© Arline Lyons 1996. Permission granted to freely redistribute on condition that original title, this notice and the email address at the bottom are retained and the text is not altered in any way. This text may not be sold, only distributed freely.

Once upon a time, on a planet far, far away lived a Prince named Vejiita.

Vejiita, Saiyan no Oji stormed down the corridor, Japhia trailing him at his right as always. He ignored all those who passed, each of them saluting - until he sensed Japhia stiffen behind him. Looking around, he saw that Kimaru had just walked by... Vejiita frowned - it was not the first time that this had happened.

Vejiita watched carefully - later that day he saw Kimaru approaching as he walked through the capsule launching station. He addressed Japhia over his shoulder without looking around.

'Walk ahead.'

'Eh?'

Vejiita levitated into the air and disappeared. Japhia scowled and walked on, weaving her way through piles of machinery and launch tubes. Stepping out from behind one, she found herself face to face with Kimaru.

At least she should have if Kimaru hadn't looked straight through her as if she wasn't there. Her cold violet eyes looked beyond Japhia to the launch tubing.

Japhia stiffened and snarled - she kept her temper when Vejiita was around - but now -

Both girls looked up, startled by laughter above them. Vejiita grinned down at the two. Still laughing, he landed beside them - Japhia instantly moved to his right side. Kimaru looked at him without actually meeting his eyes- a skill practiced by nobles - saluted, and went on her way.

Japhia snarled after her, then turned around as she heard Vejiita laugh again. He grinned maliciously at her.

'Still haven't found her temper, mm?'

Japhia scowled. 'Yet.'

Vejiita smirked, then went on his way with Japhia falling into step behind him, glancing vengefully over one shoulder.

Japhia knew that Kimaru was bigger than she was - taller and heavier. She frowned. She didn't know enough about Kimaru's fighting ability to be sure she could beat her - she had met the stuck-up, arrogant little bitch often, but never actually fought her. Vejiita had trained with her; he said she was good, that she had beaten him once or twice when he was younger. It all depended on her speed - if she had enough to give her an edge on Japhia... Japhia smiled. No-one was as fast as she was.

Vejiita was taken up at some court ceremony all that afternoon. Japhia went down to the barracks, and there she heard something that made her decide that today would be the day to get her revenge on Kimaru - and to learn something she had wanted to know for a long time.

Kimaru looked around at the large, silent room. It was an old store, now derelict. Perfect for practicing. She felt uneasy - she had felt it all the way here, as if she was being watched. She wished she'd brought her scouter with her... She turned in a full circle, surveying the room closely. No-one. Nothing. She pushed the unease from her mind and breathed deeply. She held the breath for a long time, then exhaled. She adopted a wide stance and steepled her fingers. Her eyes closed slightly...

A few moments later, energy began to radiate from her, ruffling her heavy black hair, pulling strands of it out of its braid. A faint light emanated from the space between her hands.

Invisible in the shadows beside the door, Japhia watched, grinning. She had followed Kimaru here - it had not been easy. Kimaru's senses were sharp but Japhia's determination had won through. She had heard rumours, rumours that even at her tender age Kimaru had already been selected as part of Vejiita-Oji's future guard: and that in celebration of the fact her father had taught her the technique taught exclusively to the royal guards - Ou no Kyuu Shi. No other was allowed to learn the technique, no matter their rank - until now. Japhia could not resist letting Kimaru know that she was betraying that secret, and teaching Japhia something very useful...

Kimaru concentrated on the space between her hands. The light grew brighter. She opened her hands to reveal a tiny point of energy - the light was nearly blinding, shining out through the flesh of her hands. Absorbed in the technique, bending so much energy by force of will, Kimaru did not hear Japhia approach - it was only when she stepped into her sphere of vision that she realised she was not alone.

Japhia stepped into the light, laughing inside. She watched Kimaru's face switch from calm to rage, her eyes growing larger. Japhia smiled, knowing that the technique could not be stopped now - the energy had already been summoned and concentrated. Watching Kimaru's lips curl back from her teeth, her face whiten in rage, Japhia realised that she was a perfect target. She had never been afraid of Kimaru because of Vejiita's protection, but she had also never been able to make Kimaru lose her temper. She'd done it now...

Returning from standing beside the throne through a ceremony he neither understood nor appreciated, Vejiita threw his cape onto the floor. His rooms seemed empty somehow...

'Kuso! Where has she gone?!' Grabbing his scouter, he ran out.

The blazing sphere floated lazily out of Kimaru's cupped hands. Japhia could see her shake with the effort of controlling it. It continued to float out until it was roughly halfway between them.

Suddenly, Kimaru smiled.

The sphere exploded.

The next thing Japhia was aware of was the door across the room being broken in. She managed to open her eyes - to see Nasu, Kimaru's father, pulling his daughter from the rubble. From his face, Japhia could tell that Kimaru was badly injured. Nasu looked up and saw Japhia. He snarled and raised his hand -

Japhia knew that Nasu would incur no penalty for killing her. He was one of the King's guards and if he said that Japhia had attacked his daughter... Japhia saw his hand begin to glow with energy.

Nasu looked up beyond her. The glow wavered, then disappeared as he closed his hand, withdrawing the energy back into himself. He turned back to Kimaru.

'Nan da yo?'

Japhia felt a hand close in her hair and lift her bodily from the ground. Everything swam in a haze of pain - she couldn't move. Across the room Nasu stood Kimaru up on her feet. She swayed violently and reached out for the wall, half-falling against it. Her armour had been destroyed, the combat suit under it ripped away from her arms and legs. Her face seemed covered in blood, with only her violet-shot eyes showing her usual strength.

Vejiita concluded that Japhia, whose armour was still intact, if damaged, had managed to get into a defensive position, whereas Kimaru had not. Japhia struggled in his grip so he dropped her. She landed hard on the floor.

'Nan da yo?' Vejiita repeated, looking from Japhia to Kimaru. Japhia looked up to meet Kimaru's dark eyes - they offered complicity. Japhia swallowed. She had never trusted Kimaru, but...

The two girls spoke as one.

'Nothing.'

Both Vejiita and Nasu opened their mouths, then shut them. They exchanged glances - nothing would be got from either girl now. Nasu turned to two guards behind him and told them to prepare a regeneration tank. Kimaru was leaning more heavily against the wall - two wounds in her side were beginning to pump blood. Vejiita watched Nasu salute and leave. Kimaru followed him unsteadily. Vejiita turned towards the other door, unclipping the scouter from his ear. Japhia pulled herself up against the wall-

Shoujo no baka!!!

Japhia froze. It was Kimaru's voice, filled with fury -

Try that again and I'll rip you apart!

Japhia's head jerked up - she saw Kimaru walking out the door, concentrating on staying upright.

'Nan da?' Vejiita was losing patience.

Japhia looked up at him - he hadn't heard anything... She looked back at the empty doorway.

'Nothing.'

The End