"What are you planning on doing to me?" Chi-Chi whimpered as the outlaw closed in on her. He had already tied her wrists behind her back with a tight rope and was now lowering himself down to her legs. Two large and calloused hands ran up from her ankles and stopped at her knees. She was fighting against his effort to pry them open but lost the battle.

"What I should've done from the start, princess."

His messy spikes disappeared underneath her dress. She found herself spreading her legs more for him as his lips kissed and nipped at her inner thighs. The back of her head hit the wall of the stagecoach when he sucked on the tender skin. If her hands were free, she would force him onto the spot she needed him the most.

"Please," Chi-Chi's voice was desperate and he responded by slipping his hands under to grip her ass. His hold on her was tight, prepared to give her what she was begging for. "I've been waiting for this all day."

"Just say the words," his hot breath against her caused her hips to arch slightly, bringing her even closer to his mouth. "And I'll have you seeing stars."

She couldn't take it anymore. His teeth were on the fine fabric that was preventing him from getting to her wetness. Aching all over, Chi-Chi moaned out. "I love you, Kakarot!"

He let out an animalistic growl and pulled her underwear down.

Vegeta froze with the bucket of water raised up to his shoulders. He was about to throw it on the snoozing couple, but the girl started moaning and groaning like a leper. Raditz arched an eyebrow as she started twitching.

"I wouldn't get her cold again if I were you. The meds must still be trying to kick in."

That didn't explain why she was muttering Kakarot's name and lowering her hands underneath the sheets. She had flipped over and left Kakarot on his back, snoring louder than ever. Vegeta shrugged and grabbed the now free Saiyan's head. He brought him to the edge and dunked his face in the water until Kakarot started flailing his arms. Vegeta let go of his hair and stepped back as Kakarot spit up water.

"What the hell!" he coughed and jumped to his feet, naked as a jailbird. He glared at Vegeta who threw the towel on the floor at him. As he wrapped it around his torso, Kakarot looked over his shoulder to make sure Chi-Chi was covered up. She was a lump in the bed, wriggling but still asleep through all the commotion. He lowered his voice but kept an angry tone. "What are you guys doing in here!?"

"Here I was taking my sweet time because I thought the angelica was dying, and you're in here knocking boots. Put some fucking pants on and let's go."

Kakarot was both frowning and blushing red at the assumption. To be fair, their bare skin made it believable. "We weren't havin' relations!"

Raditz crossed his muscular arms over his chest and gave his brother a knowing look. "Why's Teach over there saying your name then?"

The youngest one's skin prickled when finally heard her moans. They were faint but strangely of pleasure. What on earth was she dreaming about? Kakarot shook his wet head wildly, knowing that whatever it was the guys shouldn't be around to witness it. Burning up, he held the door open widely for them to leave. "Can I have a minute to gather my bearings without you bums breathing down my neck!?"

Rolling his eyes, Vegeta was the first to walk out. "Be outside in an hour or I'm coming back with something stronger than water." Nappa was right behind him, giving Kakarot a thumbs up while laughing.

"Looks like there's something brewing atween you after all. I'm impressed!"

Kakarot opened his mouth to correct him, but both him and Vegeta were already down the hall. Raditz stopped in front of him and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Was it everything you hoped for?"

"Raditz!" Kakarot groaned and threw his head back against the door. He didn't want to tell him they cried all night and held each other because of it, but he also didn't want them believing Chi-Chi was some sort of painted lady. "I didn't lay with her. Please don't tell her nothing. I don't want her to be uncomfortable again."

Raditz searched his brother's face as the woman in the bed sighed happily. If he didn't fuck her, he did something to make her want to. No matter what the truth was, it was their business and their business only. "I'll convince them to stay quiet around her. You need anything?"

"Clothes?"

"For both of you?"

"Yeah," Kakarot smiled, already knowing his brother would take care of everything that was stressing him out. "Mind finding some pants for Chi-Chi? She really likes 'em."

"Sure," Raditz returned the smile but not as big. "I'll knock twice and leave it outside."

Kakarot thanked him before shutting the door. He put his hands on his hips watching Chi-Chi snoring peacefully with a smile on her face. The medication was either strong enough to keep her sleeping through any noise, or she just didn't want to wake up from her dreams. He cleared his throat and coughed a few times to see if she would crack an eye open.

Smiling when she didn't, he crawled back into bed with her. His nose touched hers while he caressed her face. The touch is what finally got her alert. Her eyes opened slowly and she raised her hand up to hold onto his wrist gently.

"G'mornin', Chi-Chi. Sleep well?"

His groggy voice brought back a recent vision she just experienced. She was extremely thankful he couldn't read minds. Never in her life had she had a dirty dream up until now. It felt so real. She had no idea why she would even have a dream like that. The carnal act Kakarot performed was strictly taboo. What kind of woman would let a man go down on her in the back of a stagecoach? She flushed at the thought of it and bit her lip.

"Mmhm. You?"

"Not as good as you," he winked. "That must have been some dream you were having, huh?"

Her pale face turned as red as a rose. She prayed the sweat forming on her eyebrows wasn't as noticeable as it felt. "W-what dream? I'm afraid I have no clue what you're talking about."

"Pretty sure you were hollering my name, 'less there's another Kakarot you know."

Screaming internally, Chi-Chi turned herself over so she was facing the window. She could feel his eyes in the back of her head, waiting for a response. "You were, uh...reading a book. A big one."

"Really!?"

His excitement made her turn back over. "Yeah. I was cheering you on."

"Aw, you looked so happy! I was doing one heck of a job!"

"You sure were," Chi-Chi laughed nervously and wanted to change the subject as soon as possible. "There's an awful lot of light coming in from the window. Is it late?"

"It's past noon, so I'd say so!" he chuckled when her eyes widened. "Don't worry. Raditz went to get us some clothes and we'll head out of town."

Chi-Chi frowned. She wasn't mentally prepared to deal with the harsh trail quite yet. "I thought you said you were going to show me around?"

"Yeah, but-" Kakarot closed his mouth when her frown deepened. That look on her face was changing his mind. "Oh, what the heck. Vegeta can deal with one more day."

Chi-Chi was grinning again and there was a knock on the door. She watched as Kakarot got up to answer it. Seeing the towel wrapped around his waist caused her to look under the sheets. Her towel was somewhere down by her feet. She gulped, wondering if Kakarot had caught a glimpse of anything waking up before her.

"Looks like we've got some nice layers here!" Kakarot had a pile of clothing in his arms and dropped them onto the chair. "You think you'll need any help changing?"

He asked innocently, so Chi-Chi kept her voice neutral. "No," but there was something else bothering her. Falling asleep with her hair wet left it a tangled rat's nest. "Do you think you could help me brush my hair though?"

Kakarot nodded and disappeared into the washroom where she had left the brush last night. She quickly snatched the towel up and made sure it was secure before sitting up. She inhaled sharply when she discovered there was still wetness down below from her little unwanted fantasy.

"I'm going to make you scream like last time."

"HUH!?"

"I have the brush," Kakarot was setting himself up behind her and blinked at her messy black strands. "Are you doing alright, Chi-Chi?"

She squirmed to make the sensation go away but it wasn't working. She'd just have to suffer through it. "I'm fine," she muttered. "You really don't mind doing this for me?"

"Nope!" Kakarot was being honest. She had a whole lotta hair and a whole lotta tangles. "It'll be a great arm workout! Do I just brush it normal or is there a special way?"

"Normal," Chi-Chi couldn't believe his sweetness sometimes. She was definitely going to have to get him to reading a big book in actuality. "Just don't be too rough."

"Relax, darling. You've got a man who knows how to use a slow hand."

Oh, didn't she know it. Chi-Chi concentrated on her breathing and just about anything else she could as he gently brushed through her hair. He did have an easy touch despite being so strong. "You have any idea in mind what we're going to do today?"

"Well we're definitely gonna eat. I'm starving!" Kakarot continued to work through the tangles. "Then I'll show you some of my favorite spots. Sound good?"

Chi-Chi nodded and let him keep detangling in silence. Once he pulled back, she knew he was done. She ran her fingers through her hair to double check and then raised her eyebrows in approval. "Wow, mighty fine job cowboy! Thank you!"

Kakarot leaned to admire what he fixed and then gave her back a quick rub. She had to get out of that towel soon before he lost his mind. "Alrighty. Let's get ready. I ain't letting you step foot outside this hotel without every single piece on."

He was serious about it, too. Shortly after they had both gotten dressed, Kakarot was continuing to wrap different material around her until she could barely put down her arms. He made sure the hat on her head was on low enough to cover her ears. Her legs were already sweaty with the thick pants she was given and now he was placing gloves much less sophisticated than the ones she was use to on her small hands. Her holster with Kakarot's gun was covered by a long wool coat.

"This is a bit overkill, don't you think?"

"Better to have too much than too little," Kakarot took a stepped back and observed her from head to toe. Feeling comfortable with what he saw, he looked her in the eyes and grinned. "Feel warm?"

"A little too warm, actually."

"Eh you can take some off once we're inside again. I can't have you getting sick on me again."

Kakarot offered his arm to her and they left the hotel room behind to explore Cold's Ridge. Chi-Chi couldn't stop gaping at the divine statues and paintings that decorated the building. When they entered the outside and the cold breeze hit her face, she understood why Kakarot made such a fuss about the layering. The snow was glistening and a lot less deadly than it appeared before she got to this place.

She released his arm to bend down and observe it more closely. Kakarot licked his lips at what he saw. Despite having the thick long coat on, he could see the outline of her bottom perfectly. He'd get hell if he smacked it like he wanted to. He formed a snowball instead and threw it directly at his intended target.

"Kakarot!" she blushed and held the wet spot while spinning around. He had his hands in his pockets and was whistling like he hadn't done a damn thing. "Why would you do that!?"'

He had to stop whistling in order to laugh. She was so cute when she was angry, like a little horned toad. He bent over in a similar position she was in before. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll let you get a free shot in."

Chi-Chi was about to make a snowball when there was someone tapping on her shoulder. Raditz had appeared and was holding a finger to his lips. In his hand was a large rock. She covered her face so Kakarot couldn't hear her giggling. Raditz brought the rock up to his head and then threw it with force. When it nailed Kakarot on the bottom and made him jump high from the impact, Chi-Chi and Raditz doubled over in laughter.

"Ow!" he held his hands on the sore spot and glared when he saw who did it. "That smarts! You're in for it now!"

As the brothers started having a snowball fight, Chi-Chi sat down on a bench to observe. When she wasn't focused on their grunts, she could make out Nappa and Vegeta arguing somewhere nearby. She glanced in that direction and saw Nappa holding a paper in front of his face.

"I need to make up for my losses!"

"It's not my fault you have a gambling addiction."

"No I don't!"

"Face it, you're a goddamn black-leg, Nappa."

"Aw, come on! How many times did I deal with a pit stop at Aces all these years for you?"

What came next was a slew of curse words, punches, shouting, and then finally acceptance. Nappa was waving a victory fist in the air and ran off. When Vegeta made eye contact with Chi-Chi, she quickly looked away. Through her peripherals, she could see him approaching. "You sure as shit have been through the mill this week. Doing any better?"

She had to look around to make sure he was speaking to her. Even though his tone was insincere, she was surprised he asked her such a question. Did her reading the letter for Bulma really cause him to pretend to care about her wellbeing? "Like it never happened."

Vegeta nodded his head while removing matches from his dark jacket. Raditz had begged him earlier not to give her shit for the aggresive cuddling they had witnessed. Kakarot wasn't even aware that they had all seen her tits. He'd end up throwing a fit or worse. The outlaw decided to be cordial, too stressed to deal with more bull he didn't have to. Vegeta sat down on the bench next to her and she moved as close to the opposite end as possible.

"You smoke?"

"No."

"I wasn't going to give you some anyway," Vegeta lit the stick and inhaled. He found enjoyment in how it burned his throat against the winter weather. He draped one arm across the backboard while taking another drag. Kakarot and Raditz were firing snowballs at one another as if they were at war. "This town is a shithole."

"I like it," Chi-Chi's eyes narrowed when he scoffed. "Why do you hate it so much? Because they took care of me?"

Vegeta's lip twitched. "Do you even know who they are?"

"The owner's some lord named Frieza, right?"

"Yes, Frieza," the Saiyan's stiff fingers held onto his cigarette as he exhaled sharply and blew the smoke downwards. The woman clearly had no clue just how awful the bastard truly was. "You hate my guts, don't you?"

"Every single one of them."

"Well Frieza's a hell of a lot worse than me. Has others do all the dirty work for him, defiles women, murders just for fun, you name it."

Chi-Chi felt a chill run down her spine and it wasn't from the snowball that accidentally hit her. As she waved to Kakarot to accept his apology, her eyes never wavered from Vegeta. "Why would you guys feel comfortable enough stopping here if he's that terrible?"

He was remembering why he never started a conversation with the woman. All she did was ask questions. He used his free hand to rub his aching temple. "The Saiyans and Frieza have a peculiar liaison. Our fathers started it with him because they thought it would be to their benefit. Now Bardock's in prison and my father is dead," Vegeta stared at a scuff on his boot. "Shot by the bastard during a gunfight. Frieza still welcomes the sons with loving fucking arms. Kakarot came up with the genius idea to come to him in case of an emergency on the way to Devil's Pass."

Nappa did mention something about having to watch over Vegeta after his father passed, but Chi-Chi had no idea it was murder. Knowing the type of person Vegeta was, she didn't understand why he didn't kill Frieza the day he shot his father.

How ironic it was to wonder that while sitting beside the man who took her dad's life.

"Why haven't you done anything about it?"

"You don't fucking know who he's in cahoots with. Anyone could stroll up to you and take your life," Vegeta's hand slightly shook when he inhaled this time. "At least with the law you're aware of who you're running from. That's why I'm trying to leave while I'm still breathing but that dunderhead Nappa went off to play one more game of poker."

Chi-Chi was feeling the urge to leave now as well, but her stomach was fighting against her better judgment. Mimicking Raditz's whistle, she got the attention of both brothers. "Aren't you boys hungrier than a pack of wolves after all that?"

While they shook the snow out of their hair, Vegeta stood up. "I need to take a look at something. I'll meet you at the saloon when I'm done."

"Where you going!?" Kakarot called out to him but was only given the bird in return. He shrugged his shoulders and dropped down beside Chi-Chi. "What's got him all rattled up?"

Chi-Chi inched as close as she could get to him and put her hands on his shoulders. "You'd never bring me somewhere dangerous, would you?"

Kakarot quickly shot a look to Raditz, who shrugged his shoulders. Vegeta must have put his paranoid thoughts into her head. He took her hands into his own and squeezed tightly. "Of course not. Vegeta's got trust issues. You'll be fine. I promise."

Chi-Chi gave his hands a squeeze back and smiled again, knowing that Kakarot's promises were always the real deal. She walked with the brothers to the local saloon that apparently had the best turkey breast in the state. After taking one bite, she wasn't as impressed as Kakarot and Raditz were. They scarfed down the turkey meat like it was their first in days. They ate their rolls in just two bites. When it came to the soup, Kakarot held the bowl up and lapped it down. His tongue flicking around was giving her flashbacks and she had to look away.

Nappa wasn't too far away lost in his game of poker. She wanted to give it a shot again after her luck against him the first time, but didn't feel comfortable doing it here. At the same time, she didn't want to just sit there and watch the brothers eat. There had to be something that could occupy her.

A unique sound hit her ears.

Chi-Chi fixated on where it was coming from. A small group of people were dancing around men playing music on violins, jugs, and pianos. The musicians weren't playing like the ones back at home. They were slamming their fingers and bows against the instruments like their life depended on it. She wasn't sure what it was, but it was making her tap her foot.

"I've never seen anyone play a violin like that before!"

After burping and wiping his mouth clear of residue, Kakarot followed Chi-Chi's gaze and made a face. "Violin? That's a fiddle!"

"I know what a violin looks like, Kakarot."

He smirked at the way her nose went up in the air again. "No, princess. That over yonder is a fiddle."

Before Chi-Chi could make her case once again, Raditz chimed in first. "Yeah, Teach. There's a world of difference."

"Do explain."

Raditz gestured to Kakarot, wanting his brother to have a moment to shine especially in front of her. Kakarot pointed at the fiddle player as he worked the bow to death. "You see how he's playing with his entire soul? And the sound of it is making you wanna dance? That's what makes it a fiddle. The boring stuff you're used would make it a violin," he laughed when the fiddle player took a swig of alcohol before continuing. "You don't spill beer on a violin!"

Chi-Chi knitted her brows together, still slightly confused. The genre certainly was more upbeat than the ones her daddy had going on at the balls she attended. "How do you dance to it?"

"Why don't you show her, Kakarot?" Raditz nudged his younger brother. "You and Ma did it all the time remember?"

Having cried out the pain last night, being reminded of a cherished memory made Kakarot beam brighter than the moon that was soon to set. The food had taken longer to be served than expected due to a full house. He grabbed both Chi-Chi's and Raditz's hand and brought them to dance floor. He hollered at the musicians to play a song Chi-Chi didn't know.

As the fiddler and jug players began, Kakarot, Raditz, and other stomped their leg and clapped their hands. Chi-Chi joined in and noticed they were on beat with the music. "There ain't much to it, darling! We always start this way, but then you let it take you away."

Having never done anything besides the waltz, Chi-Chi wasn't confident enough to jump in like other couples were. "I think I'll just stomp and clap."

Kakarot rolled his eyes and dragged her in the center with him. He tucked his thumbs into his belt pointed the heels of his boots up. As he moved to the left and right while doing it, Chi-Chi was beginning to feel the music like he said she would. She copied his movements and even his ear-to-ear grin. Raditz wasted no time in finding two women to dance with.

Sensing that she was now loosening up, Kakarot twirled Chi-Chi around and dipped her. When he brought her back up, they did the two step again but closer together this time. They continued to dance for hours until both the fiddlers and dancers needed a break. After not removing their winter layers the entire time, Chi-Chi and Kakarot were covered in sweat but smiling through it all.

"That was so much fun!" she took off her hat and wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her glove. As she fanned herself, she got up on her tiptoes to kiss the Saiyan on the cheek. "I would've never taken you for the dancing type."

"Just that kind," he kissed the top of her head in return. He could go all night with her if she weren't showing signs of fatigue. "I'll go get us some water."

"No! I'll get it," she folded her hands in front of her after putting her hat back on. "It's the least I could do." Chi-Chi looked to see if Raditz needed any, but he had long since disappeared with his dancing partners.

Kakarot didn't want her roaming alone in this place, but he also didn't want to suffocate her. "Alright. Meet me back at the table as soon as you get it."

Chi-Chi nodded and headed to the bar. Kakarot made sure she got to it without anyone getting in her way then went to where he said they'd meet up. Vegeta was already sitting there, playing with something in his pocket. While the Saiyans sat, Chi-Chi waited for the bartender to give her two glasses of water. She was too focused on making sure the water didn't spill off the brim that she didn't notice she had gone in the wrong direction.

"...and what did you hear Vegeta say?"

Chi-Chi froze and then backed up after hearing the outlaw's name mentioned. Around the corner of the bar was a special looking table where three men were sitting. One was important looking, with a white continental suit and cape. There was a fancy looking one with a green braid and a round one with tiny pink spikes for hair. She had her back pressed to the wall after catching a glimpse.

"I heard him tell the broad they were on the way to Devil's Pass. That's where Bardock's at, ain't it?"

"Precisely. Hm... I knew those monkeys were up to something heinous. Bardock a free man isn't what we want."

"What do you suppose we do, boss?"

"Vegeta's been a sourpuss since coming back. Kill him in his sleep tonight as a warning to the others to stop."

Chi-Chi dropped the glasses to the floor and cursed under her breath. The saloon was so loud that nobody heard and the men continued to discuss their plans. Chi-Chi's ears were ringing and she didn't stay to hear what else they had to say. Once she was a safe distance away, she released the breath she had kept in and held onto her knees while thinking.

This could be everything she wanted. Vegeta would die and she wouldn't have the guilty conscious of doing it herself. Him getting caught off guard at his most vulnerable state would be the perfect payback. Chi-Chi stared at him as she sat down, and was so lost in thought she didn't hear Kakarot ask her what happened to the water.

"Hello? You in there?"

Chi-Chi shook her head as Kakarot snapped his fingers. "Oh! Sorry. I dropped the water and forgot to go back for more."

"Ah, it's alright. I'll go get some!"

Left alone once more with Vegeta, Chi-Chi swallowed hard. He was the only person she ever felt the emotion of hatred towards, and yet there was a tiny part of her that wanted to warn him of his upcoming doom.

He killed your father.

Maybe it'd be okay to suffer with a guilty conscious.

"Now that their gone, I can show you what I was talking about."

Chi-Chi was taken out of her thoughts again, but this time by Vegeta himself. She watched him in silence as he took out a small box from the pocket of his pants. He looked around to make sure nobody was staring and opened it. Chi-Chi gasped loudly, recalling what he had wrote in the letter to Bulma. It was a bright blue sapphire ring, one that almost matched the color of her hair. Around the gemstone were shiny diamonds that were as extravagant as the woman. Chi-Chi really thought he wrote about matrimony just to please her, and not actually go through with it.

Now here he was, holding one of the most beautiful engagement rings she had ever seen.

A soon to be husband.

A soon to be father.

Chi-Chi held her pounding head in her hands as Vegeta put the ring safely back inside his pocket. "You think it favors her, or-"

"Frieza's going to kill you tonight."

Vegeta closed his mouth and leaned in towards her. "What did you just say?"

Chi-Chi took a deep breath and looked over her shoulder to make sure those men weren't coming. She brought her attention back to Vegeta and whispered. "I mean I think it was Frieza. He was with two other men and he said for one of them to kill you in your sleep tonight."

Vegeta's jaw clenched while Kakarot placed drinks on the table. The youngest Saiyan wasn't sure what they talked about, but it sure got quiet fast. "Everything alright over here?"

Chi-Chi unbuttoned her jacket and removed the gun from her holster. She slid it across the table discreetly in case eyes were on them. "I'll tell you everything later, but please keep it on you. You might need to use it."

"Huh?" Kakarot stared at the gun, more bewildered than before. He was going to question her change of heart, but she wound up in his lap. He instinctively put his hands on her hips to hold her in place. "Isn't this a nice-"

She interrupted him with a kiss and her lips hovered near his still when she was done. "We can't talk about it here but there's a small chance I'll need you to be the fastest gun in the west again just for tonight."

In the darkness of his hotel room, Vegeta sat in a chair and waited. The candles were all blown out and there was no heat to provide any warmth inside, but he didn't care. If Chi-Chi was right, Dodoria would be walking in at any time and Vegeta would need to sneak up on him first in order to survive the scuffle. A gunshot would alert the guests and provide Frieza with a heads up. His weapon had to be a knife, which Dodoria would have as well.

The sound of the knob turning caused Vegeta to sit up straight and hold in his breath. Not even looking a different direction, Dodoria crept towards the bed where he believed Vegeta was laying. He shone his lantern on the lump the Saiyan created using pillows and slowly removed his blade from his pocket. Like a predator going in for his prey, Vegeta stalked soundlessly to the stout man and put him in chokehold from behind.

"V-Vegeta," the henchman dropped both the knife and lantern to the floor after being shocked. Vegeta stomped the flame out before it could spread and dragged the struggling Dodoria to the washroom. "F-Frieza wanted me to kill you! Let me go and I'll help you!""

Keeping a strong hold on the man's large neck and the sharp tip of the knife on his temple, Vegeta stopped near the tub that could only be seen through the moonlight seeping in from the window. "Tell me why he sent your sorry ass and I'll think about sparing you."

The Saiyan could feel Dodoria gulping. "Calm down hoss and just listen... Frieza's paranoid with you fellas trying to get Bardock out of the hoosegow. Thinks you're gonna stage a coup against him.

"Why?"

"Ugh..." Dodoria held onto Vegeta's arm in hopes it would loosen the grip but it didn't. When the Saiyan was angry, it was difficult to fight back. "Because... Frieza was the one who shot the sheriff that day, not Bardock. Poor bastard...took the blame to keep his boys safe."

Vegeta blinked while Dodoria began kicking his legs wildly to see if that would help him. If Raditz and Kakarot were aware of this, they would have snapped the lord's neck upon arrival a week ago. "Is Frieza planning on killing them tonight?"

"No... Just... you," Dodoria gagged as the grip beyond all possibility strangled him more. His face was turning red from suffocation. "Figures...ah...it'll be enough...to know they need to back off..."

"And if that didn't work?"

When Dodoria didn't answer, Vegeta thought he had choked to death but then could still feel a pulse in his neck throbbing. He dug the the blade into the man's face, causing him to cry out.

"A group was gonna take turns with the girl!"

Not only was the idea of raping Chi-Chi an immediate death sentence by Kakarot for anyone that tried, it was repulsive and sent raw anger thrumming through his veins. "And I bet you were going to be part of it, weren't you?"

"What!? No, Vegeta! I-"

He slammed Dodoria into the tub so harshly that the man spit up when his back landed on the cold metal. With one hand on his throat to keep him down, Vegeta plunged the knife in and out of where the heart was located. He twisted the blade until the sound of Dodoria gurgling on his own blood ended. Vegeta's clothing had red splatters in messy sections. Baring his teeth, he gave him one last stab before pulling the knife out for good.

With the knife still in his crimson hand, Vegeta walked out of the room and down the hall to where Chi-Chi stayed. Not wanting to leave stains on the door, he knocked using the tip of his boot.

"Open the fuck up. It's just me."

Chi-Chi cracked the door open slightly, then fully once she saw his appearance. Kakarot was right behind her when she gasped loudly. "Did you...?"

"We need to go. Nappa and Raditz should be in the woods by now."

The only belonging she had left was her dad's blanket that she clung securely to her chest as they took turns escaping from the window. Kakarot caught her at the bottom and they waited for Vegeta to get down. Now on foot, they ran through the snow of the sleeping town to the dark woods. They had barely entered when the sound of infamous laughter came from behind them.

"Leaving so soon?"

Chi-Chi hid behind Kakarot as the Saiyans faced Lord Frieza. The short man was wild eyed and crazy looking, his usual slicked back purple hair disheveled. Zarbon was at his side, appearing just as deranged.

"I'm unsure if you're aware, but someone attempted to stab me in my sleep."

Frieza chuckled again. "Well that's not very hospitable, is it? Who won?"

"You're a sick bastard," Vegeta's voice was cold and his trigger finger was itching. He was going to fuck his life up without any different way out of this situation, but at least he'd feel the satisfaction of sending a bullet through Frieza's head. "Why don't you go ahead and tell Kakarot here about framing Bardock and what you were planning on doing to Chi-Chi?"

Kakarot looked from Vegeta to Frieza. The lord's cocky grin vanished completely. "What are you saying? Framing Bardock? And what about Chi-Chi?"

"So I see Dodoria ran his cowardly mouth," Zarbon spoke up and began reaching for his gun. "We-"

"Shut up!" Frieza snapped and put Zarbon back in his place. Knowing that the Saiyans were well aware of what would happen if they killed him, the tyrant knew the cards were in his favor. He straightened himself up and adjusted the collar of his jacket. "My dear, sweet Kakarot. Whether or not your father shot that sheriff, he wanted nothing more than to be reunited with your mother. He wants to die in that prison. Let him go."

Kakarot's vision was getting blurry and he shook his head. His hand still hadn't been lifted from his holster. "My...my pops could've been a free man right now?"

"He doesn't want to be alive anymore, Kakarot. I did him a favor. If you try to get him out of that prison, he's never going to forgive you."

While his partner was hurt and confused by the words, Vegeta had just about enough of the manipulation. Without thinking twice about it, Vegeta lifted his gun and pulled the trigger. The first bullet went into Frieza's chest, the same location he had shot his father. The second bullet went into the head to make sure the job was done. The third, fourth, and fifth bullet were for therapy.

Kakarot was able to snap out of his stupor to shoot Zarbon before he could run away. The man fell face down onto the snow, drenching it with his blood. The numerous firings of Vegeta's bullets were sure to disturb the town. The outlaw tucked his gun away and breathed heavily while observing the scene before him. Raditz on the stagecoach and Nappa some horses emerged as soon as they hurt the bullets. The long haired Saiyan gripped the reins tightly while shaking his head.

"Shit. It's over for us."

"No it's not," Vegeta refused to give up now. He picked up Frieza and placed him over his shoulder while walking to the stagecoach. "We'll find the perfect location to dump the bodies. Nobody's going to find out."

Not knowing what else to do, Nappa sighed and went to retrieve Zarbon's body. They loaded the men into the stagecoach and began covering the reddened snow along with their tracks. Raditz would need to take the stagecoach in a separate direction for a few miles to confuse those who may come searching. Chi-Chi reached up to touch Kakarot on the shoulder after his brother disappeared.

"You don't believe the things he said, do you?"

Kakarot turned around to return the gun to its new owner and shrugged his shoulders. He had Raditz read him the letter his dad sent from Devil's Pass, and there was indication that Bardock wanted to accept his fate.

But Kakarot just couldn't allow it to happen.

Not when there could be redemption, a new life.

"No. I'm going to Devil's Pass to save my pops whether he likes it or not," Kakarot lifted Chi-Chi's chin up and winked. "And I'm getting you to Sunnybellow whether I like it or not."

Chi-Chi smiled and stood in the same spot while Kakarot got one of the horses ready. As she went to join him, she passed Vegeta. They made eye contact briefly before he struck his hand out for her to shake.

A sign of newfound respect.

A/N: I am now on twitter if you'd like to keep in touch there :-) cowboysaiyan. I have three fan art commissions in the process from this story that I will be sharing on there once they are complete and I am so excited!

FYI, chapter 16 will be all about Bardock and a back story. I hope you are enjoying!