The ringing of jackhammers drilling into the ground and Hercule's laughter echoed through the city air. The planet's supposed saviour boasted about how he defeated the android and him looking forward to the upcoming Cell Games anniversary. The city was covered with memorabilia, billboards, posters, graffiti and murals all depicting the defeat of Cell at Hercules' hands.

Tai walked the streets with his eyes closed, relying only on his 6th sense. But that sounds persisted, his moronic chortle, his showboating his bravado, his lies continued to flood the minds of the citizens. These fools watched as Cell swatted him away like a fly, and yet they eat his lies. They hang on his every word like scripture. Kakarot and Gohan saved the world, no one else.

"We shall not, we shall not be moved," the chant grew louder as Tai approached the main road. Crowds of people flocked toward the demonstration. The protesters were a mix of animal people, humans, children and the elderly, all holding up banners and signs. They sang louder as authorities approached, their grip on their signs tightening. Their voices carried through the streets and he wouldn't be surprised if Vegeta could here them.

Tai plodded towards the commotion to get a better look at what was happening. At least they aren't talking about the Cell Games. The crowd parted to allow a limousine to make its way to the protests core. The chauffeur opened the door to reveal a tall, slender woman in a sleek pants suit. Tai's sensitive ears picked up the clink of her black, acrylic nails tapping her sunglasses as she removed them, revealing warm, honey brown eyes. The woman flashed the crowd a smile that was meant to be welcoming, but made Tai's skin crawl. She handed her sunglasses to her assistant before waving him off, and two humans took a protective stance around her.

She strode over to the protesters and began to negotiate with them. This was where Tai's interest waned. He had seen it so often with Frieza, that he could predict what would happen, but something about the woman made him want to pay attention. He could make out from the way the red lipstick curved upwards when she smirked, her every word made the protests leader cower, yet the 'sweet' smile remained. These people were beneath her. She knew it, but she would humour them. She was going to get her way come what may, and these ants weren't going to stop her.

Saiyaman showed up not too long after the exchange began and a peaceful solution was reached. She's disappointed... did she want conflict?


Gym was up next and the two saiyans took their usual corner in the now empty changing room. Gohan had just returned from the toilet stall, decked out in his normal gym attire, whereas Tai remained shirtless on the bench. Marker wanted to kick the door down, but an air blast and subsequent visit to the nurses office put a stop to that.

Before Gohan could ask about what happened to Marker, Tai got straight to business."Did you tell Bulma about me?"

Gohan's nose scrunched at the question. "No, she didn't ask."

"Dumbass."

"I'm being serious, When she saw me and Videl, she literally couldn't speak about anything else."

"Of course she didn't," Tai rolled his eyes. She hasn't changed one bit. Well besides the wrinkles.

"Would it be so bad if she knew?"

Gohan's tone of voice sent alarm bells ringing, so Tai grabbed his friend by the shoulder "Gohan... did you tell anyone about me?"

"No one who didn't already know. That's what you wanted."

"Hn."

"You haven't answered my question."

Tai sighed, he knew he had to offer some explanation right now. "Gohan, there's a good chance that next time I leave it will be for good."

"W-What?"

"You're my only friend so I'll tell you this. When you die you won't go to the same place that I did, in fact none of you will." Tai waved a hand over his head revealing his halo.

"Are you still dead?"

"Yes."

"Then how are you in this world?"

"That doesn't matter. I'm here to learn more about myself, as soon as I do, I'm going to leave. When I go I hope we never meet again."

"You hope?"

Tai's gaze turned away from Gohan, the confusion in the demi-saiyan's eyes too much to handle. "I don't know how long I'll be here, but I've been told that what i need is on this planet, and no... I can't go any further into it and you better pray you never have to find out."

"Tai what have you gotten yourself into?"

"It's something I have to do."

"I'm guessing the planet is safe, otherwise you would have warned us by now," Gohan smiled, patting Tai on the shoulder. "I trust you Tai, you can be a jerk but you don't lie to me."

"Shut up, why are you saying stuff like that."

"But I do trust you."

"Shut up. You're a warrior, don't talk so soft."

Gohan let out quiet laugh, a smirk edging its way onto his features. "Big talk from someone blushing."


The class was split into it's cliques, waiting patiently for their teacher to show up. She was late but that didn't bother them, it was a two hour class so a few minutes wouldn't hurt anyone. News of what happened to Marker hadn't reached the groupyet. Gohan and Tai emerged from the changing rooms only to bump into Biro and Pencilcase

"Watch where you're going you geek," she spat.

"I'm sorry," Gohan apologised, offering a hand out to help her up. He knew he was a sturdier than most so he was scared he could hurt someone without meaning to. But his fears were quickly calmed when she swatted his hand away and got up.

"You'd better be." Her haughtiness made Tai roll his eyes, and the action didn't go unnoticed. "Don't roll your eyes at me."

"I'll do what I like," Tai countered.

"Well what you're gonna do is apologise to Casey," Biro demanded, motioning toward the friend currently holding her bleeding elbow.

"You walked into us too. I'm not apologising for you being weaker than me," Tai scoffed looking down at Pencilcase.

"Are you kidding me, apologise to her you jerk."

"No, and you should take her to the medical facilities," Tai pointed at the increasing blood flow from the wound. Pencilcase's moans of pain made Tai's nose scrunch in disgust. So fragile. "Gohan let's go," Tai said.

"We can't leave her like this," Gohan said, kneeling down to help carry Pencilcase, but his hand was swatted away by Biro.

"Don't touch her you freak."

"You heard the woman, let's go." Tai shouted already at the end of the hallway.

When the pair arrived to class 18 was already explaining what was going to happen. Everyone was instructed to do a quick warm up and some stretches. Tai's stretches were laboured and his yawns were loud. This so called training is boring. No one here is a challenge, not even Gohan. This entire planet is boring, but there was literally nothing better to do than hang out with Gohan.

"This time you're rotating your partners, so don't get comfortable," 18's voice boomed.

A dainty finger poked at Tai's shoulder blades. "Hey Tai, lets partner up," Videl suggested.

Tai eyed her suspiciously, but he shrugged and went along with her game. "Why not?" It's not like you stand a chance.

Gohan set up a telepathic link before telling Tai to take it easy on her. Tai didn't intend on causing her any harm, in fact he didn't plan on letting her touch him. Angela had chosen Gohan as her partner and Erasa was with Sharpener. Tai watched Gohan awkwardly to interact with Angela, who was pathetically out of her depth, she couldn't throw a punch let alone get into stance.

"Hey, eyes over here," Videl demanded. "We don't have long and I'm gonna see what you're made of," she declared before dropping into the same stance Hercule did when he fought Cell, making Tai roll is eyes. He didn't bother taking up a stance, instead standing with his arms behind his back. "What are you waiting for, get into stance."

"I don't need to, I'll beat you in 5 seconds."

Videl took the offensive and true to his words Tai dodged behind her and pushed her out of the ring. "You made me a liar, it only took 3," Tai shrugged.

"Again," Videl got up, more determined than she was before, her muscles tighter and her senses on a hair trigger.

"Relax, your anger blinds you."

"We'll see about that," and once again she charged towards Tai and once again he dodged. As he was about to push her out of bounds again, she spun on her heel and attempted a back hand, one that was easily swatted away. She backed away before coming back at Tai, this time she was on her toes and more agile. I was wrong, her anger doesn't blind her, it fuels her. She doesn't let it take control of her, she harnesses it, almost like a super saiyan.

She almost landed a few blows but Tai was always one step ahead. After a furious flurry, Tai swept her standing leg to throw her off balance before pushing her out of bounds yet again. "Darn it," she cursed.

"You're better than I thought you'd be. But you'll never beat me, not even in a 100 years."

She clenched her fist, not caring for the dirt that covered her palm. "Just wait, I'll be able to hit you at least once, you'll see."

"Hn, good luck with that," Tai dismissed before 18 made the call to change partners.

Tai and Gohan made their way to one another before 18 put a cautionary hand, halting them in their step. "You two find other partners. I'm sure you can survive one session without each other," she said. "You there, Pixie girl take him."

Turning around to face 18, Erasa's face fell into a grimace, a gesture mirrored by Tai. Gohan was directed elsewhere and the pair were left with one another. Neither said a word and instead kept their eyes locked. They glared at one another, at first it was to show discontent but it soon devolved into a battle of will, neither wanted to lose the staring contest. Tai even considered using a mild solar flare, but thought against it. If I do that then she wins.

However Erasa wasn't thinking the same. Since she then used her watch to reflect sunlight into Tai's eyes, forcing him to look away. "What was that?" Tai grunted.

"Ingenuity."

"Foolish woman, you couldn't beat me fairly so you had to cheat."

"You never laid out the rules," she poked her tongue out and pulled down an eyelid.

"Child."

"Na, na, na, na, na, na."

Tai didn't rise to her bait, instead choosing to turn away from her. Why am I entertaining this woman. "You're easily annoyed for someone who thinks they're better than everyone," she chuckled.

"Good, you recognise your superiors."

"'Think' heavy emphasis on the word think. Clearly your hearing isn't better than mine." Erasa's rebuttal caused his eye to twitch but it also strengthened his resolve to ignore her. "So just so I can keep track I have better hearing than you and better eyesight." she drawled.

Again Tai rebuffed her attempts to annoy him, but this only stoked Erasa's flames. She walked around to the front of him, looking directly into his eyes with a smirk. Tai was tall enough that he would need to look down to make eye contact, so he continued to look straight ahead. She waved her arm in front of his eyes, her smirk growing. "How's that temper of yours? Is it boiling yet?"

"That's enough, switch partners," 18 said.

"And we were just getting to the good part. Until next time Tai," Erasa waved. With the blonde gone, Tai could finally release the growl he'd been holding in. He could sense numerous power levels running toward the class. Biro emerged with Principal Jay. Well more like with the principal following like a dog on a leash. And like a master she pointed at Tai and sicked the principal athim.

"Taikon, a word," he demanded. The pair walked back into the main school building, while Biro smirked at her handiwork.

Videl unsure of what was going on tugged on Gohan's shirt. It took a while to get his attention from Tai's vanishing figure. "Sorry Videl, what's up."

"You know why he's trouble?"

"I have an idea," he said pursing his lips. "He should be fine though," it's not as though he'd be upset if he was suspended or expelled.

"Not with Biro pulling the strings. He's gonna be in some real trouble."

"What's so special about Biro?"

"How do you not know this? Her mother is the Grand Attorney, she writes the laws of the region. So she has a lot of sway with the superintendent," to her surprise, Gohan's expression didn't change much. "The superintendent hires and fires Principals."

"I know that."

"Then why aren't you worried."

"He's handled worse."


I'm suspended for a month for assaulting a student. The camera's were conveniently malfunctioning during the incident. His only witness was disregarded thanks to Mr. Moore's character assassination. Tai got the feeling that Jay didn't want to punish him, but he cowered when Biro jerked his leash. Biro is weak and so his her mother. And yet the Principal fears them. Pathetic. His life isn't in danger so why give in.

Tai spat on the road and imagined the storm drain was Jay's face. Jay had better pray long and hard. He should be on his knees thanking Dende for saving his life. That weakness is sickening. Tai then sensed a large crowd gathering nearby and went to investigate.

The protestors continued to march through the city to the Council building, and their chanting grew more passionate. The crowd was somehow larger than the one in the morning and had far more young people. Tai observed as they got closer to the Council buildings gate and the armed guard. The earthlings are too soft to put down an insurrection like this.

One guardsman approached the group, flanked by two other large men, all of them had their hands on their weapons. He spoke to them calmly and tried to get them to leave, but they were not listening. The chanting resumed, but louder and more aggressive. Their grips on their signs tightened, as did the guard's grip on their guns.

This is getting interesting. Tai stood up and got close enough to discern their conversation from the chanting, but far enough to not be noticed.

"We're here to stay."

"Sir, we're going in circles. You need to leave."

"We're not leaving until we speak with the Grand Attorney."

"We've been through this. She fears for her safety with this mob out for her head."

"She's scared, good! We're scared of being homeless once she orders out homes destroyed."

"That is still being discussed."

"We're not stupid. We can see where this is going. She thinks she can destroy our homes just because she has power and she thinks we're weak!"

Those words resonated with Tai. They kept echoing in his mind and refused to give him peace. Frieza's face and laugh overwhelmed him. He destroyed my home. I never saw it, but he killed my kin like they were flies at the dinner table. Him and his forces destroyed civilisations because Frieza thought he had the right to the universe. His forces committed genocide. I committed genocide for Frieza. And now I... am I any different.

"This is going nowhere," the guardsman grumbled, waving for more of his men to confront the protestors.

"Are you going to shoot us now. All because your boss says so."

A warning was issued via megaphone to disperse the crowd with the threat of tear gas imminent, but none of the protestors budged and consequently they were all gassed. For added measure, rubber bullets rained on those not fast enough and Tai watched. Just as he had on countless worlds, he watched as the strong destroyed the lives of the weak. They're pathetic. If they were strong they would stop this, he repeated to himself but could not shake the pit in his stomach.

Gohan has made me soft.

Despite the beating they took, many protestors remained and fought back, using anything they could get their hands on to protect themselves. Some threw bricks and stones at the guards, but their body armour was too strong for the rocks to make a difference. More guards joined the fray and still the protestors remained.

Why do they still fight? They can't win.

The protestors were beaten and sore from the punishment. The tear gas had some of them wheezing on the ground with no one to help them. All were scared and yet most refused to give up. Just like Kakarot... Did the Saiyans do the same when Frieza destroyed our home.

"Hello, Tai," a cheery voice sang in the Tai's head.

"Master?"

His question was answered when his master materialised before him, with an elegant staff in hand and ridiculous quiff still defying gravity. He brushed something off the shoulder of his red coat before regarding his pupil. Tai bowed before respectfully for the blue skinned man, earning him a chuckle.

"Always so respectful, I must say it still surprises me to see a Saiyan with such manners."

A vain popped in Tai's temple so his master raised his hands defensively. "And I seem to have forgotten mine. I'm sorry Tai"

"Why are you here Master Whis?"

"I came to see your progress."

"You could do that from Lord Beerus' world."

"I wanted to confirm something with my own eyes. And I'm afraid I'm correct," he said, with a frown marring his effeminate face.

"What is it Master?"

"You're still no closer to your goal," Whis stated, making Tai wince. "That's disappointing."

"I would be closer to it if I knew what my goal was."

"If I tell you that, you may never truly master your abilities. I told you my dear boy, until you figure it out, your mental and spiritual energies will never align. The path you've chosen is not easy, but it is one the universe needs."

"Sure it does," Kai mumbled beneath his breath, deepening Whis's frown.

"Maybe it was too soon to send you out here. Lord Beerus still has thousands of years left before he'll be replaced. Come, we're headed home."

Kai once again felt a pit in his stomach, particularly at Whis's use of the word home. It did not sit well with him, but it was the only home he'd known for the last 7 years. Longer than the 5 years he'd spent on Earth after Namek, or the 5 years before that he'd spent under Frieza's thumb. But the word still felt hollow in his ears.

"Are you going to send me back here?"

"I don't know. That depends on you," Whis said before whisking Tai away from Earth, for what could be the last time.