Disclaimer: No, I don't own any of these characters.

Delicacy

Vegeta awoke with a start. He cursed to himself for falling asleep in such a defenseless predicament. After years of training his body to always be alert, he was surprised he had been so lackadaisical, especially so close to the border. He shut his eyes tight to force the unwanted memories from his mind and sprang up from the deceitful rock which had lulled him to sleep. The morning breeze on his bare body felt cool and liberating. He gazed around the land which surrounded him and a thought snuggled into the back of his mind … home. He looked down at his body, tracing his deep eyes along a large scar which ran down the length of his chest. He had been a young boy when he had let that happen. He let out a light growl in response to the memory; it won't happen again. He then snatched his washed clothes from their hanging position on the tree and stiffly pulled them on his body. He gave a whistle to Ronaldo and the stallion trotted to him with pride shinning in the horse's creamy, brown eyes.

After saddling the ridiculous attire on his horse, Vegeta rode to meet his fellow men. He thought of the woman he now chased. The feisty woman with whom he butted heads was certainly the heiress he sought. She held herself in the demeanor of a princess and spoke with the authority of a ruler. The anticipation was tingling through his veins and Vegeta felt like a giddy school boy. Only he had never gone to school, and he was starting to doubt whether he had actually had a childhood.

Nappa greeting his approaching leader with a slight nod of approval as he could see his sire's mood had turned for the better. Sire, he thought to himself. He kept on forgetting the Saiya-jin had lost their lands; Vegeta would no longer inherit that dutiful task.

Vegeta glared at his surrounding, "and where is Raditz," he question the large man. It was sunrise and they needed to be traveling north. He clenched his knees around Ronaldo at the thought, but no emotion reached his face.

"Bathing, sir," he curtly replied. He had seen his leader tense. Yes, it is resting on my mind as well, thought Nappa.

…

The lizard man was rumored to hold a mythical power, but as the Saiya-jin weren't superstitious people they had disregarded the rumors. Several members of the clan had even entered the Ice-jin territory to test the rumors. None of the men ever returned.

Nappa still remembered the snort of disbelief Vegeta's grandfather had given the reports. "Children and imbeciles," the aging monarch had said, "tested against true Saiya-jin power, these Ice-jin freaks would crumble." With such a confident leader, the entire population believed it to be true.

But, eventually the Ice-jin ruler's anger grew towards the cocky Saiya-jins, and he released his wrath through his wicked son. Half the populace was decimated in one day and their confident leader sat stunned inside his massive hall. There was no time for a counter attack. Nappa stood by his leader as the territory along with their people were torn to pieces.

The King's eyes were slick with tears that he refused to let fall as he gripped the shoulders of his six year old heir. Will he remember me? He questioned himself, but before wallowing in self pity he urged his thoughts onward. He must survive. And in a calm and decisive voice he told the young boy, "You will avenge your people."

The young Vegeta's eyebrows creased in concentration, and Nappa herded the confused boy from the great hall. Nappa believed the boy's face never relaxed after that day. As he was ordered, Nappa retrieved the two brothers, which totaled the four Saiya-jin imparted with the arduous task of keeping the clan alive. One of the borthers was too young to walk but the elder carried him without complaint. The four Saiya-jin snuck out of the territory in the still of the night, before dawn could bring final destruction to the proud Saiya-jin people.

At the edge of the northern land, the young Vegeta stared at his lost land. His face had aged beyond comprehension in the few hours it took to escape. Nappa could physically see the weight trying to topple the six year old boy. Vegeta's face was stern and detached. The large bald man put one fist next to his knee on the ground, bowed his head and stated, "I have and will serve the House of Vegeta with blood and honor, Sire."

The boy glared at his liege, "A Sire doesn't exist anymore." Nappa raised his head to the boy and tried to disagree. "Don't call me that again, Nappa." And with that Vegeta turned and continued the trek away from his home.

…

"Go retrieve that moron, Nappa!" A harsh voice woke Nappa from his memories and he looked again at the fallen prince. Vegeta's face had hardened over the years into the impenetrable mask he had practiced almost his entire life. If the Ice-jin had never attacked, would the man before him be different? "Well Nappa!" the enraged face bellowed at him.

"Yes, sir"

…

Vegeta watched the large man clumsily stumble down to the creek. He then turned his attention towards their destination. Last time he had entered the northern territory, the Ice-jin had known. Vegeta was barely a man when he first attempted to avenge of his people.

…

"Ah, I see the little prince has returned," Frieza cooed as the Saiya-jin was led into the great hall. Vegeta's arms were wrapped around a wooden pole which ran across the length of his back. The Saiya-jin let out a snarl of hatred and Frieze giggled. "Oh, what a delightful sound," the lizard-man teased, "just sends shivers up my spine. You Saiya-jins truly are a delicacy, but I don't think I've ever seen one as delicious as you"

"Fuck y…" A gag was immediately shoved into Vegeta's offensive mouth.

"Now, now, you are going to have to learn to behave little princling." Frieze chuckled with pure enjoyment.

…

Vegeta savagely heeled his steed and the chocolate brown stallion rear up to match his master's mood and then beat upon the ground before streaking across the plain before them. They can catch up, Vegeta thought in anger.

…

Bulma sat at the massive bench and stuffed strawberry after strawberry into her mouth. "I love strawberries," she mumbled to Goku. And she quickly blurted "They're so hard to get back home!" before stuffing, yet again, more strawberries into her mouth. In the east they were a rarity, but here they were everywhere. She was once again pleasantly surprised by what these lands had to offer. She thought she would plan her outings safely, but once her friend had told her about the buffet downstairs, the woman was flying out the door before she could remember any caution.

Goku looked at the usually neat and methodical woman seated before him. She's like a rabid animal! But Goku was glad to see Bulma relaxed, she had been tense ever since the incident on the train. She hadn't told him anything, but he knew something had disturbed her greatly. Seeing that man had definitely shaken him up, but he wasn't going think about that. And for once Goku felt he should be the voice of reason, "Uh…Bulma, you're gonna be sick."

She looks up at him with fiendish eyes and denied his statement of reason with a defiant shake of her head. Then she looked down at the pile of strawberry stems littering the bench before her and succumbed to logic, "Well, I guess your right."

She stared at the little, red fruit as it taunted her just within arm's reach. Unexpectedly, she found that she didn't want the tantalizing food. Now that the scrumptious object was so attainable, she had lost her interest. She shot up from her seat with one arm soaring in the air nearly shocking Goku from his seat. "Ah, ha. I've got it," she excitedly squealed. I just hope Vegeta doesn't have to gorge himself before I become too attainable.