Chapter Five
Piccolo and the others watched as Rettan slumped to the ground after she defeated the
Captain. Wrapping her in the remains of his cloak, Piccolo picked up the woman, cradling her in
his arms. Her whole body was quivering, and a cold sweat broke out on her brow. Turning to
Vegeta, who was still struggling to stand, Piccolo said,
"I'm taking her to Dende. He can heal her. Come to the Lookout when you are able."
Vegeta forced himself to stand, but collapsed to his knees as vertigo again overtook him.
Yamcha moved to help Vegeta up, but backed off when he was met with an icy glare. Goten was
at Trunks side, helping him to stand. Vegeta forced himself to his feet again and stumbled over to
Piccolo.
"Give her to me." Vegeta said quietly. Surprised by the level the concern Vegeta was
showing, Piccolo quickly handed Rettan over to Vegeta. Noting how gently he held her, Piccolo
began to realize that there was more to this woman than met the eye. Slowly Vegeta rose into the
air, and he began his flight to Dende's Lookout. Silently, the rest of the Z warriors followed.
Looking down at Rettan's face, Vegeta's heart sank as he could feel her ki dipping dangerously
low. He sped up, hoping that Dende could help. In minutes Vegeta and the rest of the group
arrived at the Lookout. Dende rushed up to the warriors, asking how he could help. As his eyes
feel upon the shivering girl in Vegeta's arms, he automatically knew. Instructing Vegeta to lay
her flat on the ground, Dende knelt over her and placed his gentle hands on her chest. Energy
flowed from his hands into her for several seconds. Her shoulder mending before their eyes, but
she remained unconscious. Pulling his hands away, Dende furrowed his brow, confused. Trying
again, Dende concentrated harder on healing the wounded woman. Still, nothing was happening.
Vegeta noticed the look on Dende's face and grabbed his shoulder, whipping the Namek around
to face him.
"Why isn't she waking up, Namek? She just saved us and this worthless planet! HEAL
HER NOW!" Vegeta's tone grew loud. His face was flushed with anger, and his eyes narrowed
as Piccolo pushed himself between Vegeta and Dende.
"He can't Vegeta. For some reason the woman is healing, but not waking up. There is
something wrong." Piccolo said as he tried to calm the Saiyan. Vegeta's eyes grew dark as he
looked down at Rettan's weak body. Her breathing was coming in short gasps now, and her
coloring turned from a beautiful tan to an ashen grey. Vegeta swore, he would not lose Rettan
again. Kneeling by her side he pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her.
Concentrating on gathering his energy, Vegeta turned SSJ2 and closed his eyes. He began to
understand why Rettan collapsed. She used not only energy that she gathered to turn Super
Saiyan/Saeriyan, but she reached deep down, using so much power that she used up too much of
her own life force to defeat the Captain. Concentrating on displacing half of his own energy into
Rettan, Vegeta's brow furrowed and he clenched his teeth. He had done this before with Bulma,
but that was only using a fraction of the power he was attempting to displace now. A warm
golden aura surrounded Vegeta and quickly spread to Rettan. Staying in that embrace for several
minutes, Vegeta knew that he was being watched by the rest of the fighters. His head began to
swim as he finished displacing the energy, but he felt strong arms catching both him and Rettan as
he slumped over. Turning back to normal, Vegeta could feel Dende's hands on his chest, and
with that he could feel his strength returning. Sitting up as Dende finished, Vegeta looked to
Rettan, who was still unconscious, but breathing normally. Yamcha checked her wrist.
"Her pulse is strong." He stated. Nodding, Vegeta's heart lifted as he knew that his
friend would survive. Turning to the east, Vegeta could feel Kakkorott's ki flare. Rolling his
eyes, the Prince stood up and crossed his arms over his chest, just as the 3rd class and his son
teleported right beside him.
"Dammit Kakkorott, you're useless." Vegeta sneered as Goku looked at him, confused.
"Uh, guys? What happened here?" Goku asked. Krillin began to fill him in as Vegeta
gathered Rettan into his arms.
"Let's go boy." Vegeta said to his son as he turned to leave. Walking past Piccolo,
Vegeta said quietly, "You saved her life." Piccolo realized that in his own way, Vegeta was
thanking him for stopping the Hunter from pressing the destruct button on that remote control.
Giving the Prince a quick nod, Piccolo acknowledged Vegeta's attempt at a real thank-you.
Goku looked on in awe, something momentous had happened during the battle that he had
missed. The disappointed look on his face vanished as he looked at the girl in Vegeta's arms.
"So...who's that again?" Goku asked. Vegeta's eyes shone as he said her name.
"Rettan."
With that he jumped off the edge of Dende's Lookout, heading for home. Sensing that his
son was following close behind him Vegeta slowed his flight. How the hell was he supposed to
explain this to Bulma? Shaking his head he sped up, wanting to get it over with.
* * * *
CALM DOWN!?! You show up with this chick in your arms, someone you say is from
your 'past', and all you can say is CALM DOWN!?! I will not calm down! No way mister! Hey,
who said you could walk away from me during a fight!?!" Bulma yelled at her husband who
began carrying Rettan into the house.
"We are not fighting. You are yelling. There is a difference." Vegeta stated as he began
to walk up the stairs. Bulma scowled but followed her husband. Trunks ran ahead of them and
opened a door to one of the various guest bedrooms in the house.
"Pull back the bedding." Vegeta told Bulma. Quietly she went to the bed and did as she
was instructed. She saw the concern her husband had in his eyes for this other woman. She
watched as Vegeta sat on the bed beside Rettan and began undoing the straps on her breastplate.
Bulma grabbed his wrist.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Bulma demanded of her husband. Vegeta gave
her a confused look.
"You want her to lay here in armor?" Vegeta asked. Bulma's look softened, but she still
held her husband's wrist.
"How 'bout I do this. You two go get cleaned up. You guys look like something the cat
dragged in." Bulma said as she began removing Rettan's armor.
"Woman..." Vegeta said as he stood up, "You don't know how right you are."
* * * *
Rettan's eyes snapped open, but all she could see was darkness. Letting her eyes adjust,
she could make out furnishing and some medical supplies. She could sense Vegeta's ki close by
and she sighed. She was safe. Laying in the soft bed Rettan could feel every muscle in her body
ache. Her shoulder still hurt slightly, but the deep gashes were already healed. Rettan's brow
furrowed, was she really out for that long? There was a needle with a tube attached to it inserted
into her left arm. Struggling to sit up, Rettan could feel her eyes begin to water because of the
pain in her muscles. Giving up on that, Rettan sank back into the soft bedding and closed her
eyes. This was the first time since she left Planet Vegeta that Rettan had felt secure enough to fall
into a deep, uninhibited sleep. Knowing that it was wrong because he was already taken but not
really caring at the moment, Rettan fell asleep dreaming of her Prince.
* * * *
With a start Rettan woke up. Someone was standing over her in the dark, sorting through
something on the desk beside her bed. In a flash Rettan was behind her would be assailant,
twisting one arm behind the person's back. Rettan clamped her hand down one the person's
throat, placing a slight pressure on the windpipe. It was only when Rettan sensed the weakness of
this person's ki did she let go. The stranger that was in her room rushed over to a switch on the
far wall and hit it. The lights that were built into the roof flickered on, and Rettan squinted. She
began to sway slightly, and finally her knees gave out and she slumped to the floor. The stranger
rushed out of the room and down the hall, calling Vegeta's name. Too dizzy to move, Rettan just
sat on the floor, waiting for the Prince to come in. The aching in her muscles had lessened, but
they were all still screaming to be left alone. Rettan could hear the soft footsteps enter the room
and come to her side. Still to weak to even smile, Rettan could fell gentle but strong arms pick
her up and place her back onto the bed.
"That was your mate, right?" Rettan managed to squeak out. Her throat felt as if it was
on fire. Vegeta replied with a nod. Rettan could only smile, not the best first impression to make.
"Tell her... sorry." Rettan said before the darkness once again claimed her. Vegeta smiled
slightly and pulled the covers back over his friend.
* * * *
"Papa! Mama! Rettan's gone!" Trunks yelled down the stairs one night, about two
weeks after the battle with the Hunters. In a flash Vegeta was up the stairs and into the guest
bedroom where they keep Rettan. True enough, the window was open, the bed was empty and
her IV was laying on the ground, slowly dripping liquid. Checking the chest at the end of the bed,
Vegeta knew that Rettan could not have went far. Her armor, damaged though it was, was still
neatly packed away in the wooden chest. Her spear, however, was missing, along with the
blanket from the bed. Leaning out the window, Vegeta knew exactly where she was.
"Trunks, stay here." Vegeta said to his son. The Prince looked at his wife but said
nothing, and then levitated through the window and into the night air. Reaching the roof, Vegeta
could see the outline of a small form looking up at the stars. Silently he approached.
"You know Prince, our planet would be right around there." Rettan said as she pointed to
a familiar spot in the sky. Vegeta only nodded as he sat down beside her. He himself could
remember the nights that he spent on the roof, looking at the exact same part of the sky. He was
surprised as he felt Rettan flinch slightly as his arm brushed her side. She wouldn't look at him,
but just kept watching the sky. They sat in silence for what seemed like hours, but was only
actually a few minutes. Finally Rettan spoke,
"It's not your fault, you know." Rettan said as she pulled the blanket that was wrapped
around her body closer. Vegeta looked to her, and then back to the stars.
"It's not your fault, either." The Prince replied. Rettan looked at him, forcing his eyes
away from the stars. She studied his handsome face, a sight that she thought was forever lost.
Without even consciously knowing that she was doing it Rettan was leaning in closer to her
Prince, as he was leaning in closer to her. Blinking back to reality Rettan jumped to her feet.
Grabbing her spear she walked away from him, away from what could have been. Using her spear
as a cane, Rettan leaned on it and turned back to her Prince.
"You took a mate, Vegeta." Rettan's voice quivered slightly, but she stood strong.
"Yes." Was all Vegeta could say.
"You are United?" Rettan asked quietly.
"Yes." Rettan's heart sank as she knew what was said to be true. Saiyans could take
mates at anytime they wanted, and further the population that way, without ever having to
commit to one mate. It was common practice on Planet Vegeta. However, when two Saiyans
became United, it was only with death that one could mate with any other again. The Unison was
a rare thing, usually reserved for High Class Saiyans, people who weren't as expandable as the
lower classes. Nodding, Rettan accepted what was. Vegeta was not hers anymore, she would
have to start a new life. Turning her back to the Prince, Rettan's soft features hardened as the
events of her past raced through her head. Damn that Frieza! If he only hadn't taken Vegeta
away from her. If only he hadn't... Rettan's anger got the better of her and energy began to
crackle around her body. The temptation of feeling the power that flowed through her when she
fought against the Hunters got the better of her. Losing her concentration, she let it flow through
her veins. She felt drunk with the power, and she let it consume her.
"RETTAN! NO! Your not strong enough yet!" Vegeta screamed as he realized that she
was attempting to turn Super Saiyan/Saeriyan. Rettan couldn't hear him, or perhaps just choose
not to. Rushing at her, Vegeta knocked her off the roof, and they both plummeted to the ground.
Bulma rushed out of the house as she saw what happened. Vegeta slowly stood up with
an unconscious, but otherwise healthy, Rettan in his arms. Bulma slowly followed him into the
house and up the stairs. She stood at the door of the guest room as Vegeta laid Rettan down and
covered her with a new blanket. Bulma said nothing as Vegeta walked past her through the
doorway, but was surprised as she felt his hand take hers. She turned to him, confused. He
kissed her lips softly and gently, letting her know that he was still his. Snuggling against his chest,
Bulma sighed, happy that Vegeta was with her that night.
'Kay all, you know what to do, please review.