Post by Chomei on Dec 28, 2022 5:22:16 GMT -5
In truth, I’ve no idea how I got to this point. How I’ve let myself become so obsessed and destroyed, over something so meaningless.
Well… that’s a bit harsh, Choh thought after a moment. After all, it did have meaning to him, once. The thought of becoming the world's strongest was fascinating to Chomei. A true goal, a manly goal, something really worth achieving. All that time ago, when Cheri had first approached him on the stage of the Tenka`ichi Budokai, Chomei still believed in that dream. Even after his loss, disheartening though it was.
He’d made a promise that day that still stuck with him. One he hadn't kept. And it was because of that dream.
As soon as he’d been able to walk, he left the tournament grounds, resigning from his job as a trucker, and preparing himself for a great journey. He entered the wilderness, as he had many years ago with his master, the wise old monk—Yome. He found the place of his great battle with the old man, taking a brief detour to visit his grave. He’d been buried nearby, by his own request. Here, Chomei believed he would grow to rival the greatest warriors of the universe.
“Hah!” Throwing an empty glass of whiskey against the white, stone pavement, Choh slowly stood up, garnering a few wary glances from the flowing crowds nearby. “A dream, that’s for fuckin sure,” He groaned, stretching his overgrown muscles, which by now had slightly deflated. Trudging slowly forward, Choh joined the crowds, a pocket of air forming as people tried their best to ignore him. Huh? When did I start doing that? Choh thought. He couldn't quite recall when he’d started using his proper name in his thoughts. ‘Mei’ Had been a prefix his teacher added after he’d mastered the Dragon Style. “Choh…” He whispered aloud, not quite sure if he liked the way it sounded.
But it was fitting—He was no longer Chomei, after all. Chomei had died alongside the dream. And that got him thinking once again. How did it come to this?
One year. He’d spent a little under one year in that forest, refining the Dragon Style to its limits. Hundreds of acres lay wasted, strewn about by his heavy, almighty blows. Every aspect of his body had been honed to perfection, hardened as much as possible. He returned from his journey, ready to finally help… only to find that the war was over. And not too long before his emergence either. He doubted he could have changed anything, he’d probably be dead. But the guilt he felt was immeasurable. As far as he knew, The oppressors had won, his friend was likely dead, and he had done nothing. Save for breaking his promise.
That hadn't killed the dream, though.
“... I think I still have that pod she gave me, somewhere… Should I sell it?” Choh asked aloud, mainly to himself. He knew he never would, no matter how drunk he got.
Earth had become chaotic, shortly after that war. Crisis after crisis occurred, and Chomei tried his damned hardest to help. But something quickly became apparent to him. These disasters were far too much for him to handle, beyond that even. Each and every single one of them outclassed Chomei. And they always would.
Chomei had realized during his training, even only a few months in, that the Dragon Style had been perfected. His body would grow no stronger than it was then. He’d heard often of something called “Ki”, yet he could never grasp any understanding of it himself. He was essentially stuck, and not for lack of trying.
Eventually, receiving grievous injuries one after the other, he started to relegate himself to saving innocents. He thought himself kind and goodhearted, helping the little guy while those stronger than him fought the big baddies. But eventually, And I don't remember which disaster this was… maybe the one with the green guy, He realized the real reason he didn't fight.
He'd become a coward. For all his efforts to grow stronger, he knew deep down he could never win against these monsters. He could die trying, but he didn't want to. Chomei chose not to fight them. And while this revelation almost broke him, it didn't.
Somewhere, deep inside his mind, the dream still lived.
“Ah… that’s right,” Choh could still recall the crisp memory of when it died. He’d rushed to a crisis zone with the intention of helping and was turned aside. Chomei didn't know the guy's name, some member of the new Crisis Response Team. And he wasn't even rude when he asked me to leave, But I knew, somehow, that this guy was stronger than me. A lot stronger, him and his fellow officers. This man that I didn't even know, or recognize. I was like him, in that regard. A nobody that nobody knew, just one of many “strong” guys running around. But not outstanding, not like the monsters who kept attacking, or the heroes that stopped them. I was a normal, everyday coward, not even unique in his strength. He realized that he had always known that, secretly. And that’s when the dream died. Years of his life wasted away, in pursuit of vain strength.
“Ah… that’s right,” Choh could still recall the crisp memory of when it died. He’d rushed to a crisis zone with the intention of helping and was turned aside. Chomei didn't know the guy's name, some member of the new Crisis Response Team. And he wasn't even rude when he asked me to leave, But I knew, somehow, that this guy was stronger than me. A lot stronger, him and his fellow officers. This man that I didn't even know, or recognize. I was like him, in that regard. A nobody that nobody knew, just one of many “strong” guys running around. But not outstanding, not like the monsters who kept attacking, or the heroes that stopped them. I was a normal, everyday coward, not even unique in his strength. He realized that he had always known that, secretly. And that’s when the dream died. Years of his life wasted away, in pursuit of vain strength.
Choh paused on the walkway, receiving a few disgruntled shouts and shoves. “Yeah… now I remember…” He huffed. “...Which means I need another drink,” Choh grunted, hobbling forward once again.
After a while, Choh was able to tune out the ambient noise of the thousands of people around him. Unfortunate, since it meant his mind could now focus entirely on his raw, unfiltered thoughts. He took each step slowly, remembering the rapid degradation of his life in clearer detail as his buzz wore off. How he’d distanced himself from family and friends after his failure to help in the Saiyan War. How he’d let cowardice hold such a grip over him. How he drank himself into silence every night just to avoid the memory of it.
Looking up, he spotted a bar not twenty feet away. Instinctively, he took a step towards it, then stopped. Through his slightly blurry vision, he stared at the LED sign. Dragonbelly, it said. Why it gave him pause, he did not know, when suddenly, his eyes widened.
He remembered a time long past when he was but a child. In front of this very bar is where Choh had met Yome all those years ago. Choh hadn't been able to back down, then. He was pummeled relentlessly, and still, he yelled insult after insult. He’d once been fearless, it seemed. Or maybe just stupid. ...What mother of all coincidences brought me here? Choh wondered, dumbfounded. He stared for what seemed an eternity, his mind momentarily quiet. Then he heard a yell.
Moving around the rotund building, Choh came within view of an old alleyway, where three old men were beating down some young teen. Choh didn't know why they were doing i, maybe the kid deserved it. That didn't stop Chomei from taking a step forward, and then another. And then another.
Moving around the rotund building, Choh came within view of an old alleyway, where three old men were beating down some young teen. Choh didn't know why they were doing i, maybe the kid deserved it. That didn't stop Chomei from taking a step forward, and then another. And then another.
This scene had been eerily similar to what he had experienced, except this kid didn't yell out in defiance. He wept. Without a word, Chomei knocked the three old men out with a quick chop, one after the other. He stood quietly over the trembling boy, and hesitantly held out a hand. The boy recoiled, as did Choh. He stared down at his hand uncertainly, flexing his fingers. That'd been the first time in quite a while that he'd hit anyone. The boy still lay on the ground, shaking. After a pause, Choh realized he should probably go. Though, for whatever reason, he decided to leave after a few quick words.
“... Uh, Kid, I don't know what you did, but uh... fight back a little next time,” Choh said, voice strained as he turned to go. “Thank you…” A quiet voice whispered from behind him, and he paused.
“... Uh, Kid, I don't know what you did, but uh... fight back a little next time,” Choh said, voice strained as he turned to go. “Thank you…” A quiet voice whispered from behind him, and he paused.
He stared forward for a moment. Then, he took another step forward, still quiet, and walked away from the Dragonbelly.