Chapter 2: Chase

Vegeta whipped her leg into a roundhouse kick, connecting with Goku's jaw with a crack and sending him crashing to the earth, plowing through a few trees before coming to a halt.

"Kuso! Stop holding back! Fight me!" The volatile princess erupted in rage.

Goku rubbed his jaw ruefully. He HAD been holding back; nowdays, he found it hard to fight Vegeta. He did not want to hurt her and also, she was too distracting. Maybe I can solve the second problem by asking her not to wear spandex, but then she'll know I've been ogling. Goku gave himself a mental slap. Like now... Hentai!

Vegeta was dressed in a navy blue spandex tank top and tights with white boots and gloves. Lately, she had begun wearing weighted chest armor, which still did not hide much. The spandex clung tightly to every curve, nook and cranny. The petite princess was slender and toned with tight muscles, her slight build belied the fact that she was one of the most dangerous fighters in the known universe. Looking at the two Saiyans, Goku standing a full head taller and weighing at least half again as much as Vegeta, one would be hard-pressed to believed that she had almost whipped his butt when they first fought. Vegeta would have won if Goku's friends hadn't stepped in. Even now, if Goku does not power up to Super Saiyan, they are almost evenly matched. Goku may be stronger but Vegeta is faster and more agile.

Goku held out his hand pleadingly for a time out, his stomach letting out a loud growl at the same time. Vegeta humphed, crossing her arms and landing softly. "Glutton." She sneered as she headed towards the kitchen in Capsule Corps. Goku trailed admiringly behind.

The nice thing about training at the CC was the food. Bulma is the world's richest woman and her mother ensured that nobody under her roof went hungry, a noteworthy feat with Saiyans. While Goku helped himself greedily to the food on the table, Vegeta ate more neatly. She still ate at a rate much faster than a human but her royal breeding shows in her posture and manners. Usually. When she's not pissed. Then, she swears like the intergalactic pirate she formerly was.

As Goku leaned back in his chair, finally sated, he looked at Vegeta curiously. "Vegeta, why are you so obsessed with becoming stronger?"

"Nani?! What kind of question is that coming from you?" Vegeta flared up.

"I don't mean to offend you..." Goku hurriedly apologized. "But compared to me, you train all the time. Day and night. You should take time out to have fun... let go a bit."

Vegeta scowled. "I have to! I'm the Saiyan no oujo, I have to be the strongest! If my father could see how a third class baka like you could ascend while I cannot, he would be rolling in his grave!" Her eyes narrowed in remembered past pain. "You have no idea what it's like under Frieza... 'Awww... look! It's the Ickle Saiyan no Oujo!' " Her voice took on a mocking tone. She trailed off as she realized she said too much.

Goku's heart clenched in sympathy. Vegeta's pride flared as she stood up angrily. "I don't need your pity!"

"I'm not pitying you! I admire your strength and resilience, Vegeta-sama... I just think that nobody should have undergone what you went through."

Vegeta stared at Goku, a multitude of emotions running across her face before she turned and walked out of the kitchen. Goku watched her go sorrowfully. I won't let anyone else bully you my oujo.

-----

Over the next few months, Goku became a permanent fixture at the Capsule Corps.

Everyone knew of his infatuation with the beautiful, if bad-tempered, Sayian princess and reactions ranged from the amused to the disgusted.

Bulma was highly amused and tried to push the two together. Vegeta was shorter and more slender than the blue-haired genius and she couldn't imagine the petite firecracker as a cold-blooded murderer. Sure, she was moody, arrogant and rude but Bulma herself wasn't Miss Personality either. And when the fiery little princess stomped around angrily, she just looked sooo kawaii with that pout!

Krillin didn't know what to think. Goku was one of his best friends and he trusted the tall Saiyan's judgement...usually. After all, Piccolo had turned into one of their best allies, right?

Yamcha was disgusted and livid. He had been Vegeta's first victim and that mass murderer and destroyer of worlds didn't fool him.

Tien and Chiaotzu avoided Vegeta in fear. They had some shred of self- preservation after all, not like Master Roshi. The old pervert had ogled at Vegeta one time too many and was now recovering in intensive care. The princess had expressly forbade anyone to give him a senzu, threatening multiple broken body parts and a possible trip into the next dimension.

Piccolo was amused but largely indifferent. Gohan was very excited at the possibility of getting a new mommy who won't keep nagging at him to study.

Vegeta was NOT amused. If that third class baka weren't the only one on this planet who can give her a decent workout, she wouldn't give him the time of the day. Everywhere she went, he would be there. Everyday he would pop by with hope that they would spar. Often he would bring a small gift. Secretly, she was flattered with all that attention. He was quite good- looking. And very strong. That's very important to Saiyans. And loyal and generous; he wasn't well off yet he splurges on her.

STILL, he was third class and she was royalty. And he was a baka.

"'Geta!" A grinning face popped out in front of her and she stumbled backwards in shock. Clutching her towel with one hand, she flung open her bedroom door with the other and booted him out, shrieking in rage.

"KISAMA! HENTAI! Don't ever IT in my room again!" Yelling unlady-like curses, she slammed the door shut. Damm him and his Instant Transmission. I really must learn that technique but that baka said I must go out for two dates in exchange. She toweled her hair dry furiously and flung the poor towel in the basket. Rummaging through her closet, she pulled out a pair of shorts and tank top in navy blue. I swear, that baka isn't as innocent as he appears. How does he always manage to appear at the most inopportune moments?

Outside, Goku was grinning like an idiot, eyes glazed as he recalled the eyeful he got before she kicked him out. Wow, she looks so hot in that towel. Actually she looks hot in anything. I wander how she looks in nothing? His face flushed as his imagination kicked in. Just at that moment, the door opened again and Vegeta stalked out. She glared at his red face suspiciously.

"What are you looking at?" She growled.

"Nothing!" Goku tried to smile innocently. "Um, I just came up to tell you dinner is ready."

"Hn." She turned and headed downstairs. Goku followed, his eyes on her shapely figure and pert ass, shown off by the tight spandex she favors.

"So I'll see you tomorrow morning for a spar?" Goku looked hopeful as he turned to leave with Gohan after dinner.

Vegeta frowned. "No, I was planning on doing some training by myself in the Gravity Room."

Goku's face fell and he looked so disappointed that Vegeta found herself saying, "But I intend to learn that damn Instant Transmission trick from you tomorrow afternoon." Damn! Why did she say that?

Goku's face lit up. "Ok! And how about the first date tomorrow night then?"

Vegeta gritted her teeth. A promise's a promise. "Fine."

Goku fairly danced out the door. Bulma laughed silently from the kitchen entrance where she had been spying on them. Oh, they are *such* a kawaii couple!!! Hmmm...I must get Vegeta to dress up and prepare a camera.