*Hi all! Here is another chapter! Yay! I hope you enjoy it and let me know what you think. I'm in the process of editing the next two chapter. One may be ready by the end of the month. Thank you once again for reading, reviewing, and sticking with me during this long journey.

Give Me Back My Mate!

Chapter 25

Chichi tripped. Her entire body fell backwards, landing on the scattered rocks. She tried to scramble away, but the brute male grabbed her leg and jerked, almost crushing her limb with one simple grip. He continued grinning down at her. It was a futile escape and they both knew it.

"Calm down, female. This wont take long." He growled and took a fist full of her pants to rip away.

This can't be happening! Chichi screamed inwardly and held up her hands, trying to find the smallest spark of energy in her body.

"I get second dibs." One laughed arrogantly, causing Chichi to loose a scream from the back of her throat.

Just as the male was about to tear her clothing, something bright caught her eye and landed right beside them in the mud. It forced her attacker to stop and turn, growling from the interruption.

Above in the trees. It was another male, but he seemed different than all the other evil beings on the ground. His eyes were filled with anger, but when he looked at her, there was nothing but confusion.

"Get lost. I found her first." Snarled the male that was about to make Chichi his meal.

Without a second thought, the Saiyan female grabbed the knife that was sticking out of the ground, pulled it free, and sliced as deeply as she could into flesh. The male yelped and groaned, forcing him to his knees just as Chichi dashed away into the jungle of trees.

"After her!" He howled, but Chichi had managed getting out of range before arrows began striking all around her.

The adrenaline pumping in her veins kept her moving. She ran on shaking legs, causing her to run into trees as she dashed around the forest maze. It was a chase. And Chichi was the prey. She could feel them hunting her, smelling her, and high threatening levels of the intent to kill placed right on her back.

Just as Chichi made it to a clearing, her body was thrown to the ground. She had been caught, but that didn't mean she was going down so easily. After everything she had been through, this was not going to be her death bed. With a thrust of her elbow, the Saiyan warrior made contact, knocking the male from her back as she bolted again. When she turned, she gasped. It was the one who had saved her back at the stream.

The male shook his head and stumbled to his feet. His look of confusion turned into a "what the fuck" glare. She wasn't sure if she could trust him, or except his help when his hand outreached towards her. Was this a trick?

"If you don't want to get torn to shreds, take my hand." He quietly offered. A offer that was quickly passing her by.

It was her only option. Running as weak as she was would only last so long. She couldn't fly or stand to fight, so her only choice was to take the hand of this stranger of a different world. When she placed her small hand in his, Chichi was jerked over his shoulder, forcing her to cling to him. He was strong. His muscles flexed and his breathing never wavered from her extra weight to his body as he began climbing into the trees. She closed her eyes tightly together, her only hope of not being dropped into the snarling predators below.

When Chichi opened her eyes, she found it to be dark and something warm was pressed against her back. Something warm and lightly breathing on her neck. She tensed and tried to push her self away, only to find herself slipping and being caught as she hung from the branches. A gasp escaped her lips as she looked down into the forest floor, only to find it completely dark and quiet. She looked up at the one who caught her. It was the male who saved her that day. His face was worried for her as he pulled the light female back up on their perch, but he looked away with a blush as she settled on the large limb.

"Thank you." Chichi whispered, unsure if they were in a safe place to speak.

"You are welcome." He answered back, but never looked in her direction.

"Are we-"

"Safe? Yes." He interrupted her. "The Mongrels have returned to their den."

"Mongrels?" Chichi asked, wondering if he was meaning the group of males.

"They are a blood thirsty pack. Running into them will only mean one or two things. Your death. Or..." He gulped and shook his head, trying to hide a grimace in his long hair, and refusing to say the next 'thing' which Chichi already had a guess at what that was. "You injured their Alpha today. They will come looking for you at first light. We must get to my village before they begin their hunt."

"I can't!" Chichi blurted out, shocking the young male that sat before her. "I mean, I can't without the others. I'm not alone."

"Where have you come from?" He asked, hitting a very sensitive subject for her. Did she really need to tell him how and why she was there in the first place? She owed him that much for saving her life. But did she still trust him enough with the lives of her son and the Saiyan Queen?

They will be scared to death since I didn't come back!

"I have to go."

"Wait!" He pleaded with her, and grabbed her shoulders to look her eye to eye. During all the rush and moments to save her ass, she finally got a close up view of this male. His pupils filled most of his large grey irises as he gazed upon her with worry and embarrassment tinting his blushing cheeks. He was not horrid to look at in the slightest, and had a body build to make anyone cringe and run with their tails between their legs. "Come back to my village with me. The Mongrels will hunt you down out here. This is their territory and they will kill you for what you have done to their Alpha. If there are others, we can bring them as well." Power. Skill. He could snap her in half in this moment if he wanted to, yet he was offering them sanctuary.

Protection? From a stranger? How could he trust her when he knew nothing about her? But it was their only chance wasn't it? If the Mongrels did as this young male said, then they would truly be in danger.

"What is your name?"

She hesitated but answered, "Chichi."

Bulma was worried to death when Chichi didn't make it back to camp. She was sure the weak female had collapsed somewhere but there were no signs of Chichi anywhere. If Gohan wasn't in her care, she would have searched the forest for his mother. The only thing she could do was stay alert and watch the camp, but that soon made her too nervous. So she decided to give the space POD's another look over. There had to be a way to get the damn things charged and working again, but without tools, it made it a little more difficult.

She was deeply entranced with the wiring when she heard something rustling up in the trees. Thinking it was only a bird, Bulma continued working with the circuits she found under the seat.

"Oh my God! This is it!" She happily announced and began pulling out wires that were chard and frayed. She could fix them easily, but with time, by stripping the old damaged parts and reconnecting them. Finally good news to her tired weary eyes.

"Bulma!"

The voice of the one who crept up on her made a scream form in the back of her throat but a hand clamped tightly over her mouth as she was about to release it. She struggled a moment until the hand released her.

"Bulma, it's me!" Chichi said from behind her, causing the rapidly beating heart to slightly relax.

"Chichi!" She squealed as she flipped around to only stiffen from the male standing with the raven haired Saiyan.

"Calm down! Everything alright," Chichi tried to ease her but the male...Did she not see him? He was freaking huge and scary as hell with eyes that pierced the night. "Bulma, we need to get out of here. Its not safe."

"What are you talking about, Chichi? And who the hell is that?" She nervously asked while looking between the two.

"There isn't much time." The male whispered down to them and turned towards the trees as if he was on guard.

"Bulma," Chichi spoke sternly, getting the Queens attention. The look in her eyes were serious, meaning there was a very good reason behind it all. With uncertainty, Bulma nodded her head and rushed to their tent. If Chichi thought this was the best decision, who was she to disagree? Because she was Queen? That didn't matter here. Not on this unknown planet they were stranded on.

Chichi helped gather some of their belongings. When she placed a sleeping Gohan in her arms, the strange male stood before them with a small leather pouch.

"Rub this on the soles of your feet." He instructed as he showed them what to do with the black powder type substance inside the bag. "This will throw off your scent."

"Our scent?" Bulma asked but was only responded with "Trust him," from Chichi.

She had no other choice and did as she was told. As soon as they arrived to where they were going, Chichi would have a lot of explaining to do.

"Chichi. Where. The. Hell. Are. We?"

"I-I don't know." Chichi stuttered. She was absolutely amazed. The sun was just beginning to perk up over the never ending hill tops, shinning brightly on a large village in a valley up ahead. Her eyes scanned the structure of the over sized gates surrounding it. A perfect place to seek safety.

"This is my village." The male spoke up. It was the first thing he had said since they left from camp. It was spectacular.

"Amazing." Chichi gaped as they drew closer.

"Let me do all the talking when we enter." He advised, keeping close to them when villagers came into view. "They are not kind to new-comers."

"What?!" Bulma shrieked and skidded to a stop. "That would have been good information to know before we left camp!"

"Bulma, we'll be fine. Trust him."

"Trust him? You've said that before. I don't even know him! He doesn't even know us! Why is he helping us in the first place?"

"Quiet!" The male harshly whispered and came to a halt right before the gates.

Chichi gulped and tightened her grip around Gohan who still slept heavily in her arms. He only woke up once on their journey but fell asleep as soon as he realized who was carrying him. She couldn't help but to feel nervous when villagers began swarming out of the gate, parting as a heavily decorated male came forth. He was the Alpha. She could tell by just looking into his eyes. They held so much wisdom, strength, aggression, leadership, and everything that you needed to be the one in charge. By the way he passed by, his people held the highest respect for him. His height and build were another thing in its self. Just like the Alpha that attacked her, he was also larger than the others. But this leader didn't hold the same evil expression as the enemy. He was dressed in what looked to be a simple cloth. It draped over his shoulder leaving his other bare and exposing a swirl of black patterns and designs in his skin. All of the villagers, including the Alpha were without any kind of foot protection. Even the male that had brought them here did not wear any type of boots. His head band was made of leather, decorated in feathers and small animal bones. Well...Chichi hoped those were bones from animals.

"Alpha," the male bowed slightly, "I present to you survivors of the falling stars."

Falling stars? Oh right. Our ships.

"They need our help. I ask your acceptance so they might stay in the walls of our village."

The Alpha just stared down at Chichi and Bulma. He never flinched or shown a sign of emotion as the young male explained how he came to find them. Bulma cringed beside her as the story was told. Now she understood the danger if they were to stay at the camp.

"No."

Chichi's heart stopped. He said, no? He was going to leave them out in the wilderness unprotected while she was too weak to protect herself, let alone the Queen and her son?

"But-" The young male tried to speak for the females.

"No. They will only bring more danger to our village." His eyes landed on Chichi who stood in shock. "Leave this place." The Alpha turned and began to walk away, dismissing himself. Without thinking, Chichi placed Gohan in Bulma's arms, her heart racing.

"Please!" Chichi shouted, getting the Alpha to stop. "Please. I beg of you. Take them at least. I'm the one the Mongrels are after. Do not punish them."

"Chichi!" The young male scolded and tried to pull her away, but the Alpha swirled around and threw his arm out, catching her cheek with the back side of his over-sized hand.

Chichi felt as if her head had been ripped off from her shoulders. The impact sent her flying and then she skidded to a stop in the dirt. She spit out a mouth full of blood and took deep calming breaths as the familiar feeling washed over her. A laugh escaped her.

"Do you think, this is the first time I've been knocked down?" Asked the amused female. She got to her feet just as she had all those times with Bardock and Kakarot. All those times while fighting Princess. She still managed to get up. "I'm a Saiyan warrior. I will always get back up, no matter how many times you knock me down!"

"Will you dare go against me then, female?" The Alpha threatened.

"Yeah," Chichi smiled, feeling her Saiyan blood roar in her ears. The thrill of a fight was beginning to waken her power, energizing her weak muscles with excitement.

"No!" The young male interfered and stood between the Alpha and Chichi.

"Get out of the way." Lowly mumbled Chichi as she got into a stance. "I'm looking forward to this."

"Stop! He will kill you! Father, please, reconsider."

"Father?" Bulma gasped on the side line. That male was the Alpha's son?

"And what will you do if I refuse?" The Alpha asked down to his son. "What will you do?"

"I...I will leave the pack. I will no longer tolerate the way you treat those who seek our help."

"Preposterous!" His father angrily bit out, "You are the Alpha next in line, Hikaru! How could you go as far as throwing your future out with these strangers!"

"They are harmless!"

"That one is not!" He pointed at Chichi, making her muscles twitch with anticipation. That feeling to fight was back. Just a normal Saiyan feeling and it felt damn good.

The Alpha's son Hikaru, turned and looked Chichi in the eye. She was surprised to see him a little shocked, but her battle ready smile never wavered.

"Mama?"

"Shhh. Gohan. Be quiet." Bulma tried to hush him up.

"Mama!" Gohan called out and struggled out of Bulma's arms before she could pick him back up. He ran straight for her. Seeing her son crying made the itch to fight dwindle to nothing. Her motherly instincts rising to the top.

"Gohan!" She caught him just as he tripped into her arms. She clutched him to her chest and tried her best to sooth him. He seemed shaken up from all the shouting.

"Mama. I wanna go home!" The child cried.

Everyone seemed to turn their attention to Chichi as she cradled her son. All the females that held children of their own clutched them closer.

The burning ache to be back home hit her harder than when she learned of what happened after the fight with Princess. She was at the mercy of this Alpha who wasn't about to let them in. She had power but it wasn't enough to protect them. Her body had a lot of training and nourishment to go through before she would be back to the way she was. If he would just have Bulma and Gohan behind their gates, she could take care of herself. But even that was blown into the wind like dust. It wasn't even negotiable! How could someone be so heartless? Chichi felt them. The tears. They were welding in her eyes and she let out a sob.

Damn. Another sob slipped her lips and all she could do was cling to her son. She hadn't cried like this since the first night she was mated with Kakarot. She cried like a helpless child, and felt the stinging desperation in her heart. But at that time, she felt useless and weak before the male she wanted as her mate. She had become injured like the weakling she was. But now...she risked the lives of her Queen and son. She was a failure.

"Alright. They can enter. All of them." The Alpha's voice silenced her sobbing, causing Chichi to jerk her head up and see him looking down on her with pity. It was as if he had looked into her heart as she wept.

"Thank you," Chichi cried, "Thank you!"

They entered the village with Hikaru leading the way. The villagers greeted them with cold stares and nervous glances. Chichi and Bulma stayed close together as they were taken to a small structure made out of wood and mud. Hikaru stopped at the entrance and pulled back the cloth to let them in. Chichi stepped inside and found it empty.

"You can rest here. There will be a feast at sunset. I will have food brought to you." Without another word, he walked away, leaving the females and Gohan to the quiet of their new home.

"Thank you." Chichi loudly called out to him but he never stopped.

"Chichi. Lets get some rest." Bulma spoke calmly and began unpacking what she grabbed before they left their camp. Just a few blankets and using the clothes as pillows, Chichi, Bulma, and Gohan curled up on the hard ground in silence.

The food was delicious. Chichi felt as if she couldn't get her fill when she stuffed her fifth helping in. Her body seemed to come alive with the nourishment and she just wanted more. She wanted to train at first light but was unsure if they were even allowed out of the hut in the first place. The thought of gaining the strength she once had made her edgy. If she could become stronger, then she could go after the one who had attacked her and caused a threat to this village.

Hikaru entered the hut as Chichi gulped down a bowl full of some type of sweet juice. He made a peculiar face as he watched her devour an entire plate of fruit. Chichi continued eating, unable to stop the demanding hunger her body required.

"Ah yes, you do eat like a warrior." Hikaru chuckled and knelt before them.

"She has been asleep for seven weeks. I bet she's beyond hungry." Bulma answered for Chichi who downed another bowl of juice.

"How? How...could anyone sleep that long?" He asked, causing Chichi to stop in mid-bite. She never told him what had happened. So he didn't understand her past.

"She was severely injured. Her heart had even stopped..." Bulma forced out and looked over at Chichi to see if it was alright to say anything else.

"So, you passed?" Hikaru asked in confusion.

"Our doctors brought her back. But even with her heart once again beating, she never came too. It wasn't until two weeks after being sent here-"

"I just came around two days ago." Chichi finished.

"That explains the appetite." Hikaru nodded once he understood. "But how did you come to be in that condition?"

Silence. A sore subject to even remember. Thank goodness the male noticed.

"I'm sorry. I did not realize that this pained you to speak of." Hikaru apologized and bowed his head. "Speak no more. If you are finished, please, come with me."

Chichi looked up at him as he rose. Hikaru held out his hand for her to stand.

"Bulma, do you mind-"

"Go. I'll stay here with Gohan and make us a better bed." She warmly smiled, giving her the approval to leave her once more.

"I go with Mama." Gohan announced, causing Hikaru to chuckle again.

"That's fine," the young male agreed, "A young warrior must protect his mother."

With Gohan in her arms and his tail wrapped around her wrist for security, Chichi and Hikaru left the hut. He led her around the village, showing them where everything was that they needed to survive. Storage and water, homes and markets, crops and livestock. It was like a city locked behind gates. Their own little world. When he showed her the training grounds, Chichi couldn't move. It was a large opened field, perfect for sparring and pushing ones self to greater abilities.

"Does this please you?" Hikaru asked when he noticed Chichi's stare.

"Very."

"Perhaps we could have a match some day?" His question shocked Chichi. He was willing to spar with her? A stranger?

"I-I don't know. What would your village think if you fought a female?"

"I am the Alpha next in line. I can do as I please."

Chichi was now the one to chuckle. How many times did she hear that line before Vegeta became the King? It must have been a Prince thing.

"Did I say something amusing?"

"You just reminded me of someone back home."

"And where is your home exactly? You have never told me."

The pain would never go away, Chichi accepted that. She was separated from her mate and everything she knew. The only way this hole in her heart would go away would be if Kakarot fell from the sky and said "lets go home." But she feared that wasn't going to happen any time soon.

"We are from Vegeta." She answered and faintly smiled at all the good memories she had made back home. If they even had a home to go back to.

"And you are a warrior."

"Yes."

"I have never seen a female warrior before. Our females are forbidden to fight." Hikaru admitted and glanced over at the sleeping child in her arms. "Is your blue-haired friend a warrior as well?"

"No. She is...our Queen."

Hikaru made a face. It seemed he did not understand the meaning of Queen.

"Uh, she's like your, uh..." She paused, trying to think of another name to describe Bulma's leadership, "Oh, she's like a female Alpha that rules with the male Alpha."

"I do not understand. Your kind has a female and male Alpha? That is...beyond my comprehension."

"Oh, so you don't think females are as worthy as a male?" Chichi blurted out, her anger getting a bit riled up at the thought.

"No, no. Females should not be allowed to fight. They have duties that they were created to do in life. I think females are wonderful-"

"As just bed-mates!"

"No, wait!"

Chichi stormed off. Her anger beginning to boil if she listened to another sexiest thing. Females were just as great as any male! How dare he.

"Chichi! Please wait! I didn't mean that. Please." His large hand rested on her shoulder, holding her back from taking another step.

"Ok. What did you mean then?"

"Well, wouldn't having a Alpha female effect the way the male Alpha makes decisions? It would in my world. For we cherish our females dearly. That is why we do not allow them to fight. It's just the way we do things here. You may see it as being cruel, but in my eyes, your males are the ones that are cruel."

Anger. Anger. Anger. If Chichi wasn't holding Gohan at the moment, she would have went berserk on his face with her fist. But he was right. They were from different worlds. What he seemed to be fit in his eyes, were completely different in what Chichi saw. She had to accept that.

"Our males are not cruel..." A lie. "Well, some of them aren't anyways."

"Is his father a warrior?" Hikaru asked down as he patted Gohan's sleeping head. The kid sure could sleep. After getting his belly full, her son was sleeping like a rock, his little tail still wrapped tightly around her wrist.

"The best warrior alive." She lowly answered and kissed the top of Gohan's head as she thanked the heavens for him.

Kakarot. I miss you so much. Please be alright.

Hundreds of Saiyan warriors littered the grounds of planet Vegeta. Everyone of them suffering as they shook and thrashed in the dirt. Saliva and foam poured from their mouths with growls and moans erupted from their throats. It left an eerie sound echoing throughout the abandoned structure of the palace.

In the shadows were gnashing of teeth and bones snapping. Eyes of red peered out from the darkness, seeking and searching for the next fight. The upcoming opportunity to devour his next opponent that dared threaten him. All he knew. All he could see. All he could feel was the raging blood lust boiling in his Saiyan veins. Nothing would stop him until every last threat laid bleeding at his feet.