Chapter 6: Training Angel



(nearly two weeks later)

Vegeta laughed as his little sister played on the floor. "Yes, you're a clever little thing, aren't you?" She giggled and looked up at him with a broad smile.

Gohan looked at her curiously, she'd been a mystery to him for quite some time. Bulma and Vegeta had said that she was just a baby somebody must have jettisoned in an emergency and that they didn't know who she belonged too. He had his doubts about that story, but since Krillin seemed to believe it, he left it alone. She looked up at him and giggled. "Play!" She squealed in delight as she tossed him her little ball. Gohan looked up at Vegeta and Krillin, than tossed her the ball gently. She exploded into a fit of laughter and tossed it back.

"She's so easily entertained!" Gohan noted with a smile, but Krillin laughed and added in quickly.

"So weren't you, it's a baby thing, I think, she doesn't know there's more than just that ball." Krillin said as he looked over at Vegeta curiously. He'd been extremely watchful over the little girl, he knew that somehow that was connected to her relationship with him. He doubted that Vegeta was the kind to just adopt a baby out of kindness. But he held his opinions back for a little while longer. He didn't want to mention it while he was in front of everybody.

Gohan looked down away from them all for a moment, than just said. "Oh." And continued playing with the little halfling.

Krillin smiled again and thought for a moment. He was amazed that everyone was satisfied with the answer Vegeta and Bulma had given them about the baby. He, himself, still had questions. Like why Vegeta was so protective if she was just a castaway. Why did she look up at him with such contentment. And finally, he was worried about why Vegeta refused to give any clue as to what she might be. He was worried that she might somehow be connected to Freeza, since she did look an awful lot like an Ice Jin. But his worries were cast off when she laughed and played, she was nothing more than an innocent baby right now, whether she'd grow up to be vicious or not would have to wait for a while yet. I know that there was a bond between those two, I can see it in her eyes when she looks at him, and when he looks at her. Either they're brother and sister, or father and daughter. Though, I'm leaning towards the father/daughter relationship. He thought as he smiled and turned away from the playful halfling.

Vegeta gave Krillin a thoughtful look. He knew that the other knew something more than he was saying, and for that, Vegeta was grateful. Although he really didn't much like that human, he respected him for his skills and achievements. How much do you really know, I wonder? He thought to himself as he listened to Gohan and his sister play a few feet away.

"Well, I really ought to be leaving, Mom's gonna be calling me home soon to finish my homework. And I gotta catch up with Krillin." He said as he stood up from his play and looked at Vegeta.

He grunted and watched his little sister as Gohan said his goodbye's to them and left quickly after his Krillin. She watched him go with a quivering lip, than looked at her brother with such sadness that he had to smile to not be consumed by it himself. "Oh, it's alright, he'll be back later." He cooed to her as he walked over to her. She held her arms up into the air with a little whimper as he stooped down to pick her up. "What's wrong? Did everyone leave?" He asked her softly, she smiled at his tone and attention and snuggled against him, her eyes starting to get droopy. "Ah. I see, you need a nap, is that it? Alright, come on, little one, I'll get you settled in." He said as he carried into his room, where he had her nursery at.

Bulma followed him silently, she was still obsessing over the fact that Vegeta was really here. She still denied everything that Yamcha said about her falling in love with the arrogant Saiyan. Stupid man, what does he know what I feel? She asked, but kept it to herself, lest she give away her lie. She smiled as she watched him tuck her into the large crib, than securely latch on the top (that had become an absolute necessity since she showed them all how good of a climber she was by escaping her crib at night to snuggle with her brother). "You'd make a great father, Vegeta." She told him quietly as she walked out of the room with him.

He gave her a sour look and shook his head. "No, I'm not good with kids."



* * * * * * * *

(about a week later)

Bulma sighed as she leaned back against her chair. It'd been a while since Vegeta had talked to her, ever since he seemed to open up to her, they seemed to be going right back into the same dull lack of communication as before. She shoved the notebook with all of her information about her company down on the floor. "This sucks, why won't he talk to me anymore?!" She asked herself as she huffed and looked at the notebook lying on the floor in aggravation. "Great. Now I have to go and pick it back up!" She thought aloud angrily, and scooted her chair towards it, but stopped as she heard a voice behind her.

"I knew you had feelings for that creep!" It was Yamcha.

Bulma spun her chair around to face him. "I do not! That's all a lie! I just miss that little girl, he won't let anyone go near her unless he's around, and he doesn't let me go around him, so I can't see her!" That's a believable explanation, isn't it? She asked herself as she scowled at Yamcha.

He nodded with a frown. "Sure. That's why you haven't been working, why all you ever talk about is Vegeta, and that little girl. I think it's the man, more than that baby that has your attention all of the time. I've seen the way you look at him, and how little attention you pay to that young girl whenever you were around them."

She frowned at him, and folded her arms. "You know, if you're gonna be this paranoid, why do I even bother with having you as a boyfriend?!" She demanded, her voice harsh and her eyes hard.

"That's a good question! Probably because Vegeta doesn't want you!" Yamcha growled at her as he returned her vicious glare.

"Fine. If you want to think that way, than do it! I don't want you as a boyfriend anymore!!! So THERE!!!!!" She screamed as she turned her back to him and started to pick up the scattered papers off the floor.

"Oh, is that it than?! With just one lousy statement, it's over?" He huffed, than folded his arms and shook his head. "No, I think it was over long before now. You've really got it in for him, don't you? Well, I hope the two of you are happy together." With that he stormed out of the room, and slammed the door as he left the Brief's house.

Mrs. Briefs walked in with a little platter of tea and treats. "Oh? Where'd he go? I thought I heard company come in." She said, Bulma sighed and shook her head, sitting back down in her chair, looking down at her notebook.

"Yeah, it was Yamcha. . ." Before she could say more, Mrs. Briefs smiled and looked around.

"Oh! He's such a nice young man! So, when is he coming back over? Will he stay for lunch?" Bulma just couldn't bring herself to yell at her mother, she seemed so ignorant, so innocent of life here at the house.

"No. He won't be coming over ever again. We had an argument." Bulma said, actually a little sorry things ended so abruptly with him.

"Oh my! I'm sorry dear." She said, sitting the tray down on the little work table and sitting down on the corner of it herself. "What happened?"

Bulma still didn't look up at her mother. "We broke up."

Mrs. Briefs sighed and patted her daughter on the shoulder. "That's too bad, but just think! There are other fish in the sea!" Her happy tone made Bulma feel like crying.

"Yeah, but the fish I want is too big for a fish hook." She mumbled, and patted her notebook reassuringly.

Mrs. Briefs gave Bulma a knowing look. "You're in love with that other guy, aren't you? Vegeta? Wasn't that his name? He's a feisty one, that one! Definitely a shark in a lake of goldfish!" Bulma looked up at her in surprise.

"What?!"

But she was already continuing. "You know what? Your father and I used to go fishing in the ocean, long before you were born. All I caught for the longest time were these little fishes that just weren't good for anything! Finally, your father taught me a trick. If you want bigger fish, than get a stronger pole and a bigger fish line!" Bulma blinked.

"Umm. . .Mom? You lost me. What's fishing got to do with Vegeta?"

"Well dear, you're trying to catch a shark with a fly fish rod. It just isn't going to work. You need to steel yourself up, make him notice you and get his attention. Don't take 'no' for an answer!" Bulma looked at her mother in surprise.

"Wow! Thanks mom! I didn't realize that you knew so much about men!" Mrs. Briefs just waved her hand and gave a small laugh.

"Oh, I was single once deary! I still remember how to catch that troublesome man's eye!" She said with a clever lilt and held up a tea cup and a sweet treat to her daughter. "Want some!? Their fresh!"



Meanwhile, Vegeta was having troubles of his own. While training to become the best, he still had to keep an eye out on his little sister. Her actions sometimes made him believe that something bad had happened to her, while she was with Freeza, but he had never found out what had become of her, besides the fact that Freeza had 'disposed' of her. His heart had sank when he finally discovered who she really was, he felt so sad that he hadn't spend more time with her and felt his anger slip away as he looked over at her focusing her energy on raising a few of her play blocks. He smiled. She was incredibly strong, just like his father warned him. But he still wasn't sure that she would end up having the Ice Jin arrogance that usually made them so evil and controlling. So far, she was only a sweet little girl with a powerful disposition.

He looked down at her again, she was so enwrapped with her tail that her brow was furrowed. As if she sense him looking at her, she raised her head up and smiled. With a gapped smile, she giggled. He smiled back at her and gave her a little pat on the head. "You sure don't act like a mean and ruthless tyrant in the making!" He said to her in a sweet innocent tone, she giggled and shook her head.

"Nooooooo!!!!!!" Her little weak voice called out as she laughed, than looked back up at Vegeta. "Play!!" She squealed as she threw her arms up at him, her small tail curling up at the tip to show contentment.

He laughed and bent to pick her up. "I need to take you to a sitter, I have to go train, young one!" He said to her gently as he held her high up in the air. She squealed and wrapped her tail around his waist. He laughed with her and sat her down on his lap, using his own powers to teach her new small tricks that she could entertain herself with.



* * * * * * * * * * *

(Three Years Later)

Vegeta watched Angel as she sat very still by the water's edge, she had been left into Piccolo's care for the past two years. The idea had been his and Goku's, after Goku had arrived back on Earth and the mysterious youth had come and warned them all of the Androids, they had decided to leave her in the best hands possible. Piccolo had promised to give her to Kame. But Earth's Guardian did not have her for more than a week before the Namek returned to collect her. "If the Androids are as destructive and dangerous as that boy says, than she should be prepared!" Was his excuse.

The truth had been that Piccolo had been lonely for a companion that was just as unique as he was. That young little halfling turned out to be that friend in which no other could be. Together, Piccolo had taught the little halfling much about survival, and had taken Kame's and Goku's advise and named her Angel.

Vegeta didn't want to approach his sister just yet, she looked so peaceful, her deep dark blue eyes were looking deeply in the water, her large white feather wings gleamed with bits of pale blue and silver as the reflection of light hit her wings. She was still very young, but her body was already telling him what she would look like when she grew older. She would be twice now what she had been back then, all because she had been given the love and freedom that she had previously been refused.

In front of her, the water slowly rose, almost like a living creature, to face her. "Hi there! I'm Angel!" She spoke to it softly, the odd water creature seemed to chock its 'head' to one side. "Wanna play?" The creature leaned forward and seemed to touch her face lightly, she frowned and nodded. "I guess you're right. You can go back now, we'll talk later." She watched it slide back into the water and than stood up.

Vegeta smiled and stayed hidden, her long ears perked, turned and seemed to search for some sound he didn't hear. Clever girl, always alert, but never disturbed. He thought as he watched her focus on her surroundings casually.

She pulled her fingers through her long hair and sighed. "Hmm." She suddenly spun around, her face lit up with joy and excitement. "Vegeta!!" She squealed as she disappeared and reappeared directly in front of Vegeta. Her small form springing straight for him. "Why did you hide?!?" She demanded, he laughed and looked around warily, he still wasn't comfortable with people seeing him act affectionate around his sister. So far, no one had caught him being nice to her. She gave him a tight hug and whispered close to his ear. "I missed you brother!" He was always surprised at how fast she had matured. Since she had only regressed back into infancy, her growing would be twice as fast, but he still missed her small infant face. She still retained her babyish looks, but her attitude was way to old for her looks. She'd become a loner, a solitary figure which stood out in the crowd.

"I missed you too, little one." He said as he embraced her and kissed her lightly on the cheek. "What were you doing just now? Communicating with the water now? Didn't Kame and Piccolo teach you how dangerous it is to use direct elements?" She looked guilty and nodded.

"But it's not like I intentionally do it. They just sort of come to me, sometimes they come to watch me, other times to play!" Her face lit up as she spoke of her treachery against everyone's wishes.

"And what did this one want, if you didn't call it." Vegeta asked her as he held her at arms length and looked into her eyes.

She swallowed hard and seemed to get a little paler than usual. "She was delivering a message to me. A message from. . .a fire element." Her pause made him frown. He knew her well enough to know that she had a problem with lying. Solitude did not make one a good liar, in fact, it made one worse rather than better.

"Is that right?" Vegeta asked, but she suddenly disappeared, and reappeared back the water's edge, looking up at the sky in hint. His eyes followed the que and he fell back into the shadows as Piccolo appeared, floating down toward her. "Damn!" He murmured, he was getting to see less and less of his sister, he longed to tell her how much he cared, that he loved her, but he never found the right way or time to do such. So he remained silent. This silence was starting to really get to him.

Piccolo landed just a few feet from Angel, her deep eyes looked up at him and they instantly shared so many words that greetings weren't necessary. After a few moments, he finally spoke. "Are you ready?" She looked up at him, than over where her brother hid.

When she looked up at him there was a vicious glint in her eyes, her smile was innocent and sweet. "I am always ready, Namek." She answered, giving Vegeta time to back away and watch from a safer distance.

"That's good, because, this time, we're changing the game. This time, there is only one rule. Stay alive." He smiled wickedly at her, she blinked innocently and gave him a sly smile.

"That shouldn't be too hard, what if we get into civilized areas? Any rules there?" He smiled, she always thought of everything, her mind was so much older than her body.

"We base our fights to physical only, and try to do as little damage as possible, and if we get too close, we calm down a little. Until we can get into a more isolated area." She nodded that she understood. He smiled and started to powerful up. "Well than, let's get started."

She smiled and started to power up as well. This was an awesome sight, her body seemed to shimmer a little, her eyes gleamed an eerie whiteout blue. Her power flickered visibly around her like lightning. A pale blue aura seemed to appear like dust around her as she continued to power up. Piccolo was always impressed by her, but it just didn't seem like something so small could produce something so massive and impressive. Her skin seemed to shine as it became a hard, thick armor.

Within seconds, they were both ready, she was remarkably smaller than he was, but that look was very deceiving, she had bested him several times, her strength surprised him a lot in the beginning, but not now. The two of them circled each other, watching for the first move.

Piccolo attacked first. . .



Chichi was washing dishes as she looked over at Goku. "What do you think we're gonna do with her? She can't go to school, and she needs an education. I don't like the idea of her just hanging around with that Piccolo all the time! It's not good for her! She needs a mother and father figure! Vegeta might very well be her father, but he sure doesn't act like it!" Goku leaned against the table and sighed, this was not a new argument.

"I don't know, Chichi, she's happy where she is. I mean, what could we do for her?" Chichi interrupted him as she quickly to face him.

"Well, you know about Ice Jin don't you? You fought with Freeza! That must have taught you something about them!!??"

Goku scratched his head and nodded a little. "Yeah. . .I guess it did. But I didn't learn much that would help her. All I know is that they're very stubborn and arrogant, like Vegeta. She's nearly completely different. I don't know what to put together and what not too!" He explained as he looked at her in thought.

"Bulma said that she is half Saiyan and half Ice Jin, so, if we put together both traits, we'll find our answer!" She said, clutching her hand into a tight fist. Goku watched her calmly, but jumped up as he felt a swiftly moving power level, he lunged up and grabbed Chichi, pulling her back against him near the table.

No sooner than he had done it, did Angel and Piccolo suddenly come in fighting at full speed through the kitchen, around through the back of the house, she looked at them in surprise and than over at Goku. "Just let them fight, it's good for her." Was all he said as they listened for the sound of something to break.



Angel smiled as Piccolo met all of her blows one for one, now that they'd fought their way into Chichi's house, there could be no more energy blasts. She made a hard punch straight for his face, he moved back, just enough for her to make a tight turn straight up the stairs for Gohan's room. Piccolo followed swiftly after her, trying to grab a hold of her tail as she raced for the entrance and than spun around, planting another hard kick to his chin, spinning him back, struggling not to knock anything over as he barreled for the staircase again. "Gotcha!" She yelled as she darted towards the upstairs balcony, to leave the house, but Piccolo grabbed a tight hold of her tail and pulled her back towards him.

"Oh no you don't!" He laughed as she screeched and clawed at the doorway frame to Gohan's room. Below, Goku stood at the bottom of the stairs and smiled, he'd always enjoyed watching the two of them fight, this was truly something else though. For all their ferocity, there was nothing broken and not a picture knocked from its perfect pose.

Angel glared down at Piccolo and smacked her tail quickly, pulling him up to her, she caught his neck with one of her feet, pushing with incredible force, it knocked him free. She quickly scampered through Gohan's room and through the window. "Bye Gohan! See ya later!!" She yelled as she quickly flew out the window. Piccolo stopped and went back down the stairs, meeting Goku at the bottom.

"She sure is a handful, isn't see?" Goku commented, letting Piccolo catch his breath before going back after the little ball of energy.

"That she is, if only we had half that energy, there would be no problem in fighting those coming androids." Piccolo said, than looked over at Chichi, who didn't look at all pleased with the episode in her house.

"WHAT do you think you're DOING??? You're making ALL that RACKET and making it hard for my precious GOHAN TO STUDY!!!!!" Her voice was gradually getting louder, Goku just sighed and smiled at Piccolo, who didn't answer Chichi.

"You should spend more time training too, it would help pass the time." He commented, but Goku shook his head.

"Nah! I'm doing fine! I'm training as well, but I also have other obligations too." He moved only his eyes over at Chichi, Piccolo tried not to smile, it was too funny that the Super Saiyan was afraid of his wife. But than again, so wasn't Piccolo and the other Z fighters!