The Soul and The Flesh Part XXXII "Good travels, little warrior!" Raimi said softly, and Kurilin clenched his fists when he heard her. "May Snake Way Lead You Safely Home." This was awful! They would all be dead before Goku got back at this rate!

"Chauzu! No..." Tien whispered, not really believing that this was happening. Twenty feet from the targeted rocks, Chauzu exploded. A pretty pink cloud shot out, blocking their sight of the pair, streamers falling to earth from it. Everyone stared sadly at the boiling cloud, impressed even in his or her sadness. Then Tien was hit with the full realization of what had happened, and he screamed his rage and loss.

"So, he blew himself up to take out his opponent! He's won my respect." Piccolo said, very impressed. Kurilin wept silently, as Raimi laid a hand on his shoulder gently.

"I am so sorry Kurilin," she said softly, looking up at the cloud. She knew that it had not been enough, and Chauzu had died in vain. Coming into view as the cloud dispersed was Nappa, virtually unharmed. The others suddenly realized as well, and were stunned. Nappa laughed as he wiped sweat from his eyes.

"Ha ha! What a waste of effort. You guys still don't get it, do you?!" Nappa mocked them.
"Nappa, he almost had you, so don't tease them." Vegeta critiqued, not impressed with his partners' survival of that blast at all.

"What...it's not possible...I-it didn't even faze 'im, not even a scratch! Something's not right here! Chauzu gave his life...for nothing?" Kurilin said, appalled at this turn of events. Raimi walked around him, eyeing Vegeta.

"The Dragonballs...we used them to restore his life once already! He can't come back ever again!" Tien said, so angry that he was trembling.

"Lucky for you, you get to see him soon, in HELL!" Nappa laughed maniacally. Raimi shivered at the sound. He was nuts! He sounded insane, like a homicidal maniac. She looked away from him, and noticed for the first time that they all stood in the middle of a sort of hurricane, caused by all the powerful Ki in one place, more than the Earth had ever had to endure before. Then she realized that Vegeta had moved around behind them. She wasn't too worried about him attacking them yet. For him, it was more amusing to watch Nappa take them on; Nappa just might get clobbered, after all.

"You are going to pay for this!" Tien said, gathering himself quietly as Nappa slowly descended.
"You don't seem so gung-ho as before!" Nappa sneered at Tien.

"Man this is nuts! What now Piccolo, what should we do now?" Kurilin yelped.
"Hang in there, we're here for a reason," Piccolo replied, hiding his own concern.

Tien dropped to his knees in mental anguish. He kept murmuring Chauzu's name as his level rose higher and higher, reflecting his agitation.

"Okay...I'm set...this one's for you Chauzu!" he shouted, then leapt up and attacked the smirking Saiyan. They fought hard, and Nappa was backing away, but he had tremendous advantage. Nappa was taller and heavier, with a longer reach and of course two arms.

"Hey, not bad!" Piccolo admitted.
"Man, He's fired up!" Kurilin said.

Tien swung a mighty blow at Nappa, who dodged, but was mildly surprised when the huge tower of rocks that Tien hit instead disintegrated from the blow. Nappa grinned and drove his knee into Tien's belly so hard that Tien flew straight up for twenty feet. The second he hit the ground, Tien was back up and fighting. The action was so intense that it was making the mini hurricane get more violent.

Raimi was getting nervous. She could feel Vegeta staring at her, and wished he would watch the fight. His gaze was as heavy as lead on the back of her head.
"For goodness sake, lay off!" she whispered, and tried to focus on Tien and Nappa.

"Don't stop now, Ugly! I might break a sweat if you keep going!" Nappa taunted, then laid it to Tien, temporarily dropping him.

"How can he get up after all that? I've got to help him!" Kurilin growled. He glared at Raimi resentful that she wasn't doing anything to help Tien. He could feel her power, and couldn't understand her reticence. He still didn't understand what she'd been trying to tell him when Yamcha died.

"Kurilin wait!" Piccolo snapped. Kurilin froze and looked back at him, responding to the voice of command.

"He's going to focus closer and closer on Tien. In the instant he sees Tien and only Tien, that's when we attack." Piccolo stared at Nappa, as Kurilin searched Piccolos face. He nodded, the logic too obvious to deny. "Raimi, wait here, and wait for the signal..." She nodded.

"All right, good. Did you get that, Gohan?" Piccolo said to the boy, who nodded shakily.
"Hey, that's a good plan!" Vegeta chuckled behind them. They turned cautiously to look at him. "I hope it works for your sakes, though of course... I don't think it will." He added, smirking.

"Huh?" Piccolo stared wide-eyed at the Saiyan.
"Don't take your eyes off him...you'll miss your instant." Vegeta warned matter of factly. He stared back at Piccolo, amused by the possibilities of this plan.

"So confident! I hope I get to see your face when Son Goku arrives." Piccolo practically purred, amused by the thought of Goku tearing into these Saiyans. He had never been so eager to see his nemesis as now.

"What? Goku, eh? Who's he? Your secret weapon?" Vegeta's eyes lit with curiosity and excitement. A strong opponent for once was an exciting though unlikely prospect. Piccolo didn't answer. Just then Nappa rushed Tien with a roar.

"Let's go guys!" Kurilin shouted as Tien was tossed into a cliff then fell, hitting the ground hard.
"Wait Kurilin, just a few more seconds..." Piccolo ordered as he turned away from Vegeta and waited, watching for the right moment...

"What's wrong? No, no, don't tell me! I think I know what you need...A nice trip...To Hell! One way, of course!" Nappa laughed at Tien, who was winded and having trouble rising. "Ready!" Nappa shouted, serious now. As he dove at Tien, Piccolo yelled.

"Gohan wait! Kurilin, now!"
"Right!" Kurilin agreed as they took off. Raimi leapt back, and waited as well, getting ready to help. She knew what was to happen, and was torn about trying to change it.

Tien looked up at Nappa as the huge Saiyan raced towards him, trying to gather his energy, when Piccolo appeared behind Nappa. "Come at me!!" He called.

"Now, die Baka! Huh?" Nappa was startled by Piccolo's sudden appearance, and even more so when Piccolo socked his jaw. Nappa went flying straight towards Kurilin, who met him with doubled fists, and sent him racing towards Gohan. The boy was supposed to use a beam of energy on him, but Raimi decided to blast the Saiyan herself. She knew Gohan was going to freeze, and Piccolo had hinted that she was to do it if necessary. She powered up and took one step forward...

And felt a hand grab her left wrist from behind. She spun left, holding her right arm away, and stared into Vegeta's eyes, surprised. She pulled on her arm to try to free it, but of course he was too powerful, he was easily three times as strong as she was. They stood facing each other, still as statues, right toes touching as they braced themselves and held firm. She was so close to him, that she could see the pupils of his black eyes as a deeper black, and that there were little gold flecks in the irises. She felt herself blushing again.

"Well, well, I'm surprised. You saved Nappa from little old me? You flatter me, Vegeta..." She said. She was feeling that power surge again, and didn't want him to notice the change. He made no move to attack her, so she stopped pulling against him. They stared at each other curiously, the heat now like a fire in her muscles and tendons. She welcomed the pain, knowing she would be more than a match for Nappa, if she got a chance to fight him. Luckily Vegeta wasn't wearing his scouter. He would have seen her rating skyrocketing if he had been.

"Ah, they haven't got a chance in Hell of stopping Nappa, but you are a Saiyan too, and I have a hunch you are stronger than he is. I think you could annihilate him if I let you..." He said smoothly. He looked her over, surprised at just how strong she was. She was a Saiyan all right, but why was she here? She was too young to have been born on Vegeta-sei, and thus was actually to young to be a Royal Guard...so where did she get that armor?

Raimi's fingers were numb from his grip on her wrist, but she didn't move. She could hear her body groaning, and it was all she could do not to double over from the pain. She could even hear her armor creak quietly as her muscles expanded and flexed. His eyes flicked to the field, but she couldn't afford to peek also. She tugged on her arm once more, and they both were surprised when he had to pull back against her strength. Her efforts hadn't even been able to make him move just a moment ago, but her "Saiyan Power" was forcing her to become as powerful as he. He could let go right now, and she still would be as strong as he in mere moments. She smiled at the realization. Of course the longer they struggled, the faster it would be, if the past were any indication. Now, how to break free from his grip on her arm...She thought of something, and smiled impishly at him, showing no fear of him what so ever.

"Who are you?" Vegeta asked, uneasy. This was impossible! No Saiyan got so strong so fast! She should need some time for her level to adjust, a day or so at least...but she had just shown strength that probably surpassed Nappa's, and might even meet his own.

"Me? My name is Raimi, Oji-sama..." She said, and then leapt at him, pulling their arms down between them. Their armor made a loud clack as their bodies collided. Vegeta stumbled as she wrapped her right arm around his neck and then of all things kissed him. He windmilled his right arm, trying to keep their balance.

Raimi wasn't trying to seduce him; but she did know that he had a hard time recovering from things that really surprised him, and what could be more surprising than this? However, the second her lips touched his, her body was racked with agony. The heat in her muscles became an inferno, and her nerves screamed with pain. What the hell was going on here? This hadn't happened before; she had to get away from him, before she exploded from overload! Luckily Vegeta released her wrist in his surprise, and she stepped back. She spun around, gasping and trembling as her body tried to adjust. She dropped to one knee as the rush of hormones, pheromones, and steroids in her system made her dizzy.

"That was an unusual attack, I must say. You're quick on your feet." Vegeta said, but he still seemed uneasy. Raimi looked at him over her shoulder at him, and then he smiled.

"I was right. You are a rare and precious creature; I've never heard of such Saiyan ability. You'll bear watching from now on, and don't think I won't be watching you, Kirei..." he said. His eyes were different somehow. She had impressed him quite a lot with her bold "attack". He watched her as she regained her feet.

"Well, I'm as surprised as you are." She said. She reminded herself not to trust him, and stepped back away keeping her customary ten feet between them.

"I intend to take you with us, Raimi. I'll be watching you, so don't do anything...rash understand? Don't make me do something awful to your little friends... If you want Nappa's head, it will have to wait... " She shook her head.

"I don't intend to wait, at least not for long...." Raimi said softly. "And I think you realize that, don't you Vegeta? When I do kill him, you won't care anymore... " He raised an eyebrow at that, but didn't reply.