning a look from Krillin. If he keeps acting all high and mighty and judgeful, I'll have to set him straight, because I can't stand people like that.

"Dad never actually trained me, so I don't have much experience" she explains, sounding and appearing a bit sheepish.

"Then three of you have the basics down," Roshi says. "As for you Chichi, your inexperience won't be much of an issue"

The first order of business is a hundred-meter dash from the rock at our feet to that tree straight ahead. The point of the exercise is not to prove who can run the fastest but to prove we have strong legs and loins. Though we are told to run as fast as we can as Master Roshi pulls a stopwatch out of his pocket before approaching the tree.

"Who wants to go first?"

Krillin offers to go first with this cocky smile on his face and I'm just prepared to watch Kakarot beat whatever score he sets. The monk gets into a starting position awaiting Master Roshi's signal. I'm quite curious to see how fast he can reach the tree. He's weaker than Kakarot by a lot, but he is still stronger than the average person. The same could be said for Chichi, so I'm looking forward to her turn as well.

"Go!"

With that, the short guy takes off in the blink of an eye. He's fast, no doubt, but his speed is nothing I haven't seen before. Still impressive though.

"Amazing, 10.4 seconds" Master Roshi laughs. "That's really something"

"Whoa" Chichi mumbles in awe, clearly impressed with the boy's speed.

"I'm next" Kakarot announces, standing next to the stone and ready to go.

"Go!"

And he's off, leaving a cloud of sand behind him and meeting the tree in six seconds if I were to estimate. Krillin looks beyond shocked, his eyes widening to dinner plates, and Chichi is speechless.

"6.5 seconds" Even master Roshi seems surprised by his speed. "You're almost as fast as me kid"

That leaves Chichi and I as last, the young girl deciding to give it a go. At Roshi's signal, she's off, almost as fast as Krillin as she cuts it at eleven seconds on the dot. I was right in assuming she would do pretty good here. She's not weak, just lacking experience.

"Durian, come on!"

Have patience Kakarot.

Let's see, Kakarot hit 6.5 and he's not all that weaker than me. If I had to put this in numbers I would say we're at forty to fifty respectively. I'm sure my speed outclasses his own, but not too much so I estimate I'll finish within six seconds, maybe five if I push hard enough. Speed has been a great deal of my training after all, if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's my speed. I haven't been chased by countless animals for no reason.

"Go"

I've learned that if you focus the right amount of ki into your legs you can increase your speed, but if you give too much you'll likely just destroy the ground instead of gaining the speed you would want. And since I've been running for my life since I was nine, I've long since learned to do this without effort. Though sometimes I'm surprised by how quickly my legs work.

"5.8 seconds"

Damn it, I wanted that five seconds.

"I'm not too surprised here," Roshi says with a soft laugh. "Speed is a great part of the tiger school training"

"I lose again" Kakarot sighs.

"You'll get there"

"Of course I will, it's only a matter of when," he says confidently.

"How can you be that fast?" Chichi marvels, to which I just shrug.

"I've been running from wild animals in a forest since I was nine," I say bluntly. You either ran or you got eaten, I had no choice because that old bastard was a cruel man when he wanted to be, not giving two cents about the child he just tossed into the wild.

My admittance earned a very loud silence before Kakarot laughed.

"That happened to me too, until I started chasing them"

"Oh yeah, it's fun when the rolls are reversed" because once I got faster than them I was hunting them all down, determined to make those bastards my dinner.

Soon Roshi stepped up, handing the stopwatch to Krillin and discarding his turtle shell. With Kakarot's signal, he appeared before us within 5.6 seconds, just 0.2 seconds sooner than me. Ha, I'm almost as fast as the great Master Roshi!

"Looks like I've still got some strength in these old bones" the old man jests as he secures the turtle shell on his back once more.

So far so good.