(Continuing From Where Last Chapter Left Off, Ayoma Residence On Earth. . .)

"Nghh! Damn. . ."

Caulifla groaned after attempting to ease the soreness of her left shoulder. Grunting, she really had no one else to truly blame but herself for being left in such a state as she sat outside on the roof of Kuzuku's home. She didn't want to admit it but she had to admit, her teacher sure did have a good spot to observe the somewhat cloudy sky though she was definitely weary of where she sat. Knowing him and his wife, the fact that the two were pretty much in private at all times. . .who knows what they did. The thought made her shudder on the spot as soon as the wind brushed against her skin. Her regret for not bothering to change clothes after returning to which part of her sleeve showcased her toned yet bruised left arm. That thought in mind, she sighed, finally sucking up her stubbornness just enough to consider heading back inside. Everyone was probably asleep by now until she felt a very soft and warm fabric wrap around her. She felt warm but more so startled as her head whipped around as if she were ready to kill out of panic, the urge subsiding as she noticed a pair of slightly surprised yet amused eyes that mirrored hers stare down at her.

Grumbling, she spat, her eyes turning away from him and closed towards the snow that had covered the previous greenery, "Fawwhh, you nearly made me blow your head off! I'm surprised that anyone who knows you hasn't put a bell on you yet, Kuzuku." Shrugging, the young, married Saiyan simply took his seat down next to her only in his Gi's pants and a black long-sleeved hoodie.

"Trust me, they tried but let's just say it didn't work out too well," Kuzuku noted.

Taking it with a little grain of salt, Caulifla simply muffled in response by asking another question, "I thought you'd be asleep?"

"Hmm, I tried but 21 'convinced' me to run out and make an errand to the covenant store. Gotta satisfy her needs to maintain my position in the bed," Kuzuku chuckled before noting albeit more seriously, "Besides, I ought to be asking you that question. You should be getting all the rest you could get."

"Hmph, I'm fine! I just wanted some time to think it over," Caulifla assured.

The young male Saiyan blinked a few times as though he were surprised, "Wow. . .So I guess you can actually worry about something after all. . ." Before he realized it, he felt Caulifla's hand jab into his ribs as her face flush with embarrassment.

"How the hell did you come to that assumption!?" She snapped.

Though, Kuzuku paid her temper no mind and simply laughed it off while rubbing his sides. He had to admit, he's surprised she had enough spunk left in order to throw a punch like that still. Nevertheless, his laughter settled into a hidden sympathetic smile, "Well, it'd be understandable considering everything that's going on right now. The whole reason we are pushing all of you right now is simply because we don't know how strong this one really is. Not only that, but you seemed way more eager to push yourself." Kuzuku poked her injured shoulder playfully which made her shudder in pain in order to prove his point. Though, this did earn him a glare from her.

"Ye-yeah? Well I'm not worried at all, so take it. . .," She muttered back with a little bit of uncertainty in her voice.

Kuzuku sighed before noting, "You know, you aren't really helping your case by being hesitant in your responses. I know that right now, you probably are worried about Sadala greatly and it's obvious." He paused in order to take a glance at her reaction. She was silent, almost complacent to give in and listen to what he had to say to which he definitely hit close to home. He looked back up to the sky, continuing on . . .

"As of right now, people are dying over there and perhaps even those who you formulated a bond with. I know it must feel frustrating since I've been in that position before. Such feelings are a powerful motivation to improve one's self but they work like a double-edge blade. If you let yourself get consumed by those emotions then you'll do more harm to yourself than good and when the time comes for you to step forward in order to make that stand, you won't be able to last," Kuzuku explained.

The feisty female Saiyan sat in silence and soaked up his words. In a way, he was right even though it wasn't entirely agreeable. By stressing and trying to take on all of the burden herself, how will she be able to fight when the actual battle comes into fruition? Against an enemy who seemed to warrant the concerns of even the gods no less? Granted, she partook in a tournament with the strongest guys around and did a pretty damn good job holding her own. No mistake, that gave her already immeasurable confidence another boost until. . .the fight against Ize. It was the first time she'd been in a fight where she truly felt helpless to do anything. Even afterwards she was a bit weak but she kept up her image as a reliable and strong Saiyan but it wasn't until now that she began to think that she wasn't strong enough to help a situation. It was frustrating and she let herself get consumed by said frustration. . .

She bit her lip until Kuzuku placed a hand on her head. It was at moments like these that he really did feel like a big brother again. Something that hardly happened ever since Riley got married to mutt-face, "Listen, all I'm saying is, don't push yourself. You're not alone in this fight and you have allies to make up for those potential weaknesses. Becoming stronger is a long and grueling process that normally doesn't occur over-night. With the time we have now, it'd be impossible to get you to the level you desire to be but we can sure as hell get you all closer. All I ask is for your trust." There was a small moment of silence as he waited for a reply until Caulifla let out a mused huff and stood up.

"Fine. . .you win. I'll go to sleep so you better be ready to get whooped tomorrow!" Caulifla said, leaping down from the roof and entering his home as though it were her own.

Kuzuku was left a little stunned at how well that went but simply smiled into the sky that was parting the clouds for the stars to reveal themselves. He could never get enough of the sight but he was glad that he was fortunate enough to be able to see it. As the wind breezed against his face, he quickly took note of the weather and thought it was best to head back inside. However, as though he couldn't take his own advice, he really began to think that he was going to be labeled as a hypocrite. He subconsciously stood up from his spot and began to levitate into the air before flying over towards the back entrance of 21's lab. It was rare for him to even approach it with the only times being when he had to help code. But granted, seeing how they had little time left, he needed to take some extra measures. It wasn't complete yet since he took his time with the coding but Kuzuku was sure that all the parts needed were in place. He just had to write it out. . .

He shuddered at the long hours he'll have to spend but that was something he was willing to do despite him feeling the need to take a nap. That said, he put in the numbers and entered the facility and flipped on the lights to see a mess that was beyond the scope of any junkyard. For someone who cleans the house and does a lot of the cooking, he really couldn't understand why her lab of all things was the definition of what untidiness is. But granted, he didn't fall far from the tree either when he lived alone. That said, he only said as he walked over to the table that set forth many computers and began to get to work. Most certainly, he was going to need a nice cup of coffee afterwards. . .


(Meanwhile At The Brief Family Home Of Vegeta and Bulma. . .)

The streets of the normally busy city were now for once vacant with vehicles that would normally run the road. It was oddly quiet, especially within the home of the Brief family that seemed to be always full of activity. But surprisingly enough, the very building one would suspect to create a lot of noise was bearable despite the Saiyan prince who was the focal point of such disturbance being inside. Odd but. . .the training he was currently doing was noticeably different even from just judging it from outside the building. Normally, any passing by civilian would feel the murderous intent and thick seriousness emitting from the building, almost as if someone were to disturb or trespass was met with a sense of death. But as of right now, it was different, much like a unyielding yet calm focus.

A concept that is difficult to comprehend even for the person who sat on top of the snow covered roof of the main living quarters. A fellow Prince who hailed from a different universe who simply sat and stared at the building wearing Prince Vegeta was currently training. He sighed and looked up to the sky as he contemplated some things; the words from earlier today resonating in his head. Maybe he was getting a bit too worked up to the point that he wasn't even improving. That was true. . .but, at the same time he couldn't help but feel that he had a right to be. He was Prince Lottus of Sadala for god's sake. If he didn't show even a little bit of emotion then it'd look like he didn't care at all. In fact, he DOES care greatly even though he normally is the second fiddle to his already much more successful brother who always looked down on him. Who always called him a slacker and "unfit" Prince. Who always. . . called him an embarrassment.

He grunted at those thoughts, he fist clenching tightly. It was always like that. He couldn't deny that he wasn't one to withhold his pride compared to his father and elder brother. He always cared less about what people think, something that had allowed him to keep up that carefree persona. If anything, the only people who seemed to wiggle their way past that barrier of his was Caulifla or. . .his mother.

Sighing at the thought of his mother, he simply let out a breath in attempts to warm his hands. As soon as the snow resting on one of the many branches of a tree fell to the ground, the younger Prince stood up before deciding to leap back down onto the balcony that led to the living room that had become their sleeping area for so long. However, as the cold wind whipped across his face, his eyes slightly widened at the figure who was standing by the balcony's rails, her bandaged body wrapped in a freshly new nightgown that was a bit tight on her with her body being wrapped in a blanket that rested just over her shoulders. Though, she seemed unaware of his presence until the sound of his feet lightly touching the ground caused her to take a quick peek behind her only to see her son staring with a bit of confusion. The sight of him made her smile.

"Lottus? What are you doing up so late? You should be resting," Chaya asked, waving him to come closer.

He was reluctant at first but he really didn't feel like defying his mother right about now and sighed, his feet picking up pace towards her before stopping at the railing "I could be asking you the same thing. You're the one with the severe injuries." The queen puffed her chest with a hint of self-pride.

"Hmph, when did you start treating your own mother as if she were fragile? I'd have you know, I've been through MUCH worse," Chaya pointed out with a pout.

Lottus wasn't sure on how to answer that question but he was glad that his mother still had that spunk that she always had. It was amusing to say the least which was why it made him chuckle a bit, "Yeah. . .right. . .heheh." After letting those words out, he could feel his mother shoot him a playful glare at his sarcasm. For all the years he had been alive, the feeling of her watchful eyes was something that'll never get old to him. However, after mentally taking that note, he looked down at the snow covered ground below. In that moment, the sky showered some more flurries though albeit gently as they merged with the white covered yard.

"Mother. . .," Lottus mumbled, his meek tone earning her attention. She noticed the faint sign of concern in his voice which made her a bit concerned. Ignoring the expression on her face, he looked up to the sky and asked with no further hesitation, "Tell me, how was the situation before you left?"

There was a small moment of silence as his mother couldn't help but recall the events that transpired. Everything was just like a normal day until it all turned to hell. How could they not foresee it coming as those things practically ran through their forces like they were mere cattle and they were the prey. The thought itself made her shudder with a bit of frustration but she had to come clean with an answer to her son's question. It was the least she could do for now, "I'll be honest. . .things were looking grim. Your father and brother are doing everything they can to hold those things off but so many were lost amidst this fight. At some point, I was sure that we were going to die. . ." Hearing this, Lottus sighed as the truth was repeated once again from the mouth of his own mother.

"I see, so they weren't lying. . .," Lottus muttered.

Hearing this now, he wasn't sure that he could shake the thought anymore. He was a lot stronger now, arguably stronger than an entire army of Saiyans and even his brother. Factoring that he was the prince with incredible power to back it up, he, for the first time in his life, felt the pressure that came with it and honestly. . .he felt a bit overwhelmed. Especially since he felt he couldn't turn his back on the matter. No. . ., not that he felt. . .more like he had no choice. He balled his fist over the rail a bit tighter but loosened as he felt softer hands rest on top. Surprised by the touch itself, he snapped out of his thoughts and noticed his mother's assuring eyes staring into his.

"Lottus, don't stress yourself out too much," the Queen advised. He was shocked to hear those words, his mouth opening slightly in an attempt to protest. Though, he was interrupted as she continued when she turned her gaze towards the scenery of the city in front of them, "I know you feel some sort of responsibility. I can see you've grown way stronger than before and you put in a lot of hard work to get to where you are now. But. . ."

Queen Chaya paused as she glanced back at the sleeping Cabba who was snoring away on the couch, "You got a comrade to help carry those loads. If you were to become King someday, you'll need to learn to not try and shoulder all the burden yourself. Otherwise, you'll become as grumpy as your father and brother!" She giggled at her comparison as her son was left in a little bit of a shock. However, he was quick to come to understand the meaning behind her words.

He was so focused on his supposent responsibility that he forgot that this fight isn't just for himself. No, this was a battle between all of them that hail from universe 6. It was just a bonus that they'll be getting support from those who could rival the gods themselves. That and the thought of resembling anything close to his overly serious brother made him shudder inside. That said, he simply smiled with implied disgust at her comment.

"Ew, gross. I'd might as well become bald if that was the case," Lottus jested, the two sharing a laugh. It was evident that their mother and son bond was strong since they both seem to be naturally outgoing people. Though, it was to be expected since it seemed Lottus inherited more of his mother than his father after all. However, as the laughter settled down, the sun soon began to rise in the distance with both of them being caught off guard by how little time they spent awake. They looked at each other a moment before letting out an extra bit of amusement.

"Looks like we lost track of time. We–well you should get all the rest that you can," Queen Chaya suggested with a motherly smile.

The young prince nodded before looking ahead at the new day before him with the cool breeze that rode the rays of light emitted from the sun washed against his face. Despite the temperature, he could feel his body beginning to warm-up more though unbeknownst to him, another Prince was watching him from afar with a somewhat proud expression on his face before heading inside to get a sports drink.


(Returning Back To Ayoma Residence Near The Mountains. . .)

Early Mornings for one, was a time where you can choose whether to sleep in or rise early enough to see the rare view of the rising sun. The only other time when you aren't given those choices is if you have responsibilities to take care of, an special occasion, or in 21's current case; barfing out whatever you ate last night into the toilet to the point that you might haven't eaten at all. It was about, what? The 3rd time this week? I mean, she understood she was pregnant and all but at least give her a break once in a while. She groaned, her hand gripping the sides of the toilet as the nausea and dizziness made her want to pass out. But she will second that from the thought of the amount of worry it would cause her husband who oddly wasn't in bed when she woke-up.

"What is he up to this time. . .?" 21 weakly muttered. Somewhat determined to find the answer to that exact question, she mustered her mental strength and forced her body to stand before making her way out of the bedroom's bathroom. She wobbled a bit as she exited the room and down the hall in order to enter the main area of the cabin where the kitchen and living room were connected. It was a nice touch she added in order to not only cook and keep an eye on the guests at all times as she busied herself but also the ability to watch T.V at the same time was a bonus. Well that and the outside view when her husband is training in their backyard as well. . .

Unknowingly to her, she blushed at that thought and made quick work at hiding it when she finally made it out the hallway. Quickly, she took note of Caulifla and Kale's unconscious figures as they snoozed away in the early morning. The absence of Ryo however was understandable since most of the time he's probably traveling somewhere or sleeping in his damaged ship that still needed repairs. Though, her ears immediately picked up on the sound of a cup resting on the table and instinctively turned towards it only to catch a glimpse of the man she loves. The instant her gaze landed on him, the young Saiyan had already noticed her, his noticeably tired eyes failing to go under her radar.

Nevertheless, he smiled warmly at her and waved, "Morning, 21. Care for some coffee?" The question itself sounded like a typical nice gesture to anyone normal. But to 21 who has known him for so long, she could easily pick up on one thing. Kuzuku doesn't like coffee.

"Yes, why thank you," 21 responded, her feet treading towards the kitchen counter where a 2nd cup rested next to his. Though, as her hands wrapped around it, she couldn't help but suspiciously add, "I thought you didn't like coffee?"

As she expected, she managed to get a slight reaction to her comment as he somewhat fidgeted when he went for another sip. Her Saiyan husband cautiously took a glance to see what her current expression was and from just that one look alone. . .lying wasn't going to get him any farther from a potential destructive mood swing. Knowing this, he sighed, reaffirming his dislikes, "I don't, but I needed something to keep me awake."

"Keep you awake? But what for?" 21 asked, a bit curious.

Kuzuku somewhat gave a prideful smirk, "Remember that little project we thought of?" She blinked a few times before recalling what he was talking about, her eyes widening slightly.

"You mean the theory of utilizing the suppression waves for training purposes?" 21 replied, earning a confirming nod from him. She cupped her chin, relaying the method he shared with her, "If I remember, you wanted to use the suppression waves as a way to forcefully hinder the amount of Ki you can output. By doing this, you hoped that it'd act as some sort of 'Ki weight' similar to the Gravity Gauntlets that Bulma produced. But you scrapped that idea because-"

"Because it only served the purpose of forcing power deep within someone temporarily. Not only that, the strain it'll cause is similar to using Kaioken on top of Super Saiyan," Kuzuku concluded.

21 nodded and took a sip of the somewhat cooler cup of coffee in her hands, "Yes, but why bring that up now?" Kuzuku chuckled and sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, let's just say I finished it in one full night! I tweaked a bit of the settings so that it wouldn't be as dangerous as it was initially," Kuzuku claimed with a bit of excitement before adding as he glanced to the two Universe 6 Saiyans, "With this, they'll quickly become more in-tune to digger deeper into their own power until eventually it'll become easy enough for them to finally reach the 3rd level. At that point, all I need to do is keep their bodies in shape."

His wife was a little impressed as he basked in his own glory but she still held a disapproving face that didn't go unnoticed, "That's all well and good but was the price of you not getting any rest that worth it?" Freezing in place again, her husband became deflated at that fact and bowed his head.

"Go-good point, I didn't get a wink of sleep at all," Kuzuku admitted with a chuckle. He already knew he was rushing things even though they were unsure what exactly they were dealing with. Even though that could be a reason for them to at least prepare as much as possible, it could equally be nothing more than a cake walk considering how strong they were. He sighed only to be surprised by the sudden tug of his body that was pulled into an embrace, his hair being stroked as though he were a toddler. The action itself made him blush and he was partially glad that the Saiyan girls weren't awake yet to see him being coddled. Though admittedly, no one would be able to do this unless they were his mother or. . .well, 21 herself. As soon as his body relaxed a bit, 21 let go in order to allow him to stand up straight as she looked straight into his eyes.

"I know you're willing to try your best as always, but, please make sure you get some rest for your own well being," 21 advised with her lips curled up slightly, "Besides, you don't look as handsome when you don't get enough sleep."

Laughing, Kuzuku knew that it was at least some form of compliment, "Does that mean I'm still handsome regardless?" Without a word, she bopped the tip of his nose playfully.

"Don't push it," She giggled.

Taking that as a "yes" Kuzuku couldn't help but feel a bit more energy than he had prior to this conversation. Staring at a computer for 6 hours straight would do that to a man and with his Saiyan genes, he was surprised he didn't just fall asleep. But now, he felt like he had to work off some calories. He took a quick glance at the sleeping girls in his living room and quickly said to himself, "I guess I got some time to kill."


(Time Period, Unknown. . .Location. . .Unknown. . .)

The scenery was a bit obscure with only a thick fog that was illuminated by a fiery light. The sky seemed to only be a permanent reddish-orange as the grassy-ground below had barely seeped through the cracks. Regardless. . .flowers of life still bloomed and emitted small flickers indicating that these were definitely abnormal. Those. . .flickering lights were carried away by the wind as a young man was on his knees, his clothing being that of fine red and white robes that covered his body in a checker pattern. Around his neck were large, yellow beads while the knees of his dark pants were soiled by the dirt. His hands, hidden by the long, thick sleeves of his robes, hung at his sides while his feet were left exposed to the dirt beneath him. His eyes remained forward in disbelief.

. . .But at what?

Was it the scenery that captivated him into a trance of shock? No. . .he looked morbidly confused. Yes. . .judging from the eyes that laid on a figure that towered over him with a smile on his face being the only thing visible as the rest of its body began to resemble that of a dying flame and diminishing fog. Without a word, the person extended his hand towards the young man and held out a small ball of light that rode the wind towards him. As it drew closer, the young man couldn't help but feel a tinge in his heart that felt as though a sword had been thrusted into it. He was petrified and frozen so much that he hadn't realized the small orbs of light phase into his chest where his heart should lay.

The figure then shifted his expression, still smiling yet this time being a rather sad one. His mouth opened, relaying the words in a nearly inaudible tone that could only be made out as. . ."Now you can leave this realm. . .Go, experience the world. . .Soak in all the knowledge you can until. . ." The rest of the words came in a jumble but the last bit was something that he could never forget. Something that he'll have to remember for the rest of his life as he watches the figure's existence begin to fade ever so slowly.

"I'm counting on you. . . please, look out for me_ _ _" The person said, hoping to fill every single bit of his words before he finally faded away into nothing. . .The young man whose eyes hadn't changed for what seemed to be an eternity at last steeled himself, his resolve heightening as his eyes casted towards the ground. He closed them as he felt the breeze brush against his face. . .

(Now Returning Back To Earth, By A Cliff Near West City. . .)

The morning breeze was a bit stronger this time around, so much that it forced the eyes of the familiar space traveler who had crashed here on Earth to open in response. Though, aside from his usual demeanor, he seemed to be lost in thought, his eyes barely open as he sat on the edge of the cliff that towered over the wilderness below that led to the bustling city. He was a bit confused on how he got here but then he recalled that he was a bit tired of sleeping in an air-tight spaceship and decided to take a nap outside for a change. He would have asked Kuzuku. . .but, he refrained from doing so. Though that aside, as his hair flowed into a stop, he immediately began to recall the reminder that was set on him. His expression went blank as his hand unconsciously clenched the center of his chest.

With a wavering yet solemn smile, he knew that it was only a matter of time and from the final words he recalled. . ., he couldn't help but mutter, "Yes. . .your wish shall be granted. . ."

A/N:I decided to make this chapter smaller than the others mainly because I felt to conserve some scene ideas for later chapters. That and it's really an extension upon the previous chapter which could have been combined in my opinion. Though the ending of this chapter is a small glimpse into the plot of the main story so that's a plus. Like I said, I didn't introduce a new character for no reason *wink* *wink*. As for the reason for my. . .uh absence, I got sick again which sucked but it's behind me at this point. Any who, expect a chapter later this week or weekend. Until we meet again ^_^ !