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Then it clicked. She never entertained the idea that it could be extended into combat. For Saiyans always believed it was kill or be killed, that causing pain was part of fighting. But she always wondered what those on the receiving end of those killing blows or torturous interrogations felt or thought of in those moments, begging to be spared or shown mercy. Most believed that those on the receiving end who escaped would go on to swear revenge on them and hunt them down, and the Saiyans retaliating in kind. And so on and so forth in a viscous cycle. Perhaps if they had shown them empathy, had tried to give them the chance at having a better life, or forgave those that wronged them. Would they be her friends as she was to Gohan now? Maybe the Saiyan race would've had allies or been benefactors to the universe, and maybe would not have been...
Then she stopped, "Even if that someone was Frieza?" She asked, her voice distant.
Gohan didn't say anything. He remembered what Gine had told him of the tyrant that destroyed her people, her planet, and her family. He sounded so irredeemable, so evil, and so unimaginably powerful he may as well be the Devil himself. Would he spare his life like he did for Gine, if he had the chance to end him for things he did?
His silence was all Gine needed to know, and she felt herself vindicated.
Yes, compassion was definitely something that could save countless lives from unnecessary violence, but there were some people who were definitely less deserving of forgiveness than others... Weren't there?
Puar flew over them in the form of a magic carpet, carrying Yamcha to the nearest hospital with the gang following close behind.
"We should probably go check up on them." Gine said, already past their debate and ready to leave.
"Right." Gohan agreed and dropped the subject as they filed out of the arena.
But he had a sense that they would revisit this topic in future. One of things Gohan enjoyed was they many conversations he shared with Gine of the differences between Saiyan and human societies. He treasured her unique perspective of things, and they had many disagreements that often got heated but never violently so. He also didn't judge her any less for the things he disagreed with, and this felt like one of those disagreements. For he believed that there were some things that were just and universal...
"I'm sorry I let you all down." Said a dejected Yamcha. He lay in a hospital bed with his leg set in a cast and was surrounded by all of his friends. Gine stood at the foot of the bed with Kakarot and Gohan.
"Don't be sorry, babe." Bulma sat by his side and lovingly caressing his face. "You did your best and that's all that matters."
They all did their best to comfort him after such a degrading and painful defeat. Gine almost wanted to chastise Yamcha like she would against Kakarot, about how he shouldn't have used repetitive tactics for his opponent to use against him; but she decided that her usual bluntness would not suit well after Bulma didn't take her words too kindly. So, Gine just said: "She's right. You fought well."
Bulma gave Gine a side-eyed glance, like she thought Gine was just saying an empty assurance, considering how dismissive she sounded earlier. But Yamcha seemed to appreciate her words.
"Thanks, Gine." He smiled lamely.
"And Besides..." Krillin chimed in. "It's not you we should be angry about, it's that dirty rotten Tien."
"Yeah!" Chi-Chi echoed. "It was a low blow to kick you while you were down! If anything, he should have been disqualified for doing something like that."
"Sadly, the tournament has some very loose rules about that." Gohan said ruefully. "That's why I stopped fighting in them long ago when they stopped caring about little honorable things and focused more on the drama in the ring."
"That's very true, one sad thing about the tournament I wish they could change." Roshi admitted. Everyone seemed forlorn that such a thing could go unpunished.
Kakarot patted Yamcha's shoulder. "Don't worry about him Yamcha, I'll make sure he learns his lesson."
Yamcha turned to him, looking worried. "No. No, Kakarot. It's not worth it. That Tien's a ruthless man."
Kakarot grinned in the mischievous smile. "I know."
Gine didn't like this tone. She still believed that the injury inflicted was a very minor cause for a vendetta and felt the need to dissuade them from this.
"Yamcha, you've had a long day. It's time you got some rest."
Yamcha looked hesitant but relented. "Alright..." Then turned to Kakarot. "Kakarot, fight! Do not let him win the title!"
"Don't worry, he won't!" Kakarot reassured.
Gine sighed, feeling like this was all just a bunch of meaningless drama, as Gohan called it. But there was also a part of her deep down that told her that she should not let this kind of injustice slide, and that they should give that three-eyed freak his comeuppance. She still thought that her talk with Gohan had nothing to do with it, but that same little voice was saying to let Kakarot fight for his friend. And let no unjust act go without an answer.
She shook her head. She was tired enough a
s it is and didn't want to think about it anymore...
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Want to read more?
The next 10+ chapters are already available on my Patreon!
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