The corner had lead him to dark alleys strange to him. Huge dark buildings that reached the sky, smoky streets, and trash that covered the side walks. The white buildings were far behind him. He would never have come here if not for the way this chase had lead him.

Vejiita didn't stop to look at anything that surround him. There were almost no people here. The busy streets had been left behind along with their bustle.

He grimaced. When he had landed, dirty mud puddles had bathed his boots in mock. The smelly air of the foggy alley entered his lungs. Coughing, he continued up the alley. The little girl was nowhere in sight. Blinking, he looked up at the large, dark buildings looming around him. Grey mist engulfed them. He frowned. Filthy cartons and cans were tossed on the floor. An old, rusted hovercraft lay over turned in the corner. Dirty, broken pieces of capsules lay abandoned around. Awful smells came to his nostrils from the sewers. He raised his gloved hand to cover his mouth. He turned sharply as he heard the sound of someone groaning. On the corner, a poor old Saiyan woman sat on the curb beneath a dirty blanket. Old and fragile, her crumbled tail resting beside her. Displayed before her were various rusted weapons, wares she was selling.

The little prince frowned again. He could barely see the gleaming white towers of the palace grounds.

He continued to walk up the alley. He didn't like this place. Where this the things he saw when he looked outside his window? He could hardly believe any Saiyan could live in this poverty. He sniffed. He saw an old doll turned upside down on a gutter. Her bald head and arms swaying on the dirty water current. Vejiita stared at her swinging little arms. Rats dashed out of the trash from the open turned over boxes. What was this place? He was getting annoyed at all the dirty, miserable things around him. Didn't anyone care to look their best here? Of course not, he thought, this were low class barbarians.

Finding himself lost, he stopped walking. His boots were dirty, his skin itched from the dust it had gathered. He must look such a sight. Nappa will be furious when he sees what he has done to his clothes.

And he had let that little intruder get away. She would pay!

From the shadows in the high balcony, her eyes caught sight of him. He had stopped at last. She had tired him down. She chuckled. She had outbested the prince! Puzzled, she cocked her head. The little boy looked lost. It was curious to see him gathering up the place, trying to decipher the strange buildings. It was almost pitiful. *Hasn't he ever come here? Of course not, he has been pampered all his life. This is probably the first time that he has come to this part of the city.* She was almost tempted to come out of the seclusion of her hiding place and take him to familiar grounds.

She gasped. His cold, narrow eyes had found her again. He didn't have a scouter on. How did he sense her presence all the time? He stood perfectly still, his royal composure taking over his child's features. Even though his boots and gloves were dirty, his hair messy, he stood out from all the misery in the street. He folded his arms slowly over his chest.

"That was foolish of you" he told her "You've let yourself be caught because you delayed your escape."

Her brows came together. He was insulting her warrior training. She came out of her hiding place, defiantly. She wore a smile on her face.

"I see" she said "I wouldn't be so smug if I were you. It's obvious that you're far away from your pampered halls were you know your way around." She leaned on a broken pipe. " This is my domain, not yours"

He didn't respond. His little fingers grew tighter on his folded arms.

The little girl slid down the pipe like a cat, her tail dancing as she descended skilfully. She was master of her motions, even though she was a child. His anger began to climb. He hated the way she was treating him. No one spoke to him like that, specially not a little, grimy street girl. He'd do what he came to do quickly and then return to his training.

"I can feel your anger rising, your majesty" she said " What's wrong?"

His tail curled as his anger rose even higher. How dare she mock him?!

"How did someone like you manage to walk into the palace unnoticed?"

He was looking hard at her. She grinned innocently.

"I always place most extreme care not to be seen!" she answered.

"You've done this before...?" His anger was about to give way.

She danced in glee before him, her child's face taking up life. "Of course, silly! I like to go in and see how the royal train!" She clasped her hands. "The attacks moves they teach you cannot be found out here on the streets. I like to learn to fight like you do"

He felt his cheeks colour. She had been seeing him as he had been privately training all this time? She didn't seem to acknowledge his anger. She didn't seem to care that he was there. His lip curled. This street girl had been sneaking around the palace watching him train! Didn't his guards do their jobs that people like her could sneak around like that? She had turned her back on him.

"My father sends intruders to death" he told her.

The little girl stood close to him, her excited body dancing in childish pleasure. She turned to look at him.

"I know" she said "I didn't care. If I were to think on such things, I'd never do anything! I like to watch you train, no matter what rule forbids it!" She let out a small laugh.

He was taken by surprise. Why was this girl being so familiar with him? So honest with him as if they were friends? He felt strange. He almost let his guard down, allowing himself to smile at her boldness, but he quickly recovered. His nose wrinkled in disgust. The girl, he noticed, had a terrible smell. He took his eyes away from her and concentrated on the trash around them.

"Your hideout stinks" he stated "If you and your friends come here to train, how do you stand the smell?"

"One gets used to it" she said softly "when one lives with it everyday."

Prince Vejiita caught the emotion of her voice. He smirked in disbelief.

"You live here?" he asked.

She cringed at his cold remark. She had forgotten how cruel Vejiita could be. He was looking at the walls with scorn, disgusted at the sight. She bowed her eyes, ashamed.

"This is my home" she said. " That is why going to the palace is something I like. It is so nice there, so clean, so well kept. The people there are polite and they wear such nice shiny armour. Always shiny."

She turned away once more. He snickered. Such display of emotions was unworthy of a Saiyan warrior. Didn't people in the streets learn to control their emotions?

"Even though you live in this filth, you should try to keep yourself in condition, and built your power so you can become a true Saiyan warrior" he said. His voice echoed in the empty alley. She left his side and walked over to the gutter. She sat down in the curb, picking up the doll he had seen in the water. Her little arms held it tenderly, rocking it gently. Dirty water from the gutter splashed her feet.

"I suppose you would've killed by now if you wanted to" she said.

He remained silent, watching her. Her short, dark, curly hair was terribly messy. Her face was marked by grime. Her whole body was dirty. She wore old, broken armour of what used to be white and golden colours, now faded into dull brown. Her boots had a dozen patches, her elbows were scarred. She was very small, yet she was slightly higher than hen was. She wore broken gloves on her hands and a black ring, he noticed, on her index finger. She didn't look up at him as he regarded her.

Letting his arms fall to his side, he walked closer to the gutter. There was something strange working in his body. Why didn't he kill her like he'd vowed? he didn't understand what it was he felt. There was something in her defiance. She was not afraid of him. She was brave to talk like she did, to enter into the palace and admit to the prince that she did so frequently. She was too earnest with him. His mind was going wild on him. He admired this girl's courage.

"Is that your toy?" he asked. His eyes still regarded her like a servant, his voice still commanding. She didn't like the way he spoke to her, but she was already used to his ways. She was amazed that he had even bothered to speak to her at all.

"No" she answered " It was Kushara's doll. She was my friend" Vejiita watched her, unmoved, from his standing position.

"She died" she continued "My mother found her one night on the porch of the house very sick. She got worse, her tail lost all its hair. She couldn't make it out of the unknown disease that got her. In rage, her brother tossed her doll into this alley. No one has picked it up."

Vejiita's eyes narrowed. This people were so ignorant. Didn't they know about medicine? Why didn't they take her to a healing pod? How did they allow her to die? Maybe the kid had been too weak.

"Only the strong survive" she said, almost reading his mind.

The Saiyan prince looked down at her. * A true warrior * Slowly, he reached down to sit next to her. he cringed as the murky water splashed his boots. She was staring at him, perplexed. It was the first time she had seen him do something like this. She felt the tension in his body.

He didn't look at her, nor at his feet. he stared ahead, his back perfectly straight, his posture amazing. He sat as if he were on a throne, his head tilted backwards just slightly in royal custom.

Both children sat there in the curb, staring at the overturned, rusty, old hovercraft, dimly lit in the dark alley. In silence, the murky water splashing their boots.

"What is this Maiika?" came a voice from the balconies. Vejiita jumped to his feet, his senses reacting to the assault on his privacy. His eyes searched for the intruders. They were in the shadows, he could sense them. Behind him, he felt the little girl rise slowly, the doll abandoned in the water.

"Now you mingle with the mighty"

A tall, lean boy appeared out of the mist. Wild hair cascading down his back, a huge frame of muscles. The boy was much taller than the prince. He wore dark, broken armour and a short brown wrapping over his shoulder blades. A scowl on his face. He slid down the pipes like an animal and landed on his feet.

Vejiita returned his nasty stare silently. The little girl came forward to stand between both of them. There were other kids, the prince felt them, in the shadows above him. He acknowledged their presence in his mind.

"Tozai" the little girl greeted the boy " This is Prince Vejiita. Treat him with respect."

"I know very well who he is!" he responded " How can I miss it? The midget's obviously royalty. Look at his clothes!" He turned to access his friends in the shadows. They laughed at his mocking commentary.

"Since when did you hang around the peasantry, your highness?" Tozai asked.

"I never do" the prince answered coldly "Your kind smells"

"Oh?" the boy raised his voice in annoyance "well you smell too shorty." He waved his arms sarcastically "Of palace spoiling! Too many cologne baths, too much good food and wine, too many servants pampering your little ass. You stink of the good life." Vejiita didn't move, didn't speak. He regarded the boy calmly.

"Brother-" Maiika said "this is our prince, not some common little boy."

"Oh?" Tozai raised an eyebrow. "Should I revere this kid? To me, sister, he is just an upstart" He spat at Vejiita's feet "A spoiled brat!"

Vejiita smiled. Inwardly, he was gathering his power, concentrating for the fight he already saw. Tozai would be amazed at this spoiled brat's power.

"Tozai-" the little girl warned the tall boy "Leave him alone!"

"I don't need you to speak for me" Vejiita said. Maiika held her breath, hurt. Tozai's lips curled.

"So, you can speak?" he said. Maiika's eyes grew misty. Her brother felt her tense at the prince's cold stare. His fists clenched.

"How dare you talk like that?!" he yelled at the prince "You think you can come into our neighbourhood parading like that? You think you can say and do whatever pleases you?! Well, not here!" He raised a fist at Vejiita's face. " We know who you are!" he continued "We've seen you take your walks in the city with your courtiers. We know how well you live in your palace. You, prince, have nothing to fear!" He raised his arms, dramatically motioning at the alley above his head. " You have it all" he said "We have nothing!"

"Aw" Vejiita answered. His eyes narrowed malevolently "Don't be so bitter about it"

Tozai's fists clenched savagely. "Insolent bastard...!" The tall boy rushed at the prince ready to meet him. The prince smiled realizing his energy. It knocked the tall boy of his feet. He bared his teeth, as he brought his fists upwards ready to bruise savagely. But Tozai had not fallen off guard. He caught his small fists. Vejiita screamed as he felt his hands crushed by incredible force. He yelled louder as the boy spun, pulling his arms. They were about to be torn out off their sockets. Tozai smiled at him through the haze of pain.

The Saiyan prince cursed. He swung his legs bringing them forward with all his might. He aimed at the boy's chest. Other enemies had fallen with this move alone. He permit himself to smile and struck. He heard Tozai bellow in pain, but the boy was not over. Vejiita screamed again as his legs were caught by Tozai's massive hands. His breath was knocked out of his body as the boy slammed him into the hard wall. *Nani?! How is he moving this fast?!* He screamed again, finding his arms had lost their strength. His head swam, his body ached with terrible pain.

"Tozai!" Maiika yelled "Stop this!!"

No one had ever done this to him. He had never been challenged before. There weren't many that had ever dared to compete with him for they feared his power. Tozai laughed. * Damn him for laughing at me!* He gritted his teeth. Horrible anger blasted inside him once more. Tozai acted quicker than the prince could think, swinging the little boy with both his massive hands. He released him, sending him crashing into the hard wall. With heavy force, the prince landed, bruising his back with the stone. Like a feline, he recovered, his body shaking, gasping for air, trying to focus on the tall boy. Everything swam before his eyes. It was futile to concentrate. * Kuso! *

"Don't try that again!" the tall boy warned him folding his arms on his chest. "You are too small to attack me"

Vejiita spitted out blood on the cobble stones, sniffing. Bigger opponents had fallen to his power.

"Kuso..."

"I see" Tozai said "You have as much power as manners" He smiled as his friends in the shadows laughed at his joke. "Pitiful"

Vejiita pulled his body form the ground slowly. It was best to remain calm. To study the opponent. So his caretaker had taught him. He brought his breath to an even rhythm ignoring the pain he felt at his side and at his back. He was amazed that the tall boy could match his skills. His eyes, filled with hatred, regarded the tall boy with animosity. He sniffed once more. His fists clenched at his sides. From the balconies above, the other children cheered their leader. Tozai smiled at him casting a glance at Maiika who had fallen quiet, her throat in pain.

"Child" Tozai addressed the prince again "You can never summon enough power to defeat me." The Saiyan prince raised an eyebrow. "Here in the streets, I am the true fighter"

The prince sniffed. Tozai's followers came down from their hiding places. They now stood behind their leader, knowing that he had won this battle. Maiika lowered her eyes. Her brother made a mocking bow.

"They said the prince was born strong" he said. "They were wrong if I could easily beat you, little one..."

"I'd watch how you address me, street boy" Vejiita said, his voice even. "I am prince of the Saiya jin, born to be the greatest fighter that ever lived." If the tall boy dared speak like that again, he'd kill him. He bared his teeth.

"Prince indeed" Tozai said his lips widening into a grin. "but no fighter. Obviously you've had poor training." Vejiita's eyes flashed savagely.

"Yaro...!" He flung himself once more at the tall boy. He was tired of this conversation. His body had so much force to kill an ordinary opponent. Tozai wasn't ordinary this he knew, but even the strongest enemies had fallen to his will. He brought his fists at the laughing boy's face. Terrible anger flared inside. * You'll pay, bastard!* He laughed, anticipating the crack of the boy's bones. * This will silence you!*

He yelled as Tozai's legs quick move caught him. Tozai let his feet sweep under the prince bringing the child to a rough landing on the floor. A simple sweep, only faster than the eye could see. Hungry for blood, the other kids landed on his back. The prince yelled as the Saiyan children crushed him.

"Yes" Tozai laughed " Very bad training indeed!"

He grabbed Vejiita's head, bending it backwards savagely. He laughed as one of his friends brought a metal tube, smashing it at the prince's skull. He laughed harder as Vejiita screamed horribly. The little boy's attempts were futile. He felt his body torn to pieces, the savage boys crushing him under their weight. He felt himself suffocate. Snarling, he raised his arms over his head releasing his energy. He flung off the two boys that had been crushing his head. Their broken bodies landed on a wall unable to move. Those little bastards had damaged one of his eyes.

Tozai cursed. The prince clenched his fists before him. He was readying some powerful technique, the tall boy though. It would be terrible on them, if he allowed him to attack. Screaming, he aimed his full power at the prince's head.

"Get out of the way, minna!" he yelled.

Vejiita's eyes widened as the children got off from him. He saw Tozai's attack. There would be no time to block it.

"Yamero!" Maiika yelled. She had jumped between her brother, the prince's body lay crumbled behind her. Vejiita got up on his elbows, his bloody eye staring at her tiny body covering his. A snarl escaped him, but he couldn't get up. He felt broken ribs.

"Bitch!" he yelled at her "Get out of our way!"

"This is why we suffer!" Maiika yelled. She swallowed her tears, swallowed her pride. "Don't you dare hurt him anymore!"

The children drew away from her. They cornered into the shadows, their excited breaths horrible in the darkness. They looked at the prey beneath her legs like beasts. Her brother swore, bringing his fists down to his side.

"This is why we are who we are" the little girl sobbed "We hate so much! We hate each other to death!" Her brother turned away from her, not looking at her tear struck face. He snarled savagely. The other children looked at their leader for the next move.

"They'd call me a murderer if I killed the prince of my own race" Tozai said. He looked into the prince's eye. "We only look like kids. Deep inside, Saiyan children are men and women."

Maiika felt Vejiita rise slowly from the floor. He brushed away the blood from his face with his palm. His tiny body shook. Tozai smirked.

"You lucky bastard" the tall boy said "Go back to your palace!" He grabbed his sister by the shoulders. She let herself be taken by him. She didn't look back at the prince. "You're not one of us." Tozai continued "You never were, locked inside your castle. You never will be"

With this, he turned around, leading his sister. His followers disappeared with him into the mist.

Vejiita raised his shaking head proudly. Serene, he walked back towards his home, his legs shaking terribly. It hurt to be defeated. His body hurt, his pride hurt. He felt a terrible heat begin to consume him. Wild fire within.
 

Chapter 3
 

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