A/N: DB/Z is owned by Akira Toriyama only.

-Taken-

The Past is Present

After one last look Goku, Tien and Yamcha decided to head back to the Lookout. Their search was unsuccessful; there was no sign of Falgon and also no sign of this so-called threat. Goku let his face hang low as they flew towards the lookout. He couldn't stop thinking about Chichi and he couldn't stop thinking about what Yamcha said.

'Well, alright, it's up to you. But let me warn you. You let her go, and you are going to loose the one thing you love so much in the world. It's now...or never. She can't wait for you forever Goku'

Goku frowned. Damn he was so right. For once in his life he had found something that made him truly happy. Well, apart from fighting that was. But this was different. Even though fighting made him happy and gave him so much excitement and even a bit of fear, it was nothing compared to what she gave him.

Sure, he was afraid, he was worried and he was unsure of some things but he was so…

"Alive" Goku whispered to himself, a small smile on his youthful face, "Kami I feel so alive!", he almost shouted. That was it, he had to go back up there and tell her exactly how he felt and also tell her father too, no matter how scary he was. A huge smile played on Goku's face now. He couldn't wait to see Chichi!

Kami took his old battered wooden staff and stepped out of the dark enclosure of his lookout and into the sunshine. His kind, gentle smile from his previous talk had now vanished; now all that could be seen was a serious glare.

"Kami, sir what's going on? Are you alright?" Chichi questioned the Guardian, worry evident in her sparkling eyes.

"Go inside child" he told her bluntly. She stared at him in question. There was something wrong, that was obvious but she couldn't see what.

"But Kami" she tried to ask him.

"Please go inside Chichi" he told her with a demand. She thought it was best not to anger him so she did as she was told and went back inside to wait. She didn't know what she was going to be waiting for…but whatever it was she hoped it was going to be alright.

Kami still stood still, that blank yet serious expression playing on his features.

"I never expected to see you here again" he spoke out calmly, his eyes turning to focus on one of the nearby palm trees. A tall figure stepped out from the tree's shadow and grinned.

"My, Kami you're still living? Now isn't that amazing" he cackled at the old Namek.

"I think you should crawl back into the hole in which you came" Kami told the creature.

"Maybe I will…but not until I have finished my business here on your planet".

"Whatever business you have with my planet you settle with me Ladzhou" Kami spoke in slight anger. Ladzhou smirked and closed his dark menacing eyes.

"I'm not here to settle anything with you, my dear Kami". Kami looked surprised.

"Then why have you returned?"

"I have unfinished business to deal with…a score to settle…blood to be repaid…revenge. I think you get it" Ladzhou spoke smoothly.

"Revenge? You and I settled our 'disagreement' long ago…who could you possibly have revenge for?" Suddenly Ladzhou appeared right in front of Kami; his tall dark and slender figure staring down at him.

"You know him well. In fact, I believe you taught him Martial Arts skills. Apparently he's a good student and reigning champion. Am I right Kami?"

"Goku" Kami whispered to himself.

"Yes, that's the boy" Ladzhou told him. Kami tried to search for the answer. What could Goku have possibly done?

"I don't understand. What has Goku done to you? He wasn't even born when you arrived here on Earth…it was way before his time!"

"Yes, yes you are right Kami! Very right you are!"

"Then tell me, Ladzhou! What is going on?"

"Goku, as you call him, is related to a man who I once fought long ago. He was a vicous, blood thirsty warrior, a man of pride…a man of loyalty. He and his disgusting race landed on my home planet and destroyed it inch by inch. His men killed my men and left our children to die…alone and helpless" Ladzhou turned his back on the elder, anger sizzling off his strong body.

"We were nothing to them. We were just toys they could play with. This man I speak of…he took away my home…he took away my family…he took away everything".

"I understand your anger Ladzhou but what good is it to take it out on a boy who doesn't even know who he is?"

"Don't give me that rubbish, Namek!" Ladzhou snapped, turning to face Kami, "You know exactly what he is and who he is! You are just too afraid to admit it"

"I admit I have thought about the possibility but if he was one of them, how can he be so kind and so gentle? He is not ruthless, he is not vicious or blood thirsty".

"No…but he did have a tail" Kami stood quietly. Yes, as a child Goku did have a tail and he did have a strange power within him since day one.

"Even if you are right and he is one of them it doesn't matter! What happened then has nothing to do with Goku! You have no right to take your anger out on a child!"

"I have every right to crush him like a twig. And mark my words, I will! He is the last of that pathetic race and I'm not about to just let him walk free!"

"He is pure and innocent, I can assure you!" Kami countered back. Ladzhou smirked and grasped Kami by his clothing.

"I'm not a joker Kami, I don't like messing around and playing games. So let's make this easy for the both of us. Tell me where he is"

Chichi sighed and rested her chin in the palm of her hand. What was taking Kami so long? The curiosity was killing her!

"I hope he's ok"

"Oh he will be just fine my darling" Chichi jumped up in fright at the familiar voice and turned to face someone who was far from a stranger.

"Falgon! Wh-where have you been? You've had us all worried!"

"Quit the crap talk Chichi, I'm not stupid" Chichi swallowed, "Besides, you don't have to worry. I'm not angry at you for what you have done"

"You're not?" Chichi asked in surprise.

"No, I'm actually quite happy. Do you want to know why?"

"Why?" Chichi asked becoming slightly frightened.

"Because I finally get what I want now. I finally get my revenge"

"Falgon, what are you talking about?"

"I'm going to crush him Chichi! I'm going to crush him like a bug and you are going to help me!" Chichi backed away from his approaching form.

"What? You're crazy! What is wrong with you?"

"Oh I'm far from crazy my love. I've never felt so good. I've never felt so…alive" Chichi's eyes widened as she felt her back touch the cold hard wall.

"Please Falgon, don't do this! I'm begging you!" Falgon grasped her by her arm and pulled her to him, his face inches from hers.

"Now listen to me. This is how it's going to work! It's going to be nice and simple" he told her lustfully, his free hand slowly stroking up her leg, "Your going to be a good girl and come with me and your going to do everything that I tell you to do. Your not going to argue with me and your not going to tell me what to do, is that understood?" he demanded, grabbing hold of her face and making her look him in the eyes.

"I won't…I won't let you hurt him" she whispered.

"Don't worry…I will make sure it's only a little bit painful for him" he said before laughing and dragging her out of the back door with him. She screamed and called for Kami and Krillin…but it was no good. Krillin was unconscious upon the floor outside and Kami had no way to escape from the man who he had once considered as a friend.

An hour had passed and Goku could see the lookout just ahead.

"I can't wait to get some sleep" Yamcha mumbled with a yawn.

"Yeah, and I'm quite hungry too" Tien added in. The two laughed at each other and turned to look at Goku and they both suddenly stopped flying and turned back to look at Goku.

"Goku what's wrong?" Yamcha asked him.

"It's Kami. Something is wrong with Kami"

"What do you mean? Is he hurt because I don't feel that he is?" Tien questioned, his large hand coming to rest on Goku's shoulder.

"No…but I think something has happened and….wait" he suddenly said, "Oh no"

"What is it? Spill it!" Yamcha demanded.

"Chichi's not at the lookout anymore!" he shouted in fear.

Moments later the trio landed on the white tiles of Kami's home and immediately they ran up to the Namek who stood overlooking the Earth below, the King, Bulma, Lunch and Krillin beside him, Bulma's parents and a frightened Oolong and Pu'ar behind them.

"Kami what's going on?" Yamcha questioned straight away.

"An old friend has paid me a small visit. Yet, he didn't visit for the reason I thought"

"I'm lost, if he's a friend why all the long faces?"

"He was a friend Yamcha. I don't think I can call him a friend anymore. A great evil has corrupted his once pure heart and now he is out for revenge"

"Revenge? Kami what do you mean?" Tien asked. Kami turned to face Goku and so did everyone else.

"He has come for you Goku"

"Why me? Do I even know him?"

"No, you do not know him. But your father did"

"My…father?" Goku questioned in disbelief.

"I'm afraid I have a lot to tell you Goku. You're not going to like most of what I'm going to tell you but it's time you know the truth!"

"Ok but it's going to have to wait Kami! I want to know where Chichi is!"

"She's gone!" Krillin told his best friend.

"What? Where? Why?" Goku panicked. No one answered him. Goku frowned hard and walked up to Kami, his eyes gazing right into his. Kami could see the anxiety and the fear but what really frightened Kami was the anger and the frustration he saw in the boy's eyes.

"Kami, I won't ask you again. Where is she?" he demanded in a dangerous whisper.

"I can answer that" spoke a deep male voice from behind the group. The warriors all turned to face the stranger who was perched up against one of the trees. Kami gasped and Goku's frown deepened.

"Piccolo"