Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following characters from DBZ or the Tenchi series (However Fruitia, Blackshire, and the Ebon Shard, are my creations)

Vegeta Muyo! 2

Part 2: Our Time Together



Midnight (Earth Time)

Ryoko moved about frantically in her control seat, trying to get comfortable. She was fighting a for a lost cause. Finally, having been trying to relax enough to sleep for hours, Ryoko sighed an stood up. "It's no use Ryo-Ohki. I guess I'm too used to sleeping next to Tenchi every night. I can't seem to get a wink of sleep," she told her cabbit spaceship. "I can't stop thinking about what Blackshire must be doing to my Tenchi, or if he even has Tenchi. But if Blackshire doesn't have him, then where is he?" Ryoko was working herself into a frenzy, instead of calming herself down.

"Will you shut up wench!" Vegeta commanded from the corner where he had been sleeping. "You make more noise than Kakarot!"

"Be quiet Vegeta!" Ryoko countered turning to face the Saiyajin Prince, who still sat, arms crossed, trying to sleep. She was sick of his constant whining and how he ordered everyone around, not to mention that smug look that was always on his face. "You can't possibly understand what I'm going through! I mean how could you, you're a cold blooded Saiyajin! When have you lost anyone you cared about..." Ryoko stopped, her words caught in her throat as if someone was choking her. In her anger, brought on by worrying about Tenchi, Ryoko had said something she now deeply regretted. Ryoko had forgotten the reason Vegeta was even there, to seek vengeance on Fruitia for killing his wife. "Vegeta...I'm sorry," Ryoko began, wishing she could take back the words she shouted in anger.

Vegeta looked away from her, out one of the panels in Ryo-Ohki's side. "It's been a long time since last we met," Vegeta said after a few moments. "Do you remember that day, when you came to me seeking my help for that wedding of yours?" Vegeta had heard Ryoko's remarks about Bulma, and pretended they had not affected him. He was a Saiyajin, and they did not cry over lost family. Vegeta detested, more than any Saiyajin before him, emotional scenes, thus he did not reply to Ryoko's apology, instead he motioned with his hand, as if to dismiss the entire thing.

"We are very similar, you and I, wench." Vegeta thought as he waited for her to reply to his question, "such things like apologies are for weaklings like Kakarot and the fools he calls friends."

Ryoko gazed at him for a while, realizing it was Vegeta's way of accepting her apology, before she responded. "Of course I do. It was the weirdest invitation I ever sent out before the wedding... I still can't believe all the trouble I had to go through to get you to come!" Ryoko teased, the tension that had been in the air fading. "I remember it all started early one morning..."

Flash back nearly 6 years ago (1 month after Fruitia and Blackshire attacked the first time): BREAKFAST AT GROUND ZERO

Capsule Corps: Early Morning 6 AM

Ryoko landed in front of one of the strangest buildings she had ever seen, and since she was a space pirate, she had seen a lot of odd designs. She stretched as she looked around, "I can't believe Washu made me get up this early to deliver my invitation to him. Stupid Saiyajin's! Can't they get up at a decent hour? I mean why wake up so early if all you are going to do is work out?" Ryoko never could understand Saiyajin's very well.

The building she stood in front of, a house to be precise, resembled a ball, that was half sunken into the ground. On it was a door, and a few window panes, which let light into the structure. As Ryoko looked around her, she noticed most of the buildings in the area were built with a similar design.

"So this is Capsule Corps," Ryoko commented, as she double checked the address written on a piece of paper in her hand. "Well, that's what it says here. I hope they haven't moved, this will be the first time I ever came to visit them. I'm glad Bulma gave Tenchi their address after that whole Cell Zero incident. It's been so long since I've seen them, I wonder if they'll remember me." Ryoko flew daintily over to the door, knocking softly.

Inside:

The Dining Room Table

Vegeta looked up from his breakfast clearly angry. "Who would dare disturb me at this hour!" he mentally screamed as he chewed his food like a wild beast. "It's probably one of those damned scientists from Capsule Corps wanting me to sign some stupid forms." Since Bulma had been killed by Fruitia, just over a month ago, Vegeta had to sign his approval to all the projects that went on at his late wife's company. "How did that woman stand being surrounded by so many incompetent fools!" Vegeta asked himself confused.

He continued to wait, after all one of his kids always raced down to answer the door. However today seemed to be an exception. "BRA! TRUNKS! ANSWER THE BLASTED DOOR!" commanded Vegeta. He continued to wait, but neither of his children appeared.

Outside:

At the Front Door

Ryoko stopped knocking, the structure of the building was quite efficient, Vegeta's roar was barely audible to those outside. "I think I heard someone inside. They must not have heard my knocking, I'll just have to try again!" Ryoko slammed her fist on the door repeatedly and loudly.

Inside:

Vegeta slammed his hands down on the table in fury, hate filled his eyes. Whoever was at the door must have had a death wish to continue to bother him. "Alright I'm coming!" he proclaimed as he made his way toward the door. An evil scowl covered Vegeta's face, opening doors for others was beneath him, after all he was the Prince of All Saiyajin's, not a servant. Just as Vegeta was about to reach the door, he heard something behind him. It was his daughter, Bra, who looked more like her mother everyday, descending the staircase, wearing only a light blue night shirt, and a large pair of boxers, behind him. He looked over his shoulder at her, as she looked at him Bra knew he was not going to be in a good mood today.

"What's going on daddy? I- AH!" Bra screamed pointed in terror at the door.

"Huh" Vegeta muttered as he looked toward where Bra had been pointing, expecting to see Freiza, Cell, or some other foe from his past standing there, what he saw, in his own opinion, was much worse. Half phased through the door, was Ryoko, who smiled happily while she waved hello to the Saiyajin Prince. "What are you doing her Wench!" Vegeta asked flatly dropping out of his battle stance.

"It's nice to see you too Vegeta," Ryoko said sounding a little disappointed he wasn't even a little glad to see her. Ryoko finished walking through the door, standing right in front of Vegeta.

Trunks came running into the room, standing at the top of the stairs wearing his Capsule Corps jacket, and his boxers. His hair a mess, apparently he had just gotten out of bed, but he still looked like he was ready to fight. "What's going on? I heard Bra scream is everything... oh no...," Trunks said excitedly at first then his words almost froze in his throat. "Hello Miss Ryoko." he said waving nervously, he still remembered what had happened the last time Ryoko and his dad had met.

"Trunks! If it isn't my favorite son of Vegeta's!" Ryoko chimed, floating up to stand in front of the half dressed young man. "My how you've grown, and you look so handsome. Absolutely nothing like your father!" Ryoko told Trunks as she looked him over, circling him like a predator does it's prey. "Although I see you take after your father when it comes to fashion sense," Ryoko teased. Trunks blushed looking at the floor to hid his embarrassment.

"Hold on a minute!" Bra shouted, "who is this woman Trunks?"

"She's Ryoko, a space pirate," Trunks mumbled.

"Not just any space pirate," Ryoko said correcting him, "I happen to be the best space pirate in the universe. Of course I'm also the most beautiful one as well, but I don't think I needed to tell you that." For emphasis, Ryoko brushed back her wild silver hair seductively.

Vegeta ground his teeth, he hated being ignored, and he really was in no mood for Ryoko's stupid banter right now. He and Ryoko met once a year, at the spot they first fought. Vegeta wasn't sure why he had agreed to do that, but one thing he and Ryoko had agreed on was that she would never follow him home, Vegeta had enough trouble with Bulma and Bra, and didn't need Ryoko causing him any more grief. "Wench, what are you doing here!"

"So how do you and dad know her?" Bra continued to ask her brother, trying to solve this bizarre mystery.

"It's a long story," Trunks informed her as he took a deep breath. He realized this meeting was becoming a situation, and that he needed to diffuse it as fast as he could. "Why don't we talk about it at breakfast, that way I can get some pants on, and sort out all the details in my head." Bra nodded, saying it would nice if Trunks made sense at least once in the time she had known him. Only after she was gone did Trunks realize that he would have to wait to take a shower, and as always that meant no hot water for himself.

"That sounds like a lovely idea Trunks, and of course I accept you offer," Ryoko said continuing to ignore Vegeta. She beamed down to stand in the living room once again, a few feet before Vegeta.

"What offer?" Trunks said confused.

"Why your offer to let me have breakfast with you." Ryoko said sweetly. "I'll explain why I'm here to all of you then." Vegeta appeared ready to kill as he stormed back into the kitchen to finish his meal. Ryoko followed behind him, humming happily as she did.

"This is going to be a long day," Trunks muttered as he headed back into his room. Just as he reached the door he looked back, hearing Ryoko and his father argue, apparently Ryoko was trying to get Vegeta to make her breakfast, since she was his guest. "A VERY long day..."

LATER: In the kitchen

"No! How can you say that Vegeta!" Ryoko screamed in disbelief as she slammed her fist onto the table. "Do you realized what I had to go through to get your invitation approved! It isn't easy to have the Jurai Royal Council approve an invitation for a Saiyajin Prince!"

"I don't care," Vegeta stated with a smirk, "I will not take time off my training to tend a stupid Jurain Wedding! " Ryoko was furious, which pleased Vegeta greatly. It was one of the things that made them such good friends, of course only Vegeta, Ryoko, and a few others knew they were friends. The fact that they each loved to anger the other, Ryoko by ignoring everything Vegeta ever said, and Vegeta by never agreeing to anything Ryoko asked him.

"Did I hear someone say something about a wedding?" Bra said entering the kitchen, now wearing a nice pink tank top, and jeans. Vegeta looked at her disapprovingly. He didn't like his daughter wearing anything that was even slightly revealing. If he had his way she would wear Saiyajin battle armor like he did, but he knew better than to argue about fashion with his Bra.

Ryoko went from pouting to full of energy, her voice taking a pleasant, yet manipulative tone. "Why yes you did. My name is Ryoko, and I am a friend of Vegeta's." Ryoko proclaimed hoping that his woman would be able to change Vegeta's mind for her.

"My name is Bra, and I didn't think dad had any friends," Bra replied slyly understanding Ryoko was trying to get on her good side.

"Oh so you are Vegeta's daughter! I should have known. You look so much like your mother. By the way, where is she?" Ryoko asked thinking her plan was going good so far.

"Mom died about a month ago, she was murdered..." Bra said remembering that horrible day.

"Ah..."Ryoko gasped realizing she had stuck her foot in her mouth. "I'm sorry to hear that, did they catch the murderer?"

"I took care of him." Vegeta declared in a manner which suggested that this particular conversation was over.

"Bra! You used all the hot water, again!" Trunks whined as he entered the kitchen, "if you are gonna use so much water at least let me go first so I don't freeze to death!" Trunks paused, the tension in the air hung like a heavy fog, apparently something had just happened. Clearing his throat Trunks decided to speak once again, "What's going on?"

Ryoko was the first to reply, "Trunks dear, I was merely trying to invite your bone headed father to my wedding, but apparently he's got..," Ryoko voiced changed to sound like a horrible attempt at doing Vegeta's voice,"'too much training to do to attend a stupid Jurai wedding!'" Ryoko paused and in her normal voice continued, "I just heard about your mother's death, and I am sorry to hear about that. Now since your father has decided to decline my invitation, I don't have anyone to fill the third position for the guys side. I suppose I'll have to ask Goku. I'm sure he can do the job much better than your father any way."

Vegeta ground his teeth, nearly shattering them, as he hissed, "Kakarot is gone." He was furious that she would dare say Goku was better at anything than he was.

"Goku's dead too! What's going on around her," Ryoko asked throwing her arms in the air.

"So you're getting married," Trunks said taking in the situation, as he finished getting his thoughts together. "Is it to Tenchi?" Ryoko smiled happily nodding her head.

"Wow. That's great," Bra said sarcastically. "Now I only have one more question. WHO IS TENCHI!"

Trunks took a step back from his sister, "maybe I should explain everything now, about Goku, mom, and how we met Ryoko." Ryoko and Bra took seats at the table, as Trunks prepared to tell the two women everything.

Vegeta rose from his seat before Trunks could begin. "I've listened to enough chatter for one day! I'm going to train!" Vegeta stormed out of the kitchen into the gravity room.

After a few brief explanations later:

"So Goku fused with the dragon balls," Ryoko said, "I always knew he was a weird one."

"I'm sorry we can't make it to your wedding Ryoko," Bra said placing her hand on Ryoko's. "I really would like to see all the others."

"You two are still invited," Ryoko offered, "just because your father doesn't want to go, doesn't mean you can't." Trunks and Bra shook their heads.

"No, when father said he wouldn't go, he also meant we couldn't. I'm not sure why he feels that way, but I can tell that's what he's thinking," Bra said sadly.

"Then it looks like I'll just have to convince him otherwise," Ryoko proclaimed rising from her seat, "even if I have to pound some sense into him. Show me where this training room is!"

A little while later:

Bra, Trunks, and Ryoko stood in front of a large metal door. Over head a sign read 1000 G. "So he's in there, right?" Ryoko asked. Trunks merely nodded. Placing her hands on her hips, Ryoko walked, or rather phased, through the door.

"Is she nuts!" Bra screamed, racing to look inside the port hole in the door, "she'll be crushed."

"I doubt it sis," Trunks declared standing beside her, "this could get interesting."

Inside:

"Imagine the nerve of that wench! To come here and expect me to take time off my training to go to some stupid wedding! As if I have time for that," Vegeta spoke to himself as he threw numerous punches and kicks while in his SSJ3 form.

"I do have a name, you know," Ryoko's voice rang behind him. Vegeta turned his eyes now a emerald green. "You know you look just like someone else I know," Ryoko place a finger to her face as she looked at the ceiling wondering sarcastically. "I wonder who..."

"You dare to compare me to KAKAROT! I am Vegeta, The Prince of All-"

"Yeah, Yeah, I've heard that before, and I'm still not impressed." Ryoko declared, it was obvious she was trying to anger Vegeta, and it was working. Vegeta soared at her his fist drawn back ready to strike. However as his devastating punch was about to connect, Ryoko's hand shot up, catching his blow.

Vegeta, one hand clutched in Ryoko's grasp, swung his other hand toward her, and just as quickly, it was also held fast in Ryoko's other hand. The two stood glaring at each other, as Vegeta pressed toward Ryoko with all his might.

"Well, I must say I'm impressed," Vegeta declared. "You haven't ran away yet, like you did last time we battled. You've actually decided to face me." Vegeta grinned evilly. "It seems you've been training, you appear a lot stronger than the last time we fought."

"I don't need to train to fight ego maniacs like you Vegeta," Ryoko replied, as they continued their struggle. "With all three of my gems back I can easily finish you."

Vegeta screamed as his aura flared powerfully. He lurched forward, to slam Ryoko into the training room wall. Just as Ryoko would have hit, she vanished, appearing behind Vegeta. "Still using that old trick," Vegeta snapped, spinning quickly to bring his fist right at Ryoko's throat. Once again Ryoko vanished, and appeared above Vegeta. In a flash she formed her energy sword, and brought it down, with the intent to cleave Vegeta's head from his shoulders. Ryoko was quick, but Vegeta reacted in time, so that it appeared Ryoko was successful. However to her dismay, it was only the after image of Vegeta's super speed that she struck.

Ryoko leapt upwards to take to the air, even thought maneuverability was limited. As her feet left the ground a ki blast erupted, smoke filling the air, and throwing Ryoko into the wall roughly.

Vegeta stood a few feet away, laughing. Even thought he couldn't sense Ryoko's ki, he knew he must have gotten her with that blast. "As I said wench, you have improved since last time, but it wasn't enough." Suddenly Ryoko appeared in front of him, her arm drawn back. Ryoko slammed her fist into the Saiyajin prince's face, knocking his head to one side. A small trickle of blood ran down Vegeta's mouth. Slowly he rose his hand to wipe away the blood.

Ryoko sighed looking at him, "I really don't have time to play around like this Vegeta, we both know we can each keep this up for days. So I'll only ask you one more time, will you come to my wedding? It's on Planet Jurai, so I need to know right away if you'll come or not, so I can get everything ready."

Vegeta examined the blood on his hand, then looked at Ryoko. After a few moments he smiled. "On Planet Jurai you say... Alright wench, we'll be there," Ryoko was about to reply happily to Vegeta's statement yet she was cut off. "But I have one demand..."

A Short Time Later:

Ryoko flew out of Vegeta's house, shaking her head. "Leave it to a Saiyajin to make a request like that, well I'm sure Azusa will have no problem granting Vegeta's request. He is king of Jurai after all, so I can't imagine such a request is beyond his power. I'm just glad all the instructions on when Vegeta and his kids were to come over were on the invitation, so I don't have to stay in that house any longer."

Back in the House:

Trunks looked at the instructions written on the inside of the invitation. "Apparently Washu has some kind of teleporting device, which she'll use to get us there. It seems the wedding is going to be held on Planet Jurai. What do you think of that, sis?"

Bra watched Ryoko fly away not hearing her brother's words. "Dad sure does have some weird friends, doesn't he." It was more of a statement that a question. "This will definitely be a wedding I'll remember."

End Flashback

"I still can't believe you made me arrange that for you," Ryoko shouted to Vegeta.

"Well, I wasn't the one making others take time off from important training, to attend a dumb wedding." Vegeta reminded her.

"Still, making me have the king of Jurai send his top fifty guards to attack you when you arrived on the planet seems odd, even for you."

"As I said, I was missing my training to be there. Besides you should be glad, I didn't kill anyone."

"Oh yeah, you're a real humanitarian Vegeta," Ryoko said sarcastically. She could still remember seeing the lists of injuries. Vegeta was right, he didn't kill anyone, but some of the things he did do, were too painful to think about. "In any case Vegeta, I want to thank you for coming to my wedding. It meant a lot to have you there." Ryoko said speaking from the heart.

Vegeta sneered, feeling uncomfortable in a situation like this. "Well if you are done chattering, I would like to get some rest." Vegeta closed his eyes appearing to fall asleep. As he lay against the wall, he could feel eyes upon him. "What do you want now, wench..."

When he opened his eyes, he noticed Ryoko was looking at him, bent over like a mother would to speak to a child. Something was bothering her, Vegeta realized since she never met his gaze. "I feel a little weird asking you this Vegeta..." She paused. "I have a request I would like to make."

Vegeta stared at her with his eyes wide open. "Well..." Vegeta's words revealed he was in no mood for guessing games.

"It's just that... For almost ten years now I've always slept beside Tenchi...," Ryoko began.* "I was just wondering, if I could sleep next to you. I just can't seem to sleep, and I thought maybe if I was sleeping by someone I might be able to get to sleep..."

"Do what you want wench, just don't keep me awake all night with your blabbing." Vegeta declared ending the matter as he turned his head away from her trying to get back to sleep.

Ryoko laid beside him, her head on his shoulder. Her theory was correct, as she lay beside the Saiyajin prince, she found it easier to relax, and in a few moments drifted off to sleep, dreaming as she did every night of Tenchi.

Vegeta took a deep breath, inhaling the perfume that Ryoko always wore. His mind began to drift back in time. He remembered how he used to always sleep alone, back when he was a young Saiyajin warrior, soaring through the universe trying to be the best there was. Then he met Bulma, his wife, and after that the idea of sleeping alone always bothered him. He hated to admit that, but since it was only to himself, he didn't mind as much. "Is that why I let this wench sleep beside me" he wondered. Vegeta shook his head slowly from side to side, as he too fell asleep. That night, his dreams were filled, not with battles, or his goal to one day kill Goku, instead they were dreams of his beloved wife.

Ryo-Ohki continued to soar toward the battle site, where a new Planet Vegeta had been placed. It would only be a few more days, then the final battle would begin.

Next Time: What happened to Tenchi is revealed, and our hero's arrive at the battlefield. Also the Master reveals himself. Plus an unexpected visitor comes calling be here next time for PART 3: Ascendant Evil



*[remember 4 years pass between No Need for Proof (where Tenchi lets Ryoko start sharing his bed) and the Blackshire interval, then about a year to Ryoko's Wedding, and then 5 years until this story. So it is about 10 years of her sleeping beside Tenchi.]