A/N: Well, here's Chapter 8. Thanks to Ryo-chan wofgirl, DBZTomboy, and Vegeta il Principe Dei Saiyan for the reviews on Chapter 7. Enjoy.

Disclaimer: DBZ and it's characters are not mine, they belong to Akira Toriyama.

...

Lornai lifted her head to see a questioning pair of onyx eyes looking down at her. Raditz.

"Uh..I. ...I'm...I'm okay...thanks ", the Parithian female stammered.

"Anytime", the long-haired Saiyan replied.

There was a husky tone to his voice as he slowly unwrapped his arms from around her waist seemingly reluctant to do so. He had powerfuly muscled arms that could easily break her in half but he'd held her as if she were made of glass. When Raditz didn't have that semi-permanent scowl on his face he was actually quite handsome and that hair! The spiky mass appeared as if the texture of it would be stiff and coarse but it was like a curtain of black silk. A black and brown armored breastplate hid a chiseled chest Lornai had gotten a clear view of once in the training room a few days ago. She hoped he hadn't noticed her blantantly staring at him that day.

Getting involved with anyone on Frieza's ship was practically suicide, especially with a Saiyan but...

Raditz thought his heart was going to surely stop beating when he felt a light nip on his right ear lobe. That was something Saiyan females did to show they were interested in a male. The woman even stood jutting out her right shoulder and smirking at him. By the Saiyan custom if HE nipped at a female's shoulder it meant he returned the sentiment. Where had SHE picked up that? As he leaned over and gave the Parithian's shoulder a gentle nip, Raditz decided maybe he DIDN'T hate Turles after all. It didn't matter what had or hadn't happened in the past the young Saiyan was only concerned with the present. And Raditz was in no hurry, he wasn't about to chase her off if he had the slightest chance.

He sensed a strong ki approaching, it was Nappa, and moved. The female stepped back, she must have felt it too.

"Mind your own damn business, Raditz! And leave me the hell alone!" Lornai snarled as she stormed off. Raditz hadn't missed the conspiratorial wink before she had lashed out at him.

"Damned moody females! WHO THE HELL CAN FIGURE THEM OUT?" Raditz raged as he played along with their little ruse for Nappa's benefit. He punched the corridor wall as he stomped into the direction of his and Nappa's quarters.

Nappa couldn't hold back a cruel smile. Things were working out after all.

Jeice kicked the wall as he entered his room on Frieza's ship. He'd been SO CLOSE! And then to have to see one of those filthy apes pawing on Lornai, with her obvious consent! What had he done so wrong? Oh yeah, he'd called the Saiyans 'filthy monkeys'. SO WHAT? It wasn't like she was one of them. Did she carry a torch for that repulsive Turles? Surely not. That obnoxious Saiyan had left six years ago! The Parithian didn't really think he was coming back did she? Besides, Jeice was certain that any notions about a relationship between the two had to exist ONLY in Dodoria's twisted imagination.

Jeice had also said the female was acting like one of the Saiyan brutes. He couldn't help it. First Lornai was trying to outdrink that bald buffoon Nappa, then she was starting a brawl and eating someone's FINGERS! That was SO disgusting! He'd almost lost the meal they had eaten beforehand.

Jeice certainly understood how easily a fight could start in that kind of establishment, but to absolutely relish the idea? Lornai had spent entirely too much time around Saiyans, that was also the only reasonable explanation for her behavior when she had returned to the baseship. But of course, that shaggy- haired beast had clearly taken complete advantage of the situation.

Frieza kept a tight leash on the Saiyans these days so Jeice didn't worry about any possible 'monkey business' between Lornai and the walking hairball. He'd give the woman a while to cool off and he'd try again.

...

Lornai sat on the bed in her room. She'd put in her own years ago since the standard bunks on Frieza's ship were way too small and were like sleeping on a rock. Did she really want to get involved with someone again? A Saiyan in particular? She supposed her background made her gravitate towards them.

(Flashback)

Lornai brushed off her hands and settled back into her seat at the bar in Gaylos' Tavern. Four Anelorians had decided to harass her and she had quickly put the purple wasp-like creatures in their place. She noticed a dark-skinned fellow with short spiky black hair observing her. The furry brown tail at his waist identified him as a Saiyan. Leaving his seat, the Saiyan walked over and took the seat beside her.

"Nice work with the Anelorians", he smirked.

"A light workout", the Parithian female sniffed.

The Saiyan gave a harsh laugh as he brazenly traced the flowing script branded on her right bicep. "An Argayan, I'm impressed".

"Not too many know of our existence", Lornai mused.

"Until it's too late", the dark-skinned Saiyan snickered. "I'm Turles and I have a proposition for you".

The female assassin looked over the Saiyan male. He wore black and silver armor and black boots. Turles had the typical Saiyan muscular build with black hair and black eyes but unlike most Saiyans his skin was deeply tanned.

"You're cute but you're not THAT cute!" Lornai quipped.

The Saiyan roared with genuine laughter. The woman had nerve, he liked that.

"I was referring to a business proposition," Turles stated.

The Saiyan had eventually talked her into using her skills as part of a mercenary team that proved quite profitable after a while. Eventually it became just the two of them, the profits were greater that way.

When Turles got wind of the lucrative Planet Trade Organization, he did his best to convince the overlord known as Lord Frieza to accept him and the Parithian female as a team in his service. At first the Ice-Jin had been highly amused at the thought of a female in his employ in a warrior's capacity. A trial basis was suggested by the Saiyan and Frieza had been delighted at the end result. Not only did the team purge planets in record each had taken the time to instruct the other in their unique fighting techniques and together they were a deadly force indeed.

Even though he seemed a cold monster to most, being brought up by a Saiyan, the Parithian understood why Turles behaved as he did. But then she was also the only one to see the teasing, joking Turles.

Not trusting the men of Frieza's army, the dark-skinned Saiyan made sure that they kept their distance from the female. As for himself, Turles kept a completely professional relationship with the woman. They shared twelve years as a team. However, after Lornai had deliberately defied Frieza's orders and retrieved the badly wounded Saiyan from planet Kelos, things began to change. The Parithian had braved the dreaded Kelosan army as well the wrath of Frieza. She'd been severely punished when she returned to the baseship. No one had EVER cared about him to risk that much.

Because of the fact that the female had risked her life to spare his, Turles started to see her in a different way entirely. Lornai would catch him staring at her occasionally like he never had before. Any chance of contact was quickly seized by the Saiyan even if it was just to brush against her as she handed him something.

The nightmare started again as always. A Saiyan female in blue and gold armor kicking the two-year-old Parithian female across a cold stone floor. 'I won't cry, the hateful Saiyan female would NOT force her to shed tears' the child thought. And then an absolutely white hot pain seared through her back. Cruel laughter rang in her ears as Lornai began to scream...

Turles leapt out of his bed, the Parithian female's ki was fluctuating wildly and he was sure he had heard her scream. Stepping into his boots and throwing his armor over his shoulder, he sped to her room. He'd put it on before he returned to his own room. It wouldn't do to be caught leaving the woman's room clad in only the shorts he wore now. Punching in the code he knew all too well, Turles burst into the woman's room. Lornai was sitting up in her bed, shivering and tears pouring down her face. The Saiyan sat on the edge of the bed.

"The dream again?" Turles asked gently. He knew what the female considered her shameful secret.

Lornai nodded, too upset to speak.

The Saiyan wrapped his tail around her waist and pulled her to him. Lornai sobbed into his shoulder as he rubbed her back and nuzzled the top of her head. The woman was making him soft, Saiyans didn't do this. He smirked, there wasn't much he wouldn't do for her. What did the woman put in her hair? It smelled so good. And what was she wearing?

It suddenly ocurred to Lornai that she was lying on a bare muscled shoulder wearing what must seem like just a scrap of material to the Saiyan.

Her eyes went wide as she realized Turles was brushing the top of her head with his lips not the tip of his nose as he did before. The casual touch at her back had become a caress. Suddenly, the young Saiyan lifted her chin and covered her lips with his. Turles braced himself for the stinging slap or kick elsewhere he was surely going to get,instead a pair of soft arms encircled his neck. A loud purr rumbled through the Saiyan's chest as he pulled the female closer. Lornai stifled a giggle as Turles kissed her eyelids, her cheeks and nipped at her neck. He recaptured her lips and was easing her back onto the bed without a single protest...

Lornai woke at the usual hour but with one very noticeable difference. She was lying on a bare muscled chest, a pair of tanned arms and a furry tail wrapped around her. Turles was purring in his sleep, he awoke hearing the woman's soft laughter. Giving Lornai a hungry kiss, he sat up and reached for his armor and clothing.

"Much as I regret having to do so, I'd better get out of here before Dodoria or worse comes sniffing around", Turles murmured against the forehead of the Parithian elite. With another kiss , he walked out of the room.

Halfway down the corridor to his own room, Turles ran smack into Dodoria.

"A little early to be receiving orders, isn't it monkey?" Dodoria sniped.

Turles shrugged, "We wanted to get an early start."

Dodoria growled. Frieza really needed to listen to him far more than he did where those two were concerned.

Not being able to leave Frieza's service was a bitter pill for Turles to swallow. The Saiyan had been the one who had chosen that he and the Parithian female would be part of Frieza's army, not knowing it was enslavement.

When King Cold requested someone for an assignment, Frieza had sent Turles. Frieza had scoffed at the idea of his father wishing to find the legendary 'Tree of Might'.

Little did the lizard-tyrant know that Turles had already found the Tree. The Saiyan hoped to plant enough seeds in order to gain power from eating the fruit to the extent that he would be powerful enough to defeat Frieza. For now, he would escape the Ice-Jin under the guise that he was on a mission for King Cold.

Frieza suspected that Turles was planning something. When the Saiyan sent a message for the Parithian to meet him on planet Tanisa, the Ice-Jin sent Ginyu to prevent the female from joining her teammate.

Jeice had found a horribly beaten, bruised and bloody Lornai in the hall leading to the launching bay. His scouter had barely picked up any sign of life.

"What tha bloomin' hell happened to ya?" Jeice demanded as the woman stirred slightly.

"Gin-phew dropped in to

say hello," Lornai choked out.

" 'Ow many times 'ave Ah tol' ya to watch yer mouth 'round tha Cap'n?" the red-skinned Ginyu Force member scolded.

"I was handling that purple nightmare just fine, when Burtur and Recoome joined the party then things started to get a LITTLE difficult," the female quipped before she slipped into unconciousness.

Jeice had carried the Parithian female to the medical wing. It had taken three days in a regeneration tank for her to fully recover. She was told that Turles had come to the ship, gathered his belongings and had abruptly left again. He had not even bothered to ask about the woman.

For a while she'd been hopeful that Turles would return, days turned to weeks, and finally into years with no reply from the dark-skinned Saiyan. Lornai had no way of knowing that Turles believed her dead.

(End of flashback)

Lornai wiped a tear from her face, Turles was NEVER coming back. It was time to move on.

...

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daughterofrisingsun