Durian has disappeared from the backroom when Kakarot's match starts, surprising the others who expected her to be the first one to cheer their friend on. They look around for her, wondering if she simply decided to find a corner to sit and eat or something, but she's nowhere to be found, and the match starts before they can locate her. She could have slipped away and gone into the crowd, but that's unlikely since Durian doesn't like crowds. If she did slip into the crowd, there must be a good reason for her to make herself uncomfortable.
Climbing onto the wall overlooking the match, Chichi and Krillin scan the gathered crowd in search of blue hair. If Durian did slip away into the crowd of people, she would have done it for Bulma. They've seen Durian do things she wouldn't normally do when it involves Bulma, so it wouldn't be much of a surprise. But then they do find Bulma in the crowd, and there is no Durian. Bulma stands alone with Puar drifting on the right side of her.
"Where did she go?" Krillin wonders after searching some more but has to give up when he can't keep his eyes off the current match. Kakarot is letting Tien get some hits in. He matches him in everything and takes the time to enjoy the match. He makes it seem as if they are of similar power and talent, and that puts a smile on Tien's face.
"Maybe she has something to take care of," Chichi suggests, eyes moving to keep up with the fight and simply waiting for Kakarot to put Tien in the ground. From what she's gathered, Tien fights by going for pressure points as he usually shapes his hand like the beak of a bird—a crane—and strikes calculated parts on his opponent's body. That idea is scrapped sometime later because she doesn't think he's going for pressure points exactly—she's seen Durian do it once or twice and it always resulted in some serious damage. But Tien's actions are close.
"Still looking for Durian?" asks Yamcha from where he leans against the wall.
"Yeah, she just disappeared."
"And she's not with Bulma," Chichi adds. "Why leave if she's not going to Bulma?"
Yamcha chuckles to himself. It's funny how they quickly assume the only reason Durian would leave is to see Bulma. Perhaps she did go to see Bulma and just has to do something else before going to her. He'll admit he was a bit jealous of Durian when he realized that Bulma would never give him the time of day as long as Durian's around to keep her interest. He loses his fear of women, and the first one he takes an interest in is obviously more focused on someone else. Kinda hurt, to be honest.
Ah, but it's Durian, he can't be salty. He had gotten over it quickly, which proves that he has changed far more than he had first believed. In the past, he would have attempted something—he's not sure what—but he would have attempted something.
Besides, they balance each other out perfectly. He wouldn't have been a good match for Bulma anyway.
Now the only thing that bothers him is the fact they're not together. Or maybe they are and he doesn't notice because of how they usually are around each other.
"That Dodon Ray is kinda cool," Krillin interrupts his musing and brings his attention back to the fight. "Kinda like finger guns."
"I'm more amazed by the fact he can fly," says Chichi, adding her opinion. "Must be a Crane School technique."
"Give it a day or two," says Yamcha, amused and a bit smug. "Maybe even a few hours. It won't take long for Kakarot and Durian to figure it out."
"Oh no, I've already figured it out."
Krillin startles and hits his head on the wall while Chichi gives him a pitying glance. Durian's sudden appearance had surprised her as well, but with everything she's been through with her, she couldn't react as visibly to her scare. Even Yamcha's hardly affected and simply raises a brow at her sudden appearance.
She's eating corn dogs.
"You left for corn dogs?"
"No, this is just a bonus," she replies, smiling. "It's quite good."
"Why did you leave then?"
"I went to play some games," is her answer. "I've won many soft toys."
"Really, that's what you left for?" Of all the things Durian could have gone off to do, she decided she wanted to acquire a collection of plushies.
"Yes," she nods. "Bulma likes them, so I'm trying to test a theory of mine."
Ah, okay, now it makes better sense for her, and Yamcha attempts to hide his laugh behind a cough.
"And what's this theory?"
"I don't think Bulma would appreciate it if I told you," Durian replies and takes another bite off her corn dog, grinning. "Oh, this is a good corn dog. I should ask the stall owner for the recipe."
The topic of her disappearance ends there, apparently, because she soon joins the others on the wall to watch the fight.
Then Krillin speaks.
"Hey, you said you already figured out how they fly?"
"Yes," she doesn't elaborate further, and Krillin has to nudge her for her to continue. "That triclops uses ki, but I think the smaller one uses his telekinetic powers. You basically use your ki to lift off."
She can't do it yet, she admits, but she'll attempt it when she gets the time.
The match between Kakarot and Tien takes a sudden turn when Tien attempts to break Kakarot's arm. That does not work out well for him because Kakarot lets him twist his arm, grinning when Tien's eyes widen and quickly twists his body to land a kick to Tien's now-exposed stomach. That one blow alone must have packed the power of a hundred because Tien looks on the verge of unconsciousness while Kakarot simply twists his arm with a swift movement, setting anything that's been dislocated back where it needs to be.
Tien attempts to regain himself by standing up but only wobbles and stumbles like a drunk, and Kakarot simply watches.
"Oh man," Krillin cringes at the sight. "I would have died right there."
This is where Durian would've landed a solid blow to the chin or head and finished the match. With how much he's struggling right now, that's all it would take to end it all, but of course, Kakarot gives him the time to recover.
"Would he throw him a damn senzu if he had one?" Durian scoffs and mellows after another bite of her corn dog.
The first thing that happens when Tien recovers is a blinding light that hurts to look at. Blinking her vision back, Durian rubs at her eye while she focuses back on the ring and Kakarot, who balances at the end of the ring with a very relieved sigh.
The idiot, he almost fell out.
"Kakarot!" Durian's voice cuts through the tension in the arena. Kakarot doesn't take his eyes off Tien, but it's clear he hears her. "Stop messing around and finish this!"
Kakarot releases another sigh and slowly adopts a more offensive stance. Tien realizes in that moment that he had merely been a toy to the smaller fighter.
Tien couldn't stop Kakarot if he wanted to, not with how fast Kakarot moves and not with the sheer power behind that fist. Kakarot's blow lands right on Tien's temple, and the effect is almost instant. Tien goes out like a light, bound to wake up with a terrible headache.
"Again, I would have died right there," Krillin repeats as the winner is announced and Kakarot makes his way back.
"That was fun," Kakarot says, his adrenaline still pumping.
"I bet it was."
Krillin knew he was in trouble as he faced Chichi, his friend and training partner. Both were calm outwardly, but beneath the surface, he couldn't shake a sense of wariness. Winning meant a shot at facing Kakarot in the finals—a prospect that motivated Chichi deeply, especially after Kakarot had casually mentioned it. Krillin understood Kakarot's subtle strategy; by stoking Chichi's competitive fire, he was also risking his own well-being in this match.
The bout commenced without preamble. Krillin observed Chichi's movements, recognizing hints of Durian's techniques in her style. When she subtly shifted her stance, Krillin braced himself for the inevitable attack. He absorbed her blow, feeling the force enhanced by ki, a technique Durian often employed to compensate for her lesser physical strength compared to Kakarot and Yamcha.
Ignoring the pain, Krillin countered with a headbutt that connected solidly. Chichi staggered back, holding her nose with a curse and a glare.
"What is it with you and breaking people's noses?" she asked, half in jest.
Krillin chuckled weakly. "It's not intentional. Besides, a broken nose can be a useful distraction."
Chichi pressed the assault with her trademark aggression, moving with a serpentine grace that kept Krillin on edge. He dodged and weaved, evading punches and kicks that came at him like strikes from a viper. Landing a quick combination, Krillin momentarily had the upper hand, but Chichi swiftly recovered, launching a ki blast and targeting his vulnerable spots.
Krillin winced as pain shot through him. "No more messing around," he muttered, his resolve hardening.
As the fight intensified, spectators marveled at the skill on display, though few could follow the lightning-fast exchanges. Even Shen, frustrated by his school's losses and his brother's death, seethed at the Turtle School's dominance, unable to comprehend how the Turtle and even the Tiger School had surpassed him.
Meanwhile, Bulma struggled to keep track of the match, catching only glimpses of the intense battle. She winced as she witnessed Chichi hurling Krillin into the ring with a powerful maneuver.
Suddenly, Durian appeared beside her, causing Bulma to jump in surprise. "Durian!" she exclaimed, feeling a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.
"Ow," Durian grumbled as Bulma playfully punched her chest.
Bulma shrugged nonchalantly. "Sorry, not sorry. What are you doing here?"
"Just felt like it," Durian replied casually. "Now that I'm here, I can help you keep up with them."
Bulma raised an eyebrow skeptically. "How?"
"I'll teach you," Durian said, positioning Bulma to face the match with a hand on her hip. "First things first: you've gotta relax."
"That seems to be your solution to everything," Bulma retorted, though she complied, feeling a surprising ease settle over her in Durian's presence.
"Things go smoother when you're not tense," Durian explained, a hint of mischief in her tone. "Now relax."
Bulma refrained from a snarky comeback, choosing instead to focus on Durian's guidance. With Durian's hands still on her hips, Bulma couldn't help but feel a curious sense of reassurance.
"Now what?" Bulma asked after a moment.
Durian hummed thoughtfully, pleased with Bulma's progress.
"Close your eyes."
"This seems counterproductive."
"Close your eyes, bunny," Durian repeated, her voice gentle and reassuring.
Bulma sighed, knowing that Durian wouldn't relent. With a huff, she shut her eyes and waited for Durian's next instruction. Closing her eyes heightened her awareness of Durian's presence, which, while comforting, also proved distracting as Durian pulled her in closer.
"Lately we've been working on sensing ki," Durian said, her voice barely audible amidst the murmurs of the crowd, yet clear to Bulma thanks to their proximity. "You've already started to get the hang of it, and we'll build on that now."
"I can't sense ki yet, Durian," Bulma reminded her, a note of skepticism in her voice.
"Yes, you can," Durian insisted calmly. "You've done it before, multiple times. You just don't realize it."
Bulma wasn't entirely convinced but held her tongue.
"To sense ki, you need to identify it within others, much like you identify your own," Durian continued, her soothing voice calming Bulma's nerves and helping her focus. "While everyone's ki is different, there's a familiarity to it that you're reaching for."
Durian's guidance was oddly reassuring, keeping Bulma calm and making it easier to concentrate. Drawing on her previous experiences, Bulma quickly reconnected with the sensation. Within moments, she felt a new awareness settling in, almost as if she could visualize the fight despite her closed eyes. She began to understand how Durian always seemed to anticipate movements, even blindfolded.
"Got it?"
Bulma nodded, unsure how Durian always seemed to know when she had succeeded.
"Now, open your eyes and watch the fight," Durian instructed gently, guiding Bulma's next steps. "Don't strain too hard; that'll only make it more difficult."
In other words, relax.
Following Durian's advice, Bulma opened her eyes. At first, everything seemed unchanged, and she struggled to keep up with the rapid movements before her. Gradually, though, she began to grasp the flow of the fight. While she didn't catch every detail, she was far more attuned than before.
"Oh."
"See, you've done it," Durian sounded genuinely proud. "Keep this up, and sensing ki will become as natural as breathing."
The newfound sense of ki was unfamiliar yet oddly natural, a skill that Durian had helped her unlock. Perhaps she had been using this ability unconsciously all along, as Durian seemed convinced—and she usually was right about these things.
"Here," Durian said, offering Bulma a small stuffed toy that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Durian's pride was evident in her childish grin.
"You played all the games, didn't you?" Bulma deadpanned, taking the toy from Durian's hand.
"Sure did," Durian replied proudly. "Every time you make progress in your training, you'll earn another stuffed toy. I noticed you liked them, so I thought they'd make great trophies."
Durian's simplicity and thoughtfulness often struck Bulma, even over something as trivial as stuffed toys. While she appreciated the gesture, she couldn't help but suppress an embarrassing surge of affection.
It was almost ridiculous to consider marrying someone over stuffed toys—but in Durian's case, it was also strangely endearing.
Krillin found himself struggling on the floor, thoroughly exhausted after his match with Chichi. She had utilized her height advantage and targeted every vulnerable spot on his body, leaving him barely able to move. Despite his frustration at another loss, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride for Chichi's progress. She had come a long way since starting her training, transforming from a novice to a formidable fighter.
"Can we get some medics up here?" the announcer called out tentatively as he hovered over them.
"Hah, I won," Chichi managed to laugh weakly, while Krillin sighed heavily from his position on the ground.
"Next time, you'll see," he muttered determinedly.
They were swiftly taken to the infirmary where their friends soon gathered around, visibly relieved despite the intense matches they had just witnessed. Durian and Kakarot, in particular, wore broad smiles.
"Well, would you look at that," Durian snickered, clearly pleased with either herself or the match's outcome. "She did it."
"Yeah, she did," Kakarot chimed in, his expression resembling that of a mischievous child. "Feels good, doesn't it? From being the underdog to outshining us all."
"It was just Krillin"
"I take full offense to that" Krillin squacks. "I've been training my ass off and you know it. And I was this close to victory but you're too damn sneaky"
"Swift, precise, and calculating," Durian praised with nods of approval. "Maybe I should take you on as a tiger student. Can't have me being the only one forever."
"You turned me down when I asked," Kakarot complained, earning a playful slap on the back of his head from Durian.
"Your fighting style is completely incompatible," Durian reminded him. "But Chichi has been adopting most of my movements and fighting style since she started training, so she's suited to learn the tiger arts."
Kakarot grumbled something inaudible.
"And she's got patience," Durian added thoughtfully.
With that said, Durian retrieved two familiar beans from a pouch around her waist.
"Eat up."
She knew her magical beans would come in handy.
"Durian, you're a lifesaver," Krillin praised gratefully as he sat up, already feeling the effects of the beans.
"Not the profession I'm aiming for, but thank you," Durian replied with a smirk.
"Chichi, I challenge you to a rematch when we're back home," Krillin declared, his competitive spirit undeterred. "We couldn't go all out here, or we would've demolished the place."
"Yeah, sure. I've got something I've been working on anyway," Chichi agreed with a stretch and a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness for those beans."
Kakarot nodded fervently, glad that Chichi had taken the time to recover fully before their next bout. He knew firsthand the consequences of facing an opponent who wasn't at their best, having experienced it in previous tournaments with Tien.
Before their next match, they were ushered into an interview as the finalists.
"Here we go again," Durian muttered under her breath as they stood near the announcer, preparing for the questions.
"This year, our semifinalists are all students under the same school," the blond announcer informed the crowd, glancing at Durian with a knowing smile. "Somewhat."
"So, how do you all feel about having to fight your friends?" the mic was first directed towards Yamcha, who shrugged casually.
"It's fun, you know? I get to face Durian, which is a rematch I've been looking forward to for years," Yamcha admitted with a relaxed smile and laid-back demeanor. "I'm looking forward to giving her a run for her money."
Despite his awareness that Durian's skill surpassed his own, Yamcha was determined not to repeat the mistakes of their previous encounter. Back then, he had been overconfident and underestimated her abilities as a lone desert dweller.
"And how do you feel about his challenge, Durian?" the announcer turned to her expectantly.
Durian met the mic with a thoughtful expression. "Excited and looking forward to it. It's been years since we last sparred, and I know Yamcha's grown immensely as a fighter since then. It's going to be a challenge."
Yamcha couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment at Durian's acknowledgment of his progress.
Kakarot and Chichi fielded questions about their upcoming match as well as reflections on their previous fights, both opting for brief responses.
"You all were quite a bit younger the last time you graced this arena," the announcer mused aloud, his tone nostalgic. "Kakarot here remains the youngest winner in tournament history. He and his friends were the youngest participants to reach the final eight, and they've shown incredible growth once again this year."
"How old are you all now?" the announcer inquired, directing his attention to the group.
"I'm officially a man at nineteen," Yamcha declared proudly, eliciting chuckles from the others.
Some girls do fawn over him which, funnily enough, has him flustered.
"I'm fifteen," Chichi stated matter-of-factly, with Kakarot nodding in agreement since they were the same age.
"And our dear Durian," the announcer draped an arm around her shoulder, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You were a fan favorite, you know? At fourteen, you faced a seasoned master of the arts and survived a fierce battle. Not to mention your reputation among the ladies, huh?"
Durian raised an eyebrow in response. "I'm seventeen," she clarified, adding, "I'll be turning eighteen soon."
"Still an amazing cook and engineer?" the announcer teased lightly.
"Absolutely," Durian confirmed with a smile. "Though I'd like to think I've improved in my engineering skills."
"An eligible bachelor if I've ever seen one," the announcer laughed heartily, patting her shoulder in a friendly manner.
"No," Durian deadpanned, her tone leaving no room for argument. "I'm very much not eligible, and I apologize to anyone that disappoints."
"Oh?" the announcer leaned back in surprise, his interest piqued. "Do tell."
"No."
