Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Inadequate ❯ Chapter Eleven: ( Chapter 11 )

Goten ran through the slow moving crowds of the camp. He muttered apologies at the people as he ran into them. Goten had awoken very late that morning had to do extra drills after training. Goten grabbed the pole and swung around the corner.

"EIICK!" Goten yelled out as he bumped into a tall, bulky and sort of intimidating man. The man growled from low in his throat. Goten Quickly grabbed his book and shoveled himself off the ground. He quickly bowed and uttered an apology to the man and ran off. He sighed inwardly after he finally got out of the crowded camp. He saw the entrance to the forest and his heart leapt when he saw that Spyre wasn't there yet. His running started to get unsteady as he realized he wasn't running but slipping down the hill. Goten fell backwards but caught himself by digging his sheathed sword into the mud.

"Heh heh that close one…" Goten laughed as he hoisted himself up.

"How pathetic…" A cold voice said as Spyre stepped from the bushes. Goten just laughed nervously in response.

"Your late as well."

"Uh…well I uh…" Goten stuttered. Spyre glared at him and let out a small cynical hum.

"Did you…read your text book?" Spyre asked thinning his eyes into small slits.

"Uh...Why yes, yes I did!" Goten lied.

"Hand it here." Spyre commanded staring at his student in suspicion. Goten did as he was told. Spyre crouched down slightly and moved his coat away from the hilt of his sword. Goten glared at him in confusion, all he heard was the unsheathing of the barred steel. The next sight Goten say was pages of the book littering the ground and the hard leather cover in four pieces.

"But I! How did you? I just blinked for a second." Goten stuttered. Spyre smirked and tucked his sword back in his cloth belt.

"You didn't read it, when I received it I did not read it either."

"So you going to tell me what the books about?" Goten asked impatiently.

"In time you will know, but first you will need to learn patience." Spyre pulled up a thin reed from the bushes and smacked Goten hard across the face with it. Goten groaned and rubbed the sore spot on his face. "I will do that every time you do or say something stupid. In battle you need not only to be physically strong, but mentally as well. A battle can be decided not by physical strength alone but mental strength. In the old days of this country, we sent condemned prisoners to the frontlines. There they committed suicide, if they did not they would suffer a fate worse than death."

"That's…Horrible." Goten said staring at his master mortified.

"That it is, but it is war. If fact we would probably still be doing it now. I am afraid are enemy would probably like though." Spyre said chuckling. Goten looked even more mortified, why would he laugh at this?

"Heh anyway Geijutsu No Genso is the art of using at elements around you to fight. Wind for speed, Water for fluidity with a sword, Wood for a sturdy strong strike, and Fire for fierce fighting in battle. Got it?" Goten nodded his head.

"Good now try and hit me…" Spyre smirked taking off his coat and hanging it over a tree.

"I don't think…" Goten stuttered in response.

"That's right you don't think, but you will learn to. I'm going to make you my prodigy. Now hit me!"

"That's not a good idea."

"Do you need motivation? You're a disgrace to your family, so weak. I bet your father is disappointed in your…hm?" Spyre stopped suddenly. Goten had his head down staring at his feet. When he looked up at him Spyre saw the fire in his eyes, like the pure rage of his soul was pouring out of them. Goten yelled and glided forward with his sword drawn. Goten stopped for a moment when his strike was blocked by Spyre sword. He tried again, and again, finally Spyre pushed him back making him fall into a dusty spot on the ground.

"Ugh…what…what happened?" Goten said rubbing his head.

"I think I struck a nerve, but that was good. Now to control that rage and teach you a few moves." Spyre walked into the entrance of the forest. Then came back out a moment later. He patted his hand on his leg and said. "Come along now little puppy."

Goten frowned but followed him through the forest. They ended up at the same temple Goten was sent into the day before. Goten was surprised when he entered it. It was no longer the dust cold looking place it had been. On the wall was a rack holding two wooden sticks and in the corner was a small padded meditation area.

"Not quiet as glorious as it had been when my master was alive, but it shall do for now." Spyre said with a small bit of remorse in his voice. He went and sat on the mats in the corner.

"Sit." Goten obeyed and sat next to him. Spyre closed his eyes and Goten followed the example.

"Meditate now." Spyre said in a voice that was strangely similar to Piccolo's. Goten found the place he had been the previous day.

`So what do I do now?' Goten thought to himself.

"You fight me." Goten turned around and saw Spyre standing near a tree.

"Uhhh why are you in my mind?"

"Because I am a lot better at meditation than you. Someday you might get to see my meditation place. Now fight me!" A sword appeared in Goten's hand. He decided for once not to ask questions. He charged at him.