Serena smiled, closing her book and putting her pencil down. "I can't believe I'm finished." Two weeks had passed since the doctor had released her from the hospital, but she had been ordered to stay home. Wanting to catch up on lost time, she had pulled out every book from the previous school year and began to read, copying notes and answering the questions in each chapter.

The black cat had rarely left her side, refusing any offers of food unless Serena was in the same room. Mr. Tuskino tried to protest about raising an animal, but not even he could stand to see the stricken look cross his daughter's face. She didn't cry, didn't complain; but it was as if she had lost the most important thing in her life. After a heavy discussion, he finally allowed Serena to keep the cat, but only if she promised to take full responsibility for it.

"Mom!"

Mrs. Tuskino was in the kitchen, setting the table as Serena came running in with a large grin. She was happy to see her daughter smiling again, but she couldn't help but feel that Serena was far from being back to normal. "Did you finish your homework?"

"It was hard at first, but after a few days, I finally started to understand. Remind me not to fall behind again."

"Kakarot and Amy were here."

"I know."

With a sigh, Mrs. Tuskino put down her dish cloth and pulled out a chair from the table. "Serena, what's wrong? Kakarot thinks that you hate him."

"Mom, it's not..."

"I didn't tell you, but... Kakarot never left the house when we couldn't find you for two days. Even his brothers joined in the search."

"Turles and Raditz..." Serena didn't know what to think anymore. "Mom, my problems shouldn't be his." The black cat jumped in her lap, wrapping her black tail around Serena's wrist. It was as if she could sense Serena'a pain and confusion, but after the first day, she didn't speak again.

"Serena, friends are hard to come by, especially ones as close as Kakarot and yourself. He's hurting Serena, but he would never admit it. Do you not see the pain in his eyes every time you push him away, every time you leave the table in anger, and every time he sees the family that cares and loves for you that he will probably never have?"

"Mom, I had no idea. I didn't mean to hurt..." Tears threatened to fall, a sharp pain forming in the base of her throat. The edge of her nose burned, as if she wanted to sneeze, but knew it was from shame and humiliation. "Maybe I shouldn't see him anymore. I can't bare to see him hurting because I..."

"Serena!" Mrs. Tuskino cried out too late, watching as her daughter fled from the house, the black cat close behind.

"Kakarot, give her time."

"I have Amy! Why does she hate me?"

"Kakarot, I'm sure she doesn't..." Kakarot gave Amy a weak smile and slowly walked away. Amy hadn't known the two very long, but she wanted to do anything to get either of them to laugh. Serena was due back in school the next morning, but could the girl possibly pass after missing so much class?

Serena didn't know where she was running to, blinded by her tears. They burned against her cheeks as they fell, nor could she count the cuts on her knees and hands as she fell and jumped back up to continue running again. It hurt, a confusing pain that seemed to intensify with each breath she took. 'Kakarot, I'm so sorry... You're the only friend that I have... God, what have I done?'

"Meat ball head?" She didn't hear the hateful nickname, nor see the tall man that reached out and snagged her as she flew by. "Whoa, Serena."

"Let go!" she screamed, trying to break loose of his grasp. "Darien, leave me alone! Please not now!"

"Serena, what the hell happened?" Gently, he led the hysterical blond to an isolated ally, wiping her tears with a handkerchief from his pocket. "I thought it was my imagination the last time, but now I know there's something wrong."

"It's none of your business," Serena whispered, no longer fighting against the obnoxious man. Still, she was curious to why he was bothering to help her at all. "I thought you didn't like me?"

"Who said I did or didn't? You were the one that gave me the cold shoulder." Slowly they sat, leaning against the wall for support. "Serena, I know were not exactly friends, but..." Serena didn't respond, her chin resting against her knees. Her blue eyes had lost their spark; even her black cat couldn't bring Serena out of her depression. "It's just that... well I miss teasing the meat ball head about her grades or tardies."

"I hate that nickname!" Serena giggled, taking the handkerchief from Darien's hand. She wiped her nose and picked at the material's corners. "Darien do you have any friends?"

"Never." Serena's eyes widened and Darien had to laugh. "Don't act so surprised, meat ball head. Orphans are, by nature, isolated and unwanted. You were lucky. Do you know how many people would kill to have what you have? To know love, even from one person, is the most precious gift that a person could ever receive."

"That's what mother said. He'll never talk to me again!" Darien, afraid that she would start crying again, lifted her face and smiled. All the years she had spent avoiding the older man, she had never noticed how compassionate and understanding he could be. For the first time, she realized that the inside of a person was the complete opposite of the personality they tried to portray. Were Vegeta, Raditz and Turles the same? What were their lives like before they were orphaned and how did they deal with the fact that nobody ever wanted to adopt them?

"Kakarot will always be your friend Serena." Sadly, he dropped his hand and looked at the cracks in the ground. "God how I envy that kind of friendship! Do you have no idea, Serena? Even Vegeta, Raditz and Turles know how much he cares about you."

"Know what?"

"That he would do anything, even die, for you."

"No!" Serena screamed in terror. "He mustn't! He can't! Why, why would he do that?"

Turles and Raditz glanced at Vegeta, watching as Kakarot came drifting into their room, not once looking in their direction. "That stupid onna!" Turles snarled, his eyes an angry red. "Can she not see what she's doing to him? Dammit, why did he get so close to her? I warned him, but he wouldn't..."

"You can't stop a mental bond, Turles." This had been the first time since Vegeta had spoken, his gaze constantly on the sky. "As for your question, Serena doesn't know. That's why this is so painful for them."

"What are you talking about?"

"Parts of my memory have come back, but they're confusing. We were older than we are now, nor have we ever lived so long without someone trying to kill or beat us."

"When?" Turles asked, hoping that one of them was finally starting to remember.

"The day Serena awoke in the hospital. Her dreams triggered a scene that I dare not describe." Vegeta lifted his gloved hands, unable to rid the hidden red that stained them. "How many lives..." Vegeta started to say, but never finished. He turned his attention to Kakarot's still form, his eyes closed in an uneasy sleep. "We mustn't let anything happen to him."

"Why?" Raditz said. "You've said that before."

"He's our only chance." Vegeta's head hurt and knew he couldn't force the memories to return. "As for Serena, protect her."

"Are you crazy?" Turles roared, startling even Kakarot out of his daze. Lowering his voice, "That stupid onna..."

Vegeta was swift, deadly and full of rage as he slammed the taller Saiya-jin against the wall. Raditz staggered back, terrified of the teenager before them. Turles struggled to breathe, but the harder he fought, the tighter Vegeta's grip became. "Do not question my orders, Turles! If anything happens to that girl, so help me..." The small saiya-jin screamed in fury, releasing Turles and driving his fist through the wall.

Serena didn't remember falling asleep and woke with a groan. She was lying on a soft couch, a thick blanket wrapped around her shoulders. "Where am I?"

A soft chuckle drove the sleep from her eyes. Standing beside a window, she caught the silhouette of Darien's tall frame, his black hair ruffled from sleep. He wore no shirt, only a pair of pants. In his hands, he held a cup of coffee. "Morning, meat ball head. You're going to be late, you know?"

"What...?" Darien pointed to the clock over the front door and laughed as Serena jumped up and scrambled for her shoes. "Why didn't you wake me sooner? Wait, how did I get here in the first place?"

"You fell asleep. Since you didn't bother to tell me where you lived, I brought you here. Don't worry," he laughed, seeing the look of outrage on her face, "I didn't do anything that your father would kill me for. I did call your mother and tell her you were studying with my sister."

"You have a sister?"

"No, but it was better than saying I was an orphan living on his own."

"Oh..." she said, turning bright red. "Thank you."

"You better hurry, meat ball head. You have one hour to make it home, grab your homework and get to school before you end up with detention. By the way, you still owe me a test grade."

"You're on! I hope you have enough to buy me a new outfit!"

"Come in first place and I will!"

Serena grabbed the door handle and stopped. Darien expected her to yell back at him, but was totally shocked to see a true smile reach her eyes. "Darien, you're wrong. You do have a friend." Not giving him a chance to figure out what she had said, Serena vanished.

"Meat ball head!" he scowled. "I don't need a friend!"

Kakarot didn't know why he was there, but he had to try one last time. He started to knock on the door before he felt something plow into his back and drive him into the living room. A blur disappeared upstairs, followed by a crash and a very disheavled Serena reappearing with her bag. "Morning," she greeted.

"Serena?" he wanted to hope, searching for the distant look he had grown familiar with.

Serena felt bad about the pain she had caused between their friendship and wondered if she could make things right again? "It's been awhile since we've walked to school together," she suggested shyly.

"You've been busy." Slowly, she closed the distance between them, wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him for all he was worth. His breath caught, but didn't say anything as he held her trembling form.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. Serena felt something curl around her ankle, but before she could see what it was, Kakarot pulled back and grabbed her backpack. "Wait... that's heavy!"

"It's never stopped me before!" he smirked.

Mrs. Tuskino, watching from a separate room, smiled as Serena and Kakarot walked to school. It was too soon to say, but she prayed that everything would work out. She spotted Serena's cat sitting on a chair, her red eyes never leaving the door. 'That cat's so strange.'

'Can you believe? Wow, how'd she do it?'

Serena sat on a swing outside the school, listening to the other students chatter around her. She held a smile of triumph and had to force herself not to laugh on several occasions. For the past several hours, every class had her make up all the tests she had missed, posting them at the end of the day. No one, except for Kakarot and Amy, had expected her to pass, let alone come in the top six.

"Congratulations, Serena."

"Thank you Amy. I never thought I could make perfect scores on everything today; I feel like I'm about to explode."

"How are the dreams?" she whispered, not wanting anyone else to hear them.

"I haven't had any since Luna showed up, but that doesn't mean I don't think about them."

"Luna?"

"She's my black cat."

Two shadows fell over her and too her surprise, it was Raditz and Turles. They didn't smile, but it was better than the glare they always gave her. "Do you know what today is?"

"Kakarot's final race."

"You remembered?"

"Actually, I had to look it up." Serena climbed off the swing and took off running. "See you guys there!" she shouted.

"Did I miss something?" Turles asked, not sure if he liked the sudden change in Serena.

Raditz shrugged, not understanding either. "It's like she's..."

"...happy."

Kakarot ran the distance alone, his competitors miles behind. He loved the country, the miles that seemed to stretch forever but ended so soon. Twenty miles was nothing to his brothers, Vegeta or himself. Where had they learned to run so easily, as if they were birds that flew on land?

The finish line came into view and with a final burst of speed, he broke the tape. Someone offered him a towel and as he reached out to take it, slender fingers closed around his fist and held it before letting go. Blue eyes stared up at him, a timid smile at the corner of her lips. "Serena?" he gasped.

"I've never seen anyone so fast."

"They say I'm going to the olympics this summer."

"That's great!"

"I'm not going." Serena gaped at him, trying hard to understand why he would refuse the only dream he had. "Why risk my friendship over something so..."

"NO!" Serena grabbed his hands and wove her fingers through his own, "Kakarot, never give up your dream, especially when it's all you have." They could hear the crowd cheering, but nothing seemed to matter as she lifted on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. "You're my best friend and I'd never be so selfish as to take it from you. Please, for my sake, run!"

"But..."

"Kakarot, I will always be here and will never stop being your friend. Promise me something?"

"What?" he whispered, too afraid to speak.

"Win the gold medal. You'll be the first for Japan in several years."

"Let's not forget the youngest," he laughed. Serena felt the soft fur again and this time managed to catch a glimpse before Kakarot pulled it back in time. He tensed, but she didn't let him hide it. "Serena, wait..."

"I often wondered why you wore the same belt all the time. It's cute."

"You like it?" he stuttered. She ran her fingers over the soft fur, startled to hear a loud purr. "St..op."

"Does it hurt?"

"No... Serena," he growled, a strange light flickering in his eyes. "Stop..."

Without warning, Vegeta was beside them, yanking Serena back. As if in a daze, Serena shook her head and stared at her friend. His entire body was trembling, his expression livid with rage. "What..?"

Vegeta turned his head to her, "Go with Turles and Raditz." She wanted to protest, but two pair of hands quickly lifted and carried her away.

"What are you doing?"

Turles and Raditz looked terrified, but tried to keep it from their faces as they wove in and out of the heavy street traffic. "Don't ask questions, just trust us! How old are you?" Raditz asked.

"Fourteen, why?"

"That was the stupidest thing..." Turles began, but Raditz snarled at him to be silent.

"She didn't know."

"Know what?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Is he hurt?"

"No," Raditz hissed. He scanned the growing shadows and suddenly flung Serena into Turles's arms. "Get her out of here!"

"Would someone tell me what the hell is going on?" Serena shouted. She didn't see the crescent moon suddenly appear on her forehead, lifting her bangs and filling the sky with a bright golden light.

"Vegeta was right about you," Raditz said. "There's a lot you don't know about us, things that we should have remembered sooner."

"I don't understand and what does it have to do with Kakarot!"

Raditz chuckled, his tail weaving behind him in excitement. "Your friendship with Kakarot should prove rather interesting. At least you're not human."

"Of course I'm..."

Raditz traced the symbol, "No, you're not." He walked back in the direction they had come, his voice trailing behind them. "Turles, you have Vegeta's orders. Get Serena out of here!"

Serena couldn't believe how strong Turles was and it was obvious he wasn't going to let her go as they disappeared into the city. What had happened to Kakarot and why were his brothers and Vegeta suddenly so aggressive and afraid? "Turles..."

He was still angry as he quickly ducked into a building. "Onna, you're more trouble than you're worth! Still, I have to agree with Raditz. We thought Kakarot's life on Earth had made him soft. Guess not."

"You talk as if you're not human!"

"That's because we're Saiya-jins, a race of space warriors. There's more, but for now that's all you need to know."

Serena saw something glitter in the fading sunlight and before Turles could stop her, she quickly grabbed it before he had them on the move again. In her hands, she held a small locket, a crescent moon on the front. Every time she ran her fingers over the delicate designs, a surge of energy shot through her body, making her feel light headed and unaware of where Turles was taking her. Coming from behind a bunch of boxes, was Luna, her red eyes flashing.