" ... So one day this woman goes to the fridge, and she finds a rabbit in there eating her carrots. She says to the rabbit 'What are you doing in my fridge?' and the Rabbit says to her 'I thought this was a Westing House.' To which the woman responds, 'Yes, it is' and the Rabbit says, 'Well, I'm westing.' "
Silence.
" I don't get it. "
" Neither do I. "
Longer silence.
Then a snicker. " 'But I'm westing' he says! "
" Ha! " Sarro pointed at the blue face in triumph, " That has to count as a laugh! "
But this was a bit too late, for Kaiousama was already on the ground laughing.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Dende and Dende were having a conversation. While it would be such a nice picture to say it was a conversation over tea, it has been mentioned before that Mirai Dende was not all that fond of tea. And if Mirai Dende doesn't like something, it's fairly safe to say that present day Dende is of the same opinion.
They were discussing plans and whatnot. Some of Sarro's, some of their own. There was even speculation as to Kuraft’s. Somewhere in the conversation was a comment or two about Rucuruu, but he was outside their realm of interest at the moment. It's harsh to say but true.
Besides, the fate of the Universe was much more important.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
" What did you come here for, Vejiita? " Katera asked abruptly.
" Hm? " was all Vejiita could articulate, for he himself still wasn't
all that sure why he did. So he asked a question to steer the
conversation away from that particular topic. " Is the enemy dead?
"
Katera looked away from him. " I don't know. " Her eyes grew misty with
memory, " Knowing Rucuruu, I'm almost inclined to say no... "
" Do you know why I have never been beaten in battle? " Rucuruu asked Katera some time after she questioned his undefeated status.
" Because your opponents were weaker than you? " Katera answered bluntly.
Rucuruu smiled and shook his head in good nature, " Iie, iie, iie. You have to understand, Kateraope: there is a difference between power and skill. "
" Bullshit. "
" No it's not, " he snapped.
She glared right back at him. " No matter how skilled a person is, if they are weak, then they will lose! It's fact. I've seen it. "
" I will admit that power plays a part in it. I am no weakling, Kateraope, as you well know. " Rucuruu pointed out. She scowled at his condescending tone. " There's a difference between power and skill. One can overcome the other under certain circumstances, but the best way to beat either is to use a combination of them both. "
" You speak nonsense, " Katera scoffed and jabbed the air with her practice sword. " How can this thing stand up to, say, Freezer? How can an energy less weapon stand against a sentou ryoku of one million? "
" In the right hands it could. "
Katera gave him a look of pure skepticism. " Are you saying that you have the right hands? "
" Against Freezer? " Rucuruu chuckled. " I don't think anyone has the right hands. But against a Saiyajin Super Elite, well, it's been proven many a time, hasn't it, Kateraope? "
Memories of past defeats during training sessions brought a scowl back
to the little warrior's face.
Vejiita noticed the scowl on Katera's face. " Nan? "
" That's how... " Katera trailed off, " That's how he beat me in Super Saiyajin form... I forgot the lesson... "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
He had to search. Searching wasted valuable time. Dammit, why hadn't he thought to bring a scouter to Chikyuu with him? Where would they have gone? Where would the half-breeds have taken Kateraope?
To the same place Katera had taken Trunks-oji, that's where.
Rucuruu stood in the center of the crater where he'd last seen Katera.
He scanned the horizon, placing himself within his mind,
where he was, where he had been, directions, triangulations...
He was here, he'd attacked Trunks-oji in that direction. Katera had taken him in that direction from there, so swing that around and...
Rucuruu smiled and took to the air. He still ached, but the pain was
far, far away. It was unimportant next to attaining his and
Kateraope's goals.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Vejiita was about to say something when the door was blown in and the hallway outside Katera's room filled with smoke and dust. Vejiita twisted himself around to stare and then gave a start.
" Trunks! " He ran across the hallway as his son gave a shout.
Katera tried to sit up unsuccessfully. " Rucuruu... " she trailed off, leaning over to force her body upright. " Trunks! " She squeezed her eyes shut with the effort. Partway up she lost balance and fell out of the bed. With a grunt, she pushed herself up and glared into the hallway.
Gathering all the strength she had, Katera grabbed her sword and staggered towards Trunks' room.
She was halfway to the hallway when suddenly her body shuddered and her lungs heaved. Katera coughed up blood and slid to the floor.
Leaning onto her sword for support, Katera looked determinedly towards her destination and refused to give up.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarro was very frustrated five minutes into the next lesson. Catching Bubbles-the-monkey should have been no problem for her. But then Kaiousama added the stipulation that she could not power up, nor could she choose lighter clothing.
Having been decidedly retired, Sarro had not gone past Super Saiyajin yet. The furthest she could go was level one, granted, and she wouldn't even be there if not for getting so angry during the Buu saga. But that level alone would have been more than enough to catch the nimble little primate.
But at her current level, she could hardly get close.
Gokuu had told her once his method of catching Bubbles, but without being on Kaiousei, she could not employ his tactics. So Sarro was frustrated.
Dende was wasting her time. What was he doing to bring her back to life?
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gohan, Goten, Kyande, and Bulma all ran toward the site of the explosion, only to be forced to stop when another one rocked the building.
Bulma shielded herself from the explosion's backlash and looked worried. " There's no doubt... it's coming from where Trunks and Katera are. "
" Un, " Gohan agreed, " Vejiita too. "
Goten ran forward without the others. " Neechan! Trunkskun! "
" Goten! " Kyande cried and ran after him.
" Oi! Wait! " Gohan ran after them. He turned back and advised,
" Bulmasan, you stay here! "
" Please be careful! " Bulma called after them.
" Hai! "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Gokuu stepped outside the front door and gazed up at the sky.
" Mou, Katera needs my help... " he stated simply. But memory of her words reminded him that she didn't want him to. Gokuu stood conflicted for a moment, smelling the fish cooking behind him and feeling the wind on his face.
He sighed. " Eee, Katera, why do you have to do it? " He looked over his shoulder and called, " Chichi! I'll be back in time for supper! "
" Nani?! " emerged her voice from the kitchen.
But Gokuu was already gone.
**
[I knew it wouldn't be long before Gokuu couldn't stand it anymore and came anyway. Next! Will Rucuruu gain his revenge against Vejiita? Will Katera make it in time? Will Vejiita hold his own against Rucuruu? Will that Regen Tank EVER be fixed?! Is Sarro going to catch Bubbles? Will this saga ever end?! Well, we'll see in the next chapter! Chapter 36; Sensei vs Student! The End-All Sword Battle!]
[Written by Inseiko, 2000]