Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z or any of it's characters, but I do own a Picollo keyring...it's sooo cool, he floats and everything...that's the main thing, isn't it?

We stood outside of the huge building, and I turned to look at Yamcha, who was grinning in amusement at my disbelief.
"This is...where I'm going to live?" I asked, hardly daring to say it out loud. He nodded, with a smile.
"It is."
"But it's...I mean...are you sure this is ok?"
"Of course. Bulma may be a millionaire but she's pretty grounded. She'd do anything to help someone in need." I shot him a warning look at this.
"I'm not in need." I snarled. "But it would be rude not to accept your generous hospitality. I am grateful for it, but I do not NEED help from anyone. I'm not a charity case, Yamcha. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"Of course you are, that's not what I meant...it was just an expression." He replied, with an apologetic look. I did not like to be short with him, but I could tell that he understood how his words had wounded my pride. "Well, would you like to meet your hostess?"

I nodded, grateful that the awkward moment had passed, and I flashed him a smile to let him know that his silent apology had been accepted. He told me towait outside for a few minutes while he formally introduced me to Bulma and her family. I paced around, nervously, knowing from experience not to get my hopes up, and count my chickens before they hatched. There was still a chance that this Bulma woman would not be happy with the idea of a strange orphan girl staying in her house. I mean, in all of my years at the orphanage, no one else had wanted to share their home with me. I had become used to rejection, so I mentally prepared myself for the worst. If no one had wanted me before, why should this family be any different? I strained my sensitive ears, but the walls of the Capsule Corporation building appeared to be sound-proof.

Two minutes passed, each of them lasting an eternity, before the door that Yamcha had disappeared behind opened again. He strode out, beaming at me. I managed a small smile in return, looking anxiously over his shoulder at the figure still standing in the doorway.
"Max, this is Bulma Briefs, beauty and brains behind the Capsule Corporation." I inclined my head, respectfully. "Bulma, honey, this is Max."
The young woman walked forward into the light and I saw her for the first time. She was extremely pretty, with shoulder-length blue hair and large blue eyes. She strode confidently towards me and stood in front of me, apparently examining me. She thrust out a hand and I took it, gingerly, shaking it.

"Hi, Max. So, Yamcha here tells me that you're in a bit of a fix at the mo. On behalf of the Briefs family, I would like to extend a formal invitation for you to stay with us for as long as you need."
"Thankyou, Miss Briefs. I humbly accept your invitation. I hope it is not too much trouble."
"No trouble at all, Max. And call me Bulma."
"Ok, Bulma." I replied with a smile, relaxing a little. This woman seemed nice enough.
"Better." I beamed at her and she smiled, though her smile quickly faded and was replaced by a frown as she looked me up and down.
"Now...first thing's first...what are you wearing?"

"Um...I'm not sure, to be honest. The wardrobes at the orphanage weren't exactly overflowing with hault-couture."
"Hm, I can see...well, follow me. If there's one thing I know about, it's fashion. And, you know, the science of robotics, but mostly fashion."
"Ok, lead the way."

Yamcha smiled at me from behind Bulma and gave me the thumbs-up sign. I returned his smile and he laughed.
"Well, I can see that you two ladies have a lot to talk about, so I'll make myself scarce."
"Oh, no you don't. We're having a party tonight to celebrate Max's arrival, and, if what Yamcha tells me is true, your sixteenth birthday too."
I was thoroughly taken-aback by this.

"A party? For me? Wow...I've never had a party before. What are they like?"
"Well, you just call up your friends and invite them round, and then you have music and dancing and cake...it's fun, you'll see."
"But, I don't have any friends..." I started. Bulma grinned.

"Sure you do. You just haven't met them yet, that's all." She winked at me and turned to Yamcha. "So, mister, I want you to call a few people. I'm sure Goku and Krillan will be free...probably better to leave Master Roshi off of the guest list this time, though, if it can be helped...hey, why don't you ask Tien and Chiatsou? We haven't seen them in a while."
"Sure, that sounds good. I'll get on it right away." He said, turning and disappearing back into the house.
"Well, Max, let's get you ready for your first party."

She led me to her room, which was bigger than an entire floor of the orphanage. I could barely conceal my astonishment, but didn't want to seem too out of my depth. She giggled at my attempt at keeping my face stoic.

"Don't worry, you don't have to pretend to be something that you're not. Your face is so expressive, you show every emotion you're feeling to the world without thinking about it...that's such a good quality. People will like that about you."
"I've never thought of it as being a good thing before. To show your weaknesses to people...nd my inability to think before I speak or act has only ever gotten me into trouble before. I have like, no filtering system."
"You don't have to hide your weaknesses, Max. You're a girl. Guys like it when girls show weakness, it makes them feel like they have to protect us. So they're happy cause they get to feel all masculine and we're happy cause we've got a hunky man to watch our backs. It's a win-win sitch."

I frowned slightly. I had never had anyone to look out for me before I met Yamcha, and now Bulma. It was so foreign to me, but I guessed I could get used to it. I nodded.
"Ok, I can deal with that."

"Yeah...but what I can't deal with are these clothes, and the dirt on your face. The bathroom's through that door. The shower's easy enough to work, it'svoice activated, so you just say "Run" to get it to start and "stop" to stop. It's pretty straightforward. You can change the water temperature with "up" and "down". Once your done, there are towels on the hand rail. While your busy in there, I'll look out some clothes for you.I'm sure I still have some old gems from when I was your age."
"Ok..." I walked in the direction of the door she had pointed to and stopped when I reached it. I looked back to see her already rummaging in her huge closet. "Bulma?"
"Yeah?"
"Thankyou. For everything."
She smiled,
"Don't mention it. I'm happy to help."

Nodding, I opened the door and gasped, yet again, at the sight of the beautifully furnished bathroom. Everywhere I looked was gleaming glass surfaces or highly polished silver or shining white porcelain.
"Wow..." I whispered to myself, drinking in the sight before me.

After my shower, I dried myself quickly and wrapped the towel around me, firmly, winding my tail around my right thigh, before walking back into the bedroom. When I got there, I saw Bulma standing before a huge pile of clothes, looking fairly pleased with herself.
"I was right, I've got plenty of outfits here that I'm sure will look great on you. It's times like this when I praise Kami for my great fashion sense."
"Wow...that's a lot of clothes." I exclaimed. "What will I wear tonight?"
"I'm glad you asked. Well, I thought that these," She laid out a pair of black, leather pants with lace up the side of the leg,"would look great with this," next to the pants she placed a floaty black top with diamontes around the plunging neckline. I raised an eyebrow slightly. Did she really expect me to pull these off? I had never worn anything like them! All of my clothes had been second hand, and made for people a lot larger than me. She obviously saw my scepticism because she gave me a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry, you're going to look so hot in these."
"Hot? What does temperature have to do with anything?"
She looked as though she was about to burst out laughing.
"Nothing, silly. Hot means...like...sexy." She explained. I blushed deeply, both at my ignorance and the thought that I could look..."hot".
"Oh. I am sorry, I have never heard that expression before. I guess I really have missed out on a lot since I've been in the orphanage."
"Well, don't worry about it, you've got a lifetime of freedom now, and you can pick up all you need to know from me and my friends. I think you'll fit in just fine. Now, quick. try on these clothes! I can't wait to see what you look like!"

Several hours later, after Bulma had arranged for a woman that she called her "Stylist" to do my hair and make-up, another first for me, I heard a knock on the door of the bedroom that was to be mine. I smiled, opening the door only to find Bulma, whose jaw dropped at the sight of me.

"Wow...Max...I don't know what to say! I didn't realise just how much potential you had! You put ME to shame! And, not that I'm big-headed or anything, but there are not many women I know who could pull that off. I'm so proud!"

I blushed at her compliments and she let out a squeal of excitement, before hugging me tightly. I stiffened at first, unused to the physical contact, but relaxed and returned the friendly embrace. She stepped back, still holding me by my shoulders and looked me up and down.
"Yes, yes, very nice...hmm, what's with the belt, though? That definitely needs to go."
"Huh...?" By the time I realised that the belt she was referring to was, in fact, my tail coiled in it's position around my waist, she had already reached down and tugged it not-so-gently. I yelled in agony and jumped backwards into the room and my tail uncoiled itself reflexively, waving around in plain sight. I looked up at Bulma, terrified of what her reaction would be.

"Oh my word...so you have a tail too, huh?" Her response shocked me more than any other could have. I blinked rapidly and gave her a thoroughly questioning look.
"Too? Who else...?"
"My friend, Goku...or, at least he did have when he was younger. He had it removed as a boy, though."
I winced, unable to hide the great discomfort I felt at the thought of having my tail removed...the pain must be excruciating!
"He...he did? You mean...I'm not an alien?" I said this last part quietly, not quite sure whether or not I was ready to voice my fears.
"Oh, I wouldn't go quite so far to say that you are one hundred per cent human...I've always had my doubts about Goku...say, you don't transform into a giant ape when you see the full moon, do you?"
"What? No! What kind of question is that? Wait, does your friend do that?"
"Hmm...he did, but he stopped after his tail was cut off. I wonder why you don't?"
"Maybe it's different."
"Maybe...I'm not so sure though. I mean, your tail looks almost exactly the way Goku's did! Only it's longer, what with you being older and all...maybe it's because you're a woman? Maybe only the males of the species transform. Or maybe you have another trigger..."

I watched as the cogs of her brilliant mind whirred and clanked as she tried to figure out the same thing I was. Then, all of a sudden, she started.
"Wait...why did you hide it? Why did you keep it wrapped around your waist this whole time?"
"I...I just...I've always had a hard time fitting in anywhere because of it, and I didn't want to screw this up. Plus, Yamcha said that he and his friends fought aliens, and since I don't know what I am yet, I figured it was safer just to keep quiet about it."
She looked taken aback by my explanation.
"Silly, we would never hurt YOU. They only fight aliens if they just so happen to come to Earth with plans for planetary annihilation or hostile takeovers and things like that. Evil aliens. Evil humans, too. They protect the Earth and it's inhabitants, they don't hunt them down just because they're a bit different."
"Well, I'm glad to hear that."

"Good. Ok, so we know that you don't transform like Goku...do you have any other superhuman abilities? You know, enhanced strength...things like that?"
"Yeah, there's that, and my super speed, and my heightened senses. Plus my stamina, and the fact that I can jump from one hundred feet high buildings and land on my feet without breaking a single bone. Oh, and I'm a very skilled fighter, although I have never before trained to be one...I knew all of these things were strange, but the thought that I'm inhuman just never occured to me. I don't FEEL any different on the inside..."
"Well, honey, you're not. And the super powers just go to prove my theory that you and Goku are of the same race...whatever that may be...and don't let this whole thing get to you. It doesn't change who you are...in fact, Goku just happens to be the nicest person that I know."
I brightened at this. I couldn't believe how readily she had accepted me. I had never come across anybody like that in my entire existence, and I had never been so grateful for anything for as long as I could remember.

"Now...are you ready to meet Goku and the others?"
"They're here?"
"They just arrived two minutes ago. They can't wait to meet you." I nodded, and swallowed hard. I couldn't remember ever being nervous about anything before, and I hated the fluttery feeling in my stomach, but I steeled myself against it and followed Bulma down the corridor. She turned to look at me, and, seeing my tail curled back around my waist, she sighed.

"You don't have to do that, you know."
"I know...I just...I'd like them to get to know me first...not my tail."
She thought about this for a moment, then nodded.
"OK, I guess I can understand that. I won't say anything about it until you're ready."
"Thankyou. I appreciate it."
"Now come on, lighten up! This is your first party! It's going to be great." She winked at me and continued walking. I smiled as I followed her into a large dining area where we were quickly greeted by many new faces.

"Hi, you must be Max, how do you do? I'm Krillan." A small man with a gleaming, bald head shook my hand enthusiastically. I smiled weakly at him, unsure how to react to being the centre of attention. A reassuring look from Bulma relaxed my muscles slightly and I replied.
"Hi, it's lovely to meet you."
He beamed at me before being shoved aside by a larger man, also with a bald head and, I managed to stifle a small gasp of surprise, a third eye, exactly where the so-named chakra is positioned, on his forhead.

"Hey, Max, I'm Tien. This is the young emperor, Chiatsou." He gestured to a small boy standing beside him. He looked so odd, but incredibly cute, with pure alabaster skin, marred only by two, perfectly circular, rosy cheeks. I thought that he looked like a porcelain doll with his fine little features.
I inclined my head respectfully towards the young emperor, before turning back to Tien to return his words of greeting.
"Hello, it's nice to meet you."
"Hey, Max, how you faring? I have to say, you look incredible. My girl sure did a number on you, huh?" I beamed at the familiar face grinning at me.
"Thanks, Yamcha. Everyone's just been so lovely to me...have to say, it's kinda creeping me out." He laughed rauciously at my humour and slapped me on the back.
"Hey, have you met Goku, yet?"

"No..." I replied, looking around with sudden interest.
"Hey, Goku! Come over here!"
A young man who was currently bent over the buffet table, stuffing his face so quickly that I couldn't make out what he was eating or how he had time to swallow without choking to death, stood up quickly, looked over towards us and grinned widely, before phasing out and appearing before us.
"Wow, that was fast!" I exclaimed, unable to hide my surprise. He laughed at my exclamation, thrusting a hand out to grab my own.
"Thanks! I'm Goku! You must be Max. Wow, you sure are prettier than Bulma let on, heh-heh." He gave me a goofy smile and scratched the back of his head, clearly embarrased about what he had just said.

"Um, thanks. I, uh, like your hair." I told him, truthfully. He beamed at me and Yamcha opened his mouth to say something, but Bulma appeared beside him and demanded that he dance with her. He gave me a weak smile and allowed himself to be led away. I caught Bulma's eye and she gave me a secret smile. I knew she had deliberately left me on my own with Goku.

"So, Max, how have you been enjoying your time in the CC?"
"Huh? Oh, it's been great, everyone's so nice. So...uh...how do you know Bulma and Yamcha?"
"Oh, Bulma and I grew up together. We had some crazy adventures as kids, hunting for dragonballs and-"
"Dragonballs?" I cut in. I couldn't say why, but the word stirred something in the back of my mind. There was something that I was supposed to know about, but it was lurking just out of reach, somewhere in the sea of my sub-conscious. My hand moved of it's own volition to the pendant hanging around my neck.

"Yeah, you've heard of them?"
"Hmm...no, I guess not. I thought I...but no. What are they?"
"Well, it's kinda difficult to explain, but basically, there are seven dragonballs on earth, and when all of them are gathered together, a dragon can be summoned and he grants the summoner one wish."
"Wow...so it's like Alladin and his Genie...only not as good, cause he only had to get the one lamp, and he got three wishes."
"Hmm...yeah, I guess. But Alladin couldn't wish for people to brought back from the dead."
"You can resurrect the dead with the dragonballs?"
"Oh, sure. But there are limitations...like you can't wish anyone back if they've been gone for more than a year, and you can't wish anyone back more than once...things like that."
"Wow...that's pretty wild. What did you wish for?"
"Oh, uh, I wished Tien back."

"Tien died?"
"Yeah, in battle with the Demon King Picollo."
"Wow...awesome!"
"Heh heh." He laughed awkwardly and I realised that I was probably being a little insensitive.
"Sorry...I just meant..."
"Hey, don't worry about it. I know, it is kinda awesome."
"Yeah...um, Goku?" I didn't know why, exactly, but I felt like I could trust this man with my secret.
"Yeah?"
"Can I...can I show you something? In private?"
He looked unsure, but nodded.

"Sure...is something the matter?"
"No...not really, I just...please?" I gestured towards the door and he smiled warmly and I followed him outside into the cool night air. Once we were a good distance away from the party, he turned to me again.
"Ok, what did you want to show me?"

I took a deep breath, and slowly unfurled my tail. His eyes widened in shock, and he made a small noise of surprise, before smiling widely again.
"Hey, you've got one too! That's strange, I thought I was the only one."
"Yeah, me too. Bulma told me about you, she said you had yours cut off when you were younger...yowtch!"
"Yeah, I was just a kid, but I can still remember how painful it was. It was agony! For a split second, and then the pain was gone. My tail spot's still pretty sensitive though...last year I took a round-house kick to the lower back and ended up laid up in bed for a week! And that was from Krillan!"

I laughed at the thought of this, and he flashed me the same goofy grin he had before. We laughed together for a few more seconds before he stopped abruptly and looked out over the horizon, a small frown creasing his forehead.

"What's wrong?" I asked, suddenly fearful of his seriousness.
"I can sense something's not right...there are three new, very high power levels coming towards the Earth as we speak. They will be here by the morning."
"What? How can you...?" Deciding against asking stupid questions, I shook my head and turned my thoughts to devising a plan. "What will we do?"
He looked at me, surprised.

"You won't have to do anything, me and the other Z fighters will take care of it."
"I want to help. I can fight."
He started to laugh but I stepped closer to him, my eyes alight with fierce determination.
"Please. Just let me prove myself to you."
"But, Max, you're just a kid...and you're a girl."
"And you're just being sexist and over protective. Just give me a chance. Spar with me, and I'll show you."
"I'm not going to-"
I cut him off by sinking into a fighting stance, facing him.

"Ok, but if I hurt you, don't blame me. I can't always control my strength."
I nodded curtly, secretly pleased at hearing that he would not be holding back. Then we began. I sent a flying kick to his head, which he dodged easily, as I suspected he would, and aimed a chop at the back of my head, which would have knocked me out, had it made contact, but I flipped backwards, flying over his head. He blinked, surprised at this, before we launched a flurry of physical attacks at each other. By the end of the friendly fight it was clear to both of us that we were pretty evenly matched. Panting, he sat back on the grass, giving me an appraising look.

"Well, Max, I must say I am impressed. I am the strongest of the Z fighters, and you didn't miss a beat with me."
I sat beside him, nodding, too tired to speak. As we sat there, a mutual understanding passed between us, and I knew that we would be good friends for a very long time. For the first time in my life, I had found someone who was just like me. A friend, an equal...a brother.

"What now?" I asked when I got my breath back.
"We will leave CC tonight and fly over to Roshi's Island. That is where I train. If I am correct, these new threats will seek out our power levels and find us, and we will be prepared for them."
"OK. When will we tell the others?"
"They already know. They can sense it too."
"That's cool. Can you teach me?"
"Sure!"
"How long will it take?"
"A couple of hours...well, actually it depends how intelligent you are...it took me two hours thirty minutes, so it's kinda subjective."

And then I set about learning the technique that would serve me well for the rest of my days. It took me fifteen minutes to grasp it.

AN: Next chapter will be up soon...please R&R, it makes me all happy on the inside (yn) xxx