Blast from the Past

Chapter 2

Piccolo flew hard, far away from the world he knew so well. Everything he had loved was getting farther and farther behind him. He swallowed hard. "Well Piccolo" he growled to himself, "looks like we're returning there after all."

Flashback

Two boys ran hard through the alleyways, ignoring the shouts as they passed adults who screamed at the color of their skin. Both boys were dark green with big pointed ears. Their black eyes met for a second and they leapt as one over a large dumpster and crunched down. The older, larger boy moved quickly to protect his brother. Their ears twitched slightly to check for sound. The younger boy tightened his grip on the bag pressed against his chest.

When no sound alerted them to anyone's presence, the oldest boy started forward slightly twitching his ears for any sound. Suddenly he heard the sound of a bat swinging but was quick enough in moving and was hit across the face.

"Get up you little bastards!" a snarling voice growled. "How dare you steal from me?"

"It was ours first" the oldest boy growled rising to his feet and glaring.

The sleek boy in front of him grinned showing his perfect white teeth. "Now why you got to lie to me like that huh? Just give it back and I won't hit you with this bat no more." He raised the bat threateningly and glowered down at the younger boys. The older boy simply stood there, nose to stomach with the older teen and glared back.

"Why you-"before the teen could finish his sentence, the younger boy lunged over his brother and attacked. As soon as the teen was laying on the ground in surprise, the older boy grabbed his brother and ran.

End Flashback

Piccolo shook his head, he wouldn't return to the streets. "Too many memories," he murmured. Pain welled up in his chest, as there was no answer, no echo. "My brother, my little shadow."

Piccolo forced the memories from his head as he continued to fly across the ocean. He was return to the land where he grew up; one couldn't just wallow away in memories. Even if he wasn't on the streets. There were people everywhere. Piccolo frowned; he would have to find a place where there weren't so many people.

Flashback

Piccolo turned toward the front of the carnival as a large group of people entered. His black eyes widened in fear and he took a step back.

"Too many" he whispered.

"Too many people" came the echo from behind him.

Piccolo moved in front of his little brother and tensed up before Niroco grabbed his hand and held on tightly. Piccolo nodded moving to protect and shield his younger brother.

"Boys?"

Piccolo and Niroco turned to face the man frightened. They knew his voice with ease, he was their protector, and he was the one who had removed them from the streets. They swallowed hard and stared up at the man.

"Too many people."

"Too many."

The man nodded his head slightly and smiled for his two boys. "It is okay my boys. The people will not harm you. You will be safely away from them. You don't mind the others."

"Not many others."

"Not many at all."

"Okay boys just stay by me tonight."

End flashback

Piccolo shook his head. He had to clear his mind of the memories; it hurt too badly to remember. "Of all the days to remember, I had to remember the very first." He closed his eyes and allowed his body to relax moving close to the water. He skimmed the surface of the water then lifted up again. Flying hard as he moved through the air, Piccolo finally forced the thoughts of his past from his mind and focused only on the training he had gleaned from the streets.

AN: Well, that the second chapter. Lots of memories. Poor Piccolo.