A/N: Thank you everyone for the reviews! A special thanks to Piccolosdragon for the awesome picture you drew for me of Kage and Piccolo :-). Also thank you Dreamlight, for if not for you this story wouldn't be half as good as it is. Thank you my friend. :Grin:
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A storm raged over the cloudless sky of the desert, lightening flashed and thundered boomed rattling the earth below. The unusual storm had two spectators below watching in complete awe. It still never amazed Kage the sheer power his father contained, he loved watching him in action and pretending that one day it'd be him up there in the clouds defeating a powerful enemy. Three years had passed since his first training session, now he could fly, shoot ki blasts and train his eye on the battle up above. He was even secretly working on an attack that he wanted to surprise his father with. It was still weak and didn't have a name, nor would he give it one until it was strong enough, but it was slowly gaining more power with every practice.
"They're amazing huh?" Ganjo grinned and swiped at the air mimicking his father's punches at Piccolo.
Kage nodded, "Yea," He said breathlessly then turned nudging Ganjo's arm, "Come on I need to practice. Father seems to be disappointed with me lately."
Ganjo smiled lightly not missing the hurt underlining Kage's words, "He's not disappointed with you. Wait until he sees that attack you've been working on!"
Kage's eyes widened, "Shut up! He'll here you!" He hissed shaking Ganjo by the shoulders.
"He's not paying any attention to us," Ganjo's words wavered with every shake; he grabbed Kage by the arms and laughed,
"Relax! Let's spar!" He quickly knocked Kage's feet out from underneath him and then took to the sky.
Kage tumbled backwards catching himself on his hands and flipped back up to his feet using the momentum to launch himself towards Ganjo. Kicking out his foot met with Ganjo's forearm then was twisted and pulled upwards, Kage twisted his body around kicking Ganjo in the face with his free foot releasing him from the hold.
Ganjo floated back rubbing the side of his face, "Ow." He muttered under his breath before falling back into his fighting stance and flew at the Namekian child.
Piccolo halted his attack on Gohan when he noticed the other's lack of attention on the fight before him, "Gohan!" Piccolo growled blocking the teen's half hearted attempt at a punch, "Pay attention!"
Gohan blinked and smiled sheepishly, "Sorry Pic, I got a bit distracted there." He wiped at the sweat forming on his brow, "Kage sure has grown strong."
"What?" Piccolo furrowed his eyebrow then looked to where Gohan pointed; Kage had taken the upper hand in his spar against Ganjo.
Ganjo was blocking the rapid fire kicks and punches from the younger boy, finally he dodged bringing his knee up into Kage's stomach. Kage gasped nosily folding in half giving Ganjo the opportunity to slam his fists in the center of his back.
"He's been working hard." Piccolo said finally after a long moment had passed.
Gohan looked back to him, "You're proud of him." He smiled, the spark in his sensei's eyes was unmistakable. It was the same spark he had seen during his childhood and even now from time to time.
Piccolo snorted softly then allowed himself a small smile, a smirk was more of what it was, "Yes I am."
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"Father!" Kage screamed snapping awake and scrambled to get to his feet, "Father!" He cried tripping over his feet and the blanket landing face first on the cold stone floor. Blood sprayed out from his nose, he quickly covered it with his hands muffling another cry, this time in pain.
Piccolo unfolded himself from the lotus position he had taken while meditating and stood over Kage as he picked him self up.
"What-" He gasped involuntarily as Kage plowed into his chest and clung to his neck, his whole body trembling in fear, "Kage?" Piccolo found himself feeling extremely worried, he attempted to pull the boy from him, "What's wrong?" He grumbled wrapping one arm around Kage's back when he couldn't pry him off.
Kage shook his head biting back sobs, "It's not true!" He cried fisting his hands in the white cloth that made up Piccolo's collar, "It's not true!"
"What's not true?" Piccolo growled loosing his patience and not liking the feeling of being confused one bit, "Kage talk to me."
"People were dying!" Kage sobbed burying his face further into the fabric, "I'm scared." He mumbled his voice muffled in the cloth.
Piccolo sighed rolling his eyes, "You just had a nightmare."
Kage shook his head, "No, it was real." He mumbled and Piccolo scowled trying to pry his hands off his gi.
"Some nightmares only seem real, they're not though." Kage lifted his head releasing his death grip on Piccolo's gi, Piccolo set him down on the floor with a soft snort.
"You sure?" Kage asked softly wrapping his arms around himself.
Piccolo nodded, "Positive." He grumbled feeling slightly irritated at having his meditation interrupted for something so silly. He sighed mentally remembering some of the nightmares he had had when he was Kage's age, "The sun is coming up." He said softly noticing that the fire he had made that night was out and yet the cave was still semi lit, "Let's go train."
Kage nodded the nightmare still fresh in his mind, "Okay," He sighed pushing the dream away, "I want to show you something I've been working on." He brightened up flashing his fanged teeth briefly.
Amusement softened Piccolo's features; he had been spying on his young offspring and knew exactly what he had been working on. But he played along, "Right, let's go then."
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This was it, Kage grinned despite feeling bruised and tired, now was the time to unleash his surprise attack. He dodged a roundhouse kick dropping to the desert floor and pulled his hands back towards his chest. Piccolo watched the boy power up, something was familiar about the attack he was about to perform.
'It can't be…' He thought his eyes widening.
Kage thrusted one hand forward as yellow ki gathered, "Bakuhatsuha!"
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A/N: Please Review! Constructive criticism also welcomed!