Around three years pass...

"Come on, ya little wimp - I've heard rumors that your dad was the toughest guy in the universe. You can't even defend yourself!"

Kori glared up at the young Kobitian who had just kicked him. Ijimekko looked down at him with disgust, causing his long, slate-blue bangs to spill over his face. His grey eyes laughed at Kori's pain. Kori looked around at the three other blue-skinned kids that had helped Ijimekko to beat him up - again. They had bothered him for the past few years - whenever he went out to the nearby town. But, each time he met up with them, he refused to fight back. He could very well defend himself - he trained hard each day. The only thing that prevented him was his mother's words: It is good that you do not fight. If you did, and you got the best of them, which undoubtedly you would, they would blame that and other things on you - simply because of the way you look. I'm sorry, I know it is not fair, my dear son, but that is how it rests.

Kori stood up and started to walk up to Ijimekko. Two of the kids, Ibaru and Joshu, stepped up and restrained him by his arms and forced him to his knees. Joshu's hair was short and spikey on top but was long and flowing at the bottom. Ibaru had relatively short hair. Both possessed dark brown hair with lighter streaks. Kobun, the fourth Kobitian, sat on Kori's powerful tail while brushing his long teal hair out of his face. Kori tried to break free, only to be forced down again. Ijimekko walked over. He kneeled down and placed his hand on Kori's shoulder. He leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Just looking at you sickens me." Ijimekko forcefully punched Kori in the stomach. Kori gasped for air and sat, coughing. Ijimekko then punched Kori in the mouth. Kori moaned quietly and did nothing, then slowly looked up again as a trickle of claret blood dripped from the corner of his mouth. Kori glared as Ijimekko prepared for another punch.

"I'm getting tired of this," Kori said.

"Shhh, don't talk," Nashi told him as she cleaned the blood from his mouth. Kori pushed her hand away.

"Mom," he said, looking at her, anger building. "Why do they do this?"

"They're just mean boys," she said. Kori had expected this answer. He tried something else.

"I'm assuming when they talk about my dad, they don't mean King Zarbon."

Nashi stopped and inhaled sharply as a chill swept over her. "They talk about that to you?"

"They say he was the strongest in the universe. Tell me why they pick on me, mom. Who was my father?"

Nashi stood up and walked a few feet away, her back towards her son. She toyed with the damp cloth in her hands that she had used to clean Kori's face. She had never thought about the day when her son would ask about his and her past. She did everything she could to not think about it.

"Mom," Kori pressed. He stood up and walked to his mother. He touched her arm and looked into her eyes. "Mom?" Kori saw something new, something he had never seen in his mother - sadness and fear. He thought about his question. Whatever his mother was thinking about hurt her.

"Mom," Kori searched for words. "Mom, I need to know, but... tell me when I'm ready." With that said, Kori slipped quietly out of the room.

"I'm probably just not ready to hear what she has to say - she'll tell me when I'm ready." Kori was in the training room, working off some of his frustration and confusion.

"Are you sure you don't mean 'when she's ready,' Kori?"

Kori glared at the remark and the younger Kobitian girl who made it. "What are you talking about, Kirei?"

Kirei continued to watch him exercise and explained. "Well, didn't you say that your mom seemed upset when you asked her? I'm not saying anything to offend her, but maybe she just can't bring herself around to tell you yet." Kirei had known Kori for quite some time. They first met when Kori was confronted by Ijimekko. Kirei, who never cared for Ijimekko in the first place, walked right up to Ijimekko himself and tried to help Kori. Of course Ijimekko pushed her away. So, Kirei stood up, again walked over to the boy, and punched him square in the face. She and Kori had been best friends ever since that day. Often, Kori went to her after an encounter with his tormentors when he sought comfort and refuge.

"Yeah, maybe," Kori said softly. He continued to exercise.

"Do you want me to spar with you?" Kirei asked.

"No."

Kori trained and Kirei sat in silence for a few minutes after that. Kori finally spoke.

"Whatever lies in the past, well, I'll find out eventually - I have the right to know. But, if it hurts mom to even think about it, then obviously she's not ready to tell me yet. And if she can't even think about it, then I'm definitely not ready to find out. Either way, I can wait. I don't have to know now - it'd be nice, but..." Kori paused. "How long have you been standing there, mom?" He and Kirei looked at the door where Nashi stood. Nashi smiled.

"Long enough," she said. Kori walked over to her. Nashi embraced him and he returned the hug. "Thank you for understanding, Kori," she whispered in his ear.

"No problem, mom. Don't worry, everything's fine now. It can wait."

Three years have passed. Nashi and Zarbon were walking by the courtyard hand-in-hand. Zarbon sat down beside the fountain and drew Nashi down next to him. She sat on his lap, put her arms around his neck, and kissed him. She broke away, moved to sit beside him, and nestled her head under his chin. "You know, it's been a while since we just sat down together like this," Zarbon said as he held Nashi.

"Yeah, I miss this. We have to do stuff like this more often," Nashi said with a sly smile.

"Naughty girl," Zarbon chuckled.

"What?" Nashi said, standing up. "Don't tell me you don't like it!" she laughed. Zarbon smiled and shook his head.

"Oh, sit down," he said. She complied and they sat for a while.

"Mom? Dad?"

Nashi and Zarbon looked up to see Kori standing before standing before them. Nashi saw the seriousness on Kori's face and she knew the question that was about to be asked. She shut her eyes as her entire body sighed. Zarbon looked to the ground and started to chew his lower lip.

"Mom, Dad - I want to know."

Nashi stood up and began to leave, hand at her brow. Kori reached out and grabbed her arm and stopped her from going any further. He looked at her. "Mom, I need to know." Nashi looked at her son, tears forming in her eyes.

"Please, Kori - I can't, I'm sorry," she pleaded.

"Mom..." Kori insisted.

"Kori, please - allow Zarbon to tell you. We have been through everything together. Let him tell you," she begged. Kori looked to Zarbon, who nodded in approval. Kori released his mother's arm. Nashi looked at Kori and Zarbon then turned and went to her chamber. Kori watched his mother leave, then he turned and sat, cross-legged, in front of Zarbon as he began their story.

"Well..."

Nashi sat at her desk, trying to finish the drawing she had begun the day before. Her head rested on her hand, her other hand sketching forms on the paper. Her hand was shaking. She rested the pencil upon the desk and sat back.

"Frieza? How did he become to be my father?" Kori asked.

Nashi stood up and walked over to the window and gazed out at the lake below. She sat down upon the ledge. Resting one foot on the sill, she rested her hands on her knee and her head upon her hands. Too many things are happening...

"You mean, she almost died - because of me?" Zarbon nodded. Kori looked down, digesting the terrible information.

Nashi leaned back against the window frame and brought her other leg up and rested it on the sill. Putting her hands in her lap she closed her eyes. She sat for a few minutes until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Mom."

Nashi looked up at Kori. Kori leaned down and embraced her. She held on to him as tears fell down her face.

"Kassan, you are the strongest person I've ever known or heard of. I... oh, mom..."

Nashi just then realized how mature his voice had gotten. She cried for all the new pains she would have to face - her son was no longer a boy, but had grown to become a man. His training had paid off, he was at least twice as strong as Zarbon - transformed. He also now knew of all the horrors in her past. Kori broke away and, holding her with both hands at arms' length, looked at her. "Frieza is lucky that he is dead. As for his brother..." Kori shut his eyes in hatred.

"Kori, please - don't go after him. If you're so insistent on helping me please, stay here, protect our world. Just don't go after him."

Kori opened his eyes. He wanted to make his father's family pay for what they had done - not just to his mother, but for every planet and race they had terrorized. He finally agreed. "I won't go after him, mom. I'll stay here. I promise..."

Three months pass...

Kori had left the palace the night after he learned about his past and had been missing since. Nashi sat on her bed with Zarbon, both thinking of Kori.

"I just wish I knew where he went," Nashi said. Zarbon moved closer and put his arm around her.

"He learned a lot in a short amount of time. He most likely went to think about it. He's probably training - you know that's what he does when he's upset or frustrated."

Nashi sighed and rested her head on Zarbon's shoulder. "I know," she whispered. Zarbon took her hand and kissed it. He held her hand against his chest.

"Don't worry, love," Zarbon said as he kissed the top of her head. Then, they both looked to the door at the sound of quickly approaching feet.

"Mom, Dad!"

Kori burst into the room and stopped before them. "Kori!" Nashi exclaimed. She ran up to him and they embraced each other. "Oh, I'm so glad you've returned!" She stepped away. "Where have you been? You must tell us." Kori led her to the bed where she once again sat down next to Zarbon.

"I went away to think and to work off some anger. I met up with Piccolo - he's been training me. With his help, I've grown much stronger. Watch." Kori stopped hiding his power. Nashi and Zarbon stared as the saw how much more powerful Kori had become as a pale red aura began to form around his body. Numerous guards and aids, including Akai and Sabi, came into the room - startled at the sudden appearance of such an enormous power. They too stopped in their tracks and stared at Kori. Kori hid his power once more and turned to the guards and aids.

"What?"

Kori walked to his chamber. He approached the door and noticed that it was slightly ajar. He peeked in and saw Kirei sitting on his bed. She's going through my stuff again. She wore attire that resembled his mother's - a small top with a skirt that tied at the hip. Her dark purple hair was cut at chin length with the exception of two longer stands of hair that hung in her face, sometimes covering her lilac eyes. She was lovely like his mother, as well. He watched her for a moment then gently tapped on the door. Kirei looked over and her face lit up. "Kori, you're back!" She jumped up and ran into his arms. Kori embraced her and laughed.

"Oh, it's so wonderful to see your face again!" he said.

Kirei broke the hug. "It's good to see you, as well. Where did you go? You were here one day and gone the next. Why, you didn't even tell me you were leaving! You tell me nearly everything."

Kori sat on his bed - Kirei followed and sat next to him. Kori explained his actions. "I kinda found out some things about the past that involved me. I needed time to think, so I left. I guess I walked out the door and didn't think to come back." He paused. "I met up with Piccolo and that's where I've been. He's been training me. My power has increased considerably."

"Yeah, I felt a strong power level. That was you wasn't it?" Kirei asked.

Kori smiled. "Yeah! I think I startled everybody!" He leaned forward on his knees. "I'm glad to be back." Kori tilted his head and looked at Kirei. "You know, I missed you, Kirei."

Kirei looked at the floor and tried to hide her blushing face. She smiled. "I missed you, too, Kori." Kori stood and put his hand on her shoulder. He, too, smiled and gave her shoulder a small squeeze.

"I'm gonna go find Tomodachi - tell him where I've been. I want to spar with him a bit, too." Kori walked away, but stopped at the door. "And will you please stop going through my stuff?!" he laughed over his shoulder.

Kirei blushed again. "Sorry, Kori!"

"So, you were training with Piccolo, ne?" Tomodachi asked as he jumped back. "I'll tell you, it shows." He brushed his olive-brown shoulder-length hair out of his hazel eyes. He always sparred with Kori, but had never needed to struggle this hard simply to keep up with him. He wiped the beads of sweat off his pale blue brow. Kori stepped back, stretched his arms, and laughed.

"Yeah, I think everyone's a little nervous at how strong I've become."

"Well, that doesn't surprise me." Tomodachi paused. "How powerful have you become?"

Kori thought. "I'm really not sure."

Tomodachi nodded. He then looked up in shock. "Oh, kuso! I forgot about the fair! I was supposed to meet Okashii 20 minutes ago! I gotta run!" Tomodachi took off, then stopped. "Hey, do you want to come, Kori?"

"No, but thanks," Kori declined.

"Okay," Tomodachi ran off again. "See ya later, Kori!"

"See ya, Tomodachi," Kori replied. He looked around the training room and finding nothing that caught his interest decided to head back to his own room. Kirei had better not be messing with my stuff still. he jokingly thought.