Whistling contently, Raven leisurely walked down the streets of the Saiyan city. Just the day before a plan had been set out on how the three future Saiyans were to get home. The arrangement was to use the dragonballs. This had come about when Trunks had pulled the radar out of his gi pocket; gleefully explaining he'd snitched it from Piccolo's other set of pants before he and Goten went in the Room of Time.
It was a blustery day, the wind tugged at her gi and headband. The scent of thunder was heavy on the air, that strong, static smell. Nevertheless, with a little free time, and swiped Saiyan currency, Raven felt she should explore a little, Ferox at her side. Early morning, she watched as Saiyans set up shops and such. Though civil most of the time, the fact of Saiyans being warriors was particularly evident all around. Even now, fights were already being played out, like when haggling went wrong. A large street guard patrolled constantly, trying to keep things from getting out of hand to the point where ki was involved and buildings destroyed.
Sauntering over to a small market booth, Raven glanced at jewels. The stall owner watched warily, checking that she didn't have sticky fingers for what she didn't buy. After a little white, she did buy a beautiful, sparkling sunstone. As she walked away after adding it to a leather pouch on her belt, she grinned, as she balanced a large opal with two fingers and expertly added that in too without being noticed.
At a small, darkly lit sword smithy, she stopped. Quietly entering, she surveyed the blades with a professional eye. She picked up a katana, wrapped in blue silk. The smith, sharpening something in the back of the shop, looked up, then went about continuing. With a hiss to steel, Raven tested the sword with a few swings. Perfect balance she swung it and then brought it close, rubbing a finger down the blade perfect blade, flawless, sharp as a razor. "Very nice work, sir." Raven sheathed the katana. She walked up to the old, Saiyan man and laid the blade in front of him. Ferox the wolf sat and wagged his tail.
Grin he did, "your eye chose well out of all the swords here, that is my very best."
Raven smiled, there was a sparkle in her eyes, "superbly fine work. Might you have a twin to it?"
Stiffly, the man stood, back creaking as he stretched. Through a few racks of swords he pulled out an identical blade, but instead wrapped in red silk. "This is almost the same."
Raven again tested it, and was finely impressed. On earth one could barely find a sword that wasn't machine manufactured, let alone outstanding. She clicked her tongue, again impressed, "may I ask how much Saiyan ,money this is?"
The man chuckled and waved his hand, picking up a wooden nodachi, a long sword three shaku in length. "If you can beat me, you can have it for free."
Raven looked around and picked up another wooden sword, a wakasashi. The pair bowed to each other, then got into a fighting position. The old Saiyan's tail was wrapped firmly around his waist. Raven's was waving lazily, totally free for balance and better hits.
For a moment, there was no motion, no sound, save the soft murmur of talk on the street, Ferox was standing and totally silent. Suddenly both warriors, young and old, phased out! There was a ringing clack as their weapons collided! Raven jumped backwards and flew at her opponent, flashing out of sight before she hit. The man swung to his side to meet her onslaught, swinging his sword to keep her from landing a hit. As if someone flipped a switch, he turned offensive and she blocked him, hit for hit. The old man saw a break in her defense and swept his leg past hers, knocking Raven off her feet as he slashed downward. Her sword connected with his and she flicked hers, sending his flying across the room to land with a clatter. He blinked, once, twice as she eased herself to her feet, wooden tip pointing towards him.
Raven grinned and tapped his shoulder with the wooden wakasashi, "I believe I've disarmed you sir."
The old Saiyan smiled, a light twinkling in his eye. "So you have," he swept his hand in front of him and was holding the silk and red wrapped katanas. They exchanged wooden sword for real sword, his sighed, happily, "it has been many years since I've been disarmed by a youngster. Use them well."
Raven beamed and bowed, "they will be."
With that, she left after bidding farewell to the man. Both swords she slung over her back, though they were for Goten and Trunks, for now, they were her's to admire. A little chuckle escaped her, that had been quite enjoyable. Ferox yapped and danced at her side, ready to play! The grinned and ran at a lope. The wolf barked and chased her. They weaved through the crowd, playing a joyful game of tag. A few people grumbled at the game the two were playing, though the pair wasn't doing anything to disturb them After running a few blocks, both sank panting to the ground, laughing and shoving one another.
"Hey kid," an oily voice said as a teenage Saiyan slid up behind her. "Those are nice swords, too nice for you."
Raven was instantly on her feet, staring the person down. He had limp, flowing black hair, and was rather short and compact for a Saiyan. She had to put a hand on Ferox's head to keep him from attacking the person. "And what of it?"
A girl, about her age, appeared at her side, "evil looking critter, wouldn't want him to attack now."
Raven looked around, fists raised, as others melted from the shadows. They all wore a yellow cloth around each right bicep, a gang symbol, she growled to herself. Images flashed over her eyes of the few years she spent in a gang, fighting for survival. She shook her head, those days are over. "What do you want?"
"We want anything of value you have," the limp haired Saiyan skimmed closer to her. "We are The Elites, you cannot defeat us?" He pulled back his sleeve to reveal the elite house he belonged to.
Raven had to snort in laughter, "well I am Raven Ketsueki of house Faito." She put her palm up and pulled back her sleeve, showing the symbol her of elite father's house. "And I am not a pushover. Leave me be, or face the consequences."
There was a flurry of chuckling and snorting. If anything, they moved in closer. The limp haired teen got so close, she could feel his hot breath on her cheek, "make us," he hissed, and made for he swords.
Raven moved fast. She went down on one knee and drover her elbow into his gut. He coughed a few drops of blood and fell to the ground, twitching. She was immediately attacked by the five other gang members. She threw one into a wall, and kicked another into the limp haired Saiyan.
A hand clamped down on her tail, she screamed. Ferox was in the fight. He gnashed his sharp teeth and sunk them into the girl hanging onto Raven's tail. The girl let go as blood gushed from the wounds. Raven hovered a few inches. Energy rolled off her as she powered up, sonic waves causing the stone and mortar of nearby buildings to crack and shatter. Charging kids were flung away with a burst of ki. The power was enough to make a few get bloody noses.
Raven took a deep breath and she touched the ground again. The blue aura faded as she surveyed the area around her. Not a soul was standing. She shrugged, and walked off, bound for a certain technology store Bardock told her of.
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Unbeknownst to Raven, someone lurked in the shadows of the alley. His face was knit in shock, and slight pain with the bits of scouter glass that cut his face. He swept noiselessly away, armor not making a sound. Within a short time, he was slinking into the palace grounds. "Sire," he muttered, bowing to King Vegeta, who'd been in the vast garden. "I have something of interest sire…"
"Speak," King Vegeta sighed, stroking his beard, "it had best not be worthless information."
The spy gulped, "I found a girl, my scouter exploded her levels were so high. And after her fight, she disappeared totally on my backup scouter, sire." He took a breath and continued, "there were also a few other power levels higher than her's but I cannot locate them directly. I've narrowed it down to a square mile though sire and the girl has a different color tail. Sire?"
King Vegeta paced and stroked his beard thoughtfully. "I need a strong Saiyan around, even if it's a young girl, because I haven't trusted Freeza lately. You will find her and I will make an offer to her and any other strong ones found with her. Bring a few guards with you."
"Sire, just to tell you, she is an elite, but I am thinking she isn't, uh, familiar with our planet, by the way she goes around, talks and acts."
"Get out of my sight and go find her…NOW…" The king spat at his retreating spy.
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Bardock rubbed his head and groaned and rolled over in his bed. A migraine from stress hadn't gone away, even after a few hours out. This was supposed to be his vacation; instead he was stuck watching his grandchildren from the future and a friend. If Sereri was here, than she would know how to help. At least Raven and that Trunks kid could remotely take care of themselves.
A knock came and the door slowly swung open. Goten walked in and snuggled with him. "Trunks says to leave you alone but are you OK?"
Bardock squinted at Goten. "Fine I'm fine." He replied, but looking more closely at the boy he saw tears in his eyes. He sat up and pulled Goten close in a hug, something he'd never done to anyone before. "Don't cry, what's wrong?"
"I want my mommy," Goten sobbed lightly and buried his head in his Grandfather's dark green gi. Bardock just tightened his grip. "And my brother and my dad. I feel so alone"
"It's alright to want things, especially family. At least I'm here, so you won't have to be alone right squirt." He ruffled Goten's hair and set him down and smiled.
Goten sniffed, smiling back and hugged Bardock around the neck, choking the adult. "I love you grandpa."
Those words rang in his head 'I love you.' Those stood out. Never had he been told those, except from Sereri. He struggled to talk, partially from strangulation, but mostly from long iced over emotions of love "I love you to Goten."
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In the shop, Raven put her blue glass scouter on the main counter. The attendant raised an eyebrow, "yes?"
"I want this scouter updated, so it will not explode at massively strong power levels. And give it the latest updates and technology." She said firmly, showing her money to back it all up.
The attendant examined the scouter. "It will take only five minutes, but it will…cost?" Raven already had figured the correct amount of Saiyan money and had pushed it across the counter. For a few minutes, the man disappeared, but when he returned, he held out her scouter. "it has increased memory, top notch mapping ability, ki recognition, and so forth."
Raven looked at it and placed it over her head, checking it. "very good, thank you." Back on the street, on the way to Bardock's, the limp haired Saiyan confronted her. She raised her eyebrow, "what do you want this time?"
The teen averted his eyes, "I must sadly apologize, I underestimated you."
Raven chuckled and held out her hand, "your not the first one, by the way, what do you go by?"
"Dugano," he shook her hand.
"Huh," Raven nodded, "well, I gotta skitter, next time," she winked and patted Ferox's head, "do not underestimate anybody, that's just asking for an ass kicking."
Dugano just grinned lopsided as Raven loped off. "Skitter?" He asked himself as she disappeared into the crowd.
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The day slowly past. The sky began to glow gold as the sun set, setting the horizon on fire with a blaze of reds and purples. The first starts began to twinkle, and unbeknownst to the Saiyan populous, Freeza was approaching.