Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Cold As Ice ❯ The Tournament ( Chapter 1 )

Hey! This is the Shi-Saiyan! Okay, this story is a little bit slow at the beginning and was written with a reader in mind that isn't really into DBZ, so there's a bit of background that you hardcore fans will find redundant! Sorry about that! Anyway, this chapter is pretty tame, nothing really big happens, but it lays the ground work for the rest, so deal. Also, you all know very well that I don't own any of these characters, except one, later on, but you'll figure that out on your own. You can bet your sweet ass that if I did own DBZ, you wouldn't be sitting here reading this stuff, you'd be watching it! Anyway, this is my first fan fic that isn't a one shot lemon, so keep that in mind, but if you want to flame me, be my guest! E-mail at videl3402@hotmail.com Please, read and review!

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"Trunks, keep an eye on your sister." His father's order echoed in his mind as he watched Bra rush over to talk to Pan and Goten. Goten, his best friend, shot him a long suffering look and Trunks figured that Gohan, Goten's older brother, had issued a similar order, for Goten to watch over his niece. Pan was a year younger than Bra, who was 15, but the two girls were close. Especially given the fact that they were the only living females of the Saiyan race.

Warriors to the core, the Saiyans were wiped out when their planet, Planet Vegeta, was destroyed. The only two full blooded Saiyans left were Goku, Gohan and Gotens' dad and Vegeta, Trunks and Bra's father. The two men had sort of a love/hate relationship, connected by their Saiyan blood and by an abiding respect for each other's abilities as fighters and yet set apart by rivalry and their very different moral codes. Over the years, however, they'd learned to coexist rather well, especially since their kids were friends. They were gathered together now to compete in the World Martial Arts Tournament. Also at the tournament were the rest of Goku and Vegeta's gang, known as the Z Fighters. They were Krillin, Goku's childhood friend and his wife, 18, who was an android. They had brought their daughter, Marron. Along with Krillin's family, was a tall green man with pointy ears and antennae. His name was Piccolo and he was a Namek. Videl, who was Gohan's wife and Pan's mom, was also there to compete. Her father, Hurcule Satan, had once been the World Champion, but had stopped competing years ago. Trunks and Bra's mom, Bulma and Goku's wife, Chi-Chi were also there, but strictly in the cheering capacity and to keep tabs on Bra and Pan while the men in their lives concentrated on their fighting. For the next few days, the large area the Tournament encompassed would be full of fighters, all vying for the title of World Martial Arts Champion. This first day, however, was for gathering, entering the Tournament and basically assessing the competition.

Trunks sighed and returned his attention to the odious task of watching his sister. So like their father, Bra was very smart, stubborn to the point of arrogance and determined to push and test the boundaries of her limitations. That only made his job twice as hard.

Bra glanced at Trunks. Hands in his pockets, gorgeous face carefully blank, he pretended to scan the crowd for someone. She knew as soon as she looked away that he would return to watching her. So, her Daddy had issued his usual decree. And that's what it was, a decree. Vegeta did not make requests, he gave orders. He was, after all, the Saiyan Prince, the last Saiyan born to the royal line before their world was destroyed, and Prince Vegeta gave ground to no one. No one, that is, except Bulma and Bra. His wife and daughter had the great Saiyan Prince wrapped firmly around their little fingers. Bra had learned very early that a tear went a long, long way when you were Daddy's little girl. After all, since he was a Saiyan Prince; that made her his Saiyan Princess. So, naturally, Bra was spoiled in every way but one. While she could have almost anything she wanted, she went nowhere without her Daddy or her brother.

Flashing Trunks an annoyed look, she turned back to Pan, only to find her friend was watching Trunks, avidly, a look of longing clear on her face. With a pointed clearing of her throat, she recaptured Pan's attention. "He's too old for you," she informed Pan. Pan flushed, guiltily and looked away.

Goten pretended not to look at Pan and Bra, but was surreptitiously studying every curve of Bra's body. He was somewhat shocked to find that she was no longer a child. She'd filled out and inherited Bulma's figure, along with Vegeta's strength and assurance that she was "the shit." All put together, that created a nearly irresistible attraction to any warrior-minded man. His gaze traveled up to her face and he started when he realized she was watching him watch her. He froze, wondering how she would react. Slowly, the corner of her mouth lifted into that famous Vegeta-smirk that she had adopted so well. Her eyes flashed with something he couldn't identify and then she looked back at Pan. Blinking, wondering what, exactly had just happened, he looked at Trunks, only to find his friend giving him a mutinous look. Bra wasn't the only one who'd caught him looking. Silently cursing himself, Goten became very interested in a piece of paper on the grass and prayed that Trunks didn't tell Vegeta.

"Vegeta, the kids will be back any minute," Bulma said, as her husband came up behind her and kissed the side of her neck in just THAT way. "So," he growled. "The door has a lock. Two of them even." She smiled and leaned her head back to give him better access to her throat. He grazed her throat with his teeth and she shivered. Inwardly, Vegeta smirked his trademark smirk. She was his.

"It's locked," said Bra, trying to open the door to the hotel room. "Shit," Trunks muttered. "We may as well go get something to eat. We won't be able to get in for a while," he said, knowingly. His father's -shall we say- appetite was a private joke between his parents that they didn't think he and Bra knew about. "Amazing I don't have even more little sisters," he said, leading her to the elevator. Once inside, she hit the button for the first floor, where there was a restaurant. They emerged into the crowded entryway and, holding Bra by the arm, Trunks shoved his way through the bodies and into the slightly less crowded restaurant. He scanned the room for an empty table and saw Pan waving madly at them. "There's Pan and Goten. Let's go," said Bra, dragging him toward them.

Bra and Trunks slid into the booth opposite of Goten and Pan. "What are you doing down here?" asked Pan. "The door's locked. It's gonna be a while," said Bra. "My dad and Gohan and Videl are training and my Mom's hovering around, jumping every time one of them lands a punch," Goten said, with a snort of laughter. Chi-Chi was always overprotective and jumpy about fighting. She even tried to keep Gohan from training when he was little, but Goku finally won that argument. Until he'd seen Bra and Trunks, Goten had actually wished he could be training too, but now that they had more interesting company, he was quite content to stay right where he was.

Bra took her seat beside her mother in the third row back. On Bulma's other side was Chi-Chi, and then Pan. As the announcer began speaking, saying the first fight was about to start, she found herself tensing in anticipation. Trunks was in the first round. He walked into the arena in loose training pants and a black tank top. His silvery blue hair hung into his eyes, gas flame blue eyes, just like their mother's. No fear showed on his face. There was nothing to give away whatever he was feeling. He didn't look nervous, or confident or anything else. Just perfectly calm. While Bra studied his perfect fighter's stance, ingrained not only by training, but also, it seemed by his Saiyan blood, his opponent walked into the arena. She heard Pan's gasp and swung her gaze to the large man that had stepped onto the platform. He was twice the size of her brother, his muscles bulging, almost obscenely, as he flexed for the crowd and grinned at Trunks. Bra knew what the man was thinking. Trunks was slender, almost two full heads shorter than the red-headed giant, actually looked like a child when one compared the two, but Bra knew that under her brother's shirt, his muscles were rock hard, not an ounce of fat on him. Longer, leaner muscles than the giant's, but as strong as steel. Other than that, his fighting skills were far superior to the giant's, as obvious by the man's complete and open confidence. A true fighter revealed nothing to his opponent. Vegeta would have nothing less from his son. Bra leaned back in her seat and prepared to watch her big brother wipe the floor with the arrogant ass.

Vegeta watched from the sidelines as Trunks, barely winded, stepped away from the fallen man and walked off the platform, even as the announcer announced his victory. As he walked to his father's side, Trunks looked up and Vegeta caught a flash of cool triumph in his son's eyes. Trunks had known he would win, as they all had, but it still felt good. Vegeta allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. Trunks was his son, through and through.

When Goten took his first turn in the arena, it was almost dark. As soon as he had dispatched his opponent, it was Vegeta's turn. Bra smiled, a slow, knowing grin, as her father looked his challenger up, then down, then proceeded to knock the man unconscious with one well placed punch. Bulma, Chi-Chi and Pan were cheering loudly, but Bra felt no need. There had been no competition, not for any of the Z Fighters.

As Vegeta's fight was the last of the day, as soon as he was finished, they stood up and made their way down to where the fighters were gathered. Chi-Chi checked on both of her son's before moving to stand beside Goku. Bulma slid blithely into Vegeta's arms. Trunks flashed Bra a grin and she smiled back. "Piece of cake, sis," he said, laughingly. "I'm sure. Now, as soon as Daddy says I can join the tournament, you'll have some real competition," she said. They both glanced sideways at their father, who scowled. "Not a chance," he growled.