The little Prince was still asleep when Tozai woke. The tall boy rubbed the sleep from his eyes. *He's still here* he thought. He got up from the place on the floor where he had slept.

"What did you think, that he would go away after what he said last night?" Yaukono whispered.

The boy had woken up before him. He was now heating a cup of Mener juice, his favourite drink in the morning. He shook the cup in order for the contents to mix. Tozai cast him a disparaging look.

"I wish he'd be gone," he said. "We don't need the Prince of Vejiita sei around us."

He now stood next to the boy, holding out his cup so the kid would pour some juice for him.

"I don't know," Yaukono said, " I rather like the idea of having him here. It makes for a challenge." He smiled wickedly at his leader. "Who's the strongest of the two of you, ne?" He smiled again.

Tozai grimaced at the boy's stare. He roughly took his cup of juice. His lips curled.

"Did he sleep there all night?" Yaukono asked.

"Yes," Tozai answered. "He did not make a sound, not a single murmur, as if he was not there."

"I could feel him staring at us," Yaukono said taking a drink from his cup. "All night. Looking at us. I could feel the heat of his stare all night."

"All night?" Tozai looked at the kid, frowning. Listening to the way his friend was talking made him sick. He cast Vejiita's sleeping form a glance. The Prince's tail was moving from side to side. His scowl grew deeper. *This whole thing is a game to you, ne Vejiita?* he thought. * We're your dolls. You're having fun at our expenses* Tozai returned his stare back to Yaukono.

"You stayed up all night watching?" he growled. The kid pouted.

"It's not every day that the prince of your country gets to sleep that close to you," he spat back. He yawned.

"Quiet!" Tozai hissed. "He might hear you-"

Tozai adjusted the sash around his breast plates. His pride was beginning to hurt. He frowned. His friend was talking about this kid prince as if he were an honoured guest.

In the corner, Maiika woke up. She had hardly slept. She stayed up all night looking up at the Prince's silhouette as he leaned on the pipes. He had not looked at her. She could feel the young boy's hot stare on her friends. Next to her, Kafe woke as well. She let out a soft moan as she rubbed her back. She had hated Tozai's decision to sleep on the floor all night. Maiika rolled on her side, rising to stand. She had heard her brother's hushed conversation. She smirked at the two boys. *They do not know the Prince at all.* She smiled. *They have not seen him like I did that day by the alley.* She had seen a trace of niceness in him. If she could call it that applying it to Vejiita. Neither her brother or Yaukono had ever seen the dedication the little boy gave his training, the fire he had. She smiled wider. *The real reason he hit you, brother, was because you destroyed the only quiet time by spying on him. I would've hit you too.*

"The Prince up?" Kafe asked.

Tozai fumed from the corner he had taken himself to. Kafe walked over to Yaukono's side. The kid was staring up at the place where Vejiita slept. She looked up at the boy frowning.

"He could be," Yaukono said. "I don't know". He finished his drink. Kafe stretched her arms. She frowned deeper.

"That must have been great for his back," she said sarcastically. "I'm sure they sleep like that all the time in the palace."

A smile passed Yaukono's little face. He chuckled. Tozai looked at him from the corner of his eye. He cursed silently. His attention was taken by his sister. She was bent down in a gutter, washing her face with it's water. She drank a little when she finished and headed towards them. Tozai's eyes burned. He frowned. *Prince Vejiita will have lots of fun with us. We're a circus to the young boy. He'll laugh at our misery.* He clenched his teeth.

The littlest boy, Kushiyo, was the last to wake. The noise his friends were making brought him out of his sleep. He had not paid attention to the Prince at all. He had slept soundly. He got up, washed his face, as if it were every day that the Saiyan Prince slept on those rails. He walked over to where his friends made a circle. Kafe finished putting on her armour. Yaukono was silently waiting for the Prince to wake up. Maiika drank her juice patiently. Kushiyo looked at the group, noticing their uneasiness. Tozai didn't great him. The tall boy reclined on a wall, his eyes closed. The red sun climbed in the distance. It's morning rays coloured the thick fog.

"Who will wake him?" Yaukono said. He broke the silence they all wanted broken at last. The kids stared at each other.

"Not me, " Kushiyo said. The little one covered his mouth. "He'll be mad."

"Nonsense," Maiika said. She clenched her fists boldly. "He's got to get up now, or we'll miss our breakfast."

Tozai frowned. "Are we his maids?" he said from his corner.

Kafe looked at him. The kids were silent for a while, their tails moving up and down. Tozai smirked. Maiika frowned at her brother. She jumped on the pipe leading to the Prince's body. She climbed up to his sleeping side. She smiled as the other kids came after her. Yaukono got there first. Tozai remained in the floor looking at them wide eyed. He frowned from his position.

The Prince was lying on his side. His arms tucked under his head. He looked at peace, like any other small child. Maiika smiled. Kushiyo gasped. The prince had not taken off his gloves or boots. Kafe frowned.

Maiika drew in her breath. Should they wake him up like a common boy? The kids looked at her. Tozai snorted.

"Kick the little bastard," he grumbled to himself.

The kids didn't know what to do. The little Prince didn't even stir.

"Well?" The children gasped. "When are you going to do it?"

Maiika drew back. The young Prince raised himself to a sitting position. He looked at them rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He sat there for a moment, as if the kids weren't there and he were at the palace. He caught the look in the kid's faces. They were scared of him. He smiled. They were awed by his presence. The kids got out of his way as he got up and walked on the rail, his tail wrapping itself on his waist. He was now fully awake.

"Is breakfast served?" he asked.

The Prince looked back at them. The kids drew away from him. Maybe he had changed his mind and decided to kill them all as a morning sport. After beating him up so badly, they found it hard to believe they were still alive. The Prince didn't seem to care about that though.

Vejiita ran his hand on the back of his hair, taking in the morning air. He frowned. He had slept very little. Inwardly, he cursed his stubbornness for making him come here. Nappa was right. This is not the place for him. He gritted his teeth. The morning air was so cold.

Last night, Vejiita had enjoyed seeing the little ones gathered huddled next to each other trying to sleep when they knew that he was there. They watched him until sleep beat them down. Those same eyes were watching him now with wonder. They had never seen the Prince so close before. Vejiita smiled. He savoured their faces.

"Breakfast, served?" Tozai snarled. *I'll serve it out for you, my leader*

The tall boy cast his friends a nasty look. Vejiita jumped down from the rail. He landed on the floor next to Tozai, ignoring the tall boy's presence. He looked for the cup the other kids had drank from.

Still in the railing, Yaukono looked at Maiika. He stared at her wickedly. She had brought death to their alley. Kushiyo could feel the evil in Vejiita's stare. Yaukono was about to speak, and scream to her about her stupidity, when Kafe spoke hotly.

"What shall we do?" the tall girl said. "Follow him?"

"He is the Prince," Kushiyo said. "Let's go with him. Let's get breakfast."

His little belly rang. Maiika smiled. The little one was scared, but hunger made him forget. Yaukono frowned.

"What?" he said, "Follow him? He's just waiting to kill us."

Maiika cast him a nasty glance. "He's the Prince," she said.

"We'll pay for beating him up," Yaukono said. "He'll kill us!"

Kushiyo bit his lip. He was hungry. Why couldn't Yaukono forget that for now? He sighed. The older boy was right, though. Kafe snarled. She was about to start her fight with the younger girl again. Maiika was ready for her insults, this time though. The littlest boy stared at the kids, who were frowning at each other. He gave out a huge sigh.

"Who cares?!" he said. "He's the Prince!" He leapt down from the railing to the floor after Vejiita. He giggled childishly. Maiika followed glad that she didn't have to fight with Kafe. Yaukono snarled.

"Have you gone mad?" he snapped.

Kafe frowned. She folded her arms over her chest, making a face. She suddenly caught sight of Tozai coming over to Vejiita's side a deep scowl on his face. Unwillingly, her lips broke to a smile. The little Prince was so small next to the tall boy. She quickly shook her smile off.

"Is this all you've got?" Vejiita said. He smelled the juice in the pot wrinkling his nose. "Lousy meat last night and terrible morning breakfast."

Tozai smirked. *All we have. Sorry. My humblest apologies* Vejiita's lips curled. He tossed the cup away.

"Let's get some real breakfast," he said.

The other kids came closer to the two boys. Kushiyo's belly grumbled. The smallest child looked at Vejiita with wonder. The Prince was incredibly royal. He was awed by his demeanour. Tozai raised an eyebrow.

"Why don't you get us some food, your Majesty," he challenged.

Vejiita smiled wickedly. His eyes baring a hidden darkness.

"Let me show you how it's done"

He grimaced, stuffing a large piece of meat on his mouth. A large pile of bones lay next to him. He smiled after swallowing. They were eating in the the seclusion of another alley, close to the one where they had slept. Not many Saiya jin come here.

Vejiita had noticed that the kids had a rare behaviour to being seeing. They didn't act as they usually do in the presence of older Saiya jin. He had seen the look of animosity in their eyes. They were no fun to him that way. Once away from grown up's eyes, in places remotely in the wild side of the city, the kids relaxed. No one comes to this putrid alleys, civilization keeps itself away. That is why they like it here.

Vejiita had sneaked to hunt in the area where he had taken the kids once or twice when his couriers were not looking. The small children had reacted just as he expected. Once removed from the seclusion of the iron walls, dark alleys and poverty, they opened their hearts releasing their powerful ki. The Prince smiled as the kids surrendered to the pleasure of the hunt.

Tozai had remained separate from the hunt, refusing to enjoy it. The tall boy refused to have a good time in what Vejiita had enjoyed. The kids though had watched wide eyed as the little Prince hunted like a beast. Vejiita had made a huge pile of dead carcasses. The kids loosened themselves and ran wild killing the wild prey as well. Then, all of them dragged their kills back to the kid's alley, where they preferred to eat.

The kids had pretty much ignored Vejiita. He sat alone eating his kill. They wolfed down the meat in silence competing with each other as to whom could eat just what.

Tozai wanted to act civilized. He sat away from the group, away from Vejiita and ate slower.

The little Prince sat, the noon wind blowing his hair, licking his fingers. His eyes narrowed, looking down at the kids. He enjoyed the way the kids were eating. The little bastards were halfway starved. This was the first time, no doubt, they had this much food. He smiled.

Breakfast had been good. He licked blood out of his fingers. Some distance from him, Yaukono wolfed down his meat, bones and all. Kushiyo smacked his lips smiling. He had never had this much food. He wanted to continue eating the remaining pieces of the kill, but he couldn't fit any more in. Saiya jin stomachs are big, but try as he liked, not a single piece more could fit. Kafe was still stuffing herself. Her belly lay big over her legs, her tail swinging happily. She licked her fingers, blushing. Her face was flushed. She licked the blood of the kill on her lips. Maiika laughed. Kushiyo's face was pitiful. She couldn't help but laugh at the kid's pitiful attempt to keep on eating.

Tozai sat arms crossed over his chest. He had eaten little. He had refused to eat the kills Vejiita had made, eating only his ones. He frowned. The little Prince had been relaxed as he drove into his kills. For every one Tozai had gotten, he had gotten twenty. The little Prince was so fast. He had been faster than any of the kids had ever been able to. Lashing at his prey, killing it gracefully. Vejiita had not damaged any of the kill. Tozai curled his lips. His friends were enjoying the brat's spoils. They giggled as they ate. He had never seen them eat so eagerly. He snarled, his fists clenching.

Every once and while again, one of the kids would look at the Prince. Vejiita could see a silent respect in their eyes. He smirked. Maiika looked at him, as she ate. He didn't like the way they looked at him. They didn't look at each other like that. He frowned. He folded his arms over his chest putting on his gloves. He pushed the thought away.

"Breakfast was good, Ouji sama!" Kushiyo said to him.

Vejiita snorted. The little boy had problems keeping his feelings inside. Bad for a Saiyan warrior.

"What else did you expect?" he said.

The kids were silent. Tozai raised an eyebrow. What did the prince expect out of them? He wanted to see what the little boy would do next.

The Prince stood up, his boots and gloves clean even after such a messy meal.

Yaukono whipped his hands on his clothes. The prince wrinkled his nose. The kids were so filthy. They smelled terrible. The place they live in stinks horribly. They need a bath. He frowned. He doesn't want to hang about filthy boys.

Tozai got up, the kids looked up at him. They also got up standing by him. Vejiita narrowed his eyes. Tozai smiled at the young Prince. His friends aren't going to play Vejiita's game. Vejiita ran his gloved hand over his nose.

"You stink, " he said. " I think it's time you had a bath." Tozai's lips curled. "At my palace"

Yaukono frowned. He looked at the Prince's serious face. Maiika smiled.

"You'll let us into the palace?" she said.

Kafe rolled her eyes. *The little girl is incredible* she thought. Maiika left the group and came to stand next to the prince. She smiled at him. Vejiita nodded. The little girl leapt for joy. Her brother growled silently. Kafe glanced at him.

"It's enough that he commands us, but why does he have to control my little sister like that?"

Kafe lowered her eyes. "She's been going to the palace to see him for a long time," she said. Kafe wanted to have a long and hot talk with the little girl. It was obvious that she had gone mad.

Yaukono stiffened. The Prince's offer was tempting. He pushed the wild idea away. He grimaced, folding his arms around his chest. His tail wrapped around his waist.

"You think Maiika likes Vejiita?" he said.

"Baka!" Tozai yelled. He gritted his teeth. "Don't you ever say that again!"

The other kid glowered back. That was an obvious reality.

"Tozai," he said. "Are you going to let that upstart fool around with us like this?"

"You're the kisama that went hunting with him as if he were a friend!" the tall boy yelled.

"I was hungry" Kushiyo whined. He hated that the presence of the prince caused his friends to be so edgy. He wished they stopped frowning. They were messing up Vejiita's visit. Of course, he didn't say this. Tozai would kill him if he ever knew Kushiyo wanted to play with the Prince. Kafe gave the little boy a dirty look. She could read his thoughts.

"Tozai," she said. "It's not everyone's gift that the Prince gets to eat with them-"

"It's not a gift to me!" Tozai growled.

"It should be," Vejiita said. He had not moved, arms folded over his chest. He had a horrible look on his eyes. "It's the last privilege you get before dying."

Tozai was about to speak when the little Prince turned himself away.

"Come on, " he called to them. "I can't stand that horrid smell you have any longer."

Kafe clenched her fists. Yaukono frowned. Kushiyo bit his lips. Vejiita went ahead waiting for them. Maiika didn't think twice about it and fell instep beside him. Yaukono followed his leader as Tozai followed Vejiita's lead. Kafe fumed beside him.

"Are we stronger than him?" he whispered.

"We'll never know until we fight." Tozai replied. He lowered his eyes to the floor, his teeth bared. He clenched his fists. *Bakayaro*

Maiika hoped excitedly next to the Prince. She was talking to him endlessly. Vejiita wasn't looking at her. He was looking at the road ahead. She didn't seem to care. When had she ever thought about what anyone ever said about her? In her child's mind, she thought she understood Vejiita's mood. Shamelessly, she didn't even glance backwards at her brother. She was tired of him. All her life, she had wanted to be this close to the Prince. Tozai was spoiling her fun. All her friends needed was to try to see Vejiita as another child.

Vejiita frowned. Her whinny voice hurt his ears. She was rambling again. He looked ahead holding in the immense desire to rip her tongue off.

"I'll get to see more than just that room you train in!" she was saying. She clasped her hands. "Hurray! Now I can walk up the halls, not sneak around them."

Vejiita narrowed his eyes. He could feel the angry stare she was getting from the other boys. They walked behind him in grim silence. He was beginning to hate the feeling he was getting from their animosity. He clenched his fists. He felt a strange pain in his chest. Why does it hurt? He smirked. Why is he here with these kids? Does he expect them to shoot up and become his friends? He scowled at himself.

The little girl next to him smiled at him. He raised an eyebrow. * What is it about this girl?* He sighed inwardly. He found himself wishing that her friends were a bit more like her. He frowned. That does it, now he's going mad.

He felt Tozai grin at him from behind. He hated the tall boy's defiant look. Vejiita shut his eyes, shut his mind. He concentrated on the road. Tozai would learn soon enough not to underestimate him.
 

Unfinished
 

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