Cabbato leaned forward, resting his arms on the table letting out a sigh as he slouched back in his seat. Cabbato stayed silent, just digesting Tera's response to his rapid fire questions and the cake he scoffed down. The one thing that he could really connect to most was her saying that 'kindness is what we really need' and the more he thought about it the more problems that could have been avoided. What if Frieza wasn't a galactic tyrant but a loving peacekeeper, what if King Vegeta was a loving monarch instead of a sadistic warrior, what if the Saiyans weren't a bloodthirsty race of savages and instead kind and thoughtful monks? Even something so recent as Cabbato sharing some of his cake with that homeless man, would he have gone hungry if not for that act of kindness? At least with him, the situation he and Cabbato in were no different, and that's what was puzzling him. Tera didn't seem like she was down on her luck with no ambition, but if she was then maybe the circumstances were the only things that were different. Her buying him a cake and Cabbato sharing with that man were no different, and if Tera was lying about her financial situation like Cabbato suspected, then their financial situations were the same too. Leaning forward in his seat again, Cabbato stayed looking at the table infront of him being able to eek out, "I'm sorry." in response to his actions. Wanting to know one last thing Cabbato looked up at Tera with the same expression he carried before and asked, "What do you think your purpose is? Because I've been searching for so, so long and no matter how hard I try I just, can't, find it. All these years, all these memories, and i'm so tired of searching.", his voice quivering as he reached the end of his sentence. The last thing Cabbato expected when he woke up this morning was to be having this heart to heart with a woman who he only had known for less than half an hour, but that time was longer than anyone else had tried to get know him. But something about the warmth she exudes, that gentle and kind radiance had Cabbato spilling his emotions like a leaky faucet. It was something he craved for so long.
xxxTera politely blew off the apology, flicking her wrist casually, "Hey dude, it's fine! No need to apologize." The man's final question caused Tera to pause with everything she was doing, including breathing. For a few moments, the woman was completely still, it was until she was getting light-headed from holding her breath for so long, did she come back to reality. "My purpose," she wanted to make sure she heard it right, tapping her fingers against the table as she looked at the window in thought. "I don't know yet, but whose to say we aren't already fulfilling our purposes, and we just don't know that yet?" She asked, not expecting an answer, and continued to speak. "You look young, healthy, not lookin' to die at any moment, right?"
She scratched the back of her head, giving a gentle grin. "We're too young to figure out if we are on the right path or not, yes, even at our ages, but it doesn't mean we aren't already doing what we were called to do!" She grinned, leaning on the table. "So chin up dude! Let's try our very hardest to be our best selves, and eat as much cake as possible!" She tilted her head, "Life works in mysterious ways, you know. For all you know, your trials and tribulations are what will make you into the strongest guy in the planet, I'm sure!" Her life wasn't the greatest either, but she followed by those mantras to keep herself happy, if the life expectancy for a human was 80-plus years, why spend all that time being sad? It's not worth it...
Cabbato hearing that she doesn't know her purpose provided reaffirmation for him, and a confirmation of his previous thought about whether or not they were same. "Then, we aren't as different as I thought." Cabbato said in between her speech. Taking a second to scratch his tail, unwrapping it from his waist and running his thumb down the length. Once she was done Cabbato couldn't help but quip, "I probably already am to be honest." when she said his trials and tribulations could make him the strongest man on Earth, and he wasn't wrong. Being a Saiyan who still had his tail was an enormous advantage against a lot of others. Her words of affirmation felt genuine, and despite the lack of direction, Cabbato was going to try and keep his chin up, even if it would take him years or even decades to discover what his purpose was. Maybe Tera was right and he had already found his purpose, it just hadn't revealed itself to him just yet. He spent most of his life waiting, he could wait more. Some people walked in from outside, heading to the counter and Cabbato couldn't help but overhear their conversation about the dragon balls and the huge hunt that was taking place for them. Tons of people were looking for them like never before, but no one could really place why, maybe it was just a craze, a fad and it would wear off soon. Raising a brow, Cabbato turned to Tera with an inquisitive look on his face. "Dragon Balls? What are they, are they that valuable?"
xxxTera quietly sighed in relief, she was pretty happy to alleviate the gloomy mood that Cabbato was feeling; it made her feel special for the first time in a while. Who knows, maybe helping others is her calling. "Dragon balls?" The woman repeated the words a few times, tapping her chin as a means of focus, she snapped her fingers, her ahoge shooting up like a sprout once she had the answer. "Yeah, they are these orbs that, I think if you collect seven, you get whatever you want," she mumbled, scratching her cheek. "That's the gist of it, they're scattered everywhere though, and everyone in the city is eager to find them!" She leaned in her seat, and sighed, "I don't know what I'd get if I had all seven, maybe a more suitable job or something, I don't know..." She mumbled to herself, looking out the window. "I'm actually surprised you have just heard of them, everyone's been talking about it," she pointed out. "What would you ask for if you had all seven Dragon Balls?" She was curious to know, and secretly, was a bit eager to find them herself.
Magic orbs that could give some anything they want just for finding them? So that's what made this planet special. Something like that could hold prove dangerous if the wrong people got their hands on it, but most people would just wish for wealth or power. The limitless potential within them was something that Cabbato could barely comprehend. "Whatever you want? There's so many possibilities." Then she asked him what he would do if he found all Seven, and at first, it was just to get revenge. Wish King Vegeta back alive, and punish him like he deserved. Put him under the same emotional and physical upheaval that Cabbato was put under. To tear him apart with his bare hands and show the King his own beating heart before he passed onto the Otherworld. But something so powerful as the Dragon Balls couldn't be wasted on something so petty and malicious. "I don't know. Immediately I thought of vengeance, but it would be too petty. Then I thought maybe to ask for these feelings of confusion and uneasiness to go away but that would be too selfish. I think I would just give it to someone who needed it more than I did. I can get stronger if I wanted without it, and eventually I'll get my vengeance in Otherworld. Maybe I could pay you back for your kindness. I'm just surprised your Earth government doesn't get hold of these Dragon Balls themselves. Something that powerful could fall into the wrong hands, or bring people from other planets looking for them. So many opportunities."
xxxTera quietly scoffed, "The government is already a hot mess," she informed the extraterrestrial, "I'm just lucky they haven't considered looking for the dragon balls, only gods know what they could do with that power..." She looked directly into Cabbato's eyes, her grin slightly cracking, "Ahaha, don't go and make a wish for me or anything like that, I'm sure there's something that you want, even if you don't know it yet." However, she did agree with Cabbato that any wicked soul would want to have their hands at all seven dragon balls. "Maybe I'll look for those Dragon Balls... Ahahaha!" The woman ended in a dry laugh, followed by a quiet sigh. "With my work schedule, I doubt I'll have the time to look for those Dragon Balls, but it sure does sound cool, any wish you want...?" She puffed one cheek, looking out the window. "Maybe I will look for them on my days off, the day's still young... What are you up to today, Cabbato?" She looked at the man, raising her brows in curiosity.
It was unfortunate to hear even Earth had issues with its government, although hopefully not to the extent of planet Vegeta. "Maybe you could wish for a better government." Cabbato quiped. He couldn't necessarily disagree with Tera, because he really didn't know what he would wish if given the opportunity as everything's he thought of was too selfish. Although, wishing for something that benefited him and could by proxy benefit others would likely be ideal. Wishing for money and opening a homeless shelter, or getting stronger and help protect the planet's people. It's not like they were on a time limit necessarily, they could probably find them faster then most of other citizens of the city. Hearing Tera lament about her lack of free time to properly search for them gave him an idea, a way to pay her back despite her refusing a free wish. Finding all 7 and giving them to her would be more than fair recompense. Cabbato looked back at her when she asked what he was doing for the rest of the day, the answer being the same as every other day. "Wandering. Training. Hunting. Same schedule every day. Why do you ask?"
xxxFrom the way it sounded, it was as if he was some sort of wilderness adventurer. "That's pretty cool," she commented, finishing the rest of her cupcake, and using the cupcake wrapper to dust off her side of the table. "Maybe we can look for the dragon balls!" She grinned and gave a peace sign. "Maybe while we are looking, we can figure out what we would want to wish for," she extended her hand for a handshake, her smile growing, "What do you say?"
There wasn't a better time for dragon ball hunting than now, especially considering that with the two of them searching together, their chances of finding those elusive orbs would be greatly increased. Even better for Cabbato is Tera being there to find them herself, allowing Cabbato to conveniently pass them off to her so she doesn't outright refuse all seven as a gift, but Tera was probably too smart to fall for it or just trusting enough to fall for it. Taking a look at Tera and then down to her extended hand, Cabbato nodded his head in agreement with little hesitation, extending his own to shake her hand. "Then we're partners. There were some mountains I flew over on the way that might be a good spot, as well some islands I was on earlier I didn't check. You can fly right? If not you could hang onto my tail."
xxxTera gave the man a hearty handshake, and nodded her head in agreement. Tera scratched her cheek, "Yeah, I can fly, but just as average as any other human fighter, I guess," she responded, thinking about their first course of action. "Well, we could try the island first, since you have been there, and probably have a better understanding of the grounds there, right?" She would let go of the man's hand, and get up from her seat, tossing her cupcake wrapper in the trash and dusting her hands off. "Ready when you are, dude!"
Cabbato nodded at her recommendation of the islands, incapable of arguing with her logic. Getting up from his seat, Cabbato took a second to stretch himself out before turning towards the exit and heading outside. "Don't fall behind." With that Cabbato lifted himself off the ground, and flew over to the islands in search of the dragon balls.
xxxTera gave a cheeky grin and followed behind Cabbato. "Aye aye!" She ran forward for a few seconds, before jumping off from the ground, flying behind Cabbato towards the island.
Another day, another shopping trip. Rawber had been sent by his mother to pick up some ingredients for dinner, but was told about half way there to take his time. It was an odd thing to say. It couldn't be her preparing for his birthday, could it? She knew he hated surprise parties.
. As Rawber approached the city he noticed a large group of people looking up to one of the local news station TVs. "What has them so entranced?" It was then that he saw the report. The news station had lost all forms of communication with their affiliates in Aoi City. "That can't be good..."
He then sensed someone he hadn't in a long time. He floated up above the town and looked off towards Mt. Paozu. "That can't be her. That feels like a hurricane compared to last time!" He began flying off towards Mt. Paozu. He had to know for sure.
