Disclaimer: *see Prologue*

Author's note: And the plot continues the way it does. However, this is kind of less disheartening than previous installments. Warnings include mentions of child abuse, violence, and blood. On the slightly less depressing side (at least at the moment) is that Lygoren makes a new friend.

Part Five: A Friendship Formed

What he'd been given by Eyadei becomes his one defense when it starts happening more and more. Lygoren hated it with an increasing amount of resentment and hostility that he knew not to show his father. It just came out in his training as he pushed harder now having the goal to get stronger than the male who made his nights pure hell. He was going to kill his father if it was the last thing he ever did.

Sweat pours down the boy's face as he pushes his body passed it's limits before hitting his knees gasping and struggling to pull in a full breath. Chest heaving, he clenches his fingers tightly, teeth clenched. "You're going to hurt yourself if you keep that up," a feminine voice comments catching his attention. He raises his head slowly to stare at the other Saiyan roughly his age who was gazing at him in concern, "Clan Leader's son or not this is a little extreme."

"M-mind your own business," he forces out as he struggles to his feet only for them to give out. The female takes the few steps between them and keeps him from going face-first into the ground.

"Careful," she murmurs steadying him, "I told you that you were going to hurt yourself if you weren't careful."

He grits his teeth hating to have to let her support him but he had obviously pushed too hard. He's a little surprised when she helps him to the shade of a tree and lowers him to the ground before pulling out a water bottle tied to her side. "Here, drink this slowly. You're dehydrating and going to pass out."

He slowly takes it before gazing at it warily. "Who are you?" he asks.

Her mouth curves. "Do you really think I'm going to poison myself? It's safe. Anyway, I'm Erisel. You're Lygoren right?"

"Yes," he answers before taking a sip and adding on, "Thank you, Erisel."

She grins at him. "No problem. Now, when you get your body to respond, why don't you spar with me? I assure you that training is easier when you're doing it against an actual opponent."

He snorts softly, "I think you might be waiting awhile."

Slowly, she sits down and grins at him. "Yeah, you really overdid it. Wow, what are you trying to do?"

"I need...to be the strongest one out here," he replies quietly unable to meet her gaze.

"Something tells me you are just as little a fan of our illustrious Clan Leader as the rest of us," she comments startling him.

"I...Yes," he admits after a moment, "I would...really prefer if he'd stop breathing."

"You and the rest of us," she replies before he can have that moment of panic wondering if she was here on his father's orders to see where his loyalty laid. If this was a trap then he was in so much trouble but he'd opened his mouth.

"So...I push as hard as I can needing to get stronger, needing to be better. I can't...I can't take his way of doing things."

"Not surprising since he's a definitive psychopath," Erisel replies. The messy, dark haired Saiyanness makes herself comfortable by him and Lygoren is strangely willing to allow it as she didn't raise any internal alarms.

"I've never seen you around or have I really been paying that little attention?" he asks.

This makes her laugh in clear amusement. "Oh, you've been kind of single-mindedly focused...trust me because I've been watching you for a while now. You're impressive, by the way, but you're kinda dull."

Lygoren snorts softly at that. "What good is wasting my time in trivial pursuits?" he asks.

Erisel stares at him a moment before asking, "And exactly what has your decision brought you, I mean, really?"

Lygoren tenses at that question. "None of your business!" he answers more harshly than he intends to.

Slowly the other reaches out. "You see what I mean? What good is it to do this on your own? You're helping no one in being so stand-offish as you are. Why not let someone help you?"

"Because HE would see it as a weakness," Lygoren retorts bitterly, "Surely you know that?"

"He doesn't have to know does he?"

That gets the brunette's attention and he stares at her. "You mean...go behind his back? Are you insane?!"

"You need someone to talk to," she points out calmly, "and the way I see it if he sees you working then there is no reason to question your choices in companion. Besides, I'm not some pushover, either. I'd show you but you'd get more out of it if you weren't in danger of falling on your butt."

It takes him a minute to realize that he was sorely tempted to take up on what the other offered if for nothing else that he hated always being alone. "You...put yourself at risk, you realize..."

"I know that," she answers, dark eyes glinting and a grin appearing, "but I think it's worth it. The question is...do you?"

He stares at her a moment before a smile appears. "Sure...Why not? It's not like things could get any worse than they are."

"Good, then you go and get some rest and I'll meet you here tomorrow and take you to where I train. We're guaranteed to not be bothered as I know your father is never out there. It'll be our place."

He rather liked the sound of that. "Okay," he says as he slowly rises, "It was nice to meet you, Erisel."

She stands as well helping him the rest of the way up before replying, "Call me, Eris. My friends have that right."

That makes him grin. "Eris then. I'll see you tomorrow."

"I look forward to it, Lygoren."

He watches her vanish from view and feels a sense of pleasure in such a simple thing. How could his father think that having any sort of connection with another be a sign of weakness? Deciding he didn't want to think about what his father thought on things, he heads back hoping that maybe something would keep his father so that he didn't have to...He shakes his head forcing the thoughts away. It didn't do any good to let his mind wander down that avenue.

Entering, he finds his sisters busy with their tasks giving him on a momentary glance before continuing and staying out of his way. He'd feel sorry for them if they didn't feel like such strangers. They avoided him for some reason that he couldn't understand and preferred to keep company with each other. He didn't pry because part of him just didn't want to know. He heads to shower and tend to some of the more pressing injuries. There was no need to go and bother Eyadei with such trivial matters as he was sure the medic was busy enough with others.

The hot water feels good as his tense muscles relax and he closes his eyes feeling a smile form. Erisel was really something; spunky and strong-willed. He realizes that he looked forward to meeting up with her the next day. He was just sure that saying as much would be a bad idea so he makes sure that the lingering scent of her is off of him before he steps out and redresses. Returning downstairs, he finds his father in the living room and tries to keep from tensing. The other raises his head gazing at him before the corners of his mouth would curve upwards. "Productive day, Lygoren?"

"Yes, sir," he replies immediately hoping and praying that things would not go the way they had for way too long in his mind. He was sorely tired of being used by the other as some sort of amusement. Unfortunately, he has no choice but to allow it if the other so wills it and that was a bitter enough pill to swallow. Such was what they lived with apparently.

"Wow, you look worse than yesterday," Eris comments when she sees him, "Did I get you in trouble?"

Lygoren shakes his head. "No, he was...in a congenial mood," he says quietly wishing that he wasn't walking so stiffly.

"Congenial huh? Well, that's promising."

"It is what it is," he replies curtly, "Could we just get out of sight? The less I have to explain the better I feel at this point."

Eris obviously senses his darkening mood and nods before leading him a bit away from the area. Once alone, she says softly, "Just how badly does he hurt you? You're limping something awful."

Truth was, he'd been too sore to actually get out of his bed when he'd collapsed into it so he'd not had the aid of what Eyadei had sent to him. He just didn't think the truth a proper topic of conversation for someone he'd just met. "I don't really think that's any of your business," he retorts.

"Well no but..." her nostrils flare about the time his own picks up a rather distressing scent and he wonders how he'd missed it. "You're bleeding..."

"It's fine," he replies immediately.

She gives him a look before slowly circling him and he is pretty sure it would be the last time they'd ever have contact before he feels her hand on his shoulder. "You need Eyadei, Lygoren," she insists softly, "Come on, I know a back way in but you need to be checked out. And you're right...your father does need to stop breathing."

He would argue but a sudden onset of dizziness has him stumbling. Eris immediately reaches out and steadies him. "Yeah, you don't have a choice now." He can't even really form a response before he ends up aided to the medic's. The scarred Saiyan is surprised at their arrival only until he gets close and sighs. "Erisel, you can't be in here."

"But..."

"Erisel, this isn't something that concerns you. Go wait outside," the male states sternly.

"I'll be right outside, Lygoren," she says with a smile, "I'm not going anywhere, okay?"

The words were surprisingly welcome to the other. "Get out of that spandex, little master, and let me see what he's managed now," Eyadei says catching his attention.

Slowly, and with the other supporting him, he does so grimacing at the blood he sees. "Honestly...he could utilize lube...or stretching," the medic mutters under his breath as he helps him onto the table.

"H-he could just keep his hands and body parts to himself, too," Lygoren manages trying not to jerk away at the feel of the others hands on his skin as he examines him.

"In your case, I'm not sure that's a realistic goal," Eyadei tells him quietly.

"P-probably not...but one can hope can't they?"

He misses the look the other flashes as he gazes at him not realizing just what coming here was doing to the medic who had to see him in such pain. "So, you met Erisel finally?" the male asks changing the subject.

"I-I did...You know her?"

"I know everyone, little master, and she's a good person...probably one of the best you'll find in such a ragtag bunch of outcasts. She's powerful, too so HE shouldn't have a problem if he finds you two spending time together."

"D-does he actually need a reason to disapprove?" Lygoren asks before a low sound of pain escapes at Eyadei slowly working him further open.

"No, and you need to relax, Lygoren."

"I-it...HURTS!"

"I realize that but it's not going to help if you stay like you are. Breathe slowly and relax for me."

It's a struggle to do so but he manages it and is rather glad when he's finally back in a clean spandex outfit. Eyadei walks him back outside. "Keep him from training for a day or two," he says quietly, "I'm going to tell his sire to lay off of him if he doesn't want to need medical attention that I can't give him."

"Will do," Erisel says sliding an arm through his, "Come on, Lyo. Let's go and let me teach you the fine art of lazing around."

They end up back where they'd started out of sight and she gently pushes him down to the ground. "You just need to relax and not work yourself into pulling those stitches I'm sure you got."

He feels his face heat up. "You shouldn't have any idea about this."

"Maybe not but it happens. You shouldn't think badly about yourself. You certainly didn't ask for it."

He looks at her a moment taking in how much support she'd given him knowing him less than two days and feels his mouth curve upwards. "You're...really something."

"Oh, I know I am," she answers with a grin before her gaze turns serious, "Look, whatever is going on...whatever he does to you don't think it makes you less of who you are. I'm not going to turn my back on you. Our clan is far too good at ignoring others when they're in pain."

"You promise?" It seemed silly, the words but part of him NEEDED to hear an affirmative answer.

To his surprise, she extends her hands and takes one of his squeezing it tightly. "On my honor, I promise, Lyo. I'm not going anywhere. You need a friend...and I want to be that friend." To him it was the best thing he'd ever heard and his fingers tighten in response which makes her grin.