Okay, chapter 3! I know, lots of info going on so far and not much action, but I wanted non-DBZ readers to be able to enjoy this as well. It should get more interesting in this chapter. Again, a humongous thank you to all who reviewed! More hugs and kisses to ya! Don't worry, everyone else will get more 'airtime' soon. I'm almost done setting it up! Oh, and pay attention to ramblings at the bottom! I need everyone reading this to vote on something for me! Thanks a bunch! (Checks previous chapters again.) UP TO 8 REVIEWS TOTAL! YAY!!!!!!

Kaoru…the Saiyan??

Chapter 3: Realizations

Kaoru's face relaxed into a soft smile. "I'm sorry, guys. Now I know you have the wrong person. I don't have a tail."

Vegeta gave her a skeptical look, but let his eyes roam to her waist. If she did have a tail, it would show through the jeans. Damn it! I still think she's the one though. Bulma rose from her seat and circled behind Kaoru.

"Please stand up, Kaoru. I have a test I want to perform." Kaoru stood up slowly wondering what the woman had in mind. Bulma lifted her hand and pressed the heel of her palm into the small of Kaoru's back. She didn't put much pressure into it, just a gentle but firm push. Kaoru let out a small whimpering sound and sunk to her knees. "I knew it! She did have a tail, but it's been removed. The tail spot is sensitive."

As if on cue, Kaoru's mind started to swim again. Visions of a strange planet filled her mind and she could no longer focus on the dojo and her current surroundings.

**In Kaoru's Mind**

She was watching a hectic scene as an outsider. Nothing was solid and she seemed to be floating in midair. People were running and screaming as the ground shook beneath them, breaking apart and swallowing them into it's red depths. The scene then switched to a strange round metal ball that was large enough to hold one person. She saw two men, presumably guards place a small child into the ball. She floated closer to get a good look and gasped at what she saw. Inside the pod, was none other than herself as a baby, a small tail trailing behind her. One of the guards leaned in to talk to her.

'We need to send you off, little Princess. Our planet will be destroyed, but you must survive as a member of the royal family. Be safe and have a happy life, young one.'

The pod was then sealed shut and shot off into space, clearing the area safely as the planet imploded.

**End Flashback**

Kaoru's eyes refocused slightly and she could see the dojo, but it was in the past when her father was still alive. He was practicing and she was running around mimicking him, but clumsily holding the bokken with tiny, chubby hands. Sure enough, she could see a small bulge going around her waist…the tail.

Kaoru grabbed at her head, which was starting to pound with a dull ache. She was completely aware of her surroundings now, but the pain in her head blocked out all rational thought. She crumpled over in a heap, whimpering about her head.

"Please…someone…make it stop. Please." She looked to Goku who made it stop before, but he only looked at her with sympathetic eyes.

"You have to go through it Kaoru. They will come whether you like it or not. Just get it over with now." His gentle voice prompted her to calm a bit, although the ache was still there.

She needed to leave the training hall. The images were gone, but she was afraid they would return. She got up and stumbled backward towards the door and turned around to look into the yard. She grabbed the doorframe for support to steady herself and stepped out onto the porch and then into the grass. Everyone followed behind going onto the porch. Kenshin made a step to go to her but Vegeta's strong grip stopped him. The Saiyan prince shook his head at Kenshin and gave a stern glare.

Kaoru's mind filled with another past vision. This time she was very small. Just a toddler who could barely stand without wobbling. She came running from the bathhouse completely naked with a weary looking woman trailing behind her.

"Kaoru-chan! You have to put some clothes on you silly girl! Come back here!"

Kaoru noticed again the tail trailing behind her. This vision stopped and then a very short one took its place.

She was in Dr. Genzai's clinic, lying stomach down on an operating table. The old doctor snipped something and discarded the tail and that's where it all ended.

By now Kaoru's head felt as if a million needles were pricking it over and over. The whimper from earlier was replaced with a full yell.

"SOMEONE MAKE IT STOP! MAKE IT GO AWAY!" She grabbed her head and fell to her knees. A blood-curdling scream ripped itself from her throat. They had never heard anything like that before from Kaoru. It was filled with pain, not just physical but mental and emotional as well. She lay on the ground for maybe an hour, just sobbing.

The pain in her head had subsided, but no one dared touch her, afraid that the slightest touch may cause her to cry out again. The pain started to dissolve from her features and anger took its place. She didn't know who to be angry with. Her parents for lying? Goku and his friends for being honest? Nakago for starting this whole mess?

She couldn't think straight. She was just more upset than she had ever been in her life. She felt a rage so deep coming from within her that she never dreamed possible. Finally she braced herself on her hands and knees and stared at the grass as the last of her tears fell from her face.

"It's all been a lie. A LIE! Everything I've ever been led to believe has been a LIE!"

Misao couldn't stand it anymore and went to comfort her friend before anyone could stop her. "Kaoru, it's going to be okay. You'll see." She reached out a hand to put on Kaoru's shoulder, but Kaoru turned to look at her and the anger she saw burning in her friend's eyes made her draw back sharply.

"How can you say such things, Misao? You're life is just as it has always been. You know who your real parents were. Even if you don't remember them, you know exactly where you came from. Nothing I remember is who I really am! My entire life so far is nothing but a falsehood. I AM A COMPLETE LIE! I'M NOT WHO I THOUGHT I WAS! I'M A STRANGER TO EVEN MYSELF! So, don't stand there and talk to

me like you understand what I'm going through. You know nothing about this." She growled out this little speech to Misao and immediately regretted it when she saw the hurt expression on Misao's face.

She took a deep breath and sat down fully on the grass. "I'm sorry, Misao. I shouldn't have said such things. But, everything…" Her bottom lip began to quiver again. "I did have a tail. Dr. Genzai removed it when I was a child. I saw it in those visions. Everything I thought to be true, was a lie."

Saitou looked at Kaoru and for the first time in his life, he felt sympathy for someone else. "Kamiya-san, you have good friends. I'm sure they'll help you through this." He put a white-gloved hand on her head. "And if you ever feel the need, you can talk to me." (A.N. I know, just read the bottom before you flame me for OOCness.)

Kaoru looked up in astonishment, much like the rest of her friends. A small 'oro' was heard in the crowd and Kaoru began to giggle. She stood and took the hand from her head and held it in a friendly manner. "Thank you, Saitou. Although you were the last person I expected support from."

He blushed and muttered under his breath. "Tanuki. Ahou."

She made her way over to Kenshin and the others. "I guess I need to help now, ne?" They all gave her a small smile and watched as she approached Vegeta.

"So, big brother, what now?"

Vegeta just smirked at her. "Now, for the hardest training of your life…little sister."

Ramblings: I know, OOCness abound! As far as the DBZ group is concerned, Vegeta especially, this is a major change in the story line for them, so this is how I envision them reacting. Yes, there will be some affectionate Vegeta here, not much, just a bit. But only because he hasn't seen his sister in YEARS! And as far as the Kenshin-gumi is concerned, here is the reason for the OOCness. I want you guys to help me out. I want to put some romance in here. (Can't have a good story without a little sugar, right?) So, what I want to know is, regular pairings or alternate pairings? I guess you have a hint about who I'd link Kaoru to from this last chapter. ^__^ (I love Saitou!) Anyway, the only rules I have on alternate pairings, is I won't break up married couples. Chichi and Goku and Bulma and Vegeta will stay together. Saitou however, you never really see Tokio so I can easily overlook her. Anyway, vote in a review and I'll go with the winning idea!! And no flames if your side doesn't win! It's majority rules here. Hugs and kisses to all!