In the end, they were nothing: Ten warriors zapped from existence itself.

Not a single one of Universe 6's designated fighters could recall what had happened after they were winked away into oblivion. No memories, no recollection, no nothing. It was like someone had taken an eraser to their brains; wiping clean everything from the moment of their erasure, to their eventual resurrection. But it was far worse: For a moment, they had been gone. Completely destroyed. Not a single cell nor strand of memory had escaped the wrath of Grand Zeno. For some time, all was lost for Universe 6.

Mind became matter, and matter became nothing. They were nothing.

But then, with a flash of warm, golden light, ten pairs of eyes flew open. Pupils narrowed in suspicion: This had to have been some sort of trick. Yet the breaths they took were true, and full, and the crisp midnight chill from the balcony of Lord Champa's palace was as real as it could be. They were alive. All ten of the sixth universe's fighters, including the likes of their Supreme Kai and God of Destruction, respectively, had been revived with the omnipotent power of the Super Dragon Balls. Life had been restored.

Bewilderment was replaced with tears of joy, and incomprehensible relief quickly followed. There was simply nothing to describe the feeling of being worse than dead, only to be brought back not just to life, but into existence itself. Mere words could not compute the overwhelming combination of anxiety, solace, and jubilation of being truly reborn.

Cabba recalled staring up at the depths of the night sky, knowing that his esteemed master, Vegeta, had accomplished his goal: The universes that had been defeated and erased in the Tournament of Power had been restored. The young Saiyan's eyes traced over the form of a massive golden dragon could be seen through a ripple of light in the sky high above - a gateway to the World of Void, where the tournament had taken place - the likes of Champa's tower. Cabba knew that he must have been witnessing the majesty of Super Shenron, the single most powerful being in existence. The deity's sheer power was so great, that it stretched through the vastness of every universe, for all to see. It was because of that dragon's power, that the sixth universe, and all of its inhabitants had been revived. The young Saiyan felt on the very edge of joyous tears.

Vegeta had indeed fulfilled his promise. Now, all that was left was for Cabba to fulfill his own.

A hefty clap on the back disrupted his attention. Cabba turned his head to his right and gazed over the ecstatic form of his good friend, Caulifla, who had wrapped her arms around both Kale and himself, pulling them all in with a massive hug. Her grip was strong, and almost uncomfortable, but Cabba welcomed the embrace with a warm smile.

"Cabba! Help us train to reach Super Saiyan Three!" Caulifla exclaimed, her eyes lit bright with fervor.

Just mere moments after being revived from erasure, and she was already eager to begin training to reach new heights. Typical of Caulifla. Still, Cabba couldn't help but grin as the initial shock wore off. Here they were on the cusp of life and existence itself, and the first thing that Caulifla did was embrace her two best friends. The male Saiyan couldn't have asked for anything more. The shining relief and admiration in everyone's eyes was all that truly needed to be said. Kale, Caulifla, and everyone else were alive.

And that was all that he needed.

Past the emotional realization of their resurrection, Cabba recalled Champa giving a speech to the ten fighters of the sixth universe's team about their many displays of will, bravery, and strength (not to mention his own "unquestionable" leadership), all of which led to their team surviving as long as they did, even if they were all erased, in the end. Afterwords, goodbyes were given, gratitude exchanged, and all ten warriors went off on their separate ways; each with a mind burning full of memories and lessons.

None more so, perhaps, than the trio of Saiyans themselves.

Throughout the Tournament of Power, the three of them had each been subjugated to their own unique obstacles and challenges. Each Saiyan pushed through to the highest limits of their power and determination. Cabba had achieved Super Saiyan Two, Kale had overcome her emotional barriers, and Caulifla had experienced a taste of higher power, providing incentive for her to better both her abilities, and herself. Each of them had learned much about the world they lived in, the power that it held, and even a little bit of something about themselves, along the way. Pain and suffering was their sturdiest, most resolute teacher, and it guided them through the depths of hell and back.

Cabba; with his self-belittlement and apprehension, had cast off his fears and weaknesses to fight for those that he loved. To protect himself, his universe, and everyone within it, the inner strength of his Saiyan being was unleashed. Kale; whose long-burdening emotional instability had tormented her for years, had at last broken herself free from the psychological chains that bound her. And Caulifla; arrogant and proud, brought to defeat by the very traits that defined her, and taught an invaluable lesson on life.

All three of them were now ripe with new wisdom and experience, yet were still shell-shocked and weary from the harrowing challenges of the Tournament of Power. They deemed rest and recuperation their first priority, despite Caulifla's insistence that they could simply "train off" the pain. And so, the trio of Saiyans parted for some time, intent on following momentary pathways of personal interest, before reconnecting with the plan of training together to reach further levels of power. Cabba returned to his mentor, Renso, to fill him in on everything that had happened in the tournament, while Kale and Caulifla both severed ties to that bothersome gang of ragtag punks that had held back their inner potential for so long. Without a bunch of ruffians weighing them down, they were free to focus all of their energies on getting stronger alongside Cabba.

And that was exactly what they did.

For three long months following the end of the Tournament of Power and the subsequent revival of Universe Six; Cabba, Kale, and Caulifla had begun training hard with one another, pushing their limits as best they could while fine-tuning the many abilities that they had garnered over the course of the tournament. Kale's mysterious power was still as much a mystery to them as it was to her, yet it proved useful in providing something to work towards. Her great power, combined with Caulifla's potential and Cabba's ambition, was enough to take them all to entirely new, untouched heights of power and influence. They were sure of it, and they were set on reaching as high as possible.

This mentality, of course, required them to work together, and that wasn't always something that was attained so easily.

At first, Cabba and Caulifla's wildly different personalities clashed like fire and ice, making the art of training a rather irksome procedure to undertake. They may have been great friends, but the stark differences between the two left little room to negotiate. Kale always managed to glue them back together, in the end, and soon enough, both Cabba and Caulifla learned to accept the differences of eachother, and the weaknesses of themselves, and use such a union to further their drive for power and strength.

Caulifla's volatile personality and hair-trigger temper frequently surfaced, but she managed to maintain and control them better over time. To combat such inner qualities, she reminisced to her experience in the Tournament of Power: It was her stubbornness and pride that had led to her downfall. Caulifla had been absolutely livid after being beaten by Goku. Yet still, during the tournament, she had learned so much from him, and had also grown to appreciate and respect her comrades, Kale and Cabba, beyond what she ever could have imagined. She may have lost, in the end, but she couldn't deny that she was somewhat humbled by it. Of course, she never would have admitted it aloud, but her outlook on the world had changed, and she had Goku to thank for that: Getting erased had made her realize just how valuable both life and time could be.

Yes, the whole tournament was just one big learning experience for everyone involved.

As she had ran around the stands in her final moments, Caulifla recalled catching a momentary glimpse of Cabba as he bid farewell to his de-facto master, Vegeta. He had looked peaceful and content with himself, even as his body was already beginning to evaporate into nothingness. Caulifla admired his bravery and acceptance. Even if they were now alive and well, she knew that she'd never be able to forget the anger, shock, and hopelessness that she had experienced during that tournament. Caulifla refused to allow such emotions to hold her back ever again, and prevent her from achieving victory. Now, she fully intended on directing her anger and pride toward getting stronger.

For that, the first step needed was to show some humility.

Despite her outwardly tomboyish attitude, Caulifla cared greatly for those close to her: Kale, her protegee, whom she regarded like a little sister, and Cabba, as a dear friend. However, Caulifla had disregarded the both of them in her selfish pursuit of power during the early stages of the tournament. She had been so overcome with awe and the idea of personal gain, that she had shown little consideration for either of the only two members of their team that cared for her. Even before the start of the tournament, her self-absorbed antics had shown through in notable moments, such as when she had blown away both Kale and Cabba with the aura of her first Super Saiyan transformation.

She had also purposefully ignored Kale during her fight with Goku in the arena, and although her plan to invoke Kale's inner power through emotion had worked, in the end, the methods that Caulifla had underwent to achieve those goals left her reeling with personal guilt. Caulifla had apologized to both Cabba and Kale multiple times after their resurrection; acknowledging her self-centered actions and requesting forgiveness. Ever the merciful Saiyans they were, Kale and Cabba never turned down the chance to assure her that all was well. With her conscious effectively sated, Caulifla could better concentrate on getting stronger, yes, though not without the two of them by her side.

Such was the bond between the trio. Over the weeks, it only grew stronger and more dependable, that was, until two new additions to their posse shook things up.

Not long after their training began, Vegeta and Goku arrived on Planet Sadala, thanks to the trans-universal powers of Whis and his sister, Vados, both of whom were glad to drop the two older Saiyans from Universe Seven into the Sixth Universe, so that they could explore Sadala, and mingle with its inhabitants. Cabba was beyond pleased to know that his conscious could be cleared, having at last brought his master, Vegeta, to his home world. The young Saiyan proudly gave his older guests a tour of the planet, and had even managed to arrange a meeting with the king. For nearly a month, Goku and Vegeta trained with their three underlings; helping them harness their full powers.

But not everything was to last, though: Kale, seeking to learn the secret behind her mysterious powers, set off on her own to explore Planet Sadala, and see if she could unearth something about the origin of her peculiar, unique abilities, on a journey of self-discovery. She promised to return soon, though knew not when. Likewise, Goku and Vegeta were desired back home, in the seventh universe. They both had families of their own that needed much guidance and attention, and so, they promptly bid their two remaining students farewell, and left, homeward bound to a distant universe, though not without a promise to return one day, and continue training at some later date.

And so, the two young Saiyans were alone once again. Abandoned, they were left with one last bit of advice from Masters Goku and Vegeta: If Cabba and Caulifla sought to heighten their strength on their own, without their assistance, or that of Kale's, then they would need to learn to work well together, and train as hard as they possibly could.

Goku himself had assured the two young Saiyans that they were both very close to reaching Super Saiyan Three, and at that, there was nothing to stop them from reaching it, given time. Caulifla in particular had been irritated that Goku had left without even managing to get her and Cabba to Super Saiyan Three. She had even been so livid as to fire a large ball of energy at his stupid, smiling face just before he blasted away along with Vegeta and Whis, leaving an empty patch of air as the only target of her fury.

Of course, Cabba quickly managed to be the voice of reason, and calmed her down. She still had him, after all, and that much she could count on.

More months passed by like an aimless wind, and over time, Cabba and Caulifla had only gotten stronger. Even training together, both of them had yet to reach the sought after transformation of Super Saiyan Three. It's power level was so huge, that the stark difference between it and Super Saiyan Two was proving the form to be surprisingly difficult to achieve through training. The learning curve was big, but thankfully, Cabba and Caulifla were fast learners, and so, continued to strive for their desired end goal.

And now, in the present, the intensity of their training was on display, for all to see.

Clashing through the air like lightning, the two young Saiyans exchanged a flurry of jabs, kicks, and other melee attacks as they soared across the landscape of a deserted desert wasteland. Electricity crackled around their twin bodies, occasionally shooting out to the side and connecting with a nearby boulder, causing it to explode into rubble. Big clouds of dust were kicked up wherever they went, obscuring the bright backdrop of the sinking evening sun. The dry, mucky weather was at last beginning to fade; being replaced with a much more crisp, and appealing temperature. Yet still, the heat from the Saiyan's duel was enough to turn the sand around their feet to glass whenever they touched down on the ground. Their breaths were harsh and labored, and the skin on their bodies glistened with a mixture of sweat and dirt from the intensity of the scuffle.

The clothes that equipped their forms were beginning to tear, as well. Both Saiyans were dressed in their usual attire, though each bore the brunt of combat: Cabba's Sadala Special Forces armor was dented from the impact of Caulifla's kicks. Likewise, Caulifla herself had had to tear off a few mangled shreds from her harem pants that were interfering with her footwork, though, thankfully, her pink tube-top was still intact, as of now. Having to find a makeshift replacement for that might have been embarassing.

In any case, the two young Saiyans continued their sparring match with fervid potency and focus. Ever since they had started training together, Cabba's power had only grown to match his determination. In Super Saiyan two, he and Caulifla were quite well matched. They were constantly nipping at eachother's heels, so to speak, and their respective perseverance kept propelling the two forward, ever closer to their goal. Indeed; Caulifla had to admit that she was impressed by Cabba's sudden rise in power.

She just wished that Kale were here, so that the two of them could fuse together once again. Her fusion with Kale during the Tournament of Power had been exhilarating! The sheer power of their fusion was enough to overwhelm even Goku himself, at the time. Sadly, the earrings were destroyed in the fight, and the Supreme Kai of Universe Six, Fuwa, refused to lend his new pair to the young Saiyans. And so, Caulifla was left with nothing but her own strength to work with. Fine by her: She would manage herself!

Having briefly been daydreaming the prospect of her old fusion with Kale, Caulifla had distracted herself from her current fight with Cabba. The male Saiyan then seized the opportunity to strike, and landed a hard blow to the stomach of his female counterpart. She was sent flying away straight down to the ground, where she crashed through a hill of boulders as though it were made of cardboard. The resulting crater was ten meters wide and completely enveloped in dust. Cabba quickly descended to the ground; passing through the cloud of debris until he came to the sight of Caulifla laying motionless in the center of the crater, with a halo of glass fused into the sand around her.

"Are you alright, Caulifla?" Cabba found himself calling out. He quickly approached the edge of the crater before leaping in and running up to his partner. "Are you-?"

Suddenly and without warning, Caulifla grabbed a fistful of sand and threw it directly into Cabba's open eyes. He reeled back in stinging pain as the granules shifted around in his corneas. He blinked away the dust as best he could, but when he stared back at the spot Caulifla had been in just moments before, she was completely gone from sight.

"Behind you!" A feminine voice proclaimed triumphantly from somewhere behind.

Cabba only had enough time to turn around before his sparring partner's foot plowed directly into the small of his back. The male Saiyan was launched straight out of the pit and into the air. He quickly regained his composure; twisting in midair and landing atop a sizable stack of rocks not too far off from the edge of the crater. Caulifla lept out and landed beside him. She blew a thick strand of golden hair out of her face, and eyed over Cabba with a smug look on her face as she wiped the dust off from her palms.

"You really like playing dirty, huh?" Cabba projected, though not without a smile on his face.

"Hmph." The female stifled. "Can you blame me? You let your guard down way too easily!"

"Oh yeah? Then let's see how you do with this!"

He then took on an offensive stance before blasting a sphere of hot energy at his opponent. The ball of Ki exploded at her feet, sending up another wave of dust from the force of the blast, though Caulifla wasn't even fazed: She soared straight through it and immediately re-engaged in hand to hand combat with Cabba. The spiky blond hair of her Super Saiyan Two transformation whipped around in the breeze as she threw one punch after another. Cabba continued to block and parry her attacks, that was, until she swiftly disengaged from the tussle; propelling herself back with a small expulsion of Ki energy. She then pointed a finger at him, and fired a laser of condensed power directly toward her foe. The male Saiyan grit his teeth in realization, for the move that Caulifla had just came up with on the fly was very similar to the one that had blasted him from the arena, and had nearly gotten him killed all those months before, in the Tournament of Power. His eyes widened as he recalled the great shame of his defeat.

Cabba's mind lingered back to his experience during the heat of the battle. He remembered how difficult his fight with Monna, that peculiar fighter from the fourth universe, had been for him. Early on, he was beaten down and battered, but managed to surpass his own limits and defeat her with ease. The following encounter with that monstrous alien, Frieza, of the seventh universe, was what haunted him the most. The way that he had toyed with him, mocked him, and broken down his fighting spirit still rang heavy in his memories, yet the worst one of all was how Frieza had threatened to harm both of his dear friends, Caulifla and Kale, whom were also off fighting nearby in the arena.

After I'm done with you, I'll be sure to go and play with your Saiyan friends! That monster had promised. Cabba remembered those evil words all too well.

Deep down, the young Saiyan knew that no matter how strong he became, no matter how hard he tried, that there would always be someone even stronger. His fight with, and subsequent defeat at the hands of Frieza had been solid proof of that. But that didn't matter: For as long as he could, Cabba would train to better himself and harness his abilities. He would work to make himself stronger, so as to repel the wretched creatures of this chaotic existence from his home. Malicious beings such as Frieza, and out of control gods such as Champa would always pose threats to him and those that he cared for. Kale, Caulifla, and all of the Saiyans on Planet Sadala required his leadership.

He was tired of losing; Tired of feeling powerless and burdening. To defend himself, his people, and those that he loved, he would need more strength. More power.

What happened next was beyond his understanding.

A sudden surge of power caused the air around Cabba to electrify with hot tendrils of energy. The beam of Ki that Caulifla had fired at him mere moments before was completely dissipated in the intensity of the male Saiyan's output of energy. Blue streaks of electricity encircled the Saiyan, flickering like bolts of lightning in a deadly storm, and sizzling waves of heat flushed themselves outward from his body. All of the anger, self-doubt, and anxiety that had been building up within him from the moment of his erasure spilled outward; manifesting itself into a burst of power that was unlike anything that the young Saiyan had experienced before: Every cell in his body filled with raw energy, his strength rejuvenated itself, and a tingling sensation in his scalp evolved into a tugging pull as he threw his head back and let loose a guttural roar of anger from the deepest depths of his body and soul. An eruption of blinding, golden light flared from Cabba's form; illuminating the battlegrounds, and filling the air with power. Pain racked his body, but quickly subsided, only to be replaced by a growing sense of strength and determination that made his muscles tense and his vigor harden like iron.

With a crackling gasp of air, Cabba leaned forward and nearly fell to his knees, but thankfully, managed to maintain his balance. He breathed in slowly, heavily, as he tried to make sense of what had just happened to him. The top of his head felt like it weighed an extra few pounds, yet the amount of energy coursing through his veins was the most profound realization: Cabba's power had skyrocketed, and his anger was to blame. Even still, his fists were clenched into tightened balls, and his teeth grit together almost violently. His forearms trembled with rage, and the veins in his biceps bulged outward prominently. The anger within him threatened to overcome his sense of reason.

His emotions quelled greatly when he saw Caulifla, however.

Even in the midst of such a violent surge of raw power, the young Saiyan felt his heart annoyingly flutter with endearment at the sight of his dear friend. Her expression was simply far beyond that of mere shock or surprise: It was complete and utter awe, lined with admiration and even a light sense of disbelief, as if she couldn't believe her eyes.

"Cabba!" She shrieked. "Y-Your hair!"

My hair...? The Saiyan thought to himself.

That's when he realized something had changed. Something big. The conclusion of such a prospect was nearly enough to make him feint, yet he swallowed back his shock.

He reminisced back to how heavy his head had felt just moments before. Cabba then raised his arms to pat down the top of his head, and nearly recoiled his hands as the tips of his fingers groped through a thick mass of hair that was far too large to be his own; a shifting, spiky protrusion with nearly triple the total mass of his regular hairstyle.

Cabba lowered his hands to his eye-level, and stared at them as if they weren't his own. Had anything else changed? Just what exactly had happened to him?

"What... W-What is this?" He muttered beneath his breath.

Before he could find the answer himself, a high-pitched squeal pierced his eardrums. Cabba turned toward the source of the noise, and eyed over Caulifla as she swiftly approached him. That look of shock that he had noticed earlier was no longer present upon her expression; instead, Caulifla jumped up into the air with an overjoyed shout of enthusiasm, her eyes glittering brightly with admiration, entrancement, and pride. She was so excited, eyes so wide, that she looked like she was about to burst into tears.

Cabba had only seen this overly exuberant reaction from her once before: When he had first demonstrated his Super Saiyan transformation to her, all those months ago.

With sparks literally flying from her hair in excitement, Caulifla pointed a finger at her friend as she singled out the answer to his aforementioned question.

"You did it, Cabba!" She fawned. "You've reached Super Saiyan Three! Amazing!"

The male blinked a single time as he took a moment to register that. "Super Saiyan Three?" He repeated.

"Yeah! That's the same form that Goku used in the Tournament of Power!"

Cabba stared down at his hands once again. He hadn't gotten the opportunity to see Goku's Super Saiyan Three transformation, as Caulifla had, let alone fight against it. As such, this great power was new to him. He didn't know what to think of it. Past his shell of bewilderment, however, a primal fire of satisfaction burned in his heart: A desire to utilize the abilities of this new form while he still could. In that moment, he thought back to how his master, Vegeta, had once told him that a Saiyan's inner lust for battle could only be held down for so long. Cabba had no idea where his master was right now, but he had a good feeling that he would be proud of him, if he were here to see this.

"This power is... Unreal." He murmured.

The Saiyan took a moment to appreciate the amount of power flowing through his body. Warm waves of energy wafted from his form, and the electricity that encircled him crackled around through his hair, leaving tingling sensations lingering across the skin on his scalp. The transformation started to feel more natural, and less forced: His body was gradually getting used to it. This fact, paired with the growing anxiety to test out his newfound form, ultimately led to Cabba realizing what he needed to demonstrate.

Raising his right arm toward the sky above him, Cabba proceeded to project a large ball of yellow energy high into the air. With a sizzling wheee of speed, the sphere of power sailed into the atmosphere before detonating with an explosion of golden light that filled the sky like a second sun. Past the sound of the commotion, Cabba heard Caulifla stifle a yelp of awe. When the brightness of the energy burst died down, a massive hole in the clouds high above could be seen from miles away - the effect of such a tremendous output of Ki on the environment. The male Saiyan lowered his arm and let out a calming exhale of content before glancing over towards his female counterpart.

"How was that?" He asked of her.

The look on Caulifla's face was all that he really needed to know. She shifted her gaze from the scene of the previous explosion back to that of Cabba himself. He was smiling at her; an infectious grin that couldn't help but cause Caulifla to sprout her own smile. That shining look in her eyes started to surface again, and she then rushed forward towards her sparring partner. Even with his newfound strength, Cabba was admittedly caught off guard when Caulifla grabbed his shoulders and shook him around wantingly.

"I can feel such amazin' power!" Caulifla gushed, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "You have to teach me! Please!"

Cabba wasn't sure if he really could, in all honesty.

"I-I don't know..." He stammered. "Training like this will only get us so far!"

"C'mon, Cabba! Please! We have to try! Keep training with me!"

It was hard for the male Saiyan to say no to those pleading eyes. Besides, Caulifla had incredible amounts of natural talent: If anyone had the potential, it would be her. It might not happen today, or tomorrow, but when Caulifla finally managed to break through her own limits and ascend, the transition would undoubtedly be an impressive one.

Cabba swallowed back his apprehension. "Alright, let's give it a shot!" He announced with a raised fist.

"Right!"

Immediately, Caulifla jumped back and assumed an offensive fighting stance. Cabba willed the power that flowed through his body to manifest itself into his strength, and with a great leap forward that caused the very ground beneath his feet to crumble into bits, he rushed at his opponent with renewed speed and aggression. Despite being in a lower class of power than her foe, Caulifla held her ground proudly, and fought back as best she could. Yet for as strong as she was, she was no match for Cabba's latest new ascension. Blow after blow, little by little, she began to lose her stamina. Again, Caulifla wished that that silly excuse for a Supreme Kai would fork over the Potara earrings, but deep down, she knew that her fusion had been a one-time thing: A desperate last call for an equally desperate universe. If she wanted to increase her power and get stronger, she'd have to do it on her own. No special boosts from divine influence, magic items, or ace-in-the-hole tactics. Just grit, determination, and a whole lot of pain.

For another four minutes or so, the two Saiyans continued their sparring session with fervid determination. However, their limits were reached as quickly as they were drawn: Cabba's new transformation ate away at his endurance like a wildfire, and Caulifla's own body began to ache and creak with pain. Their fighting session was brief, but didn't go without any meaningful lessons: Caulifla was swiftly overwhelmed by Cabba's realized power. She was proud of him, and deeply longed to reach that form for herself, yet when her muscles began to ache and the dust settled down, she came to the conclusion that there would be no new transformation for her yet: More practice was needed.

Her time would come. That much she was dead certain of.

Soon enough, the two Saiyans fell to their backs simultaneously, too exhausted to continue their duel. The aura of Caulifla's Super Saiyan Two evaporated into mist. Likewise, Cabba's hair shrunk down to its normal mass, and that glorious golden glow that had filled him with so much strength just minutes earlier, left him, leaving little else but a throbbing soreness throughout his entire body. They both heaved in copious amounts of oxygen with each breath, yet once they managed to regain their bearings, helped one another to their feet before setting out for a more appealing place of rest. Cabba and Caulifla chose to hike to a nearby rocky summit that had miraculously remained untouched during the intensity of their sparring match. Once they reached its peak, they made themselves comfortable beneath a single, lonely tree that grew at the peak.

"Tch... All this training is really takin' its toll." Caulifla muttered as she lowered herself to the ground with a grunt. Her spiky hair, now its normal color, was full of dried twigs.

Cabba nodded as he sat down beside her. "I'm sorry that I wasn't able to help you reach Super Saiyan Three." He blurted. "I mean, I'm sure you can achieve it, I just-"

He trailed off as his female counterpart's laughter filled his ears. It was full and hearty, yet sweet, and good-natured; just like her. The male had grown to adore that laugh.

"There's no need to apologize, Cabba." Caulifla claimed. "It ain't your fault. I just need to train more, thas'all!"

Smiling warmly, Cabba nodded his head once again in a gesture of agreement. "Right! We'll get there together!" He promised.

At that, the two Saiyans shared a sturdy fist-bump; knuckles clacking together and mending, just like their twin resolves. With eachother, they could achieve great things!

And they were sure as hell bent on trying.

Time passed, and the two titular Saiyans lounged silently in relaxation as they recovered their lost energy, and recovered from their physically taxing sparring match.

The grass beneath them was soft and healthy, and the shade of the tree paired alongside the ever encroaching night helped cool down their heated bodies. Together, they watched the sun as it slowly set beneath the horizon; dappling the sky with a miasma of red, yellow, and even purple colors that cast elongated shadows through the clouds.

"So, what was it?" Caulifla said, at last breaking the tranquil silence between the two Saiyans.

Cabba furrowed his brow. "What was what?" He asked in clarification.

"You once told me that anger could be used to unlock higher levels of power." Caulifla elucidated. "You looked pretty angry back there. So what was it?"

There it was at last. Cabba had figured that Caulifla would ask him about that. She was a highly curious person, after all, but that didn't prevent the young male from feeling apprehensive of supplying a proper answer to her question. Truth was, he had grown very close to her over the past few months, and the mere idea of losing her made him nervous. It was the anger and emotional surge that accompanied the thought of watching his friends die that had brought out his inner power, and allowed him to transform into a Super Saiyan Three. It wasn't exactly something that he wanted to say out loud. Cabba lowered his gaze, wondering if he should tell her. Then again, the fact that he had grown so close to her in the first place only helped reinforce the belief that he could tell her anything. If he couldn't trust her, he couldn't trust anyone, not even himself.

He sighed wistfully, and made his decision without a single regret to show.

"I... I was thinking about you."

"Hm?" Caulifla hummed curiously. One of her eyebrows cocked upwards in a skeptical manner.

Cabba swallowed hard. Was it getting warmer? He swiftly stuttered;

"Well, n-not just you, but, uh... A lot of things, actually."

"Oh? Do tell." The female Saiyan said in response.

Exhaling through his nostrils, Cabba steeled himself for what was to come, and proceeded to explain what had happened as best he could;

"Back when we were sparring, I started thinking about the Tournament of Power... All of the things that we went through... How I couldn't prevent our universe from getting erased... Couldn't prevent us from getting erased. The powerlessness of it all angered me, but what really triggered the transformation... Was the thought of losing you."

Cabba raised his head and locked eyes with Caulifla.

"I couldn't bear to imagine losing you..." He confessed. "Losing everything like that ever again."

When the last word was uttered, Cabba firmly held his gaze with Caulifla, even in spite of how much he wanted to look away. He took note of how his female counterpart's mouth hung ever-so slightly agape, and how her eyes shimmered as though she were just handed a block of gold; grateful, certainly, but rather unsure of what to do with it.

A few short seconds passed, yet each individual moment felt like an eternity.

Finally, Caulifla gave a more proper response: She closed her eyes and smiled. It was a simple gesture, yet it filled Cabba's heart with relief.

"Don't you worry about me, Cabba," She said before opening her eyes once more and meeting the male's gaze. "I mean, with all this new power, we can beat anyone, right?"

The male allowed himself a slight chuckle. "Yeah, we sure can." He concurred.

For a brief minute, there was a blanket of silence filled only by the buzz of the insects through the grass, and the careful breaths of the two Saiyans. No words were said.

In his mind, though, Cabba thought back once again to Frieza's sinister threats. He remembered how easily that creature had overpowered him even in his Super Saiyan Two form. Indeed, if he were going to have to protect the ones that he cared for, he would have to get even stronger. Training alongside Caulifla was the best way to achieve it. In the few short months that they had been working together, both of their power levels had bolstered significantly. Just what else could they accomplish, given time to act?

He was eager to find out, and eager to reach new heights beside his friends.

"Cabba," Caulifla called out, effectively derailing his train of thought, and putting an end to the preceding moment of silence. "You know... I feel the same way."

Another momentary period of silence, this one being only a few seconds long.

"You... You do?" He finally asked.

"Yeah. You might not realize it, but you've been a very..." She hesitated, struggling to find the proper words. "Dependable friend." She finalized.

From the way she said it, Cabba had a feeling that those two words weren't something that Caulifla thought of, far less vocalized, very often.

"You really think so, Caulifla?"

The female Saiyan's expression lit up with amusement and pride when Cabba's words reached her ears. She laughed, finding it hard to believe that he could be so clueless.

"Of course! You were the one that taught me how to go Super Saiyan, and recruited Kale and I for the Tournament of Power! Even though we were erased, it was still the best fun I've had in years! Without you, I never would have gotten this far. Never would have met the Old Man and Vegeta, and never would have learned so much. I'd still be sitting in that warehouse with all of those punk losers, wastin' my potential. You're one of my best friends, Cabba. The only other person who can even compare is Kale."

She paused, taking a moment to let out a sigh of weariness. Cabba noticed that her expression had slackened over the course of her explanation. She promptly continued;

"No one else in that thuggish gang of weaklings showed me a fraction of the respect that you two have." Caulifla admitted slowly. "You and Kale are all I really have."

Cabba wasn't sure what to say. For as much as he had wanted to confess his feelings for her, the young Saiyan hadn't expected Caulifla to do the very same. He was kind of surprised that Caulifla, this rough-and-tough former hooligan, was capable of such an outpouring of personal thoughts. Sure, over the past few months of their training, he had managed to chip away at her usually hardened exterior and learn more about her inner feelings, but this was about as close as he'd ever seen her get to true, mutual affection. Caulifla wasn't exactly the flowery, emotional Saiyan woman that most others seemed to be. She had said similar words to Kale during the Tournament of Power, during which they had shared a strong, sisterly moment that had ultimately assisted in Kale managing to overcome the chaotic instincts of her berserker form, and achieve mastery over her mysterious powers. Cabba knew that Caulifla was plenty capable of more affectionate moments, but this one must have been quite the telling experience, for her to say so much, and in such a way, as she did to him right then and there. Cabba was quite flattered, thinking about how high of a regard she must have held for him.

After all, this was Caulifla that he was thinking of; the same Saiyan who'd sooner kick in an enemy's teeth than make peace with them.

The male Saiyan took much appreciation in the fact that she could be so open around him when she wanted to. It was definitely a good sign of their strong friendship.

Yet even the apprehension that he felt then, during Caulifla's admission, was nothing compared to how he felt after what happened next.

Sporting a spunky grin across her face all the while, Caulifla closed her eyes, leaned forward, and planted a fleeting smooch on one of his cheeks. Cabba felt his spine tense in a flight-or-flight response, and his body stiffen like a wood board. He let out a surprised squeak, and immediately began to feel his face pool up with blood in embarrassment. Cabba blinked a single time, trying to figure out whether or not he had imagined what had just happened. If he was a kettle, he was pretty sure that he would be steaming.

Soon after, Caulifla's voice filled his eardrums, and he glanced towards her as she concluded her previous statement with a few final words.

"Thank you for being my friend, Cabba." She said warmly.

All of the blood in Cabba's head then rushed down and spread throughout his body, leaving him in an almost dizzying state of mind. He blinked hard, and proceeded to lock eyes with Caulifla. She was still staring at him with that warm gaze that so seldom surfaced past her typically gruff exterior. Cabba had grown to much appreciate Caulifla's personality in all of its forms, including her frequent feistiness and anger, but when she was relaxed, calm, and content, he had to admit that she was startlingly beautiful.

Cabba swallowed back his diffidence. "You're welcome, Caulifla." He managed. Simple words, perhaps, yet filled with truth and meaning. "I am glad to be your friend."

The two Saiyans simply stared into one another's eyes. Just as soon, though, Cabba found himself shyly glancing away. He then felt a yawn surface from the back of his throat: A deep, strong stretch of the jaw that caused the sides of his eyes to water with satisfaction. He took a moment to eye over the setting sun, which was now nearly obscured from sight behind the horizon. The night sky was becoming ever more visible, and with it, a vast conglomeration of stars and planets that twinkled high above.

He couldn't deny the fact that he was tired.

"We should probably be getting back to the dojo," Cabba suggested. "The landlord will be wondering what took us so long out here."

That much was true enough: When he and Goku had arrived on Planet Sadala, the two of them were offered stay at a luxurious dojo on the outskirts of the capitol for as long as they decided to remain in the sixth universe. During their time on Sadala, Cabba, Kale and Caulifla had trained there with them frequently, before ultimately deciding to move out to a more rural area where they could practice without worrying about little things like punching through a wall, or blowing up a building on accident. Stuff like that.

The five Saiyans camped out in the desolate wilderness by themselves for several weeks before Goku and Vegeta returned to their home universe to be with their families, promising to rearrange further training at a later date. Despite all that, the dojo's landlord was happy to rent out the place for whenever Cabba, Kale, or Caulifla needed a cheap place to stay. The three Saiyans would frequently meet up there for training and mingling. Only downside was that the landlord was picky about knowing wherever they were whenever they weren't staying at the dojo, as he didn't seem to trust that they would pay for the hospitality if they suddenly flew off into the frontier without call.

Caulifla blew a stream of air from her nostrils. "Eh, let him wonder. Let's go back to my place, instead." She insisted.

"Huh? Why?"

"Cuz it's closer, that's why." The female retorted as she lightly flicked Cabba's forehead. "Besides, I'm in the mood for some privacy. Forget the big city."

Cabba took a moment to think over her offer. He had visited Caulifla's home before: It was a small rocky building not too far off from where she used to rob food trucks with her old gang. It was in a pretty bad part of the town, of which lay on the outskirts of a nearby city. Cabba pondered over his options, and then looked over towards Caulifla.

"Oh, you want me to... Come with you?"

Rolling her eyes, Caulifla pat her male counterpart on the back a single time. "C'mon, Cabba, I could use some company."

There was something in her smile that made him a bit nervous, but Cabba chose to ignore his rather persistent diffidence.

Truth be told, Cabba didn't mind spending the night with Caulifla. He had done it a few times before, though never without Kale, as a point of fact. Her home was cozy, but not the most spacious of residential areas. Still, it definitely beat having to choke out some half-witted excuse for sneaking out to train to the old landlord over at the dojo.

Spend the night with the girl that he had just shared a kiss with, or deal with the geriatric wrath of the dojo's proprietor? Easy choice.

"Alright, alright, I'm coming." He said with a smile. "Let's get going."

The two Saiyans picked themselves up from the ground and brushed the dirt off of their bodies. As they activated the Ki in their bodies and flew off into the dark sky, Cabba spared one last glance at the cliff that had been their resting place amidst a wasteland of destruction. It was the only outcrop of rock in a quarter mile radius that hadn't been blasted to smithereens by the sheer intensity of their earlier training. The tree that sprouted atop the highest peak billowed in the wind, as if it were waving farewell to them.

Cabba smiled, and then turned his gaze forward, eager on seeing just what the night was to create.

A quarter of an hour later, the two young Saiyans touched down in the yard of a small house formed of misshapen boulders and wood.

The arid terrain of the landscape, paired with the run-down look of the neighborhood gave off an impression of danger and warning, yet both Cabba and Caulifla waltzed straight into the home without a second thought. It was nothing that they hadn't done before. Besides, if there were any muggers prowling about, well, they were nothing that couldn't be handled. Once inside, Caulifla closed the door shut and locked it with finality before turning around and stretching out her arms above her head; her limber body bending to the side as she worked out the weariness in her muscles. While she stretched, Cabba admired the supple atmosphere of Caulifla's home: It was small and cozy, ovular in shape with a number of small rooms branching to the side here and there. There were only three small, circular windows in the entire house. The place was decorated with old treasures that its owner had collected over the years as a thief: Small rocks, jewelry, gilded furniture, smooth wood, and stacks of food all over the place.

Caulifla cracked her neck and then set out towards the bathroom. She gestured for Cabba to follow.

"Go take a shower before you do anything else. You're filthy." She ordered.

Cabba chuckled nervously. "You're kinda dirty yourself, too." He muttered.

"Huh?" Caulifla growled, perking up and glaring at her male counterpart.

"Oh, ah, n-nothing!" He quickly said. "Don't mind me, just getting ready."

The male hustled into the bathroom before Caulifla flipped the door closed behind him with a flick of her wrist. She shook her head and sighed before shuffling off to go find something to drink. Inside the washroom, Cabba removed his armor and promptly turned on the hot water in the shower nook. He smiled, thinking back to Caulifla's earlier reaction. Her temper occasionally got the better of her, and sometimes she had little sense of personal space, but Cabba had to admit that he didn't really mind when she got like that. He thought she was beautiful, even when she was up in his face about something. Alongside that, he could frequently catch a whiff of her strong, earthen scent; a jasmine smell sprinkled with salt, almost. It often rubbed off on him whenever she gave him a hug, or put him in a choke-hold. With her, there wasn't much of a difference.

Meanwhile, Caulifla gulped down a glass of water before washing off her face and arms. She exchanged her ratted, battle-torn clothes for a new, identical pair, though she had a feeling that she wouldn't need them for very long, if things went down the way she hoped them too. Caulifla stole a glance back at the restroom, where white steam seeped out from beneath the crack in the closed door. Somewhere behind it, she heard Cabba whistling to himself, and snickered as she thought back to a time when she had accidentally walked in on Cabba trying to sing while he showered. She had never let him forget, and thanks to her teasing, he must have decided to settle with mere whistles.

As soon as she was all cleaned up, Caulifla plopped down on a nearby beanbag chair; sinking into the thing before lolling her head back and staring up at the ceiling. She thought back to other memories that she had shared with her good friend: The time that he had first shown her Super Saiyan, the unwavering ambition that he displayed during the Tournament of Power, and the look in his eyes as he realized that he had been resurrected from erasure were all just a few of many different notable moments.

When she had first met Cabba, Caulifla saw him as nothing more than a necessary liability, and a way for her to get stronger. Yet over the course of the Tournament of Power, her stance on him had changed greatly. The way that he had stood up for her and Kale during Monna's rampage, and Frieza's surprise attack had left Caulifla with a resounding feeling of gratitude. Without the sacrifice that Cabba's elimination had provided, she never would have recovered the stamina to stand against her aggressors. His final push was one of the more notable moments of Cabba's great courage and heart, and his concern and consideration towards Caulifla was something that she greatly admired in him. During her gang-banging days, not a single person showed her proper respect, save for Kale herself, yet then came Cabba, who was willing to sacrifice his place on the team to give Caulifla an extra minute to recover her power, and continue to fight. If that wasn't a good enough show of honor, then she didn't know what was.

Their time training together had only increased the bond between Cabba and Caulifla. The latter soon began to suspect that her male counterpart was developing deeper feelings than simple friendship for her. The way that he acted around her, and portrayed himself only seemed to match her growing suspicions. Mutually, Caulifla couldn't help but harbor her own dose of affection for Cabba: His steely determination and steadfast resolve were attractive to her, and she even started to find his timid nature to become endearing, as well. At first, she thought relatively little of her growing admiration and affection for Cabba. They were just friends, right? What else could they be?

But soon, she found herself expressing her thoughts and concerns on the matter with Kale, her best friend. Before she had left to go on her self-discovering journey, she had shared an insightful conversation with Caulifla. When the latter brought up her feelings towards Cabba, Kale had seemed almost envious, at first, but ultimately told her to do whatever made her happy. Being as protective and territorial as she was, Caulifla was surprised that Kale had offered out such selfless advice so easily. That made her proud.

Caulifla only wished that Kale were still here, if only to help make sense of the thoughts that ailed her. Having someone to discuss this to in an open manner was a privilege.

That whole debacle had been nearly two months ago, by now. In the time since, Caulifla had only grown more certain and trusting of her feelings and instincts. She couldn't deny that she felt an attraction to Cabba. The past few months had only further solidified their trust, respect, and appreciation in one another, but Caulifla still felt as though something wasn't quite right, as of yet: She felt that she needed to express her gratitude to him, somehow. After all, Cabba had been the one to start the domino effect that had changed her life for the better: He had came to her, taught her Super Saiyan, and brought her on an adventure that had completely given her a new outlook on her life.

Indeed, the Tournament of Power was the most fun that she had had in years on end, even if she wound up getting erased. But hey, she got better, so there was no problem.

No longer did she intend on letting her potential waste away among the punks of that old gang of hers. Instead, she would harness her talents alongside her real friends.

If Caulifla was going to thank anyone for her success, fun, and newfound strength, it would be Cabba. Not Champa, Vados, or anyone else. Just Cabba, plain and simple.

Over time, as Caulifla became more sure of her feelings, and started hanging out with Cabba more often, she had tried dropping some subtle hints and nods on her interests to him. He never seemed to catch on. Typical, innocent Cabba. He was a strong and inspiring fighter, but he could be so naive, sometimes. Caulifla found it amusing, and in the end, it just made her even more determined to beat off his shyness, and overcome his timid nature. She wanted to show her appreciation for all of his dependable faith and friendship. Being friends with him was a welcome thought, but she wanted even more: If they could be friends, perhaps some extra benefits could be added into the mix.

Truth was, Caulifla had been somewhat lonely during her time as a petty criminal. None of the other members in her gang really respected her, save for Kale, of course, who was and always would be her best friend. Most of the others were just opportunists; which was respectable enough, considering that she considered herself one as well. Still, it prevented her from forming any real connections with any of them beyond simple comradery. She did try dating a few of them, but they never seemed to really care or even understand her. It never ended up working out. They had always tried to possess her, yet didn't understand that she was a free spirit of a Saiyan. Hell, it was one of the reasons that being a criminal appealed to her so much in the first place: To rely on nobody but herself, and to stake her own claim in the world that she had grown to loathe.

Cabba wasn't the possessive type - if anything, he was about was carefree and respectful towards others as they came- and Caulifla liked that about him. Yet at the same time, he could assert himself and take control of a situation with truly effective command and admirable leadership. Must have been one of the reasons why he joined the planet's military force. Caulifla chuckled softly to herself: The idea of an army brat like him pairing up with a street rat like her was quite ironic, and almost poetic, in a sense.

Before meeting Cabba, the only real relationship that Caulifla had had with the Sadala Special Forces was that of a parasitic one: She used her strength to work with her gang to rob food trucks from the army, and distribute whatever goods they acquired to the poor of the neighborhood, though not without taking some shares for herself, of course. The infrequent lost or shortcut-searching armored truck was easy prey, if they wound up driving through her neck of the woods. Caulifla would even give out the tiny boxes of candy that were occasionally stocked inside the vehicles to the underprivileged children of the area. Better to end up in the hands of the hardworking youngsters, rather than the bratty nephews and nieces of the king of Sadala. They could get off just fine without the extra calories. Besides, it was nice to see the kid's faces light up whenever she gave out food.

Caulifla smiled. She may have left her gang to further heighten her own abilities and interests, but she figured that they were dealing with the thievery and food just fine. And now, here she was in the present, yet so far into the future: She never could have imagined that she'd have became such good friends with a member of the same military that she used to steal from, for so long. Her time in that gang had been memorable, sure, but looking back on it, she much preferred this new lifestyle of hers. She had two amazing friends, and a mountain of goals to sort through. Caulifla had every intention on achieving said goals, all the while working alongside her two best friends.

And that was good enough for her.

A sudden jostle of movement caught her attention from the corner of her eyes. Caulifla rolled her head over and stared at Cabba as he fully opened the door to the restroom, and stepped out with a white towel wrapped around his lower body. The female Saiyan had been so preoccupied with her own thoughts that she hadn't even noticed when Cabba had turned off the shower. Thanks to the hot water, his dark hair was slick and shiny, and his lithe body was now devoid of any unwanted dirt and detritus. The lean muscle on Cabba's upper body glistened from its rinse in the shower, and Caulifla had to resist the urge to stare as her male counterpart shuffled into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of cold water. Her eyes traced the movements of his arms as he brought the glass to his lips and proceeded to drink. Caulifla took note of his relaxed posture.

She then asked. "So, you all clean now? Don't think for a moment that I'm letting anyone else's dirt other than mine, around here."

Cabba smiled as he registered his friend's statement. He set down his glass and swallowed his mouthful of water.

"Don't worry, I'm clean, I'm clean. What about you, though?" He asked. "You gonna take a shower? I might have used up all the hot water."

"Me? Nah, I'm good. Lil' rinse in the sink worked well enough."

Nodding his head in understanding, the male Saiyan then approached the nearby couch, likely planning on making himself comfortable. Caulifla stood up and called out;

"You don't have to sleep on the couch tonight."

"Huh?" Cabba acknowledged. "You don't want me to sleep on the floor, do you? I told you I was clean."

"No no, it's not that," Caulifla interjected. "I was just thinking, well..."

She raised her forearms in a shrugging gesture, and stated;

"It can get pretty cold at night, here. I was wondering if you'd like to sleep with me, instead."

That comment took a moment to sink in. Caulifla hoped that she wasn't blushing: Cabba sure was.

"You... I..." He stifled. "What?"

The female then busted out laughing. She couldn't help it. Caulifla placed her palms on her kneecaps as her chortles reverberated throughout the house.

"Oh, Cabba, you should have seen the look on your face." She wheezed as she quickly took the time to recompose herself.

Sighing wistfully, Caulifla approached him and took one of his hands. His first reaction was to slightly pull back, but he immediately slackened and let Caulifla grip his palm.

"I mean what I said." The female claimed reassuringly. "You're welcome to join me, if you're interested."

Cabba swallowed nervously. "I-I'd be okay with that." He stammered.

The female Saiyan grinned to herself. Truth was, Caulifla had never made an offer like that to anyone before: She wasn't some offhand floozy, or anything like that. Casual intercourse with other Saiyans was never something that she took part in. With Cabba, however, she felt a special connection - One worth consummating together with him.

Smirking, Caulifla administered a hip-check against the side of Cabba's body. He almost dropped his towel on accident. From there, the female Saiyan then pulled him along towards her bedroom, on the other side of the little house. She had a slight spring in her step, and when the two Saiyans reached the private chamber, she closed the curtain door shut in their wake. The temperature of the room was surprisingly cold: Caulifla had been right in her earlier claim. There were a bunch of pillows stacked around the room, and the bed, like the windows and even the house itself, had an almost oval shape to it. The sheets were thick and dark blue, and a mound of cushions piled at the crown.

The male Saiyan started shivering. He felt rather under-dressed in his thin white towel. Cabba raised his head and locked eyes with Caulifla, who was eyeing over his form.

"You look flustered." She said flatly.

"No I don't." Cabba replied immediately.

Caulifla sighed. This wasn't going as she had intended. If she wanted to get her point across, she's have to be less subtle, and more compatable.

She then stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. Her grip was sturdy, yet reassuring. She spoke softly;

"It's okay, Cabba. Just relax. You're my friend, and I trust you. Don't forget that."

The female's arms then reached around and pulled her male counterpart into a hug. It was awkward at first, but Cabba quickly unwound, and found himself sighing in relief. He wrapped his own arms around Caulifla's shoulders, and pulled her close. The heat from her body caused the chill on his skin to waft away; warmth sunk into his muscles, and he felt a contented sigh work its way out from his maw. When Caulifla realigned herself with him, their vision locked together, and they spent a moment calmly staring.

Their gaze bore deep into one another's eyes. So close, their lips nearly touched; just grazing in the slightest amount. Hot breaths lapped against eachother's noses, radiating an ever-building sense of want and restlessness. Experimentally, Cabba leaned forward and closed the distance between the two of them. His mouth pecked softly against Caulifla's, and to his surprise, she kissed back. Caulifla's tongue poked out and dappled on the side of his mouth before slipping in, their lips locking together in a fervid kiss. A tugging sensation pulled at a spot somewhere deep in Cabba's gut, and he felt his hands press against the small of her back. For a moment, it was just the two of them.

A jolt or realization struck Cabba, and he pulled away from the kiss. He noticed how Caulifla leaned forward wantingly as he leaned back. Now, he finally saw the motive.

"Caulifla... I don't know. I want to, I really do, but... I'm not..." He faltered. "I'm just-"

"Now there you go, sounding like Kale." Caulifla interjected. "I'm just. She said that way too often. Don't you start on me too, now, Stringbean."

"I-I mean, I've never even-" Cabba started, but was cut off when his friend growled beneath her breath.

"If you want to, then prove it. I dare you." The female snarked. "Live a little!"

Cabba gulped again, but he couldn't help smiling. Slowly, carefully, he leaned closer to Caulifla, and placed his hands on her sides. A simple touch; symbolizing his desire, yet reluctance to give in to it. Their eyes met once again, and the two Saiyans failed to resist the temptation to close the distance between them. Their lips smushed together with a slight smeck sound, and the psychological barriers that had been erected began to crumble. Cabba detected the smell of Caulifla's pheromones as they filled his nostrils and clouded the air around them. Once more, the tugging sensation in his gut pulled at his being, yet this time, he did not resist. Cabba lifted his hands and placed them behind Caulifla's back. Meanwhile, the female Saiyan continued her feverish kissing before momentarily parting and pulling off the tube-top that she wore around her upper body. Her breasts spilled out and pressed against the male's chest. Arousal grew within her, and she promptly stripped herself of her remaining clothes before yanking off the towel from Cabba's waist. She tossed it to the side before pulling him in for another passionate round of kissing. Caulifla's immense mass of spiky black hair stood on end and tingled in sensation as Cabba stroked his palms up the length of her back, and held her close against his own body. The cold chill of the room seemed nonexistent.

Heat built between them, and months of pent-up passion and desire was finally ready to burst forth.

Stepping forward slightly and losing their combined balance, both Saiyans toppled over and onto the mattress. The two of them shifted their combined weight upon the soft surface of the bed, wrinkling the dark-blue sheets as they readjusted themselves properly, all the while continuing their amatory make out session; Their lips interlocking lovingly to a chorus of wet smacking sounds, and their fingertips running along the skin of their respective counterparts, causing sweet and diverse tingling sensations to shiver along across their nervous systems, hair standing on end in its pleasurable wake. Cabba pushed himself into the bed's center, and Caulifla promptly crept over him.

"Is this, uh... What we-" The male began, but trailed off as his friend interrupted him;

"You underestimate yourself, Cabba." Caulifla claimed. "Just relax. Enjoy the moment." She then smiled mischievously. "I'll show you how it's done."

Soon enough, they had established a comfortable starting position: Cabba lying back down on the bed, with Caulifla situated on top, looking down on her partner. The female Saiyan intended on starting things slow, so as to steadily build up to the much anticipated release, but also because she didn't want to dismay or unsettle Cabba: She knew that he was naturally shy, and that he probably had never undergone such an intimate coupling before. She had a feeling that he was still feeling rather unsure of himself.

Caulifla didn't want him to be afraid or intimidated by anything, and so, she sought to start slowly and steadily as the two of them worked their way up, one step at a time.

She began by rubbing and massaging at his bare chest, the rigid surface of which was lined with several large scars; likely from past scuffles that he had dealt with while serving in the Sadala Special Forces. The muscles in his abdomen bulged outwards as he inhaled a deep breath of air into his lungs before letting out a blissful sigh of relief.

Caulifla frequently teased Cabba with nicknames such as 'Stringbean', and 'Stick-Saiyan', but she had to admit that he was fit: He wasn't ripped, per say, but his body was taut with lean muscle that rippled with his every movement. Old battle scars were etched across his chest and ribcage. Ever since the two of them had started training together, Caulifla had begun to notice that Cabba's physique was, in actuality, much more athletic than what his usual outfit revealed, or more accurately, lack thereof. She never would have guessed that he would have had much to show beneath the flappy old leather and metal plates of that Sadala Special Forces armor that he often sported.

Looking down at him, Caulifla smiled as she took note of his loosening movements and unwinding temperament: He was getting aroused by her massaging. Thinking back on it, the female Saiyan reminisced to old daydreams she had envisioned of moments like this: Her and Cabba getting cozy together, and bedding down, just like now. Having an active imagination was both a curse and a blessing, it would seem. In the past, she had had concerns about the idea of mating with him. For one thing, there was pregnancy.

Thankfully, Caulifla wouldn't have to worry about any unwanted pregnancy. Back during her gangbanger days, she had ultimately decided upon getting her tubes tied so that she would never have to be concerned about the burden of motherhood. Sure, it may have been rather reckless for her to make such an important decision when she was as young as she was, but she had no intention on becoming a parent: Caulifla didn't want that kind of weight and responsibility dragging her down. Better to be a free spirit.

Caulifla recalled the time that Cabba had first found out. The two of them were preparing for an intense workout regime with some warm-up stretches when Caulifla had leaned back just enough to expose the surgical scars that were hidden right below her belt-line. They were usually out of sight, but since Cabba must have been staring (she couldn't blame him), he had managed to catch a look at them after all. Curious, he promptly asked her what they were. At first, Caulifla had scoffed, and told him to mind his own business, but later on after their workout had ended, she felt generous enough to humor his inquisitiveness, and told him everything about her choice to tie her tubes.

As expected, he was understanding of her decision, and didn't ridicule her for her considerably rash resolution. Typical of Cabba to play the good egg. Though, as much as she liked to tease him over his compassionate nature, Caulifla had to admit that it felt nice not to be judged so swiftly. It was one of the things that she liked the most about him, along with his compassionate nature, and yes, even his shyness had become endearing to her, over time. Most of the females of her race would have scorned Caulifla for tampering with her body in such a way: They would have berated her for going against the norm, especially since she was stronger than them; for strong Saiyan women were expected to help maintain the bloodline, and make equally strong babies. Not Caulifla, though: She wasn't at all willing to give over her personal liberties that easily.

In the end, she held no regrets over her decision, and ever since, tried as often as possible to work against the status quo; if only to help reinforce her own rebellious soul.

Her mind pulled itself back to the present. She figured that now was a good point to continue their intimate progress, and get one step closer to that final release.

As her back straightened out, Caulifla took grasp of Cabba's hands before guiding them along the length of her thighs, and resting them on the sides of her hips. She then squeezed his palms before letting go and allowing him to take command of his own motions. The male slid his fingers over the smooth skin on her waist and sides, all the while relishing in the well-structured proportions of her curvature. He reached around and caressed at Caulifla's rump, causing her to smile and bite her lower lip in salacious indulgence. After getting the knack down for his own touching, it was pretty clear that Cabba was a real hands-on kinda guy, not that she had anything to object over it.

Indeed, the female Saiyan enjoyed it all very much so; yet as time went on, she only found herself growing more and more wanting. Caulifla's casual grinding soon came to halt, and at last, she lowered herself down upon Cabba, carefully connecting their respective intimate regions together as one; the gratifying point of contact enticing a minuscule shiver from Cabba, and a grimace of pleasurable content from Caulifla. A spark of yellow energy flickered through Cabba's hair as he closed his eyes in indulgence.

The female Saiyan was ailed by a brief, albeit dizzying pang of euphoria that left her feeling lightheaded, and caused a shiver to slither up her spine. When her head had cleared itself, she immediately looked down upon her partner, and from there, a sense of arousal began to develop within her, accompanied by a minor ache of dominance, and control. She snickered slightly to herself: Here, she had one of the most powerful warriors in the sixth universe pinned beneath her, and in her complete and utter whim.

It turned her on just thinking about it.

Yet despite that fact in particular, this whole act between the two of them wasn't just about the pleasure itself; Caulifla recognized that much. This was also about trust, affection, and endearment, to an extent. Caulifla wanted to comfort Cabba, and show him just how much she truly appreciated him and everything that he had done for her as well. For weeks, she had been hoping to beat off his shyness, and show him a good time, and now, she finally had her chance. Caulifla had no intention on letting it go.

Smiling to herself, she arced her back leisurely; grinding her hips against Cabba's once again, though this time quite a bit harder and more forceful than before, causing great ripples of heated pleasure to emanate from their intimate connection, with both Saiyans vocally expressing their satisfaction through sound; The male groaned deep from within his throat, while his female counterpart slightly gasped aloud as their respective nether regions met, and slid deeper together like two pieces of a puzzle that had been designed just for this moment. Cabba felt his teeth grit as Caulifla leaned back, tugging on his length and causing warm waves of euphoria to blossom out in his lower body.

Despite being connected, Caulifla wasn't deterred from leaning down and kissing Cabba square on the nose; his eyes crossing before slowly closing shut in gratification. The female Saiyan then respositioned her face slightly lower, where she pecked her lips against Cabba's own, her tongue poking out and lapping at his mouth, silently asking for entrance. He obliged; parting his lips and allowing Caulifla to slip her tongue inside, where it grappled with his own, wrestling with flavorful skill as their lips sealed together.

For a few moments, it felt as though they were the only two beings in all of existence itself.

Eventually, Caulifla pulled away from the kiss; leaning back and staring down at her partner once more. Her delicate chest rose and fell as her lungs reclaimed the oxygen that she had sacrificed in the act of making out with Cabba. Likewise, he himself took to recovering his breath, all the while resting his hands on the sides of his lover's hips.

"You all good, Cabba?" Caulifla asked breathily, to which her male counterpart nodded swiftly and without sound.

A devious smirk flashed across her youthful countenance. "Good. You sit tight, and just take it all in."

Caulifla then resumed their bout of lovemaking; gyrating and grinding her hips against Cabba's in a steady cycle of pleasure that sent chilling shivers throughout their twin bodies. Hair stood on end as electrifying tingles surged across their skin and inside their bones. The male Saiyan writhed and squirmed beneath the weight of his female counterpart, and tightened his grip on her waistline before exhaling audibly, and proceeding to glide his palms up the sides of Caulifla's body, before ultimately resting them on her chest. He cupped his palms against her breasts and fondled the tips of his fingers around her rib-cage and diaphragm. The female flashed another smug expression down at her partner before removing her hands from his abdomen and placing them atop Cabba's own. She continued to guide his movements as their bodies heated up, and breaths became more and more labored. Caulifla tried her best not to allow her partner to climax too early, and took a pleasurable sense of dominance in the fact that she had him under her full control. Yet still, as time went on, her taxing actions and consistent movements began to catch up with her, and she soon started to grow a bit weary.

She then decided to try and let Cabba take the reigns. He could use the experience, and the female Saiyan figured that the boost to self-esteem wouldn't hurt, either.

"I'm gettin' pretty tired, here." Caulifla admitted. "Why don't you pick up the slack for a while?"

"M-Me?" Cabba stammered. "I-I don't know if I should-"

"Oh, just shut up already." The female Saiyan growled before leaning down and silencing her partner with a kiss.

Having clearly not been expecting such an action, Cabba's facial muscles tightened in apprehension. However, he quickly relaxed, and gave in to the kiss. He felt Caulifla's tongue force its way into his mouth, quite effectively shutting him up. Cabba closed his eyes in bliss, and relished in his senses: The heat from Caulifla's body, the way her muscles shifted beneath her skin, her taste; everything that he could detect. Caulifla then pulled away, severing the connection. She licked her lips and stared down at him.

"See? You're too unsure of yourself!" She chided, though not without a cocky smile playing at the edge of her mouth. "Don't worry, Cabba, you'll do fine!"

At that, the female Saiyan shifted her legs beneath Cabba's waist, and threw her body to the side; rolling across the mattress, and taking Cabba with her. When she put a stop to their combined momentum, the two of them were in a completely different position: this time, with Cabba on top while Caulifla reclined against the surface of the bed. She crossed her arms behind her head in a carefree posture, and stared up at Cabba with a smug look on her face. She had flipped them both over and into a different pose!

"What? You..." The male began, only to trail off as he felt Caulifla lock her ankles behind his back.

"Hope ya don't mind if I make myself comfortable," She teased. "Cuz I'm not lettin' you go 'till you show me a good time."

For a moment, Cabba was too stunned to answer. He chuckled, and then a brusque grin found its way to his face.

"I should have expected this kind of attitude from you, Caulifla." He mused. "But your wish is my command."

The female just kept on smirking. "Then what are you waiting for?" She quipped with a wink for good measure.

Cabba blew a brief stream of air from his nostrils in amusement. He then shifted his weight as he positioned himself for re-entry, and with an exhale of baited breath, he reconnected their intimate bond. Caulifla gave a light grunt as she felt Cabba's member slide through her innards. She closed her eyes and bit down on her lower lip in satisfaction, all the while trying not to show too much of it at the same time: She didn't want to stroke her partner's ego too badly, even if she felt as contended as she did.

"Are you alright?" Cabba found himself asking.

Caulifla detected an inkling of worry in his voice, and appreciated the concern. "Don't worry, Cabba, I'm doin' fine." She assured him.

Sighing blissfully, Caulifla relaxed her body and allowed Cabba to have full control over her. The male planted his palms against the surface of the bed to hold up the weight of his upper body, and leaned closer to his partner, all the while slowly gyrating his hips; gradually getting the hang of his new dominant role. For some time, the two Saiyans simply reveled in the pleasure of the act, but as Cabba started to further assert himself, things only grew from there. What started out as a steady grinding evolved into more forceful thrusts, with speed slowly being built up with each passing minute. Cabba began to breath more heavily, and his being clearly become more feverish; leaning down and kissing at his partner's exposed neck, and shifting his arms beneath her shoulders so as to bring himself closer to her. Passion flared, and heat wound up like a spring.

"Mm... That's it, Cabba..." Caulifla stifled. "You're doing great... K-Keep going."

Cabba continued to ravish at his lover's throat; nibbling in between kisses here and there, all the while becoming steadily more aggressive with his actions. Each thrust that he administered pushed the two of them even further against the mound of pillows that rested at the crown of the bed, and occasionally causing Caulifla to chirp in stimulus as her lover propelled himself deeper, or ground against her at just the right angle. The female Saiyan let out a light moan when Cabba suckled affectionately against the spot just beneath her jaw. Cabba could feel his partner's heartbeat pulsing against him, and as he nipped at her throat, it thrummed energetically in surging excitement.

"Ah, Cabba..." She panted. "Right there... That's it..."

The male groaned lightly in acknowledgement. He sure was acting different: Less timid, and more domineering. His inner sexual instincts were surfacing, and helping to direct his actions. Caulifla was admittedly impressed by the mixture of passion that Cabba emitted: Gentle with his demeanor, yet assertive with his movements. Controlling, yet far from violent. The weight of his body gave Caulifla a much-appreciated sense of security, and the heat that he radiated was very comforting. Ever onward, his motions only became more steadfast, and consistent, with each thrust that he inflicted causing the female Saiyan to grow more and more aroused. Cabba was getting lost in the moment.

Likewise, she too soon succumbed to the building passion; removing her arms from behind her head so that she could wrap them lovingly around Cabba's upper back. Her hands caressed the taut muscles in his shoulders, and she relished in the growing sensation of pleasure that was building in her abdomen, and effecting the rest of her body: Pleasurable chills ran up the length of her spine, leaving tingling sensations that blossomed into shivers of content. Caulifla gripped the base of Cabba's neck and pushed his head lower so that she could kiss his face. He gladly obliged, dipping his forehead down and briefly resting it on Caulifla's own as he took a moment to stare into her eyes.

The female's gaze was filled with want, and entranced in pleasure. Cabba took satisfaction in the fact that they were sharing such an intimate moment with one another.

He seized the opportunity to properly kiss her. At first, Cabba pecked a single time at the edge of her cheek; reminiscent of the kiss that she had given to him on the cliffside at dusk. Then their mouths connected and lips meshed together; tongues dancing in a swirl of flavor to the twin heartbeats of the two lovers. Caulifla relished in the taste of her partner, all the while running her hands up and down the length of his back. She gripped at whatever sturdy ridges of muscle that she could detect, and shifted her legs in the same manner a single time; stroking his lower body with the sides of her ankles like a grasshopper kneading its legs. Cabba breathed out to the side before taking another deep inhale of air and locking mouths with Caulifla once more. Their lips fervidly smacked together, and the heat from their bodies started to become sweltering.

Cabba ran his finger through the thick mass of spiky black hair on Caulifla's head, raking out the knots and lightly tugging on her scalp. She purred in approval, and lifted her hips upwards against her partner's, causing the sexual pressure between them to build, and reach new heights. Another flicker of electricity surged around the male's hair before dissipating, and leaving the faint, metallic scent of ozone in its wake. Caulifla's hands caressed across Cabba's back, and the grip of her ankles tightened around his lumbar. The taste, smells, and feelings that the two Saiyans cherished only helped further propel them to the edge. They were getting close. Very close. Cabba picked up the pace of his thrusting, and plunged his lips against Caulifla's one last time, all the while listening in on her soft moans of content. Their lovemaking had reached its pinnacle.

Euphoria enveloped them both, and at last, all that was left was the fall.

The male's muscles hardened, causing his back and spine to flex as nearly his entire body was suddenly flooded with the most unbridled feeling of pleasure that he had ever experienced. Cabba pulled Caulifla in close as his member began to throb, and all of the hot pressure that had been building up since the start came bursting forth like water from a fractured dam. He underwent a dizzying cycle of contraction and relaxation; groaning lowly into Caulifla's mouth as he felt his body tense and release over and over.

Concurrently, Caulifla clutched Cabba's shoulders tightly as she felt an intense warmth spread within her; pooling in her lower body before flowing even deeper. The muscles in her abdomen tightened, and she relished in her own release as it picked her up and swept her away in a tidal wave of passionate indulgence. She couldn't resist the urge to gasp aloud the moment that Cabba's lips unsealed from her mouth. Caulifla tilted her head back and groped at her lover's body before locking eyes with him once again.

He leaned forward and kissed her on the lips, with Caulifla gladly granting him access. For some time, the two Saiyans simply kissed and caressed one another as their bodies recuperated from their respective climaxes. Feverish movements matched the heat and passion of the atmosphere as the two lovers writhed about; stroking and fondling as the intensity of their previous lovemaking dwindled, and they were both left weary and wanting. Labored pants filled the air as Cabba and Caulifla reclined peacefully on the bed, all the while cuddling together for warmth, even despite the thermal temperament of their twin bodies. Cabba had promptly collapsed atop his female counterpart, and now rested his head on her sternum; calmly listening in on the sounds of her body, from the tranquility of her breathing patterns, to her consistent and hypnotic heartbeat.

Meanwhile, Caulifla scratched at her partner's scalp and ears, smiling to herself as he whimpered contentedly like an exhausted puppy. Hard to believe that this was the same guy who was ravishing her so lovingly just minutes before. The refraction must have hit him hard. Despite that, Caulifla enjoyed his company, and took solace in the warmth of his body and the feeling of his breaths as they lapped against her. Feeling quite drained herself, she proceeded to suck in a few breaths of air before tapping Cabba's neck.

"Not bad, Cabba..." She panted wearily. "Not bad at all."

That was a bit of an understatement on her part. It had amazed her to share such an intimate and pleasurable experience with her dear friend, and to help give him a boost to his confidence, as well. The passion and appreciation between the two was real, and Caulifla had a feeling that there would be more moments like this in the future. She blushed, privately imagining all of the possibilities. They would continue to train and get stronger together, all the while maintaining a casual sexual relationship behind doors.

Yeah, she could definitely get used to that.

Cabba's voice severed her train of thought;

"You really think so, Caulifla?" He asked.

The female Saiyan nodded. "Yeah, it was amazing." She admitted, ruffling at his hair in a sisterly fashion. "You were amazing."

Chuckling to himself, Cabba planted a single kiss on her stomach before shifting his weight forward, closer, and smothering his cheeks against her chest. He then relaxed, closing his eyes and letting out a satisfied sigh. It was nice. He couldn't have asked for anything better. Sleep soon claimed him, and Caulifla too began to nod off as she listened in on the steady, methodical sound of her friend's breath. The nighttime chill gradually crept into the room, but the heat from their twin bodies staved it off proper.

Enveloped in warmth and relaxation, the two Saiyans dozed off and into the night, dreaming of just what tomorrow would bring.

Hey everyone!

I hope that you enjoyed this new story. It definitely isn't like anything else I've ever written, but I did want to try something new, you see, so I figured this would be a fun experiment to delve into. I was right! I very much enjoyed writing this story, and I hope that you all enjoyed reading it, in turn. So, do be sure to let me know what you think! I adore reading over reviews, so feel free to drop one explaining your thoughts and opinions on this story of mine.

What did you think of the writing? Of Caulifla/Cabba's relationship? Would you like to see more chapters? Feel free to tell me! I do like me my reviews.

That's it for now, though. Again, thanks for reading, and do feel free to drop a review explaining your thoughts. I'd like that. Thanks! :)

'Till next time...

Peace!