I know this one's a bit long, but after this it goes back to being a two-in-one shorty again. Sorry! Anyway, i don't own DBZ, or any of the characters, as some of them do appear in this- or rather these- chapters.


Ch.3

First Aiko, and then Zjun hurtled through the brightness. The first thing that the girl was aware of was springy cool grass and much cooler temperatures. She tripped over her own two feet, unaware of continuing to beat tracks. When the light faded enough to see, she was alone.

"Zjun? Zjun! Where are you? Zjun! Where'd you go?!" Aiko wandered around a little, callng for her brother. Her sword (given to her by her martial arts teacher upon graduation to blackbelt) thumped her legs. No one answered her calls.

Suddenly she felt- or sensed- someone nearby.

"Zjun?" she questioned, turning around. Her eyes searched the crags in the plateus and cliffs that surrounded her on all sides. She walked one of the narrow grassy paths between them. She felt that sensaion again and whirled back around, drawing her sword.

"Who's there? I know you're not my brother! Show yourself!" No response. Aiko closed her eyes, relying on her ears instead. There... A small rustling sound to her left, like feet on grass... Aiko opened her eyes and moved them to look at the shadows on her left without moving her head. She could barly see the outline of someone standing there.

She leveled her sword and oriented on exactly where the guy was. Suddenly... She struck! Aiko swung her sword until it hit rock. Her stalker let out a startled cry and stumbled and fell into the sunlight. Aiko stared at him, surprised. He was her height and, like her brother, had black hair. But he definitely wasn't her brother. She sheathed her sword.

"Who are you?" She asked suspiciously.

"My name's Gohan." He peered at her, and then at her tail. "Who are you? I don't know of any girl Saiyans!" He inquired. Aiko frowned.

"I'm AIko Tomi. Sixteen-year-old fourth degree blackbelt, and swordsmaster." She studied this Gohan Character. "And I've never heard this term, 'Saiyan'."

"Never? Wow. But... You've got a tail. A Saiyan-ish tail. That means you must be a Saiyan."

"Both of us have a tail." Aiko responded. Gohan looked confused.

"Both of you?"

"I have a twin brother." She explained. Aiko cast a worried glance around. "But we were seperated." Gohan started at her.

"Seperated, huh? How?" Aiko shrugged. She explained about the fire, and the light. This seemed to further perplex the other.

"Why don't you fly around and look for him?" Aiko was taken aback.

"Because... I can't fly." Gohan stared at her.

"Huh... That's strange. Everyone I know with a tail could fly, and then some..."

"Well, I can't and neither can my brother."

"Well that's pretty bad. Hey, are you pure of heart?" Gohan's question startled her.

"That's kinda personal! I don't know." Gohan frowned, then shrugged.

"Well, maybe you'll be able to do it anyway. Nimbus!" Before Aiko could express her confusion, a yellow cloud flew over.

"A cloud that's beckon called?" Aiko asked, touching it. It felt firm enough, surprisignly.

"Sit on it." Gohan instructed. Aiko stared at him.

"Are you crazy? It's a cloud! How can you expect me to sit on it?" seh demanded skeptically. Gohan blinked at her. Aiko frowned and climbed on the cloud. She expected it to seperate under her, but it held easily. She was riding the cloud!

Ch.4

Zjun didn't stop running until he was well out of breath.

"Well," he gasped, "That was exhilerating. Let's not do that again." He grinned and looked over his shoulder for his sister. Aiko wasn't there! "Aiko? Aiko! C'mon, this isn't funny!"

He suddenly wasn't tired or out of breath. What had happened to his sister? He'd passed her close to the light, and hadn't looked back to check on her since. What if she'd balked and not come thrugh? What if she'd fallen and not been able to get up? What if...?

"Oh man... Come on, Aiko. If you're playing a trick, it's not a funny one." The sixteen year old looked close to tears. He'd gone through too much that day! Zjun sat heavilly on the ground crosslegged. Now what? He didn't recofnize the surroundings, and something just didn't feel right...

"Aiko?" The boy thought he sense someone nearby. He stood up and looked around. It wasn't Aiko- she would have answered his calls by then. Or at least made some noise.

He raised his hands in defensive posture, ready to fight.

"Who's there? Show yourself! I know I'm not alone." He said loudly, but calmly, turning his head slowly, so he could see behind him. Still, noone appeared. His tail waved slowly behind him, making up for his lack of movement.

"Fine." Zjun closed his eyes and 'relaxed' against a tree. "I'll wait." He listened for even the slightest of sounds. Breathing- he heard breathing. It was soft, but he could hone in on it. He opened his eyes and looked directly at where it was coming from. Faintly, he thought he saw a figure there now, concealed in leaves and shadows.

"Come out, come out, whoever you are. I can see you now. Who are you, and hy are you hiding there?" Zjun asked, walking slowly towards the figure.

"I could almost ask you the same." A deep, gruff voice answered. Zjun stopped.

"So, the spy speaks." he taunted.

"I am not a spy. If anyone was, it would be you." The voice was angry now, and started walking forward. Zjun backed up, as he stepped into visibility. Zjun gawked unbelievingly.

"Y-you're green!" the boy yelped.

Zjun was staring up at a tall green man hidden behind a flowing white cape and matching turban. Brown, elfish looking shoes and blue pants were visible beneath. "What are you?" He asked suspiciously.

"I am a Namek. And you-" His eyes were drawn to the boys jerkily moving tail. "- Appear to be Saiyan. That's strange- I thought there were no more survivors." He looked pensieve, thoughtful. Then suddenly he spoke again. "What's your name?" he barked.

Zjun may have been intimidated, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to cop an attitude. "Why should I tell you?" he shot cockily.

The Namek narrowed his eyes with strained patience. "Listen, Kid. You can either answer me painlessly, or I'll make you anser me. Now, again, what is your name?" He fairly growled.

"How 'bout this? I'll answer your questions, if you tell me the same about yourself." Zjun bargained, crossing his arms stubbornly. Definitely a Saiyan, at least in part. The Namekian thought.

"Agreed. Piccolo." He grunted. "Now you."

"Picolo? You m,ean, like the instrument?"

"Answer the question!"

"Okay, Okay. Zjun. Zjun Tomi."

Piccolo looked pleased. "Now we're getting somewhere. What are you doing here?"

Zjun almost glared at Piccolo, but held it back and sighed. "Looking for my twin, Aiko. And trying to figure out how she and I even got here in the first place." He answered. "And you, Mr. Piccolo?"

"Training. Enough questions- go find your sister." He'd lost interest, and that kid was annoying. He turned away. He wanted nothing more to do with them. Nothing at all...

"But how'm I supposed to find her? I can't cover that much ground again! And for all I know, she's moved!" Zjun complained, wanting to hold on to the company as long as possible.

"Well then, let her look for you. I don't care." He responded, thoroughly annoyed.

"Okay. But in that case, I want to ask one more question."

Piccolo whirled around, on the edge of yelling at the teenager. "What is it." He forced his voice flat, but couldn't hide the frustration.

Zjun cleared his throat. "What's a Saiyan?"