Teresa: Ah, back to the ol' grind.
Jade: Yep, it's about time you got back to work. You may be the faster typist, but I could've done like 10 stories in the time you've been wasting away, dawdling.
Teresa: I know, I know. But I was really busy with work and school and volunteering at the zoo and I'm reading about 4 books right now and writing nigh on 10 and- Jade promptly smacks Teresa okay, I'll shut up now.
Jade: Yeah, no more whiny little stupid excuses from you, Teresa. Just get on with the story.
Teresa: Fine, fine. This is part two of the story, of course. If you read and reviewed part one, you are indeed a wonderful person, though I was slightly insulted by the complaint that the story was about something other than Bulma and Vegeta. Just because A Shelter From My Storm was a generally popular story with the readers doesn't mean that I'll now write about the same thing, over and over again to insure being liked. I am wonderful in many ways, and I can write about whatever I want to. So there. : P Okay, I'm done with that rant now. On with the story and thanks to those of you who like it just the way it is!
*****
The Best Of Both Worlds
Part 2
*****
The next day at noon, Vega met Aperu at Guvara's booth. She smiled warmly, and he was struck by how lovely she was, yet again. "Where are we going?" she asked as they began to walk.
"Not any one place in particular. I just thought I would show you some of the sights around here as we went along." Vega replied. Aperu nodded happily and continued along by his side. As they walked, they talked idly about many things. Mostly, this consisted of Aperu talking about her travels while Vega just listened in interest. He had been to a few other planets, as he was Royal Prince, but not nearly as many as Aperu.
"That's the Royal Palace of Vegeta-sai, where the King and Queen of this planet live." Vega pointed to an elaborate palace some distance away.
"It's very beautiful." Aperu commented. "Most main palaces are, but this one is more so than most." Vega smiled oddly at her as they continued on their way.
"See over there? That's the Mikerian Bridge. When Vegeta-sai's people and the Mikerians developed a peace treaty, the Mikerians built that symbolic monument for us." Vega explained.
"You know, for a commoner like me, you sure know a lot." Aperu told him as she gazed at the bridge.
"I pick things up, I guess." Vega told her, coughing uneasily, and looking away. "Oh, look over there. That's Kiwan Rock."
"Kiwan? Isn't that a woman's name?" Aperu asked.
"It was named after one of the Queens of Vegeta-sai." Vega informed her.
"Really?" something about Aperu's soft tone seemed enticing to Vega. He looked to her, noticing that she was staring at her. She smiled softly as his dark eyes met hers, locking in a warm gaze. Vega swallowed hard as her smile widened, increasing the beauty of her face. She didn't seem to want to stop staring up at him. Suddenly, he realized that he was instinctively leaning in closer to her enticing smile. They were so close he didn't even notice when their tails entwined. All he could think of was her dark eyes, her soft red lips. They looked so soft, he wondered if they could possibly feel as good as they looked. Her lips, on his, that would be something…
"How romantic! They are going to kiss!" A too-familiar voice squealed nearby. Their tails unwound as Aperu and Vega flew apart.
"Nabana!" Vega growled.
"Aren't you guys gonna kiss?" asked Nabana as she stepped between them.
"Go away now Nabana!" Vega ordered, his face red from a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
"But why?" she whined, "I wanted to see you two kiss! I think that would be so cute!"
"Now!" Vega yelled.
"Okay, I'm leaving." Nabana relented, her face firmly stuck in a pout.
Vega nervously smiled at Aperu. "That was my little sister." Vega explained sheepishly.
"Oh, I see." Aperu nodded sympathetically.
"Uh, well, I guess I'd better go home now." Vega said.
"That's fine. I had a lot of fun with you today, Vega." Aperu smiled, "See you around?"
"Sure!" Vega winced at how idiotic and enthusiastic he sounded. Too late now, though. Aperu had already run off. "I'm going to kill Nabana." He breathed quietly. "I can't believer her. Following me around. You would think she would have something better to do. Oh well." Vega walked home, thinking of nothing but Aperu, despite himself.
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Vega wasn't planning on visiting Aperu again the next day, but he simply couldn't resist. True, he wasn't sure where to find her, but Vega was almost positive he would search all day if that was what it took. Not that he had a whole lot else to do anyway that day. There was probably some duty or other he was supposed to attend to, but Vega didn't think he could concentrate on that type of thing. He couldn't get Aperu off his mind, so that morning he had rushed to finish his studies and then made certain Nabana was still busy with her own lessons before he got into his peasant disguise and sneaked out. The first place he could think of to go was the marketplace, where he had first seen her.
"Vega, dearie!" a familiar old voice called from her booth, "Come here!" Vega grinned winningly at the old Saiyan woman.
"Guvara, beautiful as ever I see." Vega commented as he reached her booth.
"Oh, shush with that talk." Guvara batted a wrinkled hand at him, chuckling softly.
"What have you got for me today?" Vega attempted to peek over the counter.
"Nothing new under there, but I have got something I know you will find quite interesting," Guvara smiled, conspiratorially leaning forward to whisper, "a message."
"A message?" Vega raised an eyebrow curiously. "From who?"
"That pretty young lady, Aperu." Guvara replied.
"Aperu?" Vega's eyes lit up. "What did she say?"
"Hmm…" Guvara teased, "I'm not sure I can remember. Getting old, you know."
"Nonsense." Vega tilted his head slightly, "You're practically younger than I am."
"Very well, enough with the false compliments." Guvara laughed, "She told me earlier that if I was to see you, I should tell you that she would be waiting at Kiwan Rock."
"Thanks Guvara!" Vega waved as he ran off with Guvara fondly watching him go. When Vega came within sight of Kiwan Rock he stopped as his heart skipped a beat. Near the rock, sitting on a bench in her recently acquired maroon sundress, was Aperu. After a moment or two, Vega continued walking toward her, but before he could reach Aperu she had spotted him and ran to meet him.
"Vega!" she beamed, cheeks slightly flushed as she reached him.
"Aperu!" he smiled back down at the slightly shorter female. "I see you wore the dress."
"Do you like it?" she twirled around slightly.
"Its lovely." He told her.
"Why thank you." She curtsied jokingly, giggling. "And what shall we do today, dear sir?"
"Hmm." He paused in thought, "Have you been to the gardens yet?" he finally asked.
"No, but I have heard that they are quite lovely." She responded.
"Shall we?" Vega laughed, offering her an arm.
"We shall." She replied in a regal tone as she twined her arm through his. They both let out small gasps at the shock and warmth of contact, but continued toward the gardens with their arms still linked.
It was not far to the gardens, and since he liked to go there some times, Vega was soon pointing out different features of the place as Aperu's eyes went wide with wonder and delight.
"I never knew this planet had so much life." Aperu admitted, "In my youth I was told that Vegeta-sai was largely barren."
"It was, until a few years ago." Vega nodded in remembrance. "When the Saiyans conquered this world, its inhabitants fought back with chemical weapons, leaving this planet close to dead. But about ten years ago, Queen Frita somehow convinced the king to hire a team of scientists to bring life back to Vegeta-sai. After a few years of research and soil treatment, the natural plant life of Vegeta-sai, having laid dormant for years, began to return." He explained.
"You sure know a lot about these type of things for a peasant." Aperu quirked a thin, black eyebrow at him in question.
"It is my home." Vega shrugged. Aperu smiled fondly up at him as they continued to stroll through the garden until they reached an elaborate fountain.
"Let's rest a while." Aperu pointed to a bench near the fountain. Vega was about to respond when a flower vender ran up to them.
"Flowers!" the man smiled toothily. He noted their linked arms and appealed to Vega, "Would you like a Carpathian Love Flower for the girl? It'll only cost you three pieces." The man winked and produced a delicate and lovely red flower from his little cart.
"Oh, we're not a co--" Vega cut himself off, then produced the money. "Okay, sure." He exchanged money for flower. As the vender left, Vega gave the delicate flower to Aperu. She smelled the sweet red petals and slid it into her hair.
"Thank you." She beamed brilliantly as they continued toward the bench and sat down.
"It goes well with your dress." Vega replied as he found himself getting lost in her deep eyes.
"Yes," Aperu suddenly realized how close they were sitting. She noticed his tail twining around her leg. "Vega," she breathed. He tilted her chin up with his hand as he leaned down and Aperu's tail wrapped itself around Vega's leg.
"Aperu," he whispered gently as she leaned upward, closing the distance as their lips met. Vega closed his eyes as he savored the feeling of his mouth on hers. He parted his lips slightly and licked the seam of her soft mouth. She gasped slightly and he felt her tail tighten around his leg slightly as her tongue joined his.
Finally, they parted for breath and Vega wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Wow." Aperu finally said.
"Tell me about it." He nodded agreement. They kissed again before getting up to leave the gardens.
"So, can I see you tomorrow?" Vega asked as they reached the gate.
"No, I, ah, have something to take care of. Meet me in one week, right here." She told him.
"One week?" his eyes pleaded with her. "Why must it be so long?"
"You forget, this isn't my home. Saiya is." Aperu pointed out. "I've been gone too long already. I'll be back in one week." She told him, leaning up for another kiss. "Wait for me?" she asked. He nodded in defeat and she ran off.
"I'd wait an eternity for that kiss." He spoke to himself absently.
"An eternity, huh?" a voice came from behind, "That's a lot longer than a week big brother."
"Nabana!" he turned around, extremely annoyed. "How did you find me?"
"Easy." Nabana shrugged, "I went down to the market, and there you were. So I followed you and that Aperu girl here. And I didn't even interrupt your kissing this time." Nabana beamed with obvious pride. Vega sighed and rolled his eyes in defeat.
"Why can't you be more like your older sisters?" he wondered out loud.
"Grupa and Carnada?" Nabana laughed. "Cause they're so boring. They don't like spying."
"Exactly my point." Vega muttered, "Come on, let's head back to the palace. And you don't need to tell anyone about what happened here."
"Why?" Nabana questioned. Vega sighed in frustration.
"I have some cookies there." He finally offered.
"Ooh, cookies! Oh boy!" Nabana clapped and skipped ahead of him as the two made their way home.
*****
***The End (Of part 2 that is)***