Four years pass…

"Are you sure he's old enough?"

Nashi, Zarbon, and Kori were walking down a corridor to the sparring/training room. Zarbon had decided to begin teaching Kori how to fight. Being a warrior himself, Zarbon figured it was only natural for the young boy to learn how to spar. Nashi was unsure of this decision, being that Kori was only four years old. The young boy held on to Nashi's skirt, taking in his surroundings - he had never been down this hallway before. Kori scampered along behind the king and queen paying no mind to the conversation at hand.

"Well, think about when we began fighting. When we were taken in we were younger than Kori is now. Or at least you were." Zarbon continued walking. "Piccolo took Gohan under his wing when the boy was four."

Nashi stopped and looked at Zarbon. "I do not want Piccolo to train Kori."

Zarbon thought a moment. He knew about Piccolo's harsh training methods. "No, you're right - I don't want him to train Kori, either. At least not now, not until he's older. I will teach him now. I simply intend to introduce him to it. That's all."

The three began walking again, soon reaching the training room and entering. Zarbon looked at a troubled Nashi before taking Kori's one hand from behind his back and leading him to the center of the room. Zarbon knelt in front of Kori. Kori bit his lower lip and looked at the floor, holding his hands behind his back.

"Kori," Zarbon began, "I'm going to begin to teach you how to fight and how to defend yourself. All right?"

Kori's eyes met Zarbon's for a moment before returning to the floor. The boy waved his tail uneasily behind him.

"Kori," Zarbon persisted, "you're going to have to try to strike me first - I will not strike you first."

Kori glanced at Zarbon then looked down once again, thinking. Kori looked at Zarbon again and suddenly brought his right hand out from behind his back, bringing it right up to Zarbon's face. Zarbon jumped slightly at the sudden movement - before glaring at the flower that the boy had just shoved in his face. Zarbon heard Nashi chuckle. He closed his eyes and moaned quietly. Suddenly, he wrinkled his nose.

"Ahh… chooo!"

Zarbon sneezed and fell backwards onto his rear. He now heard Nashi's laughter accompanied by Kori's youthful giggling. Zarbon closed his eyes as he felt his face get warm as he blushed. "Where did he get that flower?" Zarbon sighed.

"I know not," came a voice from the back of the room, "but if that's your training program, the boy will be weaker than you."

Zarbon opened his eyes and scowled at Piccolo who had been watching the entire scene. "Watch who you're calling 'weak.'"

Piccolo 'humphed' and continued as Zarbon stood. "I only state the truth." Piccolo walked up to Zarbon and Kori. He looked at Zarbon and knelt before Kori. "You have a great deal of potential, kid, but I doubt that he," Piccolo pointed to Zarbon, "can access it."

"Piccolo," Nashi said, joining Zarbon, "I do not want you training my son."

"Fine," Piccolo said. "Let him grow up weak like you two."

"I will not grow up weak!" Kori spoke up suddenly. Piccolo looked at the child in time to see a pale fist fly towards his face and contact his nose. Piccolo jumped back and held his face. Nashi and Zarbon looked at each other, shocked. Neither they, nor Piccolo, had expected that sudden outburst.

"Clever brat," Piccolo muttered. Kori started to walk over to his astounded parents but was stopped as Piccolo reached out and grabbed him by the foot. Kori let out a yelp as Piccolo stood and he was lifted into the air.

"Piccolo!" Nashi yelled.

Kori squirmed around and saw Piccolo's upside-down face glaring at him. "Let me go!" Kori shouted. He twisted around again and reached up with both hands and began clawing at Piccolo's exposed face.

"Argh!" Piccolo exclaimed before dropping the boy to the floor and holding his now-bleeding face. Kori ran off on all fours until he reached safety behind Nashi's leg.

"I'm gonna grow up strong like Mommy!" Kori yelled at the retreating Piccolo. Nashi and Zarbon stood shocked. Finally, Nashi knelt beside Kori and lifted him up onto her hip. Kori hugged her neck. "I'm gonna be just like you, Momma," he said. Nashi smiled and kissed the top of his head. She watched and grinned as Zarbon brought a hand to his brow, closed his eyes, and moaned. Nashi walked over and, taking the side of his face in one hand, gave him a kiss on his cheek.

Two years have passed...

Kori walked into the kitchen. He peeked over the central table as their cook, Shiru, prepared lunch. His jade hair was tied back in a tight bun, exposing his cerulean eyes. Shiru, like many others, watched him carefully - nervous and unsure of his intentions. Finally, Shiru realized that Kori was bothering him and preventing him from fixing the meal. "Uh, why don't you go over there and sit on that stool?" he hinted. Kori complied, walked over to the stool, and clambered up. He tapped and wound his tail around the stool's leg, nearly bursting at the seams with excitement - he had found something new. But, it was bothering him how Shiru continued to watch him. Shiru was so busy watching him that he accidentally knocked over bottle of juice.

"Oh, tsukurou," he said as the juice and bottle began to fall. Then, suddenly, they stopped in midair. Shiru looked at Kori. "Did... did you keep that from falling?" he asked. Kori nodded his head intensely. Kori then placed the bottle, and juice, back on the table. Shiru eyed the bottle, then Kori, then the bottle again. "Ya know kid," he said, gaze resting finally at a grinning Kori, "you're kinda helpful to have around." Shiru poured a glass of juice and handed it to the boy, who took it eagerly. "You're welcome here anytime you want."

"Honto? Oh, thank you!" Kori exclaimed. He drank the juice and handed the glass back to Shiru. "See you later, Shiru!" he said over his shoulder as he left to tell his mother about the new friend he made.

"See you later, Kori," Shiru smiled.

"Ggrrr, c'mer you stupid dragon!"

Kori was wrestling with Tonbo, and wasn't doing so well. Kori made another leap at the dragon who simply flew up a few feet, and landed behind him. "Oof!" Kori said as he landed on his stomach. He looked over his shoulder at Tonbo who had started to clean his feathers. "I bet you think this is funny," he said. Tonbo simply ignored the boy. Growling, Kori jumped up and tackled the dragon. The two tumbled around, and eventually they came to a stop - with Tonbo sitting on top of Kori.

"Tonbo, move!" Kori yelled. Tonbo just looked at him.

"Tonbo, GET OFF ME!" The dragon finally complied and stood up. Tonbo stopped a few feet away and started preening again. Kori decided to try once more. He got a running start, and was about to tackle Tonbo, when the dragon ducked it's head. Kori tripped over his body and landed with a plop - right into a mud puddle. Tonbo started screeching, presumably his way of laughing, at the boy - covered so thickly in mud that not even a single spot of his chalky-white skin could be seen.

"Stupid dragon," Kori muttered. Just then, Akai came out to call him in for dinner.

"Kori! Time for... my goodness! Kori!"

Kori pointed at Tonbo. "It's his fault..."

"Kori, hand me that bottle - the one that says chokoreto on it," Shiru said. Kori found the jar and brought it over to Shiru who poured some into a glass that had writing and lines on it. He knelt down and looked at the glass from the side. "Hmm. We can put a little more in, right Kori?" he asked. Kori looked at him - he had never helped to make a meal before.

"What is it?" Kori asked.

Shiru laughed. "You know what I often make for dessert, the puddings and cakes?" Kori nodded - he remembered these dishes well. Shiru continued. "Well, most of them have chokoreto in them. It's what makes them sweet."

"Oh," Kori said. "Then, I think we can put more in!" Shiru chuckled again and added a bit more of the syrup to the glass. He then took the glass and poured the contents into a bowl that held other ingredients.

"Here, Kori - you can stir this while I clean up a little, OK?"

"OK," he said. He reached up and tried to stir the batter. Unfortunately, Kori was still a little short. He looked around and found the stool he always sat on. He went over, dragged the stool to the table, and climbed up. Kori plopped down, grabbed the spoon with both hands, and mixed the ingredients with glee. Shiru glanced over as he put the chokoreto back on the shelf. He shook his head and laughed quietly.

Shiru came over, took the bowl, and poured it's contents into a pan. He put the spoon back in the bowl and then handed them to Kori. "Here, Kori-chan. You get the best part - you get to clean the bowl." Kori looked up at him and made a face - he hadn't come here to clean. Shiru smiled, dipped his finger into the remaining batter in the bowl, and then licked it off his finger. He winked at Kori who looked up with a grin. Kori gleefully skipped over to a corner and sat down, the bowl in his lap.

Nashi walked into the kitchen. "Konnichi wa, Shiru. Oh, it smells wonderful in here! I hope whatever is baking will accompany our dinner tonight."

Shiru smiled - he knew about the queen's love for chokoreto. "Of course, my lady. A special dessert just for you."

Nashi grinned and began to leave. She then stopped, remembering what she came in for. "Oh, Shiru - I was wondering if you had seen Kori around." Shiru smiled and nodded his head towards a corner. Nashi turned and looked over.

"Oh, Kori! Shiru, you didn't!"

Kori sat cross-legged in the corner, his tail wrapped around the now-clean bowl. He was grinning at the spoon that was held by both hands. He examined the spoon, turned it, and gave it a final lick. Kori, still smiling, looked at his mom, his face covered in chokoreto batter. Nashi couldn't help but laugh and shake her head.

"Oh, Kori..."