"RAAARRGGHH!"

"Gak! Caulifla, no...!"

Goku restrained Caulifla by hooking his arms under female saiyan's, the chi blast in the latter's palm growing bigger by the second. Frantically, Cabba closed Parsley's diary, causing dust to fly everywhere.

"S-sis!" Kale cried.

Caulifla continued to scream, trying to break loose. "RELEASE ME! GOKU, LET ME GO RIGHT NOW!"

"Caulifla!" Goku shouted. "Calm down!" She continued to thrash against him. "Caulifla!"

Cabba and Kale watched wide-eyed as, gradually, the female saiyan stopped her flailing. Her chest was heaving and her face was flushed. She twisted her head upward so she faced Goku and glared nastily at him. Then the glare shifted to where Cabba was standing, clutching Parsley's journal protectively to his chest.

A silence enveloped the room as Goku released the smaller saiyan, letting her hover to the ground, the energy blast in her hand dissipating. There was a vein visible on her head and, right away, they all knew that something was terribly, terribly wrong.

"Where did you get that?" Caulifla's voice was harsh and low as she spoke to Cabba, fixing her steely gaze on him. He opened his mouth to respond but Caulifla cut him off by reiterating, "Where did you get that, dammit?!"

A strong hand enveloped Caulifla's shoulder. Goku was casting her a stern gaze. "Caulifla," he said. "Stop getting so worked up about this."

"Hrr... Don't tell me what I should be doing!" She jerked her body away from his touch, regretting her action slightly when his warmth disappear. "You don't know what we just saw... But I do...!"

"Then tell us," Goku said patiently. "And maybe then we'll understand."

A sigh could be heard and then the creak of the chair as Caulifla plopped down in her seat, visibly aggravated. "Fine, fine... Fucking hell, you are so troublesome..."

"Sis?" Kale tried tentatively. "Why... um, what happened just then?"

A drawing spoke to us. Yes, it was weird... But why did Caulifla react so... so violently? Cabba thought as he cautiously placed the diary back on the table. "Caulifla? You're not going to destroy this are you? Please don't. It... It's all I have left of her."

"Of course, I'm not going to destroy it," Caulifla said snippily. "Not unless you piss me off..."

She avoided Kale's question, Cabba noted. Caulifla almost never ignored the younger female.

"Do you think she'll talk again?" Goku queried, remembering how the drawing's pencil lips had moved, revealing a mouth full of sharp, curved teeth.

"Hopefully not," Caulifla all but growled. "But if she does... Don't give anything away. Not our position, not anything."

"Who is she?" Kale asked, she being perhaps the most out of the loop out of all of them. "Caulifla, what's going on?"

They all looked at Caulifla curiously as she got out of her chair and paced around the dingy kitchen once, then twice. When she finished the third round, she returned to her seat, ignoring Goku's curious look. It seemed like she wasn't going to answer so Cabba began to speak before he got cut off.

"She," Caulifla ground out hatefully. "Is a beast. Don't let her feminine skin fool you, she's a goddamn demon." She took a deep breath before continuing, her voice wavering slightly, "Her name is Kafara. She was Freeza's top lieutenant back in the day. His bitch. She served him in things outside of the military - and no I do not mean those kind of things." Her nose scrunched up. "Would that even be possible...?"

"So it is her," Cabba thought aloud, garnering the attention of the others. "The picture was legitimate."

"You know who she is?" Goku asked, furrowing his brows. "How? Did Caulifla tell you about her too?" Somehow, the thought of Caulifla confiding something so private to Cabba made his stomach churn.

"No," Cabba replied, looking perplexed as Goku relaxed. "I didn't even know that she and Caulifla have history."

Caulifla peeled her lip back in a silent sneer. That's one way of putting things. "I'm curious to know too, Cabba."

"H-huh? I've only ever heard her be mentioned by my mother in passing. And the diagram... Now I know it's her. I was disbelieving at first. She looked harmless."

"Hah!" Caulifla crowed. "Harmless?! You're a fool to ever think of her as 'harmless'. She... does things that not many dare to do, even if they were capable of it." Goku shot her a warning look and she fell silent - not that she was cowed or anything. She simply didn't need to say any more.

While the other saiyans conferred, Kale turned the stove off and rested the meat, her head just about spinning all the while. Kafara? Sis? Military? History? What's going on? How would Caulifla know Kafara if the latter worked, or used to work, within the military. It was common knowledge that Caulifla had a special hatred reserved for those with authority or power - Cabba seemed to be an exception.

"Should we open it?" Goku suggested. "Maybe nothing will happen this time." He prodded the leather binding of the journal. It didn't react.

"Unlikely," Caulifla said with finality in her voice. "Regardless, we're opening it."

"You won't freak out again will you?" Cabba asked.

Caulifla turned on him. "Relax, bonehead."

"Eh?! Bonehead?"

Kale joined the table just as Caulifla opened the book to where Parsley's sketched, annotated diagram of Kafara was. They all stared at the paper drawing, their expressions guarded as they expected the worst. But Kafara merely grinned back at them, the corners of her wide smile stretched to the curve of her almond-shaped irises.

Caulifla eyed it warily. "Nothing's happening... Is there anything else about her - "

"There!" Kale shouted, pointing at the drawing. "I-It moved!"

Everyone tensed up even more. Nothing happened.

"Are you sure?" asked Goku. "Doesn't look like anything to me..."

"I-I could've sworn it moved," Kale mumbled. "Umm, maybe it was just a trick of the light."

"Kale," Cabba said gently. "Maybe you should go upstairs." He eyed the dark circles underneath her eyes. A pang of guilt hit his heart - it was likely because of him that she hadn't slept well last night. He had not replied to any of her texts, having been occupied by the many entries in Parsley's diary.

"You are looking a little pale," Caulifla acknowledged. "Just leave this to us. You go and rest."

"B-but sis - "

"Go, Kale."

Slumping in defeat, Kale did as she was told, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. It was her fault. She was a burden to Caulifla and nothing more. With her out of the way, maybe there would actually be progress made. Her head throbbed painfully and she bit her lip to keep herself from crying out. Where... Where is this coming from?

In the kitchen, Caulifla was busy shooting Cabba a nasty look. "Maybe if you actually talked to her instead of ignoring her then maybe she wouldn't be so tired."

"I'm sorry. I really hate to say this but this," Cabba gestured to the journal, "seemed more important at the time."

"Guys," Goku said firmly when Caulifla's scowl molded into something more hateful. "Don't start again." Dammit, Cauli, just work with us. You can chew Cabba out another time.

"Fighting?" someone crooned, causing everyone to snap into alert, furiously glancing around the kitchen. "And here I thought... that you were all such good friends."

On the open page of Parsley's diary, Kafara's image had come to life once again, her lips peeled as she picked her curved fangs with one clawed nail.

"You," Caulifla hissed hatefully.

"Like I said." Kafara spread her arms tauntingly. "It's been a long time, Caulifla. How 'bout a hug, dearie?"

"Fuck you! How 'bout I burn that oily rat's nest off your head?!"

"Caulifla - " Cabba started.

"No! Shut up, Cabba, I don't need to hear shit from you right now."

"What do you want?" Goku asked solemnly, glaring down at the pencil drawing.

"Oh!" Kafara folded her hands over her chest in mock surprise. "You're a new face... Another one of Caulifla's boy toys? Or something more?" She winked, a knowing glint in her eye - she knew perfectly well who Goku was and what he was capable of. "I've heard that saiyans make excellent lovers." Her lip curled in disgust as her playful demeanor suddenly did a one-eighty. "I recall executing whoever said that."

"Stop being coy," Caulifla said accusingly. "Why have you shown your face here again?" Her voice grew shrill, something that alarmed Goku - Caulifla never got shrill. When women got shrill it meant that people stopped paying attention to them and everything about Caulifla demanded a large presence.

"Don't shout at me," Kafara said baldly, planting her two dimensional hands on her hips. "And I might tell you."

"Screw this," Caulifla said loudly, charging a chi blast. "Go to hell!"

"I have something you're missing," Kafara continued as if Caulifla wasn't threatening to erase her existence as a sketch. "What might it be, I wonder..." She held up her fingers. "Father? Nope. Mother? Nope. Sister? Nope. Brother?" She smirked ever so slightly. "Well..."

"You have Renso?!" Cabba cried as Caulifla's energy attack evaporated. "Where is he?"

Kafara sighed and waved her hand flippantly at the elite's demands. "Oh you hero types. It's always the same thing. You're so full of it that you're drunk!" She snarled. "It's sickening! But fine, I'll tell you where he is. So sit down and shut up."

They all eyed the woman suspiciously. None of them sat.

"Renso is safe," Kafara began, the corners of her mouth twitching upward in amusement. "But he won't be for long. Not unless... you do something about it. Listen carefully you stupid apes. I will give you Renso as long as I get something in return." She pointed a slender digit at Caulifla. "And that happens to be you, Caulifla. So what say you? It's a fair trade."

"What do you want with me? Going to conscript me into your pathetic army?"

"Oh, no! No, no... Far from that. I need you for personal use." Her eyes slanted as she smiled. "Your friend Son Goku... he possesses the power of a god, no? He would be of great use to me as well. Turn he and yourself in and Renso is guaranteed safety."

"No deal," Caulifla denied without hesitation. "Are you done wasting your breath?"

"Tch. I anticipated this. Why do you monkeys have to be so goddamn stubborn? Very well." She snapped her fingers. "Perhaps this will sway your foolish decision." Astonishingly, a new sketch began to appear on the side of the page. It started off as a barely discernible shape but gradually turned into something more feasible.

"She looks like you, Cauli," Goku observed, rubbing his chin.

He was right. The unmoving image that now marked the page was hauntingly familiar. The saiyan female in the drawing wore a stern expression, her youthful features hardened into a displeased scowl. One of her eyes was marred by a horrible scar.

"This is Chaya," Kafara introduced. "Like you, she is a saiyan warrior. She is currently my property but I'm willing to give her up for the right price. Renso and Chaya for you, how about that? It'd be nice if Son Goku would tag along too."

"I don't get it," Goku muttered. "We don't even know who she is. Why does Kafara think that Caulifla will change her mind?"

"I don't know her," Caulifla declared, overhearing Goku. "Why should I care what happens to her? She means nothing to me."

"Lies!" the cackling demon woman accused gleefully. "What, don't remember your promise?"

"Promise?" Cabba echoed. "Caulifla, what is she talking about?"

"Hell if I know! I'm just as much in the dark as you are."

Kafara sighed mockingly. "Let me refresh your memory then. When you were eight years old, you made your dearest mother a promise. Need I say anymore?"

By now, Caulifla was rooted on the spot. Goku nudged her arm but she did not budge. Kafara observed them smugly, her grotesque teeth on display as she grinned.

"You lie." Caulifla's voice came out husky and hoarse. "Your a goddamn fucking liar."

"I'm not the liar, Caulifla," Kafara countered swiftly. "It's you. Surely you must have connected all the dots by now. Yet you keep lying to yourself... Keep trying to convince yourself that she's not who she is."

"Graahh! Shut up! Stop talking! I hate listening to you - I hate your voice! It's in my head... It's always in my head!" With a frustrated cry a white aura surrounded her, blowing everything unsecured away.

"Aah!" cried Cabba, scooping up Parsley's journal in his arms. To his left, Goku had collected Renso's yearbook and the dented kettle which held vital samples.

"One of you better stop her," Cabba heard Kafara speak, her voice slightly muffled. "Until next time, saiyans..."

And one of them did in the form of a blur. Caulifla was out like a light, her aura diminished. She slumped forward, revealing Goku with his hand in a chopping position. He caught her gently.

"Sorry," he said. "But I don't think you'd forgive me if I let you destroy the place."

Sighing in small relief, Cabba opened the book back to the right page again. "You take her upstairs Goku. I'll make sure that Kafara's gone." ... I almost wish Frost was still ruler at this point.

Goku nodded and then Cabba was alone with only a kettle and two books keeping him company. As Cabba scrutinized Parsley's drawing of Kafara, he noticed that there was a new scrawl of words underneath Chaya's headshot. The blood in his veins froze as he read the script, which was elegantly printed in the saiyan language as well as Universal Standard.

No... No, it can't be! He didn't want to believe it but the facts were laid out right in front of him. She could have been lying but Cabba highly doubted that. Kafara did not lie in this instance.

Cabba shut the book, trying to wipe out what he saw, unsure whether to feel immensely glad or immensely worried. But for all the world, he could never erase the memory he had made in that moment.

Those arching words...

Of Sister Dearest.

"What are we doing today?" A young Caulifla eagerly asked her father. "Hunting?"

"We've got enough supplies in the storeroom already," her father assured her. "There will be no hunting today." His eyes twinkled. "Today, you'll be doing something different. I'll warn you now, it will be dangerous."

"What is it?!"

"Whoa, slow down, Cauli. I'll tell you. Just don't interrupt me. Can you do that for me?"

"Okay." She put on a comically exaggerated solemn look, causing Garlik to smile.

"The only reason I'm doing this is because you're a prodigy, Caulifla," her father told her. "Heck... if you were any less powerful you'd be climbing trees and we wouldn't be having this conversation at all."

They walked through the forest, the chirping of birds the only noise breaking the silence. Caulifla very much wanted to open her mouth and ask what this was all about but refrained from doing so.

"Here we are," Garlik announced, stopping. Caulifla barely managed to halt, nearly walking straight into her father's back.

"Huh?" Caulifla moved to stand by Garlik's side. "Is this a... fighting arena?"

"That's right," Garlik said proudly. "I built it myself."

Caulifla sweatdropped at the rickety fences - in all honesty it looked more like a small paddock for animals than an arena. "I can see that." She peeked up when she noticed a familiar face standing in the arena for the first time. "Eh? Renso! What are you doing here?"

Her brother was smirking. He was gripping a sword in one hand. "Didn't father tell you?" He swung the sword around in an impressive display. "We're going to duel for the right to protect Rutah as her Guardian!"

"Huh?! Dad, what is he talking about?" Caulifla demanded. "Why are we dueling for this Guardian position? And who's Rutah?" She crossed her arms and mustered her best glare at her father. "Well?"

Garlik sighed but smiled faintly in amusement as he regarded his daughter. Only eight years old and already demanding answers from her old man. "You're so much like your mother," he remarked, causing Caulifla to startle a bit. "Don't ask the question. It's neither a compliment or an insult, Cauli." He cleared his throat. "I suppose that there's lots of explaining to do. As you already know, your mother and I are having another child. The cub inside her is named Rutah." Caulifla nodded. That made sense - another gender neutral name, much like 'Caulifla' and 'Renso' - names given when they were still growing in the womb and without a known sex. "What we're doing today is part of an old tradition. It's starting to die out unfortunately. Not many can see the real value in having a Guardian for their children."

"But our family does," Renso chimed in proudly, resting his sword on one broad shoulder, the blade laid flat on his leather armor. His eyes gleamed at the prospect of a competition. "Father will be trailing both of us today for the right to be Guardian."

Caulifla tipped her head to one side, slightly puzzled; unable to comprehend the importance of being Guardian to the unborn Rutah. Noticing her hesitation, her father squatted and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Caulifla, when Rutah is born, you will come to love them unconditionally no matter what. It's always been the case for us saiyans when it comes to younger siblings." He scratched his head. "Not exactly sure why. Our scientists have never bothered to try and decipher this pattern of behavior. But the point I'm trying to make is that," his eyes glimmered, "do you really want Renso to be imprinted on Rutah? Or will you give the Guardian Trials a chance and maybe get the opportunity to be there for Rutah?"

The female saiyan swallowed. She had already felt the love for her unborn sibling - it was powerful; overwhelming. Whenever she was around her mother, she would feel the... love and almost motherly instincts swirling around her and threatening to knock her off her feet. Like most saiyans her age, love was lame. Or it was supposed to be anyway. You couldn't help but love your family. It was unconditional.

"So?" Garlik prompted, picking up an extra blade from the grass and holding it out for her. "Will you do it? Will you protect Rutah?"

Caulifla stared at the sword. Then she clasped her hand around the hilt, the fleshy bit of her palm knocking against the pommel. "With my life," she said as solemnly as she could. "I won't let Renso win! I will protect Rutah!" With a yell, she charged into the arena and swiftly took her place next to Renso.

Her father smiled. "That's my girl. Alright!" His sudden change of volume startled Caulifla. Renso, slightly smirking, steadied her. The only thanks he got was an elbow in the ribs and a sneer. Ignoring the antics of his children, Garlik shouted, "The Guardian Trials will consist of two trials!" He gestured to a cave; he had purposely built the arena around it. "I don't know how it hasn't been alerted to all this noise... But in there, a deadly laggerwomp sleeps! Your task is to work together to slay the beast. No chi blasts or flying allowed. Use your sword and your fists and feet." He smirked. "And avoid its fangs. I drugged it yesterday with a mild sedative and slathered a paralyzing poison all over the teeth. Get bitten and it's game over."

"Easy!" Caulifla declared. "All we have to do is not let it bite us."

Garlik flashed a genteel smile. "Oh it's not the laggerwomp I'm worried about. I'm sure you'll be singing a different tune in the next trial." His eyes shifted to Renso then back to Caulifla.

"Do you know what he'll have us do next?" Renso asked his sister, watching closely as his father disturbed the slumbering beast by throwing rocks into its cave and shouting obscenities.

"No clue. You?"

"Nope. Father told me about the laggerwomp but not about the next trial." His eyes flared. "But whatever it is, I'll beat you!"

"Hah! Bring it on!"

"Alright, guys!" Garlik called, hopping over the fence. "It's pretty damn mad!" He gave them both an encouraging shove. "Go out there and get 'em!"

"Look's like you have to walk the walk," Caulifla taunted as a large shape emerged from the cavern. "But the question is... can you?"

"That'll be answered on the battlefield." He held his sword out defensively in front of him, Caulifla doing something similar. Both had been trained in swordsmanship from young age, though the former had more experience than the latter. But Caulifla was never the one to let something as trivial as a disadvantage dishearten her. When it came to sheer will and stubborness, she far surpassed Renso.

The laggerwomp was massive, much larger than the two of them combined. Six horns were situated from the crown of its misshapen head to the top of it. More jutted out in a curved manner from the parietal ridge and framed its jowls. Perfect for goring.

"Hey there!" Garlik hollered from the outside of the fighting ring. "I almost forgot - make sure you avoid the horns as well! There's an even faster-working poison on those."

"Oh, just great," Caulifla grumbled, fixing her gaze on the laggerwomp, her gaze filled with disgust as she examined its hide, all the hard flesh covered with thick, shaggy fur, which grew especially long at the flank. Its feet were hooven; the animal looked incredibly similar to a mutated earth cow. Not that Caulifla would ever know to make such a comparison.

The laggerwomp bellowed, showing Caulifla rows filled with sharp teeth, and charged at them mercilessly.

"Hup!" Renso said as he jumped into the air while Caulifla rolled to the side. The saiyan female sprung off her feet and sliced at the laggerwomp, but the beast avoided it with impossible agility and she only managed to cut off a few hairs. Renso landed with a thump, unable to attack the laggerwomp from above due to its constantly changing position.

"I dibs on port flank," Caulifla claimed, hoping to kill it by disemboweling it, armed with her sword and the knowledge of the laggerwomp's weak spot: its soft belly. It was the reason why the fur got considerably thicker around that area. "Maybe if I can get under it..."

"I'll go for the neck from the opposite side," Renso stated, his eyes never leaving the laggerwomp's enraged irises. "Understand?"

"Yeah." She zipped to the laggerwomp as fast as she could, flinging her sword artfully. The creature roared as Caulifla nearly unbalanced it and revealed its belly to the world. With a swipe of its thick, scaly tail, Caulifla was sent tumbling across the grass. The laggerwomp was about to stomp on her while she was down, but an attack by Renso had it distracted enough for Caulifla to get back on her feet.

"Dumb thing," she spat out mouthfuls of grass. "That's the last time I let that happen!" Renso gave her a bemused smile, not sure if she was referring to the laggerwomp or herself when she said 'dumb thing'.

Caulifla got easily angered, Renso remembered with a small jolt. Hopefully her temper wouldn't blind her. She jabbed at the behemoth's flank while, as promised, Renso cut away at its large neck. He had already made an incision of considerable size there - the laggerwomp would bleed out sooner or later. It seemed to know that as well, for it panicked and started to wildly swing its huge head.

"Look out!" Caulifla warned as the flat side of the laggerwomp's horns skimmed against Renso's bare forearm. "Dammit, be careful, Renso!"

"Speak for yourself!" Renso retorted, watching her nearly get stepped on by the beast's massive, pounding feet. "Only a few more slices and it's throat will be open!"

"Then hurry up and do it!" By now, Caulifla was fully aware that, by attacking the flank, she had only made herself a distraction. At this point, Renso was the only one that posed any real threat to the laggerwomp. Frustration filled her and she began cutting at its side hairs faster than ever, driven by adrenaline.

"HAAAHHH!" Renso and Caulifla screamed as they lifted their blades high into the air and thrusted or swung.

There was a splatter of blood and the beast managed one last moan as its guts spilled out and its detached head rolled across the grass, leaving a trail of wet, sticky purple blood.

Garlik's eyes widened from the sidelines. "Well, shit. What happened back there?" Neither of his children heard him, the two too busy celebrating their success by highfiving their stained hands. It was like a sudden power rush had filled both of them, with Caulifla succeeding in cutting the beast open after multiple failed attempts and Renso cutting straight through its bone and nigh indestructible flesh. A mix of pride and uncertainty filled him. If this was how ruthlessly they treated the laggerwomp... then how would they do in their next trial? Doubt shadowed his face and he grimaced. There was only one way to find out. "Hey!" he waved them over. "Good job. Your mother has been craving steak lately and we don't have any in our supplies."

"Figures," Caulifla said, a prideful grin on her face. "So what's the next test?"

Garlik hesitated. "Well..."

They looked up at him in anticipation.

He clapped his hands together. "We'll be stripping the laggerwomp's meat!" A groan from both of them and he hastily continued, "Do you remember what your mother and I taught you? About the cuts we're able to eat? Make sure you only get it from the brisket and the sirloin! Everywhere else is inedible." His features hardened when he noticed their sour expressions. "What are you waiting for, a bell?! Get to it!"

"Lame," Caulifla huffed as she squatted and started cutting away at the areas her father had indicated for them.

"Agreed," Renso said, hacking at the brisket while Caulifla did the sirloin. "I was expecting something flashier from him." He rolled his eyes. "Grown ups." He smacked his lips as he licked up a drop of blood that had landed on his lip. "Pretty good." The blood was poisonous but only mildly - one drop wouldn't hurt anyone.

"Gross," Caulifla proclaimed with a sniff. "How can you eat it like that?" She always preferred her food cooked thoroughly. Only certain foods were allowed to be slightly uncooked in her opinion and the laggerwomp wasn't one of them.

"Picture it like this. You get lost in the woods and the only thing you can eat is a laggerwomp. What do you do?"

"Fly home. Duh." She stuck her tongue out at him when he scowled.

"That's not the point!" he snapped irritably. She laughed, knowing the 'point' that he truly wanted to make.

"Alright, alright... calm down, will you?" Caulifla grinned as she stripped off the last of the sirloin. "Sweet! I'm all done." Her excitement was short lived. "This can't seriously be the second trial... right?"

"Yeah, I was definitely hoping for something more exciting. Like catching a murderer off the streets. Then we'll be heroes!"

Caulifla raised an eyebrow at her brother. "Heroes? Why would you want to be a hero? It's not the saiyan way. We don't really go beyond common decency."

"Think about it, Cauli. Fighting criminals, protecting the innocent... We can do a lot of good in the world you know."

Caulifla frowned. Great. There he went again, preaching his nonsensical fantasies of justice to her. This was the real world. Justice didn't exist no matter what people said. When was Renso going to learn? Their parents had tried to instill the lack of justice into their heads but they had apparently completely missed Renso.

A shadow fell over them and they looked up into the face of their father.

"Hey," he said quietly. "I couldn't help but notice that you don't exactly look satisfied. And I don't blame you; I did go on and on about this..." He lowered himself further so that he looked them in the eye. "Listen, you two. The way you killed that laggerwomp got me thinking. I don't want anything to ever tear you two apart, not even Rutah. Originally, I was going to have you two duke it out for the Guardian position in the second trial. But... well, things don't always go as planned. Sure, we'd be breaking tradition but I don't want anything to interfere with our family dynamic. Both of you will be Guardian to Rutah."

"Is that allowed?" Renso said, confused.

Caulifla elbowed him in the ribs again, making him wince. "Dummy! He just said we'd be breaking tradition but it doesn't matter. It'll be better if Rutah has two Guardians, right, dad?"

Garlik nodded. "Right. With you two around, nothing will ever happen to Rutah." He ruffled their hair, making Renso protest and Caulifla splutter indignantly. "I know I can always count on you guys."

Dinner was uneventful. It was only until Caulifla returned to her bedroom, dressed in her nightgown, did the next big thing happen. When she opened the door, Caulifla blinked in surprise at seeing her mother sitting on her bed as if she had been waiting for her.

Lotuce smiled gently and opened her arms. "Come here."

Without hesitation, Caulifla hopped into her lap and hugged her, breathing in her familiar, comforting scent. "Hey, mom," she mumbled into Lotuce's shirt, her words muffled by the fabric.

"I heard that you and your brother are officially Rutah's Guardians."

"Mmhm." A yawn. "We fought a laggerwomp..."

Lotuce stroked her daughter's hair, knowing that she would be off to dreamland soon. "I know, Cauli." She hugged her tighter. "I bet you were really brave out there." A nod. "You know, there's another part of the tradition your father neglected to mention."

That got Caulifla up and interested. "Huh? What is it?"

"Normally, if the fight between you and Renso ended in a draw, the matron of the house would get to decide who's Guardian."

"We didn't even fight though! Dad didn't want us to."

Lotuce could almost hear her daughter's pout. "I'm aware. Which is why," she kissed Caulifla's forehead. "I'm naming you the official Guardian for Rutah."

Caulifla hopped off her mother's lap and stared up at her face in awe. "W-what? Why? Renso's stronger because he's older!"

It was then Lotuce grabbed Caulifla's chin, her eyes narrowed flint. "Listen good and well, Caulifla. I did not make this decision lightly. I chose it based on the fact that, in a year or two, you'll be stronger than Renso. You have potential Caulifla, potential that surpasses your brother's. Age means nothing when it comes to strength!" She said it so vehemently that Caulifla could do nothing more but gulp and nod. "Train hard to protect Rutah, Caulifla."

Caulifla finally found her voice. "B-but I don't know how to be Guardian!" She dropped her gaze. "I-I was hoping Renso could teach me..."

"Renso is as inexperienced as you are. As you grow, you will learn and become accustomed to the role. It is nature, Caulifla. I cannot force any sort of teachings onto you. Being a Guardian isn't some ordinary lesson. It's an experience. There will be ups and downs. They'll be times you'll want to strangle Rutah."

"Eh?! What if I end up killing him or her then?!"

"You won't," Lotuce assured her. "Because you love Rutah far too much, just as a Guardian should." She lifted Caulifla's chin again. "Promise me something, Caulifla."

"What kind of promise?" Lotuce smirked. Caulifla was ever still cautious about making promises, just as she should be. Lotuce herself had drilled it into Caulifla - always be wary of promises.

"I want you to promise me that, no matter what, you will keep Rutah safe." She grabbed Caulifla's shoulders and stared her into the eye. "Will you?"

"I promise! I... I'll die for her!"

Lotuce burst into laughter. "Cauli!" she chided. "What happened to my self-preservation lessons? Nevertheless, you don't have to make any kind of sacrifices yet. Don't lie to me... You'll never die for Rutah. Not now anyway. Maybe sometime in the future... But I pray that will never happen."

"Torn right out of the womb," one saiyan said as he and his partner walked down the street with some alcoholic beverages for a party that they were hosting. "It was brutal!"

"I know we aren't exactly the kindest people. But how could a saiyan possibly do something so... despicable to their own brethren?" his mate said, shaking her head. "It's disgusting. I pray that the unborn child is in a good afterlife."

This was the general talk of Sadala. And would remain for many months to come.

Kale pretended to be asleep when Goku carried Caulifla into the room and put her to bed. When he left, the door shutting behind him, she let out a shuddering sob. When she had been sent away, old insecurities she thought were no longer here flooded back into her, invading every cell in her body.

I'm a burden! she wailed internally. In her mind's eye, she saw Caulifla engaging Goku in a battle during the tournament of power. Kale had simply been left to stand and observe helplessly from the sidelines. She had thought it would be a good idea to assist her sis, but Goku had merely batted the chi blast she had shot his way as if it were a fly. Then he had glared at her and bluntly ordered her not to interfere. She had looked to Caulifla for help. But she had shared the same sentiments as Goku.

Tears ran down Kale's cheeks as she sobbed even harder, turning occasionally to see if her loud bawling had woken up Caulifla. That would be embarrassing. Like she needed to bother Caulifla even more with her needless tears.

I'm a burden, she told herself again. I'm nothing more than a burden to sis.

Yes, something - no, someone - agreed. You are very much so a burden to your dear Caulifla. You need to stop getting in the way.

I know! Kale screamed back. I know, I know, I know! But I don't know how! I don't know how! I would do anything for sis. I'd change if I could! If... If I knew how.

I can help you. Let me in, Kale, and I can make Caulifla love you even more. An image flickered - blood red eyes and moon white skin. Black. So much black. Liquid night. I can make you stronger. Then Caulifla will appreciate you - if you became stronger and leave behind who you are now. A snort of disgust. Who would love a mouse like you?! I can change you! I can make you great!

Cabba flashed in her mind and Kale jolted. But the strange speaker was quick to shut her hopes down.

He doesn't love you. He only pretends to. You know the saiyan way, Kale. It's only the strong females that get chosen. You are weak. Pathetic. You are not a saiyan! That toothy mouth sloped downward in displeasure. Saiyans are not cowards! You are not a saiyan! You coward!

"Please stop," Kale whimpered, clutching her head. "St-stop... please...! Don't call me that!"

Son Goku, the voice mused, and Kale noted for the first time that it was distinctly female. Has replaced you. Kale stiffened. We both know it. Her voice grew gentle. Let me help you, Kale. In her mind, she could see a pale hand reach out to her. Let me help you. A beat. Please. I can't bear to see you suffering like this. Caulifla and Cabba are all you have left. But they can never love you now. No one can. The pointer finger attached to the hand curled in a 'come hither' motion. So let me help you. I just want to help.

An arm with golden brown skin reached out toward the white one and, with no small amount of surprise, Kale realized it was hers. She knew that she was also replicating the motion in the physical realm.

Their hands entwined.

Thank you, Kale.

Caulifla's eyes snapped open. She didn't even get a moment to gather her bearings when the events of this afternoon came flooding back into her head like a tidal wave.

"Rutah," she mouthed, her throat dry from a lack of moisture. "Rutah."

"Sis?" At the other bed, Kale was looking at her curiously. "Is everything okay?"

"Fine," Caulifla rasped, hopping out of bed. Her legs trembled as she smacked her thigh in irritation. Stop quivering! She looked up to regard Kale. Something seemed... off. She looked the same. Spoke the same. So what was the problem?

Without waiting for Kale to reply, Caulifla exited the room. In the kitchen, she could hear Goku and Cabba discussing things. What they were talking about she did not know and didn't bother to find out. She was only thankful that they didn't seem to notice her travelling chi signature for whatever reason. Grabbing her hooded cloak from its place on the coat hanger, she donned it around her shoulders and left the building, thanking the gods that Cabba, in his haste, had left the door open. Around this time - evening - her gang would have dispersed to spend their money on alcohol and gamble around town. Maybe mug a few people. And that was fine with her.

It wasn't as if she'd see any of them again.

I'm sorry, Goku. I wish we had more time.

A/N: Sorry for the wait. I had a lot of other things going on and this chapter was an absolute chore to write. I got my exam scores back, which was why everything got so delayed. I started this chapter last week.

Math - 92%

English - 75%

Yeah, not the best, but certainly not the worst either. Goddammit, I hate English, I'm just glad I passed xP

But you see, my parents aren't exactly happy. I'm still serving out my punishment. Won't say what. I probably won't be able to update as fast as I used to for a while. Until my next exams come up and I can redeem myself.

Tomorrow, I have tennis semifinals. My tennis partner and I are coming third and we'll be facing the team holding the second position. Fourth and First will face off.

Thank you for waiting...

OMAKE!

Just elaborating a few tidbits of trivia sprinkled in to the story.

Laggerwomp - has been mentioned several times in the story but only this chapter revealed its appearence

The Great Namekian Migration - like U7, Namek exploded (reason unknown) but the namekians were forced to scatter rather than stick in one big group, hence why Carago is the only namek on Sadala

Seluin - a Sadalan delicacy made from the meat of the animal of the same name

Universal Standard - English