Kakarot glared at the human female. He thought of snapping her neck, but decided that she was beneath him and the effort it would take. Turning his back, he walked away, curious about his unrelenting hatred of Chi-chi. He seldom saw her, but there was something about her that he despised.

The crowd parted for the world champion, amazed that one so young could be so powerful. This was the second tournament that he had won, but he ignored the cheers and focused on the blue haired genius that had befriended him so long ago. She was a mystery to him, as most humans were, but he trusted her completely. "Did you get them all?"

"They're in my bag as we speak." Kakarot nodded, his gaze meeting Bulma's. He had no idea what to expect, but he had yet to find the Saiya-jin female he was tasked to protect. Also at her side was another human he had chosen to trust, Krillan.

"What happened in the arena, Kakarot? You usually don't get that angry." Krillan had seen the red fury in his friend's eyes. The last person to do that died a slow and painful death. Kakarot was as a savage as they came, but he lived according to a code that even Bulma and Krillan had to respect.

"She knew that I couldn't fight if she grabbed my tail."

"How did you get free?"

Kakarot snorted. "As if I'd allow a human to defeat me. Give me a break Krillan!"

"What are you anyway? You've never told us."

Kakarot shrugged, as if the answer didn't really matter. Let there be a few mysterious to his heritage. If they needed to know, he would tell them. Until then he didn't want to reveal that much about himself, knowing that the survival of his race depended upon it.

"Let's go."

Kakarot stared at Shenron in wonder. As usual, he felt a strange connection to the dragon, but he didn't understand it. Shenron regarded Kakarot with a calm respect and patience he showed few people, as if he knew the reason for Kakarot's confusion. "Name your wish, Kakarot."

Bulma and Krillan gaped at Shenron. The dragon had never acknowledged someone by their name, but it was apparent that the dragon held their friend in high regard. "There was a girl I was supposed to find. She isn't on Earth is she, Shenron?"

"She is a slave on the Ice-jin world."

"How?"

"Cooler intercepted her space pod and sent her to his home world to be trained as a fighter. In a few minutes, she will be sentenced to death for leading a rebellion against the Ice-jins."

"No!" Kakarot roared, trembling in fear and rage. "Shenron, I wish for you to bring her to me."

"She will not trust you, Kakarot."

"I don't give a damn!"

Shenron's eyes glowed red, vanishing as a figure began to materialize before them. A silver collar was around her neck, glowing with golden energy as her hands and feet were bound with spiked chains. Blood soaked into the ground, but she showed no fear as she glared at Kakarot in defiant hate.

"I need a senso bean, Krillan."

Krillan gave it to him, watching as Kakarot slowly approached the volatile female. Even her tail had a tight band around it, biting painfully into her flesh. She didn't cry out; rather she kept a careful eye on the tall Saiya-jin that circled her. Keeping himself in full sight, he knelt, but didn't get close enough for her to bite. She had several broken bones and her clothes were tattered rags. It pained him to see her reduced to such a condition, that his entire race had suffered in such a matter.

"Pepper," he softly called to her in his native language. "I am not your enemy."

She growled, not understanding him, nor did she care to. All she knew was pain and betrayal. Even her own kind had tried to kill her just to remain in the Ice-jins' good graces. She had no friends and didn't want them. This one was smarter than most. He didn't dare get close enough for her to attack. She experienced a brief moment of fear, but violently shook her head. Pepper refused to give her enemies the satisfaction of showing emotions as weak as fear and pain.

"Kakarot, are you insane!" Kakarot hissed in barely controlled rage, but reminded himself that his friends didn't understand. He had never told them about Pepper and deep instinct drove him to protect her at all cost. Kakarot sat, waiting for as long as it would take. Gradually she stopped growling, wondering why he didn't attack or strike her into submission.

It was obvious he was a fighter, but his gaze did not possess the cunning deciet of those she had lived with her entire life. It was kill or be killed in her world, but as she looked around, she came to the realization that she was no longer on the Ice-jin world, a planet of ice and death. This place was warm and full of life, with a strange inhabitants she didn't recognize. The humanoids behind Kakarot didn't try to help him, clearly afraid of her, but he ignored them and focused his entire attention on her.

The fighter didn't try to rush her, rather he waited, knowing he had her at a clear disadvantage. "Kakarot..." Bulma had decided to help the best way she could, knowing Kakarot was in a position that was difficult.

He heard the hesitation in her voice, but a desire to help. Kakarot glanced at her, smirking as Bulma's brain worked out several scenarios to his predicament. "What did you have in mind?"

"She's a fighter."

"You're point?"

"You're only option is to fight and win, Kakarot."

"But..."

"She won't learn to trust you other wise, Kakarot. Were you not so different? It took years for that old man to befriend and teach you martial arts."

"No!"

Kakarot knew Bulma spoke the truth, but he had no desire to cause the female further pain. He turned his head, not wanting her to see the tear that slid down his face. It did not go unnoticed by the bound female, her expression more curious as she regarded the tall Saiya-jin. He was nothing but muscle, healthy, and clearly not a slave.

She always stayed alive because she didn't under estimate her enemies, or completely assess her situation. Her entire body hurt and she couldn't deny that she was supposed to be dead. Where was she and who was this unknown Saiya-jin? Angry tears slid down her face. She had finally convinced the slaves to fight against the Ice-jins and they had all paid for it. One-by-one, they had been executed before her, tortured for hours before the next slave was brought before her. She had been saved for last, the cruelest fate the Ice-jins could have bestoed upon the proud female. Nothing else would have broken her more than to see those that had chosen to follow her executed.

Kakarot heaved a heavy sigh and stood. He didn't want to fight her, not when he saw so much in her already tormented expression. The moment he touched the band on her tail she erupted in a blind rage, remembering all the times it had been used against her. She broke free of her restraints, attacking without thought. The only one that remained was the one around her neck, reducing more than half of her power.

Phasing behind her, he wrapped an arm around her waist while the other went to her throat. The terrified female shrieked, struggling to break his grip. With a quick turn of his wrist, the collar shattered to the ground and he lept back, watching her power explode all around her.

For years he had strived to find the perfect challenge, an oppenent that was his equal. Kakarot half purred, half growled his brown tail unwinding from his waist. Krillan thought about helping his friend, but Kakarot shouted for them to stay back. The girl was not a novice to fighting, circling and looking for a weakness. She found none.

He confused her. Kakarot was more than capable of defeating her, yet he simply held her off, blocking each kick and punch easily. She was tired and weak from the lack off food and blood. Pepper staggered, everything blurring for a moment. She had to stay alert, but he hadn't taken advantage of the situation as she would have done.

Again she regarded him, curious to his motives. Who was he? Suddenly she collapsed, trembling in exhaustion. Pepper tried to stand back up, to continue, but the Ice-jins knew all to well how to bring her to their mercy. The last thing she remembered was him lifting her off the ground, holding her close as she faded into oblivion.

"What now?" Krillan asked, wanting nothing to do with the powerful female. He didn't bother to tell Kakarot he was making a big mistake, not with the way he was holding her. "She's going to fight you again."

"Let her." Kakarot's voice lacked the usual aggression he saved for his opponents, his expression almost tender. He seemed content for the first time since Bulma had met her mysterious friend, but there were still shadows in his eyes that even he didn't seem aware. None of them realized that a deep part of Kakarot recalled his six hundred years of loneliness, the dragon unable to completely erase the memories. In order to keep the past from repeating itself, Shenron had to keep that little part of Goku with Kakarot.

"Do you need a place to stay?"

Kakarot almost said yes, but the female needed time and she couldn't do that surrounded with people she didn't know. Her world was of deception and violence. "It is enough that you offer, Bulma."

Bulma sighed, knowing Kakarot would disappear again. He was such a loner, even when his friends tried to make him feel welcome. "My home is always open to you."

"Meet me at Master Roshi's house in five years Bulma."

They watched him leave, none of them certain if they would see him again or not. "I never understood that boy."

"Kakarot isn't a boy anymore, Krillan."

"He could laugh a little. Kakarot never smiles Bulma."

"I know. Even when we searched for the dragon balls he remained aloof from us."

"There's something else I don't understand. Why does he hate Chi-chi so much? I swear he wants to kill her half the time."

Bulma shook her head, just as confused by Kakarot as Krillan. Perhaps in time they would have the answers to their questions. For now all they could do was wait the five years Kakarot requested of them. "Where's Yamcha, Bulma?"

Tears appeared at the corners of her eyes, but she refused to allow them to fall. "He found someone else to hang out with." At that, she too turned and left, leaving Krillan to shake his head. He liked Yamcha, but like Kakarot, thought Bulma deserved better than the playboy could offer her. She was too proud to say anything though, even though she knew there wasn't really anyone to take his place."