61...

~Omni Pov~

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"Where were you all this time?" Darles interrupted the two.

Both Daikos looked toward each other. The original simply nodded.

"I've been training... And the other me is a result of that training. Nothing too complex. In fact, my other self here is just a product of a cloning technique I picked up along the way." The original Daiko responded, smiling proudly.

"But... Why don't I sense any ki from either of you? Are you, suppressing it?" Rosetta asked. Taking slight glances at the male saiyan's new, 'stature'.

"Well yes, this was on purpose. But not to confuse my clone here is me but with the use of ki, the original me is the one you know and love, but... I stripped ki away from my body, leaving only the clone to wield it." Daiko explained. This puzzled both Darles and Rosetta.

"That's possible? Isn't ki what makes us live... How do you just strip it away like that, it's incredibly dangerous." Darles added.

"To be truthful, it was. Ki leaving my body felt like actual hell, more painful than anything I've experienced by far. For a second, I thought I was going to die during the process..." Daiko added, chuckling softly.

"Of course... You always do risky things like that..." Darles said, with more anger than what she intended. This wasn't unnoticed by the hanma, his visage switching to one of slight concern.

"Umm, could we speak privately, Darles?" Daiko asked.

"... Sure" She responded, leading the way. The clone wanted to come along, but the original told him to stay back...

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"Alright, we're far enough away... I can see that you're upset. But please, let's not do this here, not now." Daiko said.

Darles turned around, her eyes sharpening revealing a deadly gleam.

"Upset?... Upset!? Of course, I would be! You left without saying Anything! I was your friend, remember? But no, you up and left! Not mentioning anything to anyone, as always..." Darles said her tone just below shouting.

Daiko sighed.

"I get it, you're angry with me... I'm sorry I left without telling you anything." The hanma vented silently. He truly was. Even though they were not that close, he did truly see Darles as a friend, especially compared to the other saiyans, or maybe even a little sister...

"That won't cut it... It destroyed me when you left. Especially... Especially since you knew about, 'that'..." Darles said, her gaze arching towards the throne room corridor floors.

"So? Darles, please! Let's not make this more complicated than it should be. I... know you loved me, but telling you would change nothing of the matter, and what happened between you, and the prince was none of my concern either. It's your life, live it the way you wish." Daiko said.

"You... You knew I loved you?..." Darles said, her tone slowly dropping.

Daiko visibly worried, inched closer.

*Thump*

"ARGhh!..." Daiko groaned.

Darles pinned him against the wall of the castle, her hands against his neck, and her knees between his legs. He couldn't do a thing to stop her, this was his weakest state, and Darles was at least an intergalactic threat in her base form.

What could he do?

"Okay, okay... Let's calm down," Daiko asked.

"No! I'm done..." Darles said, her hands releasing the taller saiyan. Tears quickly began to fall from her eyes.

'I am not good with these things...' Daiko thought. He never saw her cry before. Darles was the stoic type, the type to not really show her feelings to really anyone... This reminded Daiko of certain someone.

Instead, he hugged her gently while rubbing her head, allowing her to let loose her frustrations...

After a couple of minutes of crying, she stopped, relaxing.

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"I'm sorry for doing this. I must seem pathetic to you... But now that I think about it. The old you would have never done something like this, you would have probably told me to go somewhere else to 'cool off', what changed?..." Darles asked, letting go of the younger hanma.

"I... Let's just say, life taught me lessons..." Daiko responded, smiling. Remembering what was at stake on planet Yardrat, and what happened mere hours ago to another companion of his. But even he knew that those weren't the only reason...

Darles on the other hand, laughed a little.

A little upset, he questioned. "Now you're laughing at me?..." Daiko said, rolling his eyes.

"Of course I am, you'd never stay still for more than a minute, always going to train, and to get stronger. What changed you must have hit you hard." She said smugly, nudging the taller saiyan.

"*Pshh* I confide in you, and this is what I get?" Daiko responded.

Darles looked at her unrequited love with care...

"You didn't just change emotionally. I think your biggest change happened physically. You look like a completely different person. If I didn't hear your voice and other subtle similarities, I'd think you'd be lying..." She said.

"N-Not that I really mind, you are much more... Handsome, than before..." Darles said. Her hands gently traced the cheeks of her friend. Her eyes got cloudier as she rubbed.

"Really? Thank you... I just hope you haven't fallen deeper in love with me... Oh, the horror!!!..." Daiko said sarcastically, closing his eyes, and smiling.

This caused Darles to blush, making her quickly let go of him. Whilst letting him release a chuckle.

'I never thought that there would be someone that would make me this weak... He's done nothing, and he already has my heart again...' She thought, her heart thumping faster than before.

"Daiko, is there any chance... For, us, despite my... Mistakes?" She asked her eyes softened.

The hanma remained silent for a while.

"No Darles... It won't... I like what we have now. Let's put this behind us and move on." He said gently.

However, as if "I can't. I won't give up!" Darles uttered with determination. Before the young hanma could respond, a voice called...

"Daiko?..." Both Daiko and Darles turned to see someone familiar.

'The Prince...' Daiko thought.

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"Daiko? Is-is that really you?" Vegeta asked. His tone filled with surprise.

"Yes... It's me." Daiko responded hesitantly.

"Hahaha! I knew my old rival would still be alive. You aren't the type to kick the bucket, especially before all of us here." Vegeta said.

Daiko realized the demeanor the prince was using, his cockiness and arrogance were still there, but he felt more like an old caring uncle instead. Something had changed...

"Though... You seem different as well." Vegeta said, immediately disappearing from Daiko's vision.

*SWOOISH!~*

"Yes... You have changed much indeed..." Vegeta's voice whispered behind Daiko.

Daiko grew a little weary of the Prince's uncharacteristic behavior.

"Yeah, I have been doing some special training over the time I've been away." The hanma quickly said, dashing backward a little.

"I can see that... And, It's good to see you as well Darles..." The Prince said, his tone softer than before. Daiko definitely realized there have been some major changes in the Prince's attitude.

"I'm... Fine my Prince," Darles said, showing respect.

"That is good to hear... Now Daiko, do you mind if I ask something of you?" Vegeta asked.

"Sure. I have no qualms about anything, go ahead." Daiko motioned.

"I need to see your torso..." Vegeta asked. Leaving Darles speechless, but she didn't want to say anything either...

"Vegeta... Did you start swinging-" Daiko stated.

"I didn't! I just want to confirm my suspicions about something..." Vegeta said angrily while quickly brushing it off...

"..."

"Alright..." Daiko said, removing his jacket and shirt.

And what they both saw, shocked them...

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END