Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ

Chapter 13: Leave

Vegeta looked down at his sleeping bride and still could not believe the situation they were in. They were married, it wasn't exactly how he imagined it but he couldn't have envisioned last night any better than it was. Sure it was both their first time and it was awkward at first but that didn't stop the passion that either of them had.

He couldn't resist placing a soft kiss on her bare shoulder. She whimpered in her sleep and snuggled closer to him. He smirked and placed a kiss at her temple this time.

"Mmm you're awake." He heard her murmur.

"That I am." He said before kissing her neck.

Bulma giggled and leaned back and kissed his lips softly. Vegeta had no reservations about deepening the kiss. Bulma loved how much Vegeta obviously loved to touch and kiss her. She couldn't blame him. After years of denying each other the freedom to even kiss or hold each other it was very liberating to do so without the fear of someone stopping them.

Bulma pulled back and stroke his face. "Should we get up?"

Vegeta looked at her face and hair. He really did like seeing her like this, completely natural and completely his. "Later. Much Later." He said he kissed her again.

Bulma couldn't agree more...

Meanwhile...

Krillian finally gathered enough courage and went inside the tent that was now a well-guarded prison for the blonde woman that was lying across a wooden table. She had been patched up and they had managed to stop the bleeding and close the wound but that didn't help the wound that ran even deeper inside her. She glanced at Krillian and looked back up toward that patchy roof that was made with various cloths and sticks.

"What do you want?" She asked almost sadly.

Krillian hesitated. He really didn't know why he was there. He should have already been on his way back to Yamcha but for some reason he didn't want to return right away.

"I-I wanted to see how you were doing."

"Well now you see." She said deadpan. She felt so lost and confused. She honestly didn't know where to go from there. Her brother, the only person she had ever truly trusted betrayed her. She didn't know if the Namekians were going to kill her or not, but part of her hoped that they did.

Krillian rubbed his bald head trying to think of something to say. He could have sworn he had words prepared and practiced to say to her, but as he stood in front of her his mind became blank. What was it about this woman?

"What are you going to do?"

"Eventually I'll die." She really was leaning toward death. Because of what transpired she was probably wanted in majority of the standing kingdoms. Not to mention the fact that her brother had stupidly tied them to the Northern Tyrant, and if he didn't get what he paid for then he would place a bounty on those who failed him. Plus there was her own tribe who more than likely believed that both she and her brother had betrayed them since they had not sent a message to them for some time now. There was no honor among thieves and very little trust.

Krillian furrowed his eyebrows at her more than depressing response. "There has to be something or someone-"

"There's nothing. You can leave now."

Krillian hung his head and was about to turn to leave when an idea struck his brain. "No there is something."

18 for the first time he had stepped into her room actually looked at him. "What is it?"

"You owe me."

"How so?"

"I got hurt because of you."

"I tended your wounds."

"You also didn't die by Vegeta's hands because of me."

"I was placed in a cell."

"But not dead. How I see it, it's a life for a life. So you have to come with me...until you repay your debt." He ended with a blush.

18 narrowed her eyes at him. "The Namekians will not let me go."

"I'll talk to them. But you have to promise to stay by my side until I say that your debt is paid."

18 rolled her eyes as she assumed his end game. "If you think I'm going to be some kind of concubine-"

Krillian's eyes got big and he waved his hands in a stopping motion. "No! It's not like that at all. Look it's just that you owe me. That's it alright?"

18 was hesitating. She still didn't understand this game he was playing, but on the other hand he could possibly help her not be a wanted outlaw in the neighboring kingdoms. She sighed once she realized she had nothing to lose. "Alright you win...for now." She said as she laid back down.

"Great. I'll go talk to the Namekians." He said as he left out excited.

18 looked back up at her patchy prison. 'What have I gotten myself into?'

On the other side of the Camp...

Goku rubbed the back of his neck nervously for the millionth time as he sat across from his real brother. The whole situation was awkward. He had spent his whole life believing that Vegeta was his brother and now the real thing walks into his life.

Raditz looked down at the cup filled with the odd water that the Namekians gave him. "So all this time you have been raised as the Prince's brother?"

"Yep, that's the whole thing."

"That was very clever of Mother and the Briefs." He then crossed his arms angrily. "I feel like an idiot. I went every direction looking for her instead of there."

Goku gave him a happy smile and said, "What you're looking for is always the last place that you looked."

Raditz scowled at his brother. "That is a stupid saying. It's not helpful at all and only points out the obvious. Why would you even repeat it?"

Goku dropped his smile. "I don't know it's just something people say."

"A saiyan wouldn't say such things."

Goku crossed his arms as well. "Hey I don't know how to be a Saiyan I only know how to be like myself and I plan on keeping it that way."

"What exactly are you trying to say? You don't want to know about your culture?"

"I do, but ever since we started talking you have been criticizing my whole behavior and saying, "Saiyans don't act like that". I'm sorry if it's hard for you to hear but I like the way that I am. I even like my name."

"It's only purpose was for your cover story!"

"Well too bad. I like it a whole lot more than 'Kakarot'. I don't know what your problem is any way."

Raditz was highly annoyed with his brother. He looked exactly like their father but acted completely different. It was almost a childish nature. Bardock was a serious fighter and strategist. Like other Saiyans he said very few kind words and showed little emotion when it came to comfort and sympathy. But Kakarot...he was so emotional that he bet his brother would be upset if a puppy died.

"My problem is that I'm trying to tell you about our Saiyan culture and you are dismissing it for the fantasy that was created for you."

Goku narrowed his eyes. "Well I don't see it that way."

Raditz stood up angrily and cracked his knuckles. "Well let's see if you can at least fight like a Saiyan."

Goku stood up as well and cracked his neck. "Alright. Nothing like a good fight after breakfast."

Nappa watched the scene from a distance away. He didn't know what he and Raditz had stumbled upon but he was getting more annoyed by the second. Even though their prince was finally found, the fact that he was completely obsessed with an outsider bothered him. There weren't too many Saiyans left so it was up to the remaining ones to repopulate. The Prince should have been the prime example. But there was no use trying to point that out to him. The boy was like his father and was married now to the girl. He had only wished the assassins would have made it out with her.

Nappa walked over to the Saiyan brothers just as they settled into their fighting stances. "So will it be older brother or little brother?"

"Can it Nappa." Raditz said.

Goku smirked at his brother and gave a come hither motion. "Ladies first."

This made Nappa roar with laughter and quickly angered Raditz. Deciding not to go easy on him after that comment he charged and quickly punched him in the gut. Goku took the punch wanting to test his brother's strength and realized that he was almost as strong as Vegeta. At least that's what he could tell with one punch. He grabbed his brother's arm and then hip tossed him away from him only to deliver a blow to his side. Raditz in turn stumbled back and was surprised by the move.

"I see you have some skill."

"Well I might not have been trained in the Saiyan ways, but I still trained."

"You could use some improvement." Raditz started trading blows with his brothers and over a short period time he noticed that his brother was starting to mimic his moves. A natural talent that he knew his father had possessed. Over time his brother would be a force to reckon with.

Raditz decided to think things up a notch and surprised Goku by bending into a crouching position and then jumping to deliver a triple kick to his side, face, and back. Goku stumbled back and fell to the ground in shock. "What was that?"

Raditz smirked and Nappa spoke again. "That is a common move in Saiyan fighting. There is a reason why people would call us monkeys. We deliver combinations that makes it seem like we have a third appendage...or tail. This particular style of fighting is also one of the many reasons why our race was and is such a threat to the Northern Tyrant."

Goku for the first time was fascinated by his family's culture. "Wow. Can you show me how to fight like that?"

Raditz laughed at his brother. "I just did. Don't worry I noticed that your fighting style is like father's. You will get it eventually. I'm not really a good teacher anyways."

Nappa walked over to Goku and examined him. "It's actually not the Saiyan way to teach. We are people of action. The best way to teach something is to expose your weakness and exploit it until you learn to get rid of it."

Goku thought about that for a moment. "That's funny, because you just described Vegeta."

That was something that both Nappa and Raditz were pleased to hear. They hadn't spent that much time with Vegeta and were a little worried that they their prince would be like Goku when it came to their culture. To know that their prince had unknowingly been practicing Saiyan culture really gave them hope.

Nappa grabbed Goku's shoulder and said, "Come and tell us everything you know about the Prince."

Goku smiled and nodded his head. "Alright."

...

Piccolo was mediating near the river trying to concentrate but he gave up once he realized that his visitor was not going to say anything. "What do you want Krillian?"

Krillian blushed as he emerged from around a tree. "I wasn't spying or anything, I only wanted to wait until you were done because I didn't want to disturb you."

"Well it's too late for that." He said as he stood up and cracked his neck. He then looked at him suspiciously. "What do you want?"

Krillian exhaled a shaky breath, he didn't know what it was about this guy but he kind of freaked him out. "Well, I was curious of what you were going to do with 18?"

Piccolo sighed. "I am not the leader nor do I have any command in this place. Why do you people keep coming to me?"

Krillian's eyes widened in confusion. "Are you serious? You snap your fingers and everyone listens to you."

"My father is the leader and my brother will take his place. I am merely a second opinion. Nothing more."

"Well whether you see it or not people listen and respect you."

Piccolo found that hard to believe. He was an outcast that left his people for curiosity and adventure. They had only recently welcomed him back. "The girl will more than likely be left to you and your kind to decide her fate. My people may have their share of warriors, but we are still a people of peace. They won't do anything to her, especially since she was betrayed and left for dead."

"Yea her brother is really something else." Krillian seethed while balling up a fist.

Piccolo observed him and snorted. "It's obvious that you care for the girl but keep in mind that if her brother so easily betrayed her she will probably betray you as well."

Krillian for some reason disagreed. "I will keep that in mind. I will talk to the others and see what they think."

Piccolo nodded to him and left him by the river. He needed to find his father. With everything that was going on it was evident that they needed to talk. He found him coming out of Guru's hut and greeted him with a nod of his head. "Kame I must speak with you."

Kame frowned at him and led him to his personal tent. They sat around the middle of the teepee-like structure where a fire was burning in the middle. Kame sat down and outstretched his hands towards the fire. The morning had a chill that was getting to him more and more each day. It was a gentle reminder that he was getting older and was soon going to have to be replaced. He looked at his son who was still standing then brought his eyes back to the flames.

"Are you too prideful to sit with your father?"

Piccolo hesitantly sat down across him. "Kame-"

"Why do you insist on insulting me be calling me by my given name instead of the title that you were born to give me?"

Piccolo frowned. "You were the one that told me I was no longer your son."

Kame looked him in the eyes. "You disobeyed me. You left your people behind."

"It is your life goal to keep everyone trapped here."

"I am protecting them from danger."

"Yes because keeping them from the outside has completely stopped outsiders from coming here."

"You are the one that brought the girl here."

"Was I to leave her to die? Was that something that our community of peace would have wanted?" Piccolo yelled with rage.

Kame shook his head. "No it is not. I am angry with you not because of your recent actions or even your past choices, but only because of the choice I know you will soon make."

"Which is?"

"You are going to leave with them."

Piccolo smirked. As much as he couldn't stand his father he hated to admit that he knew him. "I was considering it."

"I believe it is the best choice. You could not find your path here and refused to let me help you. So you tried to find it out on your own, but it was not the right time. Now I believe it is."

"And you are willing to let me go after all the animosity I received the first time?"

"I have faith that when you return you will do what it is right."

Piccolo shook his head in disbelief. "After all this time you still want me to replace you?"

"You are a leader no matter how much you run from it. When you return I believe that it will be time for me to take Guru's place and you will take mine."

Piccolo could not believe what his father was saying. "And what of Nail?"

Kame looked back into the flames. "Your brother already knows. Already has known for some time."

Piccolo nodded in understanding. "Explains why he has been so hostile toward me lately."

"Nail is a strong Namekian, but unfortunately it has been his destiny to follow. Even though he has his opinions, I believe that he would even follow young Dende to avoid making any final decision. He cannot stand to be wrong. A good leader must be able to admit such things."

Piccolo stared at his father for a moment. "I did not say I was wrong about my choice."

Kame only smirked. "I never said that you had to admit it out loud. Your actions will always speak for you. You have returned and that is enough for me and the people. But you don't believe you were completely wrong and that is fine."

"You are right. I will prepare for my journey." He said as he stood up to leave out.

"Piccolo..."

Piccolo turned his head and looked at his father from the side.

"When you call me 'Father' will be the day that I know you are ready to take my place."

Piccolo nodded and then left out.

Later...

Vegeta found himself blushing furiously once he and Bulma stepped into the feasting hall for lunch. The reason for that was the applause he was receiving from the Namekians. The women instantly seated them and was explaining which foods to eat where best for fertility. Goku joined them and was grinning at Vegeta once more.

"One word from you Kakarot and I swear I will kill you."

Goku raised his hands in defense and continued to eat. Raditz and Nappa later joined their table. "So where to next?" Nappa asked.

"We go to Roshi's."

Nappa raised an eyebrow. "The Hermit? You mean to get us armor."

Raditz's eyes became large. "Saiyan armor?"

Vegeta nodded. "We will need it to do battle."

Bulma washed down the food that was in her mouth with some of the fresh water that was given to her then spoke. "So when do we leave?"

Vegeta glared at his wife and with a serious tone said, "You are not going anywhere. You will be safe here."

Bulma crossed her arms in anger. "Really because I was sure that since I've been here, I've been shot with an arrow, nearly drowned and had two assassins come after me."

"She has a point." Goku said with a mouthful of food.

Vegeta glared at him and then Nappa chimed in. "As much as I hate to have someone that could slow us down, it would be even worse if we had to come all the way back here because you believed she was in danger again."

"I agree." Said Raditz.

Vegeta growled and then briefly glanced at his bride. "Fine. You may come. But I'm warning you Woman this will not be some sort of vacation."

"I know." Bulma said excited for her adventure to continue.

Just then Krillian walked in and joined the table. "Vegeta-"

"Prince Vegeta." Raditz, Nappa, and Vegeta all said at the same time.

"Whoa, sorry. I was thinking that I would like to join you guys."

Nappa scoffed. "The more the merrier."

Vegeta narrowed his eyes at him. "Don't you wish to go back to Yamcha?"

"I do, but the thing is...I don't really-well the thing is-"

"Spit it out!"

"The Namekians will release 18 in my care and Yamcha will probably have her killed for betraying him."

It was silent for a moment until they all spoke at once.

Bulma said, "Why would you want her in your care?"

"She tried to kill Bulma!" Vegeta yelled.

"We should do away with her ourselves." Nappa said.

"She can't be trusted." Raditz chimed in.

While Goku said, "Wait what?"

Krillian felt sweat drip down his head and raised his hands for the second time that day in defense. "She never meant harm to Bulma. It was her brother. The same guy that just recently betrayed her. She has no one and-"

"You want her." Raditz sneered.

Krillian blushed. "I'm only trying to help."

Nappa wanted to punch him across the room. "Are you insane? She could lead us into a trap or try to kill us in our sleep or-"

"She may come." Vegeta said shocking everyone at the table.

Nappa growled in anger. "But sire-"

"I prefer to keep my enemies close. Besides, she may have valuable information that I will need. We leave within the hour. So ready yourselves." He said standing up. Bulma followed after him and stopped him once they were outside. "Vegeta, so soon?"

"We don't need to waste time."

Bulma stepped closer and trailed a finger up his bicep. "I was hoping to go back to our tent after lunch."

Vegeta blushed and stepped away from her while looking around. "Woman not in public."

"I agree."

Vegeta turned his head to see Piccolo standing near them with a sack draped over his shoulder. "And where do you think you're going?"

Piccolo smirked. "With you."

Authors Note: Next chapter the team sets out. Who will become great allies on this quest and who will become a foe? Love will flourish and betrayals will happen. Next stop, Master Roshi! He won't be what any of them will expect...Please REVIEW!