End of the tournament

In all the confusion and odd events that have happened in less than an hour, we had almost forgotten about the tournament. It is Kakarot he reminds Chichi and me of our match and a quick ten-minute journey sees us back at the tournament ready to start the match. The audience is surprised, very much unlike the grinning host who runs up to us with many questioning yet admiring words. I don't understand why this man likes us so much, but he's been a good host to us so it is nothing I can complain about. He had been worried we wouldn't return even though we'd only been gone for around thirty to forty-five minutes.

"Alright people!" He announces very exuberantly, grinning all the while. "Our finalists have returned, so let the final match of the tournament begin!"

I can't remember the last time I fought Chichi, so I am looking forward to this match. She is far stronger than she had first been and has developed some admirable skills as the years went on. From her fight with Krillin, I already understand most of what she can do, that is if she hasn't been hiding some secret techniques.

Chichi is the first to strike. She has the same principle I practice daily. She strikes first with the intent to end the battle before it can start.

I am proud to admit that it almost works. The attack she lands is powered by ki, making her that much stronger and sending me to the edge of the ring when I don't put up a struggle.

"Splendid!"

Chichi looks at me with a stupid grin on her face when I say that, looking as if she's on the verge of laughter.

"You almost fell out of the ring!" She says. "And you're so happy about it"

Of course I am. That was amazing. My arms hurt from blocking that one blow and I was still sent to the edge of the ring. Chichi was the weakest of us all as well as the most inexperienced. When she first started training she could barely throw a punch, now her punches pack enough force to shatter boulders. Her progress is something worth admiring.

This is bound to be an entertaining and insightful match.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Yo, old crane!"

Shen has been stewing in his anger and feeling of weakness for the past forty-five minutes, a feeling that has worsened into something almost painful when he realizes that the group of turtle students had taken care of Piccolo in mere minutes when his master had died just to seal him. Something about that fact just fuels the anger that had already been burning under his skin and it only worsens when Kakarot approaches with that carefree smile and friendly attitude. He cannot stand to be second to Roshi of all people. He is Master Shen of the crane school. His martial arts can be surpassed by none, and yet this little boy treated his strongest student like some toy and dared to approach him in such a friendly manner.

The crane master bristles when he sees Tien and Chiaotzu slowly trailing after the friendly Kakarot, the looks on their faces one that makes disgust surge through the old master.

How pathetic.

"I fixed these two up for you," Kakarot says when he comes within talking distance. He motions to Tien and Chiaotzu who refuse to look at him. "We had a good talk and everything"

When Shen glares at the smiling Kakarot, his expression only brightens, as if reveling in the aggression. Unlike Kakarot, Tien and Chiaotzu aren't unaffected by their master's heavy glare. They know better than anyone the things this man is capable of and for the first time they worry he might treat them like he does anyone who wronged him.

"Hey" Kakarot calls, looking up at him with dark eyes. The smile on his face has adopted a different edge now. It is no longer a childish and friendly thing and the change surprises Shen for mere moments. "I was hoping you weren't anything like your brother, but I'm assuming you are from what I've managed to get out of these two"

Kakarot understood that Tien and Chiaotzu aren't entirely bad people. In fact, they could be placed in the same category as Durian, they just needed proper guidance. He had run into Master Roshi when he went looking for them to offer them each a senzu. He had caught the end of whatever Roshi was telling them - likely a lecture - and prompted a conversation of his own to get a better glimpse into their character. Kakarot likes to consider himself a good judge of character. He got a good feeling about Durian the first time and his assumption had been very accurate.

Kakarot realized during their conversation that Shen is the problem. Tien isn't as problematic as he had been before. It seems Durian was right when she said a good beating would set his head straight. A good martial artist knows that there is always a stronger opponent no matter how much stronger you get. Now Tien has realized that, there seems to have been a change and Kakarot is fully supportive.

He loves to see fighters grow and further understand the true meaning of the craft.

He just has something to take care of.

"I don't make threats" Kakarot states bluntly. "Durian's very good at that so be grateful I'm the one you're faced with at the moment. You haven't done anything horrible to us, so I have no reason to do anything to you. But just know that if you even try to hurt any of us, including your students here, you will be dealt. If you're unlucky you'll be dealt the same fate as your brother"

Kakarot's smile returns, retaining that same childish and friendly innocence. He's a pretty good judge of character he likes to think.

Something tells him that Shen won't listen to a word he just said.

Shen looks visibly angered to the point his face was almost fully red.

How could he not be angered?

Here this boy is threatening him as if he were so much better than him. He is just a child and a turtle school student no less. No one is stronger or better than him in anything, not even his brother - that's why he's dead now. In no way will he be treated like his pathetic brother, he is not that weak.

Kakarot quirks a brow, spares a glance at the silent Tien, and shrugs. Seeing no reason to linger, he turns his back to the fuming Master and walks off.

Durian has a very strict rule about turning one's back to their enemy.

A rule Kakarot has adopted as his own as he turns in time to deflect the dodon ray that had been aimed at his back.

Frowning, he turns to face the old martial artist.

"I just warned you," he says with a sigh. "What is it with you?"

~~~~~~~~~~

The cheers of the tournament are deafening when I'm the last one standing. Our friendly host talks into the mic with as much enthusiasm as the crowd as he announces me the winner, making me the best martial artist in the world and the possessor of five hundred thousand yen. That last part reminds me that this competition was funded, something I had fully forgotten in the full swing of things. Five thousand dollars is quite the amount of money, I'll have to use it wisely.

"I lasted longer than I thought I would" Chichi grumbles from outside the ring where she had fallen. She's not too injured as I had enjoyed learning about her skills rather than simply fighting back myself. Chichi has surprised me with the things she can do and is the first one to have hit me with a ki blast.

That was painful and I require a senzu to fully recover from such an attack.

"You did great," I say as I hop off the ring to stand with her. I'm quite proud of her. "The way you fight is very compatible with the tiger school"

"You've said that" she reminds me with a smile, poking me gently on the chest. "Would you even make a good master?"

"I don't know, ask Bulma" as she's the only person I have been training as of late, she would be a better judge of my teaching abilities.

"You've been training Bulma?"

"Ki-based training" I inform as we both make our way back to the building to meet the others. "I don't see Bulma as much of a fighter but she had expressed curiosity about Ki, so I have been training her. She can now sense ki, as you've seen"

As well as form small ki balls with the little amount of ki she has generated through our years of training. I wonder if she would like to grow her ki reserves. She makes comments about how much weaker she is than us when it comes to ki, so it might be an interest.

"Congrats!" I've barely stepped into the infirmary we've turned into our base when Yamcha smacks me on the back in congratulations. Did he plan on sending me to the floor with that kind of force? "You're five hundred thousand yen richer"

Very little compared to the money he got from the treasure we had found on our dragon hunting journey some years ago. For some reason, I can't imagine Yamcha living anything more than a life full of hustling from one job to the next. As for Krillin, I don't know what I expected from him, but he won't be worrying about money anytime soon. Kakarot had given his share to his grandfather as he has stated that he's not sure how to handle that much money. Even Chichi got a share despite not being there at the time.

"What are you going to do with the money?" Krillin asks, curiously. "Do you even make money?" He then asks after a moment of thought. "I mean you live with Bulma so maybe you don't need to make your own money"

He would be correct on that account. There is no need for me to make my own money seeing as the Briefs have already married me off to their daughter. They have supplied me with everything I need.

Even so.

"If you must know" it is Bulma who speaks for me, already sounding incredibly smug. When I look at her, she has Piccolo. Jr in her lap and seems quite fond of him. We had taken him with us since I still do not trust Kami to be alone with the poor guy. "Durian is the inventor of several of our newest vehicles, so she has been doing very well for herself"

"Yeah, exactly what she said" I nod. "I work with Doc Brief a lot and one day he decided to release one of my creations. I've been making money ever since"

Yamcha looks at me with wide eyes. Why would he be so surprised?

"You made the latest motorcycle!" He grabs me by the shoulders like a fanatic. "I absolutely love the Tiger model, it's amazing, I've never had a bike like that"

How is he this surprised when my creations are all under the same name? They all have the name of my school and he went oblivious to the fact he owned one of my creations until he had been informed.

"I'm glad you like it" I quite like it myself, I must admit. "Hopefully this means you're a loyal consumer of mine because there will be plenty more in the future"

With his reaction, I don't have to worry about his loyalty.

"Oh wow, it looks like you have a fan," Chichi says blankly. "Who would have thought"

"He has been going crazy about the new motorcycles" Krillin reveals with a frown. "It gets annoying"

I could imagine.

"I'll let you test the next prototype if you're so in love," I tell him and his reaction is comical. It's as if the love of his life confessed their feelings to him. "When it's complete you get it half off"

I've learned through the many people who do all the marketing for the Capsule Corporation that people love to buy things for a discount, no matter how well off they are. Yamcha just proves this observation with the many thanks that spill from his lips and his praising me. Apparently, I'm the best friend a man can ask for.

"You're obsessed," Krillin tells the still ranting Yamcha. "It's concerning"

Let him be. If he's obsessed he's more willing to spend money on my products, and that benefits me greatly.

Whatever happens, happens and at the end of the day is his own problem.

~~~~~~~~~~

For some reason, everyone has followed Bulma and I back to capsule corp after we had returned Piccolo to the lookout. Bulma had been reluctant to part ways with Piccolo.Jr as she has quickly grown fond of him simply because she finds him adorable. Now I'm certain she'll want to accompany me on every trip to the lookout just to spend some time with the little Piccolo.

"Yeah, so I taught him a lesson," says Kakarot around a mouthful of food. He had been retelling his interaction with Master Shen, which went much as I had expected. "I don't know how someone can be so delusional"

"What about Tien and Chiaotzu?" Chichi asks.

"They're not bad people and Tien's personality is completely different after he lost to me, so they're not going to be a problem," he says. "I'd like them to become our allies. They have massive potential, I look forward to fighting Tien again when he's much stronger"

Of course he does.

"Also, I managed to convince Kami to take you guys as students," he says as an afterthought.

"You mean, bullied" I correct

"I didn't bully him"

"You did"

"How do you bully a god?" Krillin is rightfully baffled.

His question goes fully unanswered as everyone simply continues to eat in silence.

"Why are we glossing over the fact we're allowed to train with a god?" Yamcha asks.

Is it that mind-blowing or incredible now they know that the god of the earth is some green alien with a grumpy personality who somehow has a pure heart? The way Kami behaves sometimes makes me wonder what the requirements are for a pure heart.

"It isn't as glamourous as you think, Yamcha" I inform.

"All this talk about training and I just want to know why everyone's here" Bulma butts in, pointing her fork at me as if I'm the one who invited everybody.

Before anyone can even come up with some random reason, Panchy strolls into the room with a bowl of oatmeal that is placed in my hands.

"There's no need to be so rude, dear," she says to Bulma, smiling all the while. "Your friends are all very nice"

"Thanks for the oatmeal" I have been craving this thing for the past few days and I cannot explain my sudden obsession with it.

"You're welcome"

"See, your mom's okay with us being here, so you can't force us to leave," says a smug Krillin, whose smugness fades when Bulma takes the cookie Krillin had been reaching for. "You're very petty"

"Mom you need to stop spoilng them with food" Bulma cries when Panchy gives Yamcha another bowl of ramen and Kakarot some more katsudon. "They'll keep coming back. Kakarot already comes here every week"

"Kakarot is a very nice boy, Bulma. I enjoy having him around, he's very helpful"

Kakarot smirks at that, far too happy to receive such kind words from the motherly Panchy. He has been coming here more often since he first ate here. I never questioned it because the reason had been obvious, and Panchy does enjoy having him around and he's an extra hand in the labs when we're doing some heavy lifting.

"I'm so happy to know our presence is appreciated," Yamcha says laughing.

Big mistake because he starts choking some seconds later.

No one tries to help him.

"Don't laugh with food in your mouth" Chichi says in monotone. "I thought it was common sense, but I was wrong"

"Some people just cannot be helped, you shouldn't worry about them," Bulma says in the same manner.

Krillin takes pity on his friend and pats him on the back after he downs a glass of water.

"You gotta be careful man" Krillin tells him.

Kakarot nods in agreement. He's the most prone to choking with his over-enthusiasm when it comes to food and I've watched him struggle with food in his throat far too many times. It's a wonder he's sitting here with us.

"Back to training" Kakarot decides for us all, "you can come to the lookout with us tomorrow to start your first day. It'll be fun to train together"

"Will we be sparing?" Krillin asks.

"I don't think so. You'll have to undergo Mr. Popo's training first"

At the mention of Popo, Yamcha makes a face, "he creeps me out"

"He's very nice," I say, trying to make him feel a bit better, "he can be weird, but he means well"

He's far nicer than Kami, that's for sure.

Speaking of the green guardian, I have some DNA samples to go over. It's bound to be a learning experience. This latest ordeal with Piccolo has brought Kami to the spotlight and I'm even more curious about his species. I know he's an alien and much like Kakarot he was sent here as a child for whatever reason - he does not disclose this information. Kakarot's ship had survived even after years of inactivity, and while Kami is centuries-old there is a chance his ship is still out there. Even if it's nothing but scrap, there might be something to salvage.

I'll ask him about it. Kakarot's ship had coordinates to earth as well as coordinates to another planet - I'm assuming it's his destroyed home planet. Maybe Kami's ship has coordinates to his planet as well.

"Would you like to come with us to Kami's lookout tomorrow, Bulma?"

Bulma looks at me as if I had asked the most obvious question, "I was planning on it even if I wasn't allowed to"

Ah yes, of course. She has taken quite the liking to little Piccolo so it makes perfect sense.

"But why do you ask?"

"I'm hoping Kami remembers where his ship is" I admit, "and I'm hoping it's salvageable so I can perhaps acquire some coordinates"

Across the table, Kakarot raises his brow in question, "what,planing on going out into space?"

"I am, yes" I answer honestly, "there is nothing stopping me"

Yamcha makes a sound I cannot understand and looks at me as if I've grown a second pair of arms, "nothing stopping you? Last I've heard, we don't have spaceships that can take us very far"

"I don't think you meant to" Bulma begins to say, "but you just offended me in the worst of ways"

"He truly has" I agree, "we've had a suitable ship for a while now. At least, a rather small but functioning ship that is far better than anything our world has seen so far, all thanks to Bulma's genius"

"Kakarot's willingness to hand over his ship had a bit to do with it too" says Bulma with a bright smile.

Kakarot grins, "but you still try to kick me out of your house"

Yamcha is wide-eyed, though he is the only one who seems surprised by this revelation. Chichi doesn't seem bothered, then again, she never seems bothered by much of anything that happens nowadays. I believe she has simply accepted that anything can happen when she's surrounded by the likes of us. And Krillin barely bats an eye, though he does seem interested.

"So what? You just decide you wanna go to space?"

"Yes"

"And you're just going to do it?"

"Yes, again, there's nothing stopping me" I remind him," and it's bound to be an illuminating adventure, to say the least. There's much to be discovered in our galaxy and those beyond that, I'm sure"

"What happens if you don't get the coordinates from Kami?" Krillin asks a very good question there. But, his askance has a very simple answer, as do most of our problems.

"We have a wish-granting dragon with a great deal of knowledge"

"Oh"

Kakarot laughs at the look on Krillin's face, far too amused by the shorter.