Skyborn

Chapter XVII: The Kindness Of Strangers

In the back room, Bulma sat on a table while Yamcha made a big deal of cleaning the blood on her face. She flinched when he put pressure on it. She gave him a light kick in the knee to show her discontentment, but overall she liked being fussed over. He had soft hands for a fighter. She liked his hands.

"You don't think it's broken, do you?" she muttered. "My sister had surgery on her nose and it looks crappy as hell."

"I know. I've met her."

Bulma kicked him again.

"Ouch. I was joking!" he said quickly. "I love your sister."

"Oh shush."

He chuckled. "It's not broken, Bulma," he said.

But it did hurt like hell.

"Wow. You was so good!" Goku was beaming at her. "I was so impressed, Bulma. I didn't know you could do that with your legs!"

"You have no idea the things I can do with my legs," she muttered and Yamcha almost choked on air.

"I can't believe I'm next," Goku went on, like she hadn't spoken. "I hope Master Roshi is watching this one. I couldn't find him in the crowd last time."

"I'm sure he won't miss it, Goku," Bulma said. "He was very excited to have you participate in the Budokai. He is probably just sitting behind someone with a big fat head. Don't worry about it."

Before Goku could reply, Stephen called him and Nam to the outer ring. It was time.

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome back the amazingly strong Goku and Nam, a man who's come from far away to beat the odds! Yes! Which of them will you be cheering for? Which of these strong warriors will face Saitō Benkei in the final match for the world title?"

There was something about this man that made Goku's confidence waver. It was desperation mixed with determination. He looked like a man who had come to win and would accept no less. He looked like a man on a mission.

The gong sounded and the man called Nam charged.

Goku dodged and tried to kick him. Nam stepped away just as quickly. Then he returned with speed, but Goku saw him coming from a mile and circled around him.

"Did you see that?" Yamcha exclaimed. He, Bulma and Saitō Benkei were watching the fight from the other room. "Goku has the skill and the speed to win this," he said, sounding both excited and impressed.

Saitō Benkei was thoughtful. "Nam is doing extraordinarily as well. He's an untrained fighter. No discipline. But a mind of steel. Watch."

Goku delivered a series of quick punches at the height of Nam's chest. He had to admit, the Indian man had much more spirit than Giras had shown. Goku could see how this tournament was important to the man. He clearly had a lot depending on this. That made him a much better, harder adversary.

Instead of feeling apprehensive, Goku felt exultant.

Something was awake inside the man. With a look of pure despair, Nam came toward Goku, grabbed him by the shoulders, punched him three times in the stomach, two more in the head, and then kicked him down.

"There it is," Saitō Benkei said. "A man of anguish."

"What a spectacular array of counter attacks!" Stephen was saying to the audience. "What a marvelous attack!"

Goku went flying and almost fell off the ring. He lied on the ground clutching his stomach. It was hurting bad, but instead of keeping him down it gave him the appetite for more. He felt a bit like a masochist, but he wanted to see how far he could push himself.