Chapter Text
People never know where life may lead them. That is a fundamental fact in the world since the day someone is born. They cry, play, laugh, and soon experience pain from just the sheer fact of being alive. That was true for everyone no matter how their outlook on it all may be. Sometimes, it’d make one wonder. . .what makes a fulfilling way to live?
It was a cloudy morning that greeted Satan City and things had been resuming as normal ever since those catastrophic earthquakes that had occurred months ago. Though they were unaware of the fact that their planet was nearly forfeited to another extra-terrestrial being who aimed to dine upon their delicacies. Life moved on, the world kept on spinning and waited for no one. Everything was as normal as it could get and as boring too. This is evident for a particular, eighteen-year-old High School who lazily sat at his desk, his head buried into his arms as the lecture that made him feel like he was in college went through one ear and out the other. Though, given that this was the prestigious Orange Star High itself, it was understandable from another’s point of view. Still, it didn’t change the fact that the boy was boring as hell.
“The paper is worth it. . .the paper is worth it. . .” the boy repeated to himself multiple times over. His orange and red sneakers tapped a quiet song that he could only hear, and spiky, black hair that looked albeit abnormal to those around him swayed to the tune while his gray hood with a rose design slacked over his back. The urge to scratch the bottom of his behind from the itching sensation was making him a bit unhinged but he fought it down. Raising, his head, his obsidian eyes stared at the window next to him, “Ms.Chi Chi said I had to get a ‘degree’ to properly, ‘fit in’. She could of at least warned me about what I was getting myself into months ago before I applied.”
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, he turned to his right to see a recognizable face. A handsome one at that. Wavy, black hair that was long enough to be tied into a ponytail, bright brown eyes, and a jawline fit for one who can smile a girl's heart away. To top it all off, a checkered pattern button-down shirt with some black jeans? If they didn’t know each other, he would call him a pretty boy by accident. Nevertheless, the “pretty boy” decided to warn him nicely, “Hey, Kuzuku. You’re dozing off into your own imaginary world again. You don’t want to get hit with a ruler now, do you?”
The boy called Kuzuku blinked for a moment after processing how weird it’d look if the ruler snapped into two from colliding with his body. The thought itself made him shiver at what he’d be in for on the phone if they were to find out, “Ye-yeah! Thanks for reminding me. I better look like I give a damn, Ace” He gave Ace a thumbs up which earned a chuckle from him considering the drool running down his lips.
“No problem, but you better wipe your mouth first,” He gestured.
Kuzuku, being a bit unaware, took notice and quickly wiped it off, “Crap, you’re right! Man, I’m a walking embarrassment, huh—!?!?!”
*CLANK!*
At speeds that one could label as a professional baseball player or maybe an assassin, a metal, scalpel sliced through the air and found itself embedded into the wall behind their seating right between them. The two froze, chills running down their spine as they turned to the one who almost committed murder. A small-looking old man in a white lab coat who was currently stranglin–I mean holding down a frog on the table, “Mr.Ayoma and Mr.Sojiro. I best remind you that if you talk during my lecture and lessons again that next time I won’t intentionally kill the flies in the room. I’ll aim for the grasshoppers instead. . .” Offput by the analogy, the two still felt a bit of a cold sweat at his comment.
Kuzuku was the first to stand and bow out of respect, “So-sorry, Mr. Yu. We promise not to do it again.”
“Well said, Ayoma. You may take your seat but class, even though these two have the top grades in your class, do not follow their disruptive behavior,” Mr.Yu nodded, “Now please turn to section 3 and refer to the diagram as I demonstrate.
Doing as told even though he knew full well how pointless it was, Kuzuku took his seat once more and turned to the designated pages. It didn’t take long for his mind to wander again, his thoughts dwelling on other matters that didn’t relate to solving problems or the anatomy of some frog. Images flickered through his head, vivid yet he wanted to suppress them. It was long ago, far too long ago and here he was now. All grown up and living his life of normalcy. Nothing like how he lived back then. However, those old wounds always lingered, crawling up and down his back like an annoying insect.
Eyes narrowed, he began to jot down notes with a hint of aggression. Right now, he didn’t feel alive in this setting demanding academic development. He needed to escape. . .to get out and be free to be who he had become. The current him that had walked through the path that life had led him so far. . .
He wanted. . .needed. . .to. Otherwise, he’ll never get the answer to his questions.
[- - - -]
(After School, Planet Earth’s Satan City: Orange Star Highschool)
Time had worked its magic and flew by with the high-noon sun descending. Kids of all ages within this grade level exited the building one by one, each chatting with their friends about future plans or conversing with teachers for advice on their homework and career paths. Though, each of these groups had a common demographic of people that could be associated. In one particular duo, however, that was easily the opposite. Ace Sojiro, a student who is idolized and popular throughout the entire school was currently walking side-by-side through the main gate with Kuzuku Ayoma, a new kid who transferred and looked disinterested in making friends with anyone else.
A match made in purgatory. That’s what many have called it before. They couldn’t fathom how this. . .friendship had happened but they knew their eyes weren’t playing tricks on them. Especially since the two had walked across the street to order a meat-lover sub from the deli stand with Ace himself paying for the both of them. Either Kuzuku had good dirt on him or they may have to go see a therapist about whether they were real or not.
Though, the other students and faculty’s opinions and thoughts didn’t matter. They merely went unnoticed as the two received their food and began walking down the street while enjoying the sandwich. Ace though, took the opportunity to dowse his food with some water before asking, “So, got any plans, today buddy? We can hit the arcade again and play Break Fighter 6. This time, I’m definitely going to win and break the tie.” Kuzuku, in a manner that was far too familiar to some, took a huge bite out of his sub before replying with food in his mouth.
“Mhm, sorry, I’ll have to pass this time. I got something to do again,” Kuzuku said with a bit of an apologetic tone.
Ace raised an eyebrow, “Again? What could you possibly be doing after school?” The young boy only stared at him for a moment before smirking teasingly.
“It’s a secret!” Kuzuku grinned, his reply earning a rather disappointed look from his friend.
However, Ace was never the type to pry too much into someone’s personal life. If someone had to go, he had to go. That was one aspect that Kuzuku liked about him and it made it easy to keep things hidden from himself. That said, once the two made it to the street they’d normally part, Ace had already begun walking in the opposite direction towards a suburban neighborhood. Not before waving and saying his peace, “Well, alright. But don’t think you’ll be off the hook that easily. We gotta hang out sometime, okay? I’ll see yah tomorrow, pal!”
“Yeah, I’ll see you around, Ace! Stay safe!” Kuzuku replied with a wave. Ace nodded before taking his leave, his figure disappearing as he turned a corner. Once he was out of sight, Kuzuku quickly took a moment to check his surroundings. Camera’s? Check. People? Check. Kids? Check. A random elderly person? Check. He was completely in the clear. In what could be described as an act of being otherworldly, Kuzuku tensed his body before vanishing from his previous position. He was like the wind, coming and going yet no one knew where it’ll be next. But for those who could perceive things faster than others, it was clear where he was now. Above the clouds, where the realm of what was thought to be ruled by birds, a white blur of aura was drawing a line that parted them. His current speed was akin to even surpassing even the fastest jet known to man though he was playing it safe. Losing his school bag due to overexerted force was a no-go for him. He had to learn that the hard way. Now that he was above the clouds, he dove right in, his body twisting and turning as his figure was covered in white and only left a shadow to show what he was doing.
The hood came off, and so did his pants. But strangely enough, once his pants and hood were shoved into what was presumed to be his bag, the shape of a monkey’s tail was swaying behind him and clearly seeable. It was unbelievable to confirm at first but once all was said and done, Kuzuku shot out of the clouds with a burst of renewed energy, his face grinning at the feel of moving so fast. Now once a High School Boy bored out of his mind was a Saiyan soaring through the skies as if he had been shackled down for too long. A gift from one of the most important figures of Earth, he dawned a standard black Gi with no undershirt, his orange and black buckled shoes matching with a similar color scheme of another while wrapped around the waist of his Gi and pants was a sash tied into a knot.
“Man, it feels fantastic to finally be able to let my tail loose! I was beginning to think it’d look all contorted!” Kuzuku joked to himself as he looked behind to see his tail, “But it’s as fine as usual. Now, time to hurry before I’m late!”
Once situated, Kuzuku took the opportunity to take another leap in speed and descend toward the ground. He knew his destination was close and at the current rate he was going, he’d be there in no time at all. The only thing he’d find that would hold him up would be the animals that also took to the skies flying next to him, each one curious to see a humanoid-looking character occupying the same realm they do without the anatomy to do so. But to Kuzuku, it was merely an opportunity to mess around, as he played and messed around with them, thus causing the animals to respond in kind. It was a good afternoon so far, one that he needed desperately. Although, his body still ached for what it craved most.
[- - - -]
(A Few Moments Later, At One of The Many Wastelands On Planet Earth. . .)
Touching down, Kuzuku landed in the middle of the barren land covered in yellow soil. He looked around for a bit, his feet walking only a few steps forward as he continued to sense for someone’s presence, “Not here yet, huh? That does give me some time.” Taking the opportunity to set his bag down on a rock nearby, Kuzuku rummaged through his stuff before pulling out what looked to be ordinary bracelets at first glance. Though, anyone who knew about the Capsule Corp logo could tell that it was some form of tech. Wasting no time, he slipped both of them on and activated them, his body beginning to feel its weight increase substantially though he seemed to still be unaffected, “Still works just fine. I’ll have to text Bulma about today’s feedback afterward.” Smiling as he was now in his comfort zone, Kuzuku took the chance to begin a small warm-up.
He made sure to distance himself away from his stuff, his feet crunching the soil into dust due to his weight being amplified by increased gravity. Nevertheless, he took his stance, his feet spreading akin to a mixture of two different styles that couldn’t be pinpointed. However, as soon as he did, his fist began to fly and produce a sound that broke the air. Not satisfied with one, he continued with another, his body and mind imaging himself combating an opponent. His feet shifted as if he was dodging a punch and pivoted for a spinning elbow that stopped mid-air. Control was his focus, and he knew the said strike could be blocked easily. Hence he quickly came with a counter. Taking a step backward, his feet only tapped the ground for a second before his right leg whipped into a sharp snap kick. He held it there for a few seconds for stability. He breathed in and out, his brain taking in the good and bad of his few moves. He needed to pick up the pace.
One after another, his fist and kicks were flying dutifully and with purpose. Recalling from his previous experiences and teachings, attacks had to be carefully laid out and each serving a purpose. That was the style best for him and he wanted to improve upon it. Soon enough, he was moving so fast that clouds of dust were surrounding him, a feat displaying his speed as he was now like a blur with his movements. Sweat began to trickle before bursting after another punch was thrown.
“Faster. . .” Kuzuku told himself, “I have to move faster. . .!”
Imagining a slicking roundhouse kick was sent his way, he flipped backward to narrowly avoid it from his imaginary foe before swiftly vanishing from the spot he landed in. Likewise, he’d assume they’d be confused as he reappeared behind them with impressive speed alone, his feet dancing in small taps into a roundhouse of his own, “FASTER!” Whipping through the air, Kuzuku was sure it’d connect, however, he finally sensed a presence heading straight towards him. . .no in fact, it was already here. Just before his feet could stop on their own, something else made it. A cape figured, skin matching the color of green beans, and two antennae that stuck out of his head. He was tall, his height alone allowing him to tower over most adversaries as his purple Gi flowed from the shockwaves generated by stopping the strike. Kuzuku’s eyes widened a bit before smiling back at the sudden appearance of the man.
“About time, you arrived, Piccolo. Just in time too,” Kuzuku greeted.
Piccolo smirked as the kick retracted from his forearm that defended his face, “Hmph, nice to see you keeping up with your training. That kick was stronger than the last time I saw you.” Kuzuku smirked, proudly puffing his chest.
“Yup! Gotta keep myself at least in good physical condition!” Kuzuku chirped.
Piccolo nodded before asking suddenly, “That’s good to hear from you. But, I still find it weird that you are reluctant in fighting on the main field. You got serious potential, kid. We could have used that against Frieza or even during the Universe 6 tournament.” Kuzuku continued to smile, though he couldn’t hide his reluctance to answer that question.
“Piccolo. . .you and I both know the reason for that. All my life it’s been just a struggle to live. As much as I want to protect everyone together, I just feel my contributions are meaningless in the end. I mean. . .we have Goku and Vegeta to handle everything. . .,” Kuzuku answered back, adding with a solemn smile, “I just want a breather while doing what my body has always wanted, free of stress and worries.”
Piccolo sighed, his hands making their way to his cape. He pushed it off, the weighted object almost nothing in comparison to him right now. However, he always found comfort in wearing it before he tossed it to the side to allow it to land on the rocks. Kuzuku, a bit puzzled but realizing the reason why he was here in the first, deactivated the bracelets and took a stance as Piccolo began stretching. While doing so, Piccolo decided to speak, “That’s a fair answer. Everyone wants to get away from their stress and worries. To escape into a little bubble with no one noticing. But, Kuzuku, you’ve been in that bubble 6 years too long.” The air began to tense around them, the wind blowing against the gold-soiled terrain and kicking up the dust between them.
“You’ve grown a lot since the day you arrived here and grew even more during your personal journey. Your potential is noteworthy when you came back after our fight against Buu and even now you still seek to grow. But isn’t that enough to hold back your talent? You’re a Saiyan afterall. . .” Piccolo noted definitively while taking a stance of his own, “Like it or not, you are part of a race hardwired for battle. If you are going to be reluctant to embrace that fact, fine. But take this into consideration. Don’t think of your gift as a curse or something you should hide. Think of them as a tool to help keep the things you hold close and safe. In this world, you will be faced with an inevitable choice that’ll force you to use them. Remember that. . .”
Kuzuku took a mental step back before thinking about what he had said. He held great respect towards the Namekian being that he was the one who also taught him how to fight and utilize his Saiyan abilities better. In a way, he was right. This world was a dangerous one despite the peace that was earned. He thought back to one instance in the past, a moment that he’d never forget but held true to his heart after leaving Earth for a while. A moment that made him fight like no other. A story for another time he suppose but it was a reminder that gave weight to Piccolo’s words. He was holding himself back, and right now, he will not for no longer.
His muscles tense, the air vibrating at the sensation of heat exuding from his body. Piccolo, noticing quickly, smirked quite happily at the change in demeanor. Pebbles began to float around the young Saiyan, his feet sliding forward and his focus heightening as seconds passed. This was a spar that was much needed. A spar that Piccolo had initiated as someone who didn’t want to see history repeat itself. Kuzuku was similar to his other pupil. Reluctant and hesitant to exploit their potential till pushed to do so. He made a mistake once and corrected it but now, he will no longer let such a thing happen again. Watching Frieza turn them into a pin-cushion was gut-wrenching enough and he was lucky Kuzuku was on King Kai during that fiasco.
Nevertheless, things were about to begin, the wind ceasing and allowing all the rocks surrounding Kuzuku to fall one by one. Everything was moving in slow motion for the Namek, his eyes capable of seeing every detail. The twitch of his fingers, the molecules in the air around him, the descent of the debris hitting the ground. As soon as it made a sound, all of his battle experience kicked in, and immediately notice Kuzuku’s feet kicking off the ground before he vanished out of his sight. Sounds of swift feet tapping lighting yet powerful around him were heard all over. It was a classic technique, to say the least, one that was a trademark of his rival back in his glory days. Several afterimages of Kuzuku appeared around him in seconds, an illusion technique of the Turtle Hermit school that utilizes their quickness to deceive their opponent. But this one wasn’t so easily deceived.
One by one, Piccolo began blasting apart the reflections of light, rubbing flying, and creating a smokescreen all around him as he narrowed them down. To obscure not only his own but his opponent’s vision while disrupting their strategy. A double-edged sword of a plan but it was suitable for this situation. Just as the dust rose all around him, his eyes caught glimpse of a shadow moving through the smoke, a spark of blue electricity giving him away. Quickly, Piccolo turned around, shouting, “Too obvious, kid! Demon Explosive Wave!” His hand thrust forward and in that instance, an explosive burst of fiery energy rocketed itself toward the concealed figure. Picking up on the attack, the figure turned its head only for the energy wave to explode destructively, its shockwaves rupturing the surroundings and causing multiple cracks to form a spider-web pattern from where it impacted.
Smoke oozing from Piccolo’s palm, he knew full well that wasn’t enough to give him the wind. A veteran like him had learned to stay on guard, his ears picking up on a faint sound behind him while his senses felt a sharp power spike, “There!”
Turning as soon as he appeared, Piccolo raised his guard and blocked the kick that was aimed at his skull, the force of the ensuing shockwaves akin to a whirlwind of power. His feet began to skid backward but the satisfied smile on his face said it all. Kuzuku, grinning back with a racing heart, was enveloped in golden Ki, his hair slightly spiked up as his teal eyes stared into the Namekian’s.
“That’s what I like to see! Perhaps you’ll actually be a good warm-up for a change!” Piccolo noted, his arm brushing his leg off to the side before swiftly countering with a high, right hook.
Kuzuku’s grin widened at the response, “Warm-up? Then this ‘Warm-up’ is going to surprise you!” Piccolo smirked at his confidence before it shifted to mortified confusion as he saw him vanish from his sight. He looked around for a moment until he heard a shout from a position he least expected.
“Below you!”
Before he knew it, he felt the bottom of Kuzuku’s foot graze his chin as he narrowly leaned back to avoid the unorthodox attack. He looked down for a moment at the boy’s smug expression, his position rather low to the ground as he used a handstand to reach him. Then it hit him, his eyes glancing over at the bracelets that he was using early, “I see, so he used the Gravity Bracelets to increase his weight. Doing so allowed him to avoid my counter without me detecting a shift in his energy. Clever move.”
Taking advantage of his opponent’s off-centered gravity, Kuzuku spun around from his position and dove low into a sweep that took away Piccolo’s sense of touch to the ground. For normal opponents’s this would have worked but to someone capable of flight and aerobatics, it was a cake to recover. The Namekian quickly flipped himself a few feet away by performing several backflips to gain some distance. However, Kuzuku was already hot on his tail, his golden aura flaring as he propelled himself to follow his target. In mere seconds, the two were locked into heavy combat, fist flying with the Saiyan gaining more ground. Through each exchange was a cross counter to throw the other of course for a switch counter but even that counter was checked by a reactive defense. A right hook ducked underneath, a fiery gold uppercut retaliation only for it to be stopped midway by a green palm. A sharp, right cross that failed to even damage the forearm guard covered in gold. Before finally, the two landed a blow across each other cheek that sent them both backward and performing twirls in mid-air.
Although the instant they made contact with the ground, the two shot up to the skies and vanished from normal sight. Shockwaves began to litter the sky, their speed surpassing anything that human technology could even dream of reaching. The Earth trembled at the force emitted, the terrain soon being littered with explosions that came from above as a golden light was avoided a rain of hellfire. The young Saiyan had to think before finally taking the opening he needed. He halted before dashing straight toward the Namekian who continued to fire away.
Slightly shocked at the boldness, Piccolo continued his array of blasts as Kuzuku continued to weave his way around them like an annoying fly, “Trying to get in close? What could you be up to? That trick from before won’t work in the sky.” Nevertheless, the Saiyan still tried. As soon as he was a good distance away, he brought his hands together in a pose all too familiar.
“Kaaaaa. . .”
Piccolo’s eyes widened a bit before smirking, his only comment being, “Ballsy. But. . .” He ceased firing and overlapped his hands together, his muscles tensing as an orb of energy began to formulate in front of his palms. Shouting with intense concentration, the ball scattered in multiple directions to where it surrounded Kuzuku. The young Saiyan was taken aback by this, though soon enough, the absurd amount of energy balls shifted forms into glowing constructs that copied the appearance of the user, each one having a finger placed at their forehead and aimed directly at him.
“Tch. . .!” Kuzuku hissed.
Piccolo grew serious, his sweat noticeable as this technique took a lot to use, “Theirs nowhere for you to run! Time for my new technique. One that combines the penetrations of my Special Beam Cannon and the quantity of my Hellzone Grenade!” As he noted, all of the fake Piccolos began focusing their energy on their forehead, the crackling and wild electricity forming quickly in succession. Kuzuku looked above, below, left, and right. . .he was surrounded from all angles. The only direction he could go was forward.
“Forward. . .” Kuzuku repeated in his head. Hadn’t that been his only choice since the beginning? When he was born or, when anyone is born, their only option is to move forward. Eventually, everyone will meet a wall but it’s up to them to decide whether they find a way to break it or give up and remain where they are: accepting fate as it is currently except changing it to how they want it to be. For him, he was being complaisant with how he was living currently. But that way of living. . .deep down, it didn’t feel real.
“Meeee. . .Haaaaa. . . .” Kuzuku continued with his chant, a spiraling wave of Ki formulating a blue orb of his resolve. The ultimate and most powerful technique of the Turtle School of Martial Arts was passed on to him as well. Like a wave in the sea, he’ll use this technique to claim victory. All around him were enclosing walls ready to stop him, their cracking energy reaching the apex of their charge. So at their strongest. . .: he’ll just have to respond equally! His eyes glowed like a burning flame in response to his desire to win, “Meeeeee. . .!”
Unbeknownst to Piccolo, Kuzuku’s energy had spiked as the spar had reached its climax. Whatever extra strength he may have found, Piccolo wasn’t going to let things be as easy. No, he’ll make it impossible, “Let’s go, kid! Take this, Hellzone's 2nd layer: AP Shell! Fire!” At his command, all of the clones unleashed their respective charge Special Beam Cannons, the sight from afar looking like an execution dome. Things began to move slowly, the last bits of nervousness trickling away all with the sweat on his face. The time was now. Quickly, he split his hands thus resulting in the singularly charged orb becoming two. One behind him and one in front.
“HAAAAAAAAAAA!” Kuzuku roared, the orb behind him unleashing a spiraling wave of energy that rocketed him forward at speeds beyond what he was capable of. It was so shocking that. . .the distance between them was closed in at an absurd time. He was already just a few feet away from him when all of the beams fired at him collided with one gigantic explosion behind him. The wind rushed around the land like a storm while Piccolo was shocked to see Kuzuku's determined face so close-up. He grunted, silently cursing himself for getting worked up enough to use an incomplete technique. Though, like a father-like son, he quickly channeled his energy into his palms to raise his muscle’s defense.
Piccolo claimed loudly in his head, “Not enough time. . .I’ll raise my defense and counter swift—!”
“Here goes!” Kuzuku shouted, his other hand motioning forward. Piccolo raised his guard high out of instinct, but through the gaps in which he could see, Kuzuku altered the course of the second orb and aimed low. . .no, more accurately, right beneath him. Before he could utter a word, Kuzuku roared over his thought process, “Second Wave!”
With another burst, the second Kamehameha propelled him up at similar speeds though only for a brief moment. Now. . .the young Saiyan was above him, the Namekian eyes glancing up in complete surprise as Kuzuku gritted his teeth from the strain of using such a combo, “Forward, one step forward at a time. I’ll shave down my walls little by little until I reach it. So. . .” The swirling energy from the Kamehameha, the kinetic energy from his shift in movement. . .both of them will be used for this next attack. Channeling around his fist, a golden image of Ki in the shape of a Chinese dragon’s claw formed around his hand.
“This is my answer: from me to you!” Kuzuku internally screamed from his heart. The energy swirling around his hand expanded before throwing his claw-like punch down from above, the image of a dragon’s claw reflecting within Piccolo’s eyes that showed a hint of pride. He didn’t have any means of defense, the action taking place far faster than he could react which resulted in a clean hit across his cheek and jawline, “ Ryusoken!”
Piccolo let out a short grunt, his body plummeting to Earth in a spiral of gold and blue Ki before finally impacting the ground. An explosion of energy-like winds shot and spiraled to the sky like a fierce tornado as the ground trembled like an Earthquake. Smoke and debris covered the ground and obscuring Kuzuku’s vision, his eyes glued onto the spot in which Piccolo had landed. All of the fake copies began to crumble away into dust and nothingness, the Saiyan panting with his golden form reverting to his normal hair color. Soon enough, the dust cloud faded along with the winds, unveiling the Namekian to be flat on his back and looking back up at the sky above, the sun shining on his battered face and torn clothing.
However, despite all that, he was smiling with satisfaction and raised his hand in defeat, the gesture alone causing Kuzuku to smile a bit with exhaustion quite easily visible, “Hehe. . .hehehehe, I win. . .this one. . .” He began to descend slowly, before finally landing right above Piccolo. Without saying a word, he sat down next to him and faced forward while trying to catch his breath.
“Heh, seems you grew far faster than I hoped you would. . .that last attack gave me some much-needed PTSD,” Piccolo jokingly noted with a slight grunt.
Kuzuku was confused for a moment but didn’t decide to ask any further questions. No, he wanted to come clean, “Yeah. . .but it was all thanks to you, Piccolo. Your words really were encouraging so. . .thank you. All this time, I’ve only thought of my training as something to pass the time and get a hang of my powers. But, I was being docile by playing background and trying to live a way that wasn’t me. I was making a contradiction to myself. I wanted to know a lot more about myself and my origins as a Saiyan but I never wanted to look at it straight on. No, I was looking at it only partially instead of it at face value. . .” Kuzuku took a moment to breathe in the air and glanced down at his hand.
“I was walking in the right direction but I became perpetually stationary on that road ever since I came to Earth. I stood in front of that wall because I was afraid of the answers behind it. . .that’s why I never wanted to utilize my potential. To Goku and Vegeta, that’s a natural part of them based on the way they lived. But for me, a full-blood as well, the way I grew up and viewed my heritage was different. . .” Kuzuku noted, before turning to smile at Piccolo, “But that’s not living, now is it? Isn’t that what you were trying to say to me?”
Piccolo closed his eyes and smirked, “That’s right. . .and what else did you learn?” Kuzuku took a moment to think about what he was trying to imply but he figured that he said it already. Yes. . .he did.
“Fighting, whether instinctual or by choice, is a form of communication?” Kuzuku answered.
“Bingo,” Piccolo confirmed, his eyes reopening to the setting sun above, “Even if your past had made you view those aspects of yourself as a curse. That curse is something common for those who have power. We are destined to fight one day. No matter what the battle may be or when. However, through those battles, don’t ever think of them as a form to inflict pain. Think of them as a way to understand your enemy and judge them accordingly. Only then, you will be able to choose whether to form compassion with them or put them down for good. That is a realization I’ve come to learn quite a long time ago.”
Kuzuku understood and nodded, his eyes darting back to the sky mixed with blue and orange. The day was ending and the night was coming to take over. But. . .it was a calming feeling that made him feel a bit at peace. He wasn’t there yet, the answer that he seeks has yet to reveal itself. However, as long as he continues to exist. . .that answer will surely come. A hope that he carries within his heart.
[- - - - -]
(Hours Later, Planet Earth Near Mount Paoz, A Cabin Near The Woods. . .)
Night had come in full view and showcased the beauty of the sky for the world to see. Many were incapable of viewing stars due to living in areas that fostered a lot of humans and civilians. But, to Kuzuku, that had never been an issue. It was just a shame that the Full-Moon was currently out and he wasn’t going to take any chances of destroying his home. Hence why he was currently in his room, studying away on impulse grilled into him years ago while completing some homework that quite frankly didn’t take long. His clock was ticking away, the time reading 11:40 PM and counting. He had been out all day, opting to get in some extra training with his new motivation fueling his every movement. Though, like any other being, he eventually reached his limit and called it a day.
He fiddled with his pen a bit before placing it back down on the desk, his body leaning back into his chair as he stretched his aching arms and legs. Things were quiet, something that he didn’t mind much and were used to for the longest time. However, loneliness was always lurking in others no matter how deep they bury it. He sighed, thinking about the kids at his school and their lives. For them, they likely had a mother and father, possibly a sibling or two. Older or younger, doesn’t matter. They had a company which is fine until the young Saiyan compares that to his current situation.
He had companions to rely on. Chi-Chi, the wife of Goku is a godmother figure of some sort. Bulma is a cool aunt that he can hang around with. Mentors such as Piccolo, Gohan, and even Goku at some point. But even all of that didn’t shake the feeling off. The feeling that he had since childhood—Kuzuku frowned, mentally kicking himself. He got up from his chair and plopped onto his back on the bed in the corner of the room. Closing his eyes he only had one thought in mind.
“Mom. . .Dad. . .whether your alive or not, I’ll continue to live out of respect,” Kuzuku turned to his side and slowly opened his eyes, “Whoever you are. . .”