Piccolo landed in front of the cave. It was early in the morning. The girl was still asleep. Morning wasn't her time of the day. From watching her, he had learned that she was a night person. To bad for her. Training began now. He pulled the deerskins in the entrance aside and walked in. The girl was still asleep. He poked her in the ribs with his foot to wake her up. Still half asleep, she groaned.

"Dad, stop it. It's a Sunday. I don't have school, and I don't have to work. So let me sleep."

"Wake up kid."

At the sound of his voice, she suddenly woke up and sat up.

"Huh?"

She looked around confused. When she saw him standing next to her bed she realised what had happened.

"Oh, shit. Sorry. I was dreaming. I thought you were my dad."

"Well, I'm not. So get out of bed. Training is about to begin."

"Aw, but PiccoloSan, its way to early! I haven't had enough sleep!"

"Stop your whining and do as your told. You've got fifteen minutes to prepare."

He walked outside. There came a lot of grumbling and cursing from the cave.

"Hey, I heard that brat!"

"Heard what?"

She said, while walking outside.

"I don't like being called a green skinned freak."

"You have a very keen hearing then."

He watched her brush her hair. It was one of her morning rituals. Shaking his head, he whispered to himself:

"Why did I ever asked if she wanted training."

"I wouldn't know. You never told me."

"What, you heard that?"

"Yeah! You're not the only one around here with good hearing you know."

"So I notice."

Leaning against a rock, he watched the girl. He didn't want to admit it to himself, but he actually enjoyed watching her go through her morning rituals.

"Here."

She took the handkerchief.

"Thank you. I was wondering what had happened to it."

Strange. She wasn't looking him in the face. She kept her head bowed down. As if she was hiding something.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Her neck. She didn't want him to see her neck.

"Don't give me that nonsense. I'm not stupid."

She started to answer him. But he knew that it would just be another excuse. Having no patience for such games, he grabbed her chin and lifted her head. Her neck was badly bruised. It was a big, hand shaped bruise. His hand.

"I.I'm sorry. I shouldn't have."

"No. It's Ok. I understand why you did it. You were very angry yesterday."

He fell back into his usual grumpiness.

"You shouldn't have lied to me then."

"Hey, don't push it green guy. You don't have the sole right on secrets you know. And I said I understand. Not that I have forgiven you."

"Well have you forgiven me?"

"Of course! You're way to cute to stay mad at for long."

All he could do was stare at her, mouth agape. No one had ever called him cute. She giggled. To his relieve he noticed that she had been joking.

"Hey kid, no one ever called me cute and lived."

He had said it with such a serious tone that he had frightened her.

"Well, I, I'm sorry. I was only joking. I didn't mean it."

"I really hope you didn't kid. For your sake. Now get ready. You've had time enough to prepare. Training begins now."