PART 3 Through the Stubborn Prince
"Asahi, it's time to go to sleep now." said Aeka.
"I'm not tired, mommy." said Asahi.
"Haven't I taught you better?"
"Yes, mommy. Can you tell me a story?"
"Alright."
"Can I pick?"
"Let's just change you into your clothes first."
Asahi got dressed up for bed and jumped into his bed.
"Asahi!" Aeka scolded.
"Sorry, mother." apologized Asahi.
"Would you like to hear about the legendary knights, Azaka and
Kamidake of Jurai?"
"That is a good choice, princess." said Azaka.
"I agree." said Kamidake.
"No. I want to hear about daddy all night long!"
"A-are you sure?"
"Yes, prince Asahi. Wouldn't you rather hear about the great Yosho
of the planet Jurai?" suggested Kamidake.
"Or how your father came to become emperor of Jurai?" said Azaka.
"No! No! No! I want to hear about my father. My mommy can tell me
about Jurai later."
"Alright, Asahi. Azaka, Kamidake, may I please have some time
alone with my son?"
"Yes, Princess Aeka." Azaka and Kamidake said, leaving the room.
"Well, it all started when me and your father were engaged by
your grandfather and the Jurai Royal Council."
Aeka tucked Asahi in his bed tightly. She was glad he fell asleep
by the time she was up to the part about her living in the shed
that Washu had improved for her and Sasami and her to live in.
She didn't want to talk about Vegeta. Her son was too young to
know about him and the pain he caused her. But she still loved him.
She wasn't about to give up on him. She gave him a chance and she
didn't wait all those years just to find out that he was married
after all the waiting she did and to some other girl. She probably
would have let Vegeta go if he didn't cause her to have a son but
he couldn't leave her Asahi alone. And she feared for Vegeta's
safety because something bad might happen to him if her father found
out that he didn't want his son, the new prince of Jurai. She went
outside. She sat where Ryu-Oh used to grow. Now, it was good to
use as a ship again. She looked up at the stars and saw two familiar
figures in the stars. It was the 'Purinsesu no Senshi'! The
constellations that Grandfather Masaki told her about a long time
ago. They were brighter than the last time she saw it.
[I can't let us end like them.] Aeka thought.
Aeka went to the Capsule Corp. and waited by the training capsule.
She hoped that Vegeta was going to be there. She left Asahi back
at Okayama and took a bus. She still kept the money she had earned
as a waitress a long time ago when she and Sasami ran away. It
was still worth something. She had saved up to 4O,OOO yen. It was
enough for the bus trip there and back and a lot of extra cash left
behind.
[Where are you, Vegeta?] she wondered. She went inside and asked
Mrs. Briefs where Vegeta may have been.
"He might be in his room or in the gym." said. Mrs. Briefs.
"In case he might not be there, do you know if he goes to the
training capsule anymore?" asked Aeka.
"He goes there a few times."
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Briefs." Aeka bowed and went around
the building to look for Vegeta. She didn't want to go straightly
to his room because she was afraid that she might run into Bulma.
Then she had a few more doors to open. Vegeta might be in one of
them but she still didn't want to see Bulma. She listened carefully
to the doors so she could hear Vegeta's sounds. Then she heard a
voice. It was the same tough guy voice that Vegeta had. She silently
turned the handle of the door and found Vegeta lifting weights.
This was the first time she really concentrated on him. The last
time she talked to him, she only focused on what he said, not what
he looked like. She was too busy argueing with him than seeing the
changes that occured over the years. His back was turned and it
looked like he was thinking out loud and he didn't even noticed.
He was really muscular. Much more muscles than the last time. She
remebered perfectly how strong Vegeta looked years ago, when he told
her he loved her. And that night... She couldn't exactly see him
but she remembered feeling the of his solid chest...against hers.
She tried not to think about that. She wanted to stay there for
a while, listening to what he was thinking until she would go and
talk to him.
"Why did I have to agree to that proposal?" he mumbled.
[Proposal?] Aeka thought.
"How could I forget about her? I can't believe how stupid I was!"
He squeezed the metal bar he was lifting and it melted in his
hands. Then he stopped. He just sat there. Aeka could see his
profile. He looked like he was thinking hard. And he looked angry,
no, furious. Aeka was quite frightened to go in but she slowly
stepped in.
"Excuse me?" she said softly. Vegeta quickly turned to her. Then,
in some way, he looked content to see her. But he still had the
same mean look on his face. There was a long pause.
"Um...m-may I speak with you?" she whispered.
"What do you want?!" he said fiercely.
"I-I..." Aeka stammered. Her breathing was fast. She was scared
to death of this man. She slowly stepped back as her breathing
grew faster and faster. Vegeta looked terrifiying. She wanted to
run away but she knew she was brave enough to talk to him, no
matter how much he frightened her. Her breathing went back to its
normal rate slowly. She looked down on the floor and she grew much
more confident.
"Lord Vegeta, I...want to know why you lied to me." she said.
"What in the blasted world are you talking about?!"
"You told me all those things. And now I see you never meant it."
"What things?"
"You told me you loved me. Now you're married to another. You
swore that you would come to Jurai and marry me. You did not
come so I came here. And you've completely forgotten about me,
Vegeta."
"Leave me alone, woman!"
"Not until you apologize to me and Asahi!"
"Do you think that I, Prince of Saiyajins will apologize to someone
as intolerable as you and that blasted child of yours? I should
be laughing by now!"
"Then why would you marry an Earthling?"
"I..."
"You didn't mean any of that."
"Don't you dare accuse of me of such an indisplicable crime! I'd
rather marry her than waste such as yourself. And the same goes
for your darned son!"
Aeka tried to hold back the tears but she couldn't. How could
he talk that way about her and their son? She raised her hand and
prepared to slap Vegeta with all her might. But then, Vegeta caught
her. His grip was so tight and painful. She stared into the
eyes of Vegeta. The man she used to love. The man she had a child
with. The man who promised to marry her. The man who she hated.
Vegeta raised a fist. Did she think that she could hurt HIM?
Aeka closed her eyes, ready for anything Vegeta would do. Then,
Vegeta had the urge to drop his fist and he did. He lowered Aeka's
hand but still held on to it, only less tighter. He leaned forward
and kissed Aeka's soft lips.
Aeka felt Vegeta's lips on hers. They were still rough like the
last time. His tongue was forcing it was through her mouth and
she allowed entrance. She put her free hand on Vegeta's strong jaw.
Then she put her hand on his chest. She was right. Then she knew
that she shouldn't be there kissing him. She tried to push him
away and this time, he stopped. He didn't run away. He just looked
into her eyes. No words were said. Vegeta let go of Aeka's hand.
Aeka bit her lip and turned away.
Aeka stared out the window.
"Mother! I'm ready!" said Asahi.
"Asahi, you've turned out like your Auntie Sasami. That Ryoko
is a really bad role model for both of you." said Aeka.
"Sorry, mommy..." said Asahi. Aeka smiled at him and kissed him
on his forehead. Then she tucked him in tightly.
"So, do you want to hear about the 'Purinsesu no Senshi'?"
"Can I hear about daddy? You did not finish."
"The 'Purinsesu no Senshi' is a great story. It was told to me
by the great knight Yosho. You can see it in the stars."
"Really? The knight Yosho of Jurai? You saw him? I want to hear
that story! Can you really see it in the stars?"
"Yes. It's a story about a princess who fell in love with a strong
soldier prince. But he didn't love her back so the princess died
because of a heartbreak. Then the prince realized that he loved her
too and died because she was dead. And then the goddess of the
stars let them stay in the sky and live their love."
"That was short."
"Well, I have lots and lots of other stories."
"Can I hear about...*yawn*...dad...dy?"
"Some other time..."
"You're like the princess mommy..." said Asahi as he went to sleep.
[Like the princess. Hopeless.]
Vegeta had journeyed to outer space. He went to small planet to
train. He let out powerful blasts. But he wasn't training. It was
because such anger filled inside him. He regretted forgetting and
being so stupid like those petty humans. Everything Aeka said
was true. Except for the part where she said that he told her he
had loved her. He let out a blast so awesome that it was beyond
imagination. He let out a blast everytime he thought of how stupid
he had been. He didn't think that he should go back to Earth. His
actions reflected very good reasons for im not to live and only
one true reason to stay alive...Aeka.
"Asahi, it's time to go to sleep now." said Aeka.
"I'm not tired, mommy." said Asahi.
"Haven't I taught you better?"
"Yes, mommy. Can you tell me a story?"
"Alright."
"Can I pick?"
"Let's just change you into your clothes first."
Asahi got dressed up for bed and jumped into his bed.
"Asahi!" Aeka scolded.
"Sorry, mother." apologized Asahi.
"Would you like to hear about the legendary knights, Azaka and
Kamidake of Jurai?"
"That is a good choice, princess." said Azaka.
"I agree." said Kamidake.
"No. I want to hear about daddy all night long!"
"A-are you sure?"
"Yes, prince Asahi. Wouldn't you rather hear about the great Yosho
of the planet Jurai?" suggested Kamidake.
"Or how your father came to become emperor of Jurai?" said Azaka.
"No! No! No! I want to hear about my father. My mommy can tell me
about Jurai later."
"Alright, Asahi. Azaka, Kamidake, may I please have some time
alone with my son?"
"Yes, Princess Aeka." Azaka and Kamidake said, leaving the room.
"Well, it all started when me and your father were engaged by
your grandfather and the Jurai Royal Council."
Aeka tucked Asahi in his bed tightly. She was glad he fell asleep
by the time she was up to the part about her living in the shed
that Washu had improved for her and Sasami and her to live in.
She didn't want to talk about Vegeta. Her son was too young to
know about him and the pain he caused her. But she still loved him.
She wasn't about to give up on him. She gave him a chance and she
didn't wait all those years just to find out that he was married
after all the waiting she did and to some other girl. She probably
would have let Vegeta go if he didn't cause her to have a son but
he couldn't leave her Asahi alone. And she feared for Vegeta's
safety because something bad might happen to him if her father found
out that he didn't want his son, the new prince of Jurai. She went
outside. She sat where Ryu-Oh used to grow. Now, it was good to
use as a ship again. She looked up at the stars and saw two familiar
figures in the stars. It was the 'Purinsesu no Senshi'! The
constellations that Grandfather Masaki told her about a long time
ago. They were brighter than the last time she saw it.
[I can't let us end like them.] Aeka thought.
Aeka went to the Capsule Corp. and waited by the training capsule.
She hoped that Vegeta was going to be there. She left Asahi back
at Okayama and took a bus. She still kept the money she had earned
as a waitress a long time ago when she and Sasami ran away. It
was still worth something. She had saved up to 4O,OOO yen. It was
enough for the bus trip there and back and a lot of extra cash left
behind.
[Where are you, Vegeta?] she wondered. She went inside and asked
Mrs. Briefs where Vegeta may have been.
"He might be in his room or in the gym." said. Mrs. Briefs.
"In case he might not be there, do you know if he goes to the
training capsule anymore?" asked Aeka.
"He goes there a few times."
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Briefs." Aeka bowed and went around
the building to look for Vegeta. She didn't want to go straightly
to his room because she was afraid that she might run into Bulma.
Then she had a few more doors to open. Vegeta might be in one of
them but she still didn't want to see Bulma. She listened carefully
to the doors so she could hear Vegeta's sounds. Then she heard a
voice. It was the same tough guy voice that Vegeta had. She silently
turned the handle of the door and found Vegeta lifting weights.
This was the first time she really concentrated on him. The last
time she talked to him, she only focused on what he said, not what
he looked like. She was too busy argueing with him than seeing the
changes that occured over the years. His back was turned and it
looked like he was thinking out loud and he didn't even noticed.
He was really muscular. Much more muscles than the last time. She
remebered perfectly how strong Vegeta looked years ago, when he told
her he loved her. And that night... She couldn't exactly see him
but she remembered feeling the of his solid chest...against hers.
She tried not to think about that. She wanted to stay there for
a while, listening to what he was thinking until she would go and
talk to him.
"Why did I have to agree to that proposal?" he mumbled.
[Proposal?] Aeka thought.
"How could I forget about her? I can't believe how stupid I was!"
He squeezed the metal bar he was lifting and it melted in his
hands. Then he stopped. He just sat there. Aeka could see his
profile. He looked like he was thinking hard. And he looked angry,
no, furious. Aeka was quite frightened to go in but she slowly
stepped in.
"Excuse me?" she said softly. Vegeta quickly turned to her. Then,
in some way, he looked content to see her. But he still had the
same mean look on his face. There was a long pause.
"Um...m-may I speak with you?" she whispered.
"What do you want?!" he said fiercely.
"I-I..." Aeka stammered. Her breathing was fast. She was scared
to death of this man. She slowly stepped back as her breathing
grew faster and faster. Vegeta looked terrifiying. She wanted to
run away but she knew she was brave enough to talk to him, no
matter how much he frightened her. Her breathing went back to its
normal rate slowly. She looked down on the floor and she grew much
more confident.
"Lord Vegeta, I...want to know why you lied to me." she said.
"What in the blasted world are you talking about?!"
"You told me all those things. And now I see you never meant it."
"What things?"
"You told me you loved me. Now you're married to another. You
swore that you would come to Jurai and marry me. You did not
come so I came here. And you've completely forgotten about me,
Vegeta."
"Leave me alone, woman!"
"Not until you apologize to me and Asahi!"
"Do you think that I, Prince of Saiyajins will apologize to someone
as intolerable as you and that blasted child of yours? I should
be laughing by now!"
"Then why would you marry an Earthling?"
"I..."
"You didn't mean any of that."
"Don't you dare accuse of me of such an indisplicable crime! I'd
rather marry her than waste such as yourself. And the same goes
for your darned son!"
Aeka tried to hold back the tears but she couldn't. How could
he talk that way about her and their son? She raised her hand and
prepared to slap Vegeta with all her might. But then, Vegeta caught
her. His grip was so tight and painful. She stared into the
eyes of Vegeta. The man she used to love. The man she had a child
with. The man who promised to marry her. The man who she hated.
Vegeta raised a fist. Did she think that she could hurt HIM?
Aeka closed her eyes, ready for anything Vegeta would do. Then,
Vegeta had the urge to drop his fist and he did. He lowered Aeka's
hand but still held on to it, only less tighter. He leaned forward
and kissed Aeka's soft lips.
Aeka felt Vegeta's lips on hers. They were still rough like the
last time. His tongue was forcing it was through her mouth and
she allowed entrance. She put her free hand on Vegeta's strong jaw.
Then she put her hand on his chest. She was right. Then she knew
that she shouldn't be there kissing him. She tried to push him
away and this time, he stopped. He didn't run away. He just looked
into her eyes. No words were said. Vegeta let go of Aeka's hand.
Aeka bit her lip and turned away.
Aeka stared out the window.
"Mother! I'm ready!" said Asahi.
"Asahi, you've turned out like your Auntie Sasami. That Ryoko
is a really bad role model for both of you." said Aeka.
"Sorry, mommy..." said Asahi. Aeka smiled at him and kissed him
on his forehead. Then she tucked him in tightly.
"So, do you want to hear about the 'Purinsesu no Senshi'?"
"Can I hear about daddy? You did not finish."
"The 'Purinsesu no Senshi' is a great story. It was told to me
by the great knight Yosho. You can see it in the stars."
"Really? The knight Yosho of Jurai? You saw him? I want to hear
that story! Can you really see it in the stars?"
"Yes. It's a story about a princess who fell in love with a strong
soldier prince. But he didn't love her back so the princess died
because of a heartbreak. Then the prince realized that he loved her
too and died because she was dead. And then the goddess of the
stars let them stay in the sky and live their love."
"That was short."
"Well, I have lots and lots of other stories."
"Can I hear about...*yawn*...dad...dy?"
"Some other time..."
"You're like the princess mommy..." said Asahi as he went to sleep.
[Like the princess. Hopeless.]
Vegeta had journeyed to outer space. He went to small planet to
train. He let out powerful blasts. But he wasn't training. It was
because such anger filled inside him. He regretted forgetting and
being so stupid like those petty humans. Everything Aeka said
was true. Except for the part where she said that he told her he
had loved her. He let out a blast so awesome that it was beyond
imagination. He let out a blast everytime he thought of how stupid
he had been. He didn't think that he should go back to Earth. His
actions reflected very good reasons for im not to live and only
one true reason to stay alive...Aeka.