Chapter 4
Almost done with the prologue portion of the story! Whoo! Getting to the good stuff :D :D :D
Also, I doubt there is anyone whose been breathlessly awaiting the next chapter but still, sorry I didn't post this Friday! Busy, busy weekend!
Her nerves were slowly settling as she pulled on her gloves and tried to forget about the scene in front of the tent. What did she care if they went off to mess around with some random girls. She had better things to do than worry over what he was or wasn't doing. Better things to do then think about how much older those girls were then her. Better things to do then, she shook her head. 'Come on Usa,' she thought to herself, 'get it together'.
She knew that the girl waiting in the ring for her was not going to take it easy on her. She didn't really know why but she had always had the feeling that Talia had it out for her. So she knew she had to bring her best out.
The next thing she new Rei was pulling her out of the tent and towards the ring.
"Come on! You're about to be late."
They hurried to the competition grounds and Rei stopped as Usagi ducked under the rope and stepped into the cordoned off arena. As usual the fact that the Moon Princess was competing drew a large crowd. She clenched her fists to keep her hands from trembling. Her eyes swept back to Rei and widened as a familiar wild haired Prince slipped in beside her friend. He crossed his arms across his chest and gave her a nod. She turned around to face her opponent feeling more confident then ever, bouncing on the balls of her feet she stepped forward, ready to begin.
The girl Usagi was facing was taller than her and definitely more muscled. She had her dark brown hair cut short and pulled back in a low ponytail. A small scar just to left of her right eye was from a battle she had been in during a patrol. She had real combat experience and she was ready to use it. The whistle blew and the other girl wasted no time darting forward and savagely attacking the moon princess. The blonde was immediately put on the defensive and every time she tried to make an attack it resulted in another blow to her body.
Vegeta could feel his muscles tighten as he watched the smaller girl get pounded. He knew this wasn't a fight she was going to win but he'd be damned if she wasn't given it her all. When he heard the sharp crack of a broken bone he waited for Usagi to signal the fight over but instead she shifted to protect the wounded side, just as he'd taught her, and kept on.
It was taking every ounce of willpower for him not to jump in the ring and a glance at the senshi who had all appeared around him made it clear he wasn't the only one. They were not enjoying seeing their princess suffer this kind of abuse. Still, only those currently fighting could call an end to the fight.
It seemed to go on forever but finally Usagi on both knees held her hand up to signal the end of the fight. She could feel tears burning in her eyes but she refused to cry. She felt, rather than saw, her senshi surround her. Rei on one side and Makato on the other. They helped her up and she made herself raise her head high. She may have been beaten but she knew she held her own well.
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Vegeta wasn't sure if he would see her that night but sure enough there was. Bandaged up and sitting with her eyes closed on her favorite bench in her mother's garden. He was also surprised her senshi weren't there with her. Though they probably assumed she'd lay low tonight after her rough match. Still something had told him she'd be out and so once his own guards had gone to bed he slipped out on his own.
"Shouldn't you be resting?" He asked.
"Shouldn't you? You've got another match."
He could hear just a trace of bitterness in her voice that he was still advancing and she had been beaten. He stepped closer and stopped in front of her crossing his arms over his chest.
"You did well. That other girl was more experienced. There is no better teacher than experience."
Blue eyes snapped open and met brown. They stared at each other for a long time before a determined look hardened Usagi's cerulean gaze. She stood up and held her hands out in a defensive stance.
"Show me what I did wrong."
Vegeta didn't even bother to hide the surprise. She had to be kidding.
"No."
Her hands dropped slowly and tears threatened to fall. He pushed her gently down onto the bench and sat next to her.
"It's been a long day. Let's save this.." he was caught of guard by a pair of soft lips meeting his. Reflexively he put his hand up and slid it over her check and into her hair which had been left down and loose. He pressed his mouth more firmly against hers until she sighed and then he jerked himself back to reality and stumbled up and away from her.
"What the..?"
He almost groaned when she looked up at him eyes half-closed, her mouth reddened from their short kiss. He really wished she wasn't looking at him like that.
Slowly the haze cleared from her eyes and she blushed and looked down at her hands which were twisting together in her lap.
"I.. um.." Usagi stammered, she wasn't really sure how to begin to explain her actions. She was frustrated from the fight. Still thinking about Vegeta leaving with those other girls and so kissing him seemed like a good idea in the moment.
"Made a mistake.. it's fine." Vegeta finished for her and regretted the words the minute they left his mouth. She looked up, wounded.
"A mistake?"
"Well yes, I mean you can't think that you.. and I.."
"You and I what?" Her voice became slightly shrill and she stood up her hands on her hips as she stared angrily at him.
"Am I not good enough for the mighty Saiyan Prince?"
"That has nothing to do with it. You're practically a child!"
"You didn't seem to think so a minute ago, when you kissed me back."
They glared at each other and Vegeta threw up his hands and turned to leave. This was not exactly how he had seen the night going.
"Go to bed Usagi, we're forgetting this ever happened."
"Fine."
"Fine."
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Usagi slipped in the window she had left open and threw herself on her bed. All the frustration from the day poured out and she couldn't help the tears that finally began to flow. What had she even been thinking? Kissing him like that.
She remembered when her Minako and Rei had finished changing for training a month ago and set out to find the Saiyans. She had been surprised when she saw Vegeta to feel a strange warmth in her chest. She wasn't sure why but she had never noticed how handsome he was or thought about how kind he was to her and thoughtful. She knew Rei had thought the same about Raditz. And so when they had been waiting for the Saiyans to get ready Minako had come up with her stupid plan to help them get the guy's attention. Though thinking back, she wasn't even sure why she wanted it in the first place.
She set up and tossed a pillow across the room. All of it was for nothing anyway. Vegeta just saw her as some kid he was helping out. No amount of flirting with other boys or cute training outfits was going to change his mind. And what of Endymoin? One look at the Saiyan Prince and she had just forgotten all about him? Still there was just something so different about Vegeta. There was just more.
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Vegeta slipped in the door to his room and began getting ready for bed. His mind was still trying to process the events of the last hour. Usagi was upset. Then she was kissing him. Then she was pissed off. He shook his head. None of it even made sense. And it's not like he cared either, right? She was just a kid. She was turning into a teenager and clearly her hormones were driving her crazy.
He slipped on a pair of black shorts but before he could lie down there was a knock on his door and Raditz barged in without waiting for an answer.
"How is she?"
Vegeta scowled and didn't feel inclined to answer, "what are you doing in here?"
Raditz gaze turned serious which immediately alerted the Saiyan Prince to something odd going on. Usually his friend was the carefree type, it was Nappa he expected this stern look from.
"We're leaving tomorrow afternoon. There was an attack back home. We managed to drive them off but your father wants our battalion to go after them and make sure it doesn't happen again. He said to be prepared to be gone.. for awhile."
Vegeta ran his hand through his dark hair. Too many surprises in one night.
"Do you think we should tell.." Raditz trailed off uncertain when Vegeta looked up at him sharply. He knew Raditz was going to want to find some way to get communication to the girls. After seeing them every evening for a month for the past few years it was hard not to form some sort of attachment. Foolish maybe, but not surprising.
"I'll figure something out. It's unlikely we will see them before we leave. We'll have to get some supplies here for the trip home and start getting in touch with the other men who might be on leave."
"She'll be pissed, they all will."
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When Usagi woke up the next morning there was a small crate outside her door with a note stuck to the top.
"We've been called away to battle. I may be gone awhile. You can still reach me on the communicator. This should keep you company. Keep training."
Despite the lack of signature she knew who it was from and her eyes watered for the second time because of that stupid Saiyan. Still she reached down and opened the lid to find a small gray and black striped kitten curled inside. It opened purple eyes and blinked up at her before issuing a tentative meow. Inside the crate was another note, this time in more feminine writing.
Princess, Prince Vegeta asked me to send you my cat's new kitten. My father was going to make me give her away so I'm glad she's going to a good home. Saiyan cats get very attached to their owners so please keep her forever. She's old enough to eat shredded meat and once she gets older she'll probably mostly hunt her own food. Please look out for her. -Lila
The blonde princess snuggled the cat to her chest. "I'll call you Luna."
Sorry for the short chapter but I'm eager to really get into their story. The last few chapters was building the foundation of the relationship because I hate when characters meet and fall in love in a day. Come on now! That's not how it works. See you all next week! *kisses*
