Durian vs Master Roshi

"Do you think Durian can win this?"

Krillin is met with silence from his fellow students, Kakarot and Chichi entirely focused on the fight taking place in front of them. Chichi has been incredibly uneasy since the start, nervous for her friend and anxious to see the result of this fight. Durian herself is not completely sure whether or not she can win this fight against their master and Chichi is not used to that uncertainty from the older girl. Durian is confident in her abilities and never seems to doubt herself, however, it seems she does understand when she may not be strong enough. Still, she puts up a fight against their Master, moving with a swiftness none of them has had the time to see before. She has been training incredibly hard, that they know. She did not like the fact that Kakarot was growing so quickly and transcending her so she put more effort into her training and quickly caught up and surpassed the younger boy.

"He'll win this" Kakarot says with full confidence after the long silence. He knows she'll win because this is Durian, she always finds a way. She can turn anything to her advantage no matter how hopeless the situation may seem. If someone has far greater strength she'll find a way around it, use their strength to her own advantage. If they have more techniques and far better skills, she'll think of a good strategy to get her out of her bind. If someone is faster she'll push herself to be just as fast.

"You really think so?" Krillin was doubting this, especially since she's on her knees in pain after Master Roshi struck her particularly hard.

"Yes, I do" she'll win, he's sure of it.

She's back on her feet not ten seconds later, huffing as she assumes her stance once more, blood running down to her chin and nose once more bleeding. She glares down at her master, a pensive frown set in place as she carefully watches him, before a small smile starts to grow on her lips. She laughs, they all hear it and near everyone is confused, but no one has the time to think about it because the fight resumes. The audience is once more lost as they watch this battle, Master Roshi and Durian moving far faster than Chichi and Kakarot had to the point the audience saw absolutely nothing. It was as if they had disappeared, only reappearing briefly before vanishing once more.

Kakarot and the rest were keeping up, heads moving this way and that as they followed the battle with practiced ease. Next to them, Yamcha struggled, catching the fight but not fast enough to keep following them.

To put it simply, Master Roshi was beating the hell out of Durian and it was a bit painful for them to watch, but Durian doesn't give up. When they pause for a moment everyone could see the smile on her face and the way she's shifting almost excitedly, it has Master Roshi quirking a brow.

"Why are you smiling?" He asks the question on everyone's mind.

"Oh, no reason" Durian grins, wiping blood from her face. "No reason at all"

"Durian has a plan," Chichi says after staring long and hard. "Durian has to have a plan"

"Do you think he's going to wear him out?" Kakarot wonders as it is a possibility. Durian has incredible stamina, even Master Roshi admits this and she surely has far more than the old man, that they are all sure of. So she could wear him out like she did Krillin, though it would take far longer.

"I'm not sure" Chichi sighs.

"I think this has gone on long enough" Master Roshi announces, slowly shifting into a new position, one that seems to unsettle Durian as her smile falls for a moment. "This will end it"

"Oh no," Krillin slumps. "The Kamehameha wave"

"Durian doesn't know how to use it" Chichi has never seen her use it, only seen her practice with tiny ki balls. When asked why she doesn't use it, she always says the same thing.

"He doesn't want to use it" Kakarot corrects. "He has a lot of power but doesn't always know how to control it. If he uses a Kamehameha without proper control he could release a blast powerful enough to cause destruction"

Kakarot knows because he has seen Durian copy something after seeing it once, it's an ability he himself has and the reason he recognizes Durian as a natural fighter. And while she knows a great deal about ki and can sense it better than them she has admitted that she sometimes goes too far because she doesn't know how to properly hold herself back when it comes to her ki.

"Ka...Me..."

Durian stands completely still for a moment, chewing on her lip as she debates what to do before she assumes the position herself. They all see her mumble something but don't hear what as she too begins to prepare the attack.

"He's going for it," Krillin says a bit hesitantly

"His own will likely be strong enough to overpower Master Roshi, but he could hurt him" Kakarot informs.

But then, she's gone from sight, confusing everyone including Master Roshi who falters a bit. He's looking everywhere in search of her, his gathering of ki overpowering his own senses.

In an instant Master Roshi is propelled to the floor, the impact breaking the tiles that make the arena. Durian appears over him, grinning.

"Ha! You thought I was about to let you charge up that attack?" she chuckles. "I'm not that stupid"

"Yeah, okay that makes sense" Chichi blanks. "That is such a Durian thing to do"

Master Roshi gets up after the count of five seconds, rubbing the blood off his forehead and seeming quite surprised though frustrated. He was aware of Durian's incredible skill in battle and her tactics and basically everything else, but to have it used against him is something else entirely. He did not think the fight would go on this long and he had not considered her striking him in the middle of his attack.

"You brat" he considers using the after image but realizes it won't work on her. He knows she can sense ki - an ability he sadly does not have - and that ability will have her finding him if he uses the after image technique.

He'll just have to be completely unpredictable

~~~~~~~~

Why is the old man acting as if he's drunk?

Master Roshi is stumbling around the arena, constantly moving in odd ways as he stumbles closer and closer to me. He slings and hangs and twirls and everything else as he moves. He's about to fall and I'm a bit concerned here, but then he hits me right on the head. His odd movements are confusing and he gets me again with a blow to the chin and again with one to my ankle and again and again and I'm goddamn tired of it! When I try to get him he throws me off with how he moves, dodging in the weirdest way and I understand this as the drunken fist. I've heard of this many times from my Master and while it sounded ridiculous it actually works. I'm a bit impressed actually, but I cannot allow it to continue.

I charge him once more, not focusing solely on how he moves and not trying to predict. Predicting is useless for his moves are spontaneous and lack a pattern. To counter him I must move swiftly, following his odd movements until I get a solid hit. Besides, the longer he stumbles around like a mad man the more I'm getting used to it until his luck will run out.

When I go for a simple palm strike he's out of my reach and I immediately move to strike at him with my elbow only to follow with a knee to the face. If he keeps moving so spontaneously I'll just have to act accordingly. This is how it goes for who knows how long, Master Roshi moving like a drunk fool and me trying not to be thrown off by said movements. I can do this all day and he must realize this by now because he's starting to hit harder and harder, likely trying to knock me out or send me flying out the ring.

But I'm not going anywhere, because I have a bet I really wanna win. It's not every day you get a tour of capsule corp, you know. I could only imagine the amazing things I'll see in there, all those creations and machines and the science behind it all. I would really like to see how a capsule is made.

I will not lose this match.

"I'm sorry Durian, but you have left me no choice" he's suddenly solemn as he regards me.

What is he up to now?

"What are you planning?"

"The move I'm about to use right now..." He trails off, folding his sleeves up his arm with a serious expression. "I've only met one person in my life who has challenged me to use it and you are now the second"

Okay, he's really serious here and the fact that this attack was used only once against someone is greatly concerning.

"Your Master almost met this move as well" he reveals. "Even he was wary of it"

Oh no.

He holds his palm together as if he's about to pray and the moment I realize what he's about to do it's already too late.

The scream I hear myself release does little to dampen the excruciating pain that shoots up and down my body, taking my ability to move. Damn it all, I didn't think he would use this. It's too dangerous to be used against someone. Is he trying to kill me? The pain only increases the longer he has me in this hold, my body burning hotter and hotter to the point it feels my insides are boiling. Damn it! I can barely manage simple thoughts and panic begins to build. I could die. I could die right now.

"Give up!"

It's hard to make out words when the pain is all I can focus on and it takes too long for me to understand those words. Give up? Ha, I've never given up something in my life. It's against my nature to give up even if I consider it now because if I don't I can die, and Master Roshi says this. It's a wonder my body can handle this so far. It's getting a bit hard to properly breathe with my heart pounding so fast. It shouldn't be this fast.

"Durian, give up!"

That's Chichi, she sounds very concerned. Huh, I really should give up, unless I'm willing to die. If I die Master Roshi is disqualified and some part of me takes pleasure in that realization.

"Durian!"

Oh, I think that's Bulma. She sounds worried too. She shouldn't be, she doesn't know me well enough to show such concerns. Eh, but who am I, right? I've gotten so fastened to Kakarot after knowing him for less than a day. Hell, I'm only in this situation because I've set out to help him. It wouldn't look too good if I died before finishing my quest.

"Damn you al-"

I don't like the sounds that leave me when it burns hotter. I don't like how much it hurts and I don't like how tempting forfeiting is right now.

Damn you, Durian, just endure!

"I will not give up! You hear me, I'll move on to the next round and face Kakarot!" If I have to lose I'm losing against him and no one else, I don't care what happens right now as long as I make it to the next round.

So I'm getting out of here.

Easier said than done when the pain refuses to let me move. I feel paralyzed, yet I can feel everything burning.

Think Durian, think.

The thundershock surprise turns the user's energy into twenty thousand volts of electricity, meaning this is all Master Roshi's energy and at some point, he'll have to run out.

Can I hold on until then?

An increase in heat swiftly answers that question. I'll be dead before he runs out of energy.

Then I have to move.

It's dangerous to use ki in this situation as it will likely turn my own energy into electricity, but if I force enough out of my body I could break this cursed hold. I'll be sacrificing my energy, yes, but at this point, I'm done either way. It's hard to stay calm and focused enough to gather and force everything out of my body, but I force myself to do so anyway, ignoring the way the pain spikes in favor of hoping beyond hope that it works. Releasing so much energy all at once is not something I do very often as it will leave me drained, and now it's even harder because Master Roshi is trying to keep me here.

Let me out.

I gather any symbol of strength I have left, directing it all to my skin, pushing it all out with a burst and I'm falling, landing on the tiled arena head first, hurting my nose once more.

At this point, I'll accept the nosebleed.

"I can't breathe" I wheeze, chest heaving rapidly in my effort to gather air. My heart can be felt beating against my chest with an intensity I've never felt before, the electricity pumping my body very dangerously.

Everything hurts.

"Ladies and gentlemen Durian has somehow managed to break out of such a powerful attack!"

I forgot the announcer was here. Oh man, I need to get up before my ten seconds are up.

I have nothing left and getting up is torture. I can barely stand on my two feet, body shaking from the pain and the numbness that's quickly settling in. The pain may leave me for a moment but it will return full force come morning.

"Why won't you just give up?" Exasperated, Master Roshi rubs his face. "You were risking your life"

"Well, I'm very stubborn, old man" my smile must be a bloody mess. "And I'm not losing here, I will not win this tournament, not in my state, but I'll win this fight one way or another"

Sucks that I lost my bet with Bulma, I would really like a tour.

"You can hardly stand" Master Roshi points out.

"It's better than nothing" I chuckle, pointing two fingers at the old man, gathering energy I didn't even think I had. It's weak, almost nothing really, but I do believe it's more than enough. If I do this, I'm out for the count because I can barely keep myself conscious. "At least I'll be standing"

There is one thing the old man does not know about me and there is one thing I have been working on these past few months. The amount is pathetic, but the result is all that matters. Master Roshi begins to glow as I feel the final bit of my strength leaving me, dark spots appearing in my vision, but I push through. I'm not going out before him.

The glow stops to reveal Roshi looking the same, but there is a key difference. There are multiple gasps of confusion and wonder when the old man falls to the floor, groaning and struggling to get up, but unable to get himself up.

"My clothes"

"Heh, I've made them over ten times heavier than that shell you wear" I wasn't sure if it would be enough to have him down, but apparently it is. "I doubt you can get up in the ten seconds"

I always find a way, old man.

"One!"

The count feels like minutes as I'm quickly slipping away. I'm thankful for Master for torturing me like he did. Without his harsh training, I wouldn't have the will to stay standing.

"Ten! Jackie Chun cannot stand, the winner is Durian!"

"Told ya"

It's like a switch, my body failing me in that exact moment and I allow it. I really need a break.

~~~~~~~~~

"Told you he'd win," Kakarot says with a smile as the group gathers around their unconscious friend. Kakarot's fight had been postponed for the moment, the boy had insisted on seeing his friend in the sanitarium. The others had naturally followed him to find her, all of them concerned by the bandages all over her body. Bulma had winced for it was the first she had seen anyone in such a state. "He almost died, but he won"

"He's crazy" Krillin blanks. If it were him he would have given up a long time ago. He would not be capable of bearing the pain as long as Durian had.

Kakarot nods to the statement, only grinning more.

"Oh, yeah, very Saiyan like, it's impressive"

"Of course" Chichi huffs. "That's why the two of you get along so well"

"She has no regard for her life" Bulma mumbles amazed and taken aback by the fact.

"Huh, she?" Krillin and Kakarot look at her as if she has two heads. "Durian?"

Bulma stares at them, blankly, wondering how they had not discovered this in their many months with the girl. Then again, it was quite hard to tell her gender so she shouldn't blame them. It still seems quite ridiculous though.

"Yes, she" Bulma gestures at the bandaged Durian. "Durian's a girl"

There's a very loud silence that settles over them at that statement.

Krillin is the first to speak, sounding horrified.

"I-I've changed in front of her, she's seen me naked!"

"So?" Kakarot regards him with raised brows. "She's seen me naked as well, she never seemed to care anyway, why should it be a problem?"

"She's a girl"

"She's Durian" Chichi shrugs. "There's very little she cares about"

Krillin still does not seem to be calm about it.

"Would you calm down? Do you know how many times I've had to stop her from stripping in front of you two?" Chichi reveals, pinching the bridge of her nose. "She really couldn't care less. I think she went and forgot what gender entails"

"Really?" Bulma's baffled that she would just change in front of the boys. "Huh, it's not that hard to believe when I think about it"

"I'll lose the bet"

Durian's sudden words surprised them all as she should not be awake at the moment. She manages a broken smile when she sees their faces, going as far as snickering in amusement, though she winces with the action. She grunts, closing her eyes and cursing.

"How are you awake?" Bulma isn't sure this is normal.

"The question is, how is she alive" Krillin corrects.

"I'm awake because I want to be," Durian says simply. "And because I heard your voices, you guys really just woke me up, so it's on you"

"You better heal up quick Durian, we have a match later"

"Oh man, Kakarot I'll try" she doubts she'll be getting out of bed anytime soon though.

"What's that you said about a bet?" Chichi brings her back to her first words.

"Oh, I made a bet with bunny girl here, but I'm in no state to win" she huffs. "Which is depressing because I was looking forward to the tour"

"So I win the bet, yes?"

"Yeah"

"Okay," Bulma eyes her for a moment, somewhat impressed with the bedridden girl. She's smiling as if her entire body isn't in pain. She had suffered all of that just to fight a friend in the finals, hell, from how disappointed she was; their bet could have been another motivation that led her to her situation.

She's incredible, really.

"As the loser, you have to do as I say for a while"

"How long is a while?"

"A while"

She chuckles again, wincing again, but still chuckling.

"Okay"

"Good, first order, be a good patient so you can heal up" the seriousness with which Bulma says this has Durian more than just amused, but the laugh is forced down in favor of keeping her ribs.

"Whatever you say, bunny girl"