This chapter is dedicated to Mahonuts, and Digifan, as they have faithfully reviewed since the very beginning.  Special thanks to ST1 (you know why)

Chapter 32

Encounters of the Misfortunate Kind

Friday, June 20th

1:00 P.M.

Ichigo shoved a shorter man who was trying to block the door out of her way and stormed out of the large conference room.

Trust, and hope are interesting emotions, at times they are strong enough to weather any storm and blunt any attack.  In others, they are fickle and weak.  The slightest bump in the path one takes can sever the ties.

Now was one such moment.  Ichigo felt betrayed.  She was once again all alone in the universe.  'I new better then to hope that they would help me save my people.  None of them have the heart to fight.  They are cowards.  Hypocrites and cowards.  They long ago conquered this planet.  Only they did it with lies and technology.  They buy their way out of problems and cover up what they don't want known.'  Ichigo shook her head and walked down a set of stairs that seemed to be headed in the direction she needed to go.

'I cannot believe I let myself trust them!  They don't deserve to be called Saiyans.  Cowards all of them!'  Ichigo thought to herself as she stomped down the circular hallway.

Looking around, she realized that she had just passed the stairs she had walked down again.  She had absolutely no idea how to get out of the domed building.  Flying straight up and out the roof was an option, but Ichigo decided that she would only do that if she ran out of other options.  She realized that she had walked past a hallway that headed towards the outer wall, so she turned around and soon found that hallway.  The closer to the outer wall she could get, the easier finding the door would be, she decided.

She soon found herself in another hallway that seemed to circle the building, so she followed it until she found the Statue of Vegeta's father.

"King Vegeta, the very words are treasonous."  She nearly spat at the statue.  Bending down, she forcefully ripped the placard off of the column on which the statue stood.  She then shredded it like it was paper.

Slowly exhaling, she relaxed a little bit.  "There, now I feel better."  She said to herself as she placed a small ball of ki into the statue's cupped hands.  'Just because they don't know how to train doesn't mean I don't.'

She walked down the hallway and approached the small computer counsel near the vault doors.

"This facility has been sealed.  Please state your name for authorization."  An annoying female voice informed her as she placed her hands on the counsel.

"I am Ichigo Kudamono"  Ichigo said while remembering how Boxers had opened the door the first time.

"Invalid Identification.  Security procedure gamma initiated."  The voice informed her as a bluish energy field crackled to life between her and the door.

"Open the door you stupid computer!"  Ichigo growled as she slammed her fist into the counsel.  The counsel shattered and started to smoke.

Suddenly a hologram of a teal haired woman who looked a lot like an older version of Slip appeared before Ichigo.  "VEGETA HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU TO CONTROL YOU TEMPER AND NOT BREAK THINGS?!?!  If you want into your Gravity room, then you can darn well fix that computer panel yourself.  And don't you dare go claiming you're the man of the house or some bullshit like that.  This is MY house and I'm sick of you breaking things!!"

Ichigo glared at the spot where the woman had been standing.  'I am NOT Vegeta.  And the damn panel deserved it.'  She thought looking at the smoking panel.

Ichigo looked at the crackling energy field that was in front of the door to the Gravity Room.  'If they think this pathetic energy field will keep me out of that room, they are sadly mistaken.' 

Ichigo fired a fairy strong ki blast into the field and the field collapsed as if it were tissue paper.  'Technology will never be a match against a good strong ki.  Now for this stupid door.'

She walked up to the door and pulled back her right arm.  "KIIIII PUNCH!!"  She yelled as she forced her glowing fist towards the door.

It never made contact.  About 6cm in front of the door her fist slammed into something that felt like a prickly wall.  The invisible wall rippled like a pool of water that had been disturbed by a stone.  The ripples shot away from her hand and carried her built up ki away with them.

No more then a few milliseconds later, the ripples reached the ring that surrounded the door and rebounded.  Ichigo's peripheral vision was good enough that she could see the ripples getting bigger as they closed in on her right arm, which was now caught up to the wrist in this prickly energy field that wouldn't let go.

"Ahhhhh!"  She screamed out as the ripples closed around her arm and sheets of bluish purple energy shot up her arm and crackled over her body.  Ardent flame shot through her nerves as her entire arm went numb.

The last thing Ichigo sensed before passing out was being thrown back the 100 meter length of the hallway to have her head slam into the base of the statue of Vegeta's father.

* * *

Ichigo woke to the sensation of little tiny needles all over her body.

Tug

And someone pulling on her hair.

By reflex, she jumped up and almost fell over as a wave of vertigo passed through her head.

Bonk!

Ichigo looked up in time to see Nighty falling from the ceiling.  Ichigo quickly took three steps and caught the girl before she could plant her face into the floor.

"Owwwwieeeeee!"  Nighty cried as she tried to reach up with her right hand but then stopped and cradled her arm while rubbing her head with her left arm.

Ichigo looked around and quickly put two and two together.  'Nighty must have been pulling on my hair when I woke up and didn't let go when I jumped up.  The poor girl got launched into the ceiling.'

Ichigo started to put the girl down, but Nighty cried out when Ichigo bumped her right shoulder.

Ichigo quickly put her down and gently prodded the shoulder.

"AHH!  Owwwieee that hurts."  Nighty cried as big huge tears started rolling down her face.

'When I jumped up she didn't let go, and I dislocated her shoulder.  Poor thing, I need to pop it back into place, but I don't want cause her any more pain then I already have.'  Earlier anger forgotten, Ichigo set about helping Nighty.

"I... I ooonwwy wannated aaa ppony ri...ide."  Nighty said as she started to bawl.

'NOOOOOOOO!!!  NOO, NO, NO, NO, NO!!! Don't cry on me, don't do this!'  The differences between her culture and Nighty's slammed into Ichigo with full force.  While children such as Nighty were generally allowed to play and enjoy life to it's fullest, tears were unacceptable at any age.  To break down and cry was thought as a weakness, a flaw in character.  Of all emotions that Ichigo could have or would have been prepared to handle, tears were not one of them.  Especially since she had caused them.

"Please stop crying."  She pleaded with the little girl.

Nighty's big bright green eyes looked up into Ichigo's, and started to tear even faster.  "Baauuutt i.. it tt huuurrttts." 

'Oh please stop.  Please stop.  What do I do?  What do I do?'

Nighty's sobs started to grow louder.

Ichigo quickly gently placed two fingers over Nighty's mouth.  "Shhh shhhh shhhhh  It will be alright.  Just calm down." 

Ichigo remembered a lounge area just a little way down the hall from where they were at, so she slowly lead Nighty to it and sat her down on a big plush couch.

Ichigo then quickly searched the lounge area to see if she could find something that would work for Nighty to bite down on.  Not finding anything, she walked back to Nighty who was still whimpering.

"Ok, I need to fix your arm now ok?  It is going to hurt a lot for a little bit, but then it will get better.  Ok?"  She asked kneeling in front of the girl.

"Ah huh."  Nighty said quietly.

"Ok, now I need you to stand up."  Ichigo motioned and Nighty stood up.  "Now, I know this isn't perfect, but bite down on this.  It will help the pain some."  Ichigo said while sticking her braid in front of Nighty's mouth.

Nighty made a face.  "Icky no."  She said back before clamping her lips shut and shaking her head no.

"I know, I know, but just for a little bit.  If you don't I can't fix your arm and it will keep hurting."  Ichigo pleaded with Nighty.

After a little bit, Nighty relented and after smelling the braid, bit into it the side of it.

Crack! 

"AAAAIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"  Nighty squealed as Ichigo quickly popped the girl's shoulder back in place.

"Ok, I'm done.  Does it feel better now?  Can you lift your arm?"  Ichigo asked looking into the girl's face.

Nighty on the other hand was busy spitting hair out of her mouth and trying to breathe.  "PT, Plah, PSST, bleah, phaack, pst, pah, ICKY!"

Ichigo held up her braid and looked at the crescent shaped gouge that had been bitten out of it.  'She bit all the way through my hair!'  Ichigo looked back at Nighty who was using both hands to try to scrape hair off of her tongue.  'Well at least I know her arm works now, but I never expected her jaws to be that strong.  Good thing I didn't let her bit down on my hand like I had thought about for my second option.  That could have hurt.'

Ichigo picked Nighty up and then held her up so she could rinse out her mouth at the nearby water fountain.

"Now, you shouldn't be using that arm for a while.  Otherwise you might cause damage to...  Never mind, you just shouldn't use that arm, so I'm going to give you my sash ok?"  Ichigo said as she took off her obi which in all actuality didn't do anything anyway and tied it around Nighty as a sling.  "Now, I can't give you a pony ride because that might hurt, so what should I do with you?"

"But I want a pony ride!"  Nighty whined while stomping on the floor.

"I know, but you can't have one.  I think I know what to do though.  Come over here and sit down on that couch ok?"

* * *

Roshi walked out the door of the conference room and quickly walked around the curve of the building.   Once he was out of sight, he leaned into the wall and tapped his forehead into it.  'I am an idiot.  What the heck was I thinking?'

Shaking his head he looked at the sky.  "Dende, I just told off my entire family.  As if my outburst yesterday wasn't bad enough now I have to go and insult my entire family.  I can't believe I lost it in there like that.  Damn I'm stupid!"

"Have you ever heard the phrase that a brave man is foolish man who is willing to sacrifice himself for his ideals.  Where as, a hero is a brave man who is foolish enough to save other brave men from their foolishness?"

Roshi looked up to see who spoke to him.  "Yoshi?"

Son Yoshi smiled as he looked over at Roshi.  "What you did in there was foolish, but it was also very brave and very honest and you spoke from your heart.  Remember that the difference between insanity and genius can only be measured by the result not by the method.  Who is to say what the right thing to do is until the time to act has past?  You at least have chosen a path to take when the time comes to act."

Roshi shook his head.  "Now I remember why you're my favorite uncle.  So do you think I was right?"

Yoshi smirked, "It doesn't really matter what I believe.  What matters is what you believe, and I think you made that sufficiently clear."

Roshi cocked one of his eyes at Yoshi, "Oh no you don't.  I don't need anyone to patronize me.  Please, be honest, do you think I am fighting for the wrong cause here?"

Yoshi sighed.  "Kid, the problem with ideals is that they can very rarely stand up to the pressures of the real world.  Yes, I think you are fighting for the right thing.  I will be joining you and anyone else who shows up at the Lookout for training.  That said, if things go badly for us, you will be the one who will pay the price to the survivors.  If there are survivors."

'Thanks, as if I didn't know that already.  Then again, I would rather be in my position then Ichigo's.  If she fails her mission, she will doom everyone she ever knew.'

"Hey, kid, don't worry about it.  That's just why we are going to have to win."

Roshi looked up.  "Thanks Uncle Yoshi.  I need to go find Ichigo and see if I can't work some things out with her."

"Yeah, you do that.  Oh and Roshi, take it from me, the way she was playing with Nighty earlier, that girl's a keeper."  Yoshi said as he winked and then turned to walk away.

Drip...  Drop...  Drip...  Several large sweat drops hit the floor before Roshi willed himself to start breathing again.  'JOKE  That was a joke.  He is only teasing.  I don't want anything to do with her in that manner.  Remember Mauled by a bear.  Heck, Mauled by a T-Rex then a bear.  She might be nice to little kids, but you are not a little kid Roshi.  She'll rip your heart out and spit on it before she would ever be...  Stop.  I'm not even going to think about it.'

Roshi forced himself to start thinking about how he would make it up to Mariah and Kit and all of his friends once his life returned to normal.

With pleasant thoughts about how his quasy date the Friday before passing through his head, he went in search of Ichigo.

* * *

Roshi sensed her ki downstairs so he took the stairs and then slowly walked towards where she was.  Since he could tell she was with someone else, but didn't know who, he walked slowly and silently while depressing his ki as much as he could.  He wanted to see who she was with and what she was doing.

Roshi carefully peered though the large arched doorway that lead to a darkened lounge area.  What he saw amazed him.

Ichigo had turned off the lights to the lounge, so the only light was from a few windows that looked out into the hallway and the door.  She was sitting in one of the chairs across from Nighty.

Between the two of them were five brilliantly colored stars of ki energy.  Ichigo was using her hands to control them like a puppeteer controls a puppet.  A blue one danced in front of Nighty's face and she quickly poked it with her left hand.  It burst like a bubble and sent little blue dots off to fade as they fell.  Soon Nighty caught sight of a spinning red star and she tried to catch it, but it spun away from her and danced past her ear.

"Oh, you have to be faster.  I'm not going to just let you catch them that easily"  Ichigo teased playfully as a green ki bubble that actually looked like a bubble of some sort of radioactive goop landed on Nighty's nose.

Nighty squealed in pleasure as she tried to grab it and missed allowing it to bounce off her arm and through her hair.  She then tried to reach up with her right hand and grab it but Ichigo quickly leaned forward and stopped her. 

"Ah ah ah."  Ichigo said shaking her head.  "You don't want to do that."  She finished placing Nighty's arm back into the makeshift sling.

'I wonder if the sling is some sort of training tool for this game that Ichigo is playing, or if Nighty hurt her arm somehow.'  Roshi thought from the doorway as Ichigo sat back down and caused the five ki balls to form into a brightly colored caterpillar like thing that snaked its way around Nighty making her laugh.

Roshi couldn't handle it any longer and he knew Ichigo wouldn't take it well if it appeared as though he was spying on her, so he walked into the room.  "That's amazing.  Where did you learn that?"

Ichigo practically jumped through the ceiling.  She lost concentration and the five balls of ki burst sending a rainbow of sparkling light shooting around the room. 

"Ooooohhhhhh Fireworks!  Do it again! Do it again!"  Nighty cheered.

"You!"  Ichigo sneered, "go away, I don't want to talk to you."

"Do it again! More Fireworks!  More Fireworks!"  Nighty yelled as she started jumping up and down.

"Ah, no Nighty, you'll hurt your arm.  Don't jump!"  Ichigo scolded.

Nighty plopped herself down on the floor and started to pout.  "But I want Fireworks!"

"What happened to Nighty's arm?"  Roshi asked as he walked closer.

"Nothing you need to worry about, she scared me by grabbing my hair and I jumped and she didn't let go, so she dislocated her shoulder."  Ichigo said while glaring at Roshi as if she was daring him to make an issue of it.

"Ok, well, um, we should find my uncle PJ and get Nighty back to him.  By now the meeting is over and he is probably worried about her."

"Niiighhhhttttyyyy!  Nighty are you down here?"  PJ could be heard yelling from down the hall.

"Daddy!"  Nighty chirped before jumping up and running out the door.

PJ walked up and scooped Nighty into his arms.  "Nighty, Don't run off like that!  I was worried."  He said as he held her at arms length.

"Owwie Daddy my arm."  Nighty cried while squirming in his grasp.

PJ quickly turned her so she was sitting on his right arm with her knees pressed into his chest for balance.  "What happened to your arm?"  He said as he looked around.

"This is your obi.  What did you do to Nighty's arm?"  PJ inquired as he glared at Ichigo.

"What, killing defenseless people on the moon isn't good enough for you, now you have to hurt little girls too?"  Gotan sneered from the side.  "Haven't you caused enough damage already?"

"Did she hurt you?"  PJ asked Nighty while pointing at a frowning Ichigo.

"Ah Huh, I wantad a pony wride and then she made my arm hurt really bad and...

"You attacked a defenseless little girl?!"  Gotan yelled cutting Nighty off.

"I did no such thing!  How dare you accuse me of..."

"Are you calling my little Nighty a liar..."

"... then she made me..."

"Why don't you go back were you came from we don't want you here!"

"...if she said you hurt her then you hurt her and by Dende..."

"...bite her icky hair and I got little choky hairs all ovfer in my mouth..."

"...I didn't attack her she grabbed my hair and..."

"...you won't get anywhere near my little girl again!

"You've been nothing but trouble since you got here you little witch!  You may have fooled Roshi but..."

"FINE!!!  I'VE HAD IT!"  Ichigo yelled silencing the lot of them.  "I'm going to go get my stuff and take Banana's ship and I am getting the he..ck off this retched planet.  And to think I actually thought I could learn something from you ingrates!"

"About time you...HuuGHHH" Gotan started but didn't finish as Ichigo stormed past him and sucker punched him in the stomach to shut him up.

"WHAAAAAHHHH!!! PONY COME BAAACK!!! I WANT MORE FIREWORKS!!!"  Nighty cried as she struggled in her father's arms trying to get down so she could follow Ichigo.

"Wonderful, just absolutely wonderful.  I have to go stop her."  Roshi said as he started down the hall.

Nighty finally slipped out of PJ's grasp and started running down the hall as well, but Roshi stopped and grabbed her.  "No Nighty.  Stay with you dad.  It's going to be ok."

Holding Nighty in place, Roshi stood up and looked at PJ.  "Nighty dislocated her shoulder by yanking on Ichigo's hair.  Ichigo has very fast reflexes and from what I was told jumped.  Nighty didn't let go.  It was an accident."

PJ looked over at Roshi.  "You're not the one who put her arm in that sling?"

Roshi face faulted.  "That's Ichigo's obi!  Do you honestly think I'm stupid enough to try to get clothing off of that girl?  No! I didn't do it.  If you had listened to Nighty rather then starting to yell, Ichigo popped the joint back into place and was keeping Nighty from hurting herself more when I found them.  Now if you will excuse me I need to stop her before she impulsively throws her life away."

Roshi started down the hall, but was stopped when Gotan grabbed his ankle.  "Let her go you stupid boy.  She's only using you.  We have no part in this.  We already dealt with our Changelings.  There's no reason to put everyone at risk just for the sake of pride and a pretty girl."

Roshi stared open mouthed down at Gotan while the man tried to struggle to his feet.  "You think that is what this is about?  Pride and a pretty girl? I can't believe you would... Ok so maybe that does have a little to do with it, but if we succeed, she'll go away and my life will go back to normal and I can then take pride in doing something that I know is right.  To deny myself action when I know action is necessary is to deny who I am.  I can't live with that.  I feel sorry that you can.  I used to wonder what it took to become great.  I can't answer that Gotan, but I can tell you what it takes to be small and petty.  I don't want your life."

"The nerve, how dare you speak to your elders in such a manner?!"  Gotan yelled at Roshi's retreating form.

"Stuff if Gotan, the boy is right."  Roshi heard PJ say as he flew though the broken window Ichigo had used to get out of the building.

* * *

Ichigo wiped her eyes as she flew towards the Son Estate.  'Why am I crying?  I'm pathetic I can't even control my own emotions.  Staying here was a mistake.  I've become soft. I've forgotten who I am...  No!  No, I'm crying because there is nothing else I can do.  Father cried when mother died.  I cry now because I realize now I have failed.  These people would never have helped me and even if Roshi was being genuine, he is but one person and he couldn't even convince his own family to help.  Both he and Boxer's talked about the honorable history of his family, but they have long forgotten any honor they once had.  With the possible exception of Roshi and maybe a handful of others, they are nothing but the traitors the Vegeta family was so long ago.'

Ichigo sensed a change in the air.  'Roshi is following me, I need to move faster.  If he catches me then he will stupidly force me to stay here.  Then not only my world but this one as well will die at the hands of the Changelings.'

Ichigo thought of the night before she left home.  The night when she had stood on her balcony and overlooked the children playing in the street far below.  'I was never as free as those children, or as innocent as Nighty.  When Roshi saved my life that first day, he told me that he did it because it was the right thing to do.  My father always told me that the right thing to do was rarely the easy thing to do.'  Ichigo wiped her eyes again and once again increased her speed.  'I have a destiny.  I was born a leader.  I may have failed my own people, but I cannot let my presence here doom more innocent people.'

"Besides, I may still beat the Changelings.  Now that I know Super Saiyans do exist, there is always a chance I may be one of them." 

* * *

Roshi had to use the Kaioken to even keep up with Ichigo.  'Damn she's fast.'  He thought to himself as he slowly gained on her.  'I cannot let closed minded people like Uncle Gotan place a taint on us all.  If she leaves now I will never be able to forgive myself.'

Roshi shook his head.  'She knows she is throwing her life away by fleeing now.  Chances are it won't save us the wrath of the Changelings anyway.  They will know she had allies here and they will come looking.  Gotan was wrong.  This isn't about pride.  This is about life itself.  This is about who we are and what we are and what is right and what is wrong.'

'This is a challenge that we dare not shy away from because this is something that defines us.  To deny it is to deny ourselves.  To do that is unthinkable.  I must not fail, so I cannot fail.'

* * *

Roshi landed and was about to run into Pan's house as Ichigo was still inside when a shiny metallic blue Jetcopter swooped past and started to land on the landing pad.

Roshi started waving his arms and yelling at the landing Copter.  "No!  No, No way!  This is private property you can't be here without permission.  Leave now or there isn't a lawyer on the planet that will keep your rear out of jail!"

The copter continued landing.

"I said go away!  You don't want to know what I'm going to have to do to you if you land that thing!"  Roshi threatened.

The copter landed and one of the mirrored doors opened.

Kit jumped out.  "And just what are you going to do to me?  That's not a very nice way to talk to your friends."

"KIT!  What the heck are you doing here?  This is a very bad time and I..."

"I brought Mariah, she needs to talk to you."

"You did WHAT?!"  Roshi yelled as he realized he had made a huge mistake.  He had been so unnerved by the sight of the copter that he hadn't even tried to determine who was in it.  'Stupid Roshi, very, very stupid'

Roshi had never seen Kit angry before.  At least not really angry.  While she didn't have claws, her fingernails were still quite sharp.  Her tail bristled, her ears flat, and her fur standing on end, she marched over to Roshi grabbed his left ear and twisted.  "You may be a million time stronger then me but so help me if you don't calm down and listen to me right now, I will make you suffer.  She literally snarled into his face as she dragged him away from the copter and towards the direction in which he had approached.

"Um, Kit this is really not a..."

"I said shut up and listen to me!"

Roshi shut up.  While Kit couldn't really physically hurt him, she scared the hell out of him like this.

Kit marched Roshi over to the front door of Pan's house and then let go of his ear.  "Your time ran out.  Mariah came over and watched the news conference with me this morning.  She saw your dad break down that wall and then heard him tell the world that you were stronger then he is.  She THEN saw them replay shots of various family members arriving to the meeting.  You are all famous you know.  Well walking in the front door of the old dome may have been better for you then flying in the back, but since you walked into a PRIVATE FAMILY ONLY meeting beside THIS GIRL,"  Kit said holding up another tabloid, "And since you have not spoken to Mariah at any length since your date a week ago.  She is not taking it well."

Roshi was looking at the tabloid.

Update:  Son Boy Dines in Luxury with Mystery Girl!!

The tabloid then showed several pictures of Ichigo and him walking out of ChiChi's and had an interview with one of the employee's who informed them that Roshi had dined with the girl for over an hour in the private dining room.

"Kit, it's a tabloid.  This isn't news.  She's a Saiyan, where else was I supposed to take her to eat?"

"Roshi you don't get it.  Mariah has never even set foot in Chichi's.  Heck that private dining room you two ate in costs more money to rent for an hour then my parents make in a WEEK!  AND my dad is the head of a research division at Capsule Corp!

"Really?  I didn't know that.  I just paid for it and...  I'm an idiot."

"You think?"  Kit rolled her eyes and then waved to the Copter. 

Mariah slowly got out of the copter and started to walk towards them.  It was easy to tell that she had been crying.

"Mariah, Roshi would like to tell you how big of an idiot he is and then would like to apologize profusely and worship the ground you walk on."

Roshi glared at Kit.  "You know I don't need you to tell her what I am going to say, and I don't need you telling me what to say either.  In fact, I think it might be best if you go stand over by the copter for a bit cause this is a private conversation between me and Mariah.  Right Mariah?"

"No.  I want her to stay."  Mariah said as she stood next to Kit like Kit was a safety screen of some sort.  "You took her to Chichi's Roshi.  You you..."

"Ok, well um, look, I am really sorry.  I wasn't thinking and I've made some mistakes and I really would tell you the whole story but I really don't have the time and get away from that door!"  Roshi yelled as he realized Ichigo was coming down the stairs.

"What?"  Mariah said before the door was flung open and Ichigo marched out of the house in her full Royal Armor. 

Roshi looked from Mariah who had fallen down in shock to Ichigo who was looking over the threesome as if trying to determine what they were there for.  "Ichigo don't do this.  Don't go.  It isn't worth it."

Mariah gasped.

Ichigo glared at Roshi.  For a moment the only sound was of her cape snapping in the breeze.  "Not worth it?  Not worth it?  How dare you tell me that.  You don't have the right.  You've never had to make a hard choice in your life.  If you really believe that what I am doing is in vain then I really have misjudged you.  Don't you dare tell me what is or is not worth it!"   Ichigo yelled as she drove a hooking Ki punch right into Roshi's left cheek.

BAMMMM!!!!   Roshi was thrown several hundred meters and ended up in a tree.

"Don't even think about stopping me."  Ichigo yelled as a brilliant blue aura built up around her.

"ROSHI!"  Mariah yelled as she got up and started to run towards Roshi.

Ichigo looked at Mariah who was sobbing as she helped Roshi stand back up to Kit who was just looking at the scene with her mouth hanging open in a state of shock.

"You two care about him don't you?"  She asked.  "Don't bother wasting your time with him.  He is a traitor born of traitors.  In the end he will only betray you and bring you pain."

With that Ichigo leapt into the air and flew away.  The aura blast and sonic boom that followed knocked both Kit and Mariah down.

Roshi dove and managed to catch Mariah before she hit the ground.

He looked over at her and saw the fear in her deep brown eyes.  "WhoOo... Wha-at was that?  How can she fly?" Mariah asked as she hugged herself to Roshi.

"Oh Mariah, I'm so sorry I should have told you this stuff years ago, and I would right now but I can't because If I don't stop her she's going to go kill herself and I can't let her do that."

"Roshi, you didn't answer her question and what the heck is going on here anyway?  None of this seems to go at all with what you told me last night."  Kit said as she brushed herself off.

Roshi extricated himself from Mariah and helped her to stand up.  "That was Princess Ichigo Kudamono.  She is from the planet Saiya and is here because she needed help.  That is why she was at the family meeting today and that is why she is so angry right now.  My family did not show itself to be what she had expected."

"You didn't tell me she was a Princess yesterday!"  Kit yelled.

"She was going to go home eventually anyway I didn't think it was necessary!"

"So she's an alien like Kit?"  Mariah asked innocently.

"Um yeah, she is a Saiyan which means um yeah she is an alien like Kit"  Roshi said quickly.

"Ah Hum"  Kit cleared her throat.  "And?"

"And If I don't go now I won't be able to catch her and stop her and I promise I will tell you everything later."

"But why Roshi?  Why is she going to kill herself?  She seemed happy yesterday in the mall before Rock started making an ass of himself."  Mariah said as she grabbed his arm.  "And what did she mean by you were a traitor?"

"Yeah, and just why would a Saiyan need to come here for help.  What do Saiyans have to fear?  I thought they were supposed to be really strong or something.  Like you father you know."  Kit asked while managing to get a jab in.

Roshi glared at Kit, 'I tried to be reasonable.  Well, My life as I knew it is over anyway, might as well tell them the whole story.'  Changelings.  She came her because changelings attacked her planet.  Now one of them is coming here.  She is leaving because she thinks if she throws her life away it will leave us alone.  While she may be right, I can't let her die just to buy me peace."

If it were possible Kit would have gone white.  "A Changeling?  A Changeling is coming here?  Roshi, um... It takes a Super Saiyan to beat a Changeling right?"

"Yeah, and a few other things, but right now we are fresh out of them."

"What about Super Saiyans?  You aren't..."

"No, but I am the best chance we have."

"What's a Super Saiyan?"  Mariah suddenly inquired.

"Some day I might show you, suffice to say that it is a very powerful Saiyan."

"But how are you the best chance to...  You're a Saiyan?" Mariah gasped as she put two and two together.  "But I thought that she was a Saiyan and an alien and..."

"Yes, yes, yes,  You are right.  Long ago the Saiyan race split.  I am a descendant of the king from one side, Ichigo is a descendent from the other side.  My ancestors were aliens."

"You're an Alien?"

"Yes, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, and I am sorry but I have to go.  I promise I will tell you two everything.  But I have to go now or I won't be able to catch her."  Roshi said as he slowly hovered into the air.  Once he was far enough away that his backwash wouldn't hurt them, he powered up to Kaioken times four and took off after Ichigo.

"Well Kit, you were right.  Fate bit.  I just hope it bit off more then it can chew.  Cause if it didn't, it just ate us all."

* * *

"Roshi can fly?  How can he fly?  Mariah asked as she watched Roshi float away from them.   Suddenly the sky glowed red and Roshi streaked away like a big red comet.

Then, down on the ground Mariah felt a strange sensation pass over her.  It was comforting.  It also left a tingle in her toes and almost took her breath away.  However, even as it did that, it reminded her of Roshi when he was near.  "Kit, did you feel that?  What was that?"

Click!  Kit's jaw snapped shut.  "ah, well that was um, well For lack of a better thing to call it, that was Roshi's power.

"Kit, what is a Changeling, you seem afraid of it.  I mean, if Roshi can fly and he is so strong like Mr. Satan, the Changeling shouldn't be any big deal right?"

Kit slowly shook her head.  "No Mariah.  What Cell was to the Earth, a Changeling is to the Rest of the Universe.  They are evil and powerful and even though you felt Roshi's strength as he flew away he isn't strong enough to beat one."

"Kit, you saw it didn't you.  Roshi was afraid.  I've never seen Roshi afraid of anything before."  Mariah said almost in a whisper.

Kit looked at Mariah and shook her head.  Looking down, she whispered "I have."

"Kit, I'm scared."

Kit reached out and hugged her best friend.  "I am too Mariah.  I am too."  Kit said as she looked to the sky where Roshi had gone.  'I'm sorry Roshi.  I really screwed up this time.  You were right to keep some things from us and now I've gone and complicated everything for you.  If a changeling is coming to Earth you don't need to be worried about loosing your friends.  I just pray you let me apologize.'

"Kit, do you think Roshi will be back in time for our date tonight?"

* * *

Well, there you go.  Sorry this took so blasted long, I had some computer problems, and some other stuff came up.

Now for my advertising section.  I have not done this for a while and I need to.

First  Jacob has some interesting AU fics.  You should all go read them and review. 

http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=72146

Secondly, OmegaNY showed me a really good 17 fic it is called Butterfly Dreams.  It only has 16 reviews and it deserves a lot more.  If some of you people don't review it, you may wait a Loooong time for my next chapter.  I normally would not make such petty threats, but this fic really does deserve more reviews.

 http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=264592

Thank you, for reading and please review.

The Smooster