Eternal Light
Within the
walls of what looks to be a dining room, 10 guards stand ready with their
weapons -- long staves with orbs on the end that glow brightly. Their bodies are
tense, awaiting the arrival of the Guardian and the newcomers. The main guard
stands with two jagged swords in his hands, crossed over his chest. His dark
hair is pulled back in tiny braids and stretching down barely to his armored
shoulders. Even though his eyes seem focused now, they become even more so
when he sees the transporting light appear in mid-air in front of them. The
light lowers down to the ground until Suzaku and the three Saiyans are visible;
then the light fades.
"More of a
welcoming committee?" Vegeta smirks still, looking over the guards and sensing
their weak powers compared to his and his allies. How could Freeza think that
these pathetic creatures would be valuable allies to us? The only valuable one
is the female. He glances over at her, seeing her staring back at
him.
Suzaku half
grins. "You could say that." She turns her stare over to the main guard. "Karasu,
you and the others may stand at ease now. Our guests have agreed to not cause
trouble."
"Very well,
mistress." Karasu and the other guards fall back towards the door, still ready
to defend if need be.
Suzaku looks
back at her guests. "So," she pauses and almost mockingly asks, "gentlemen,
would you care for something to eat? You must be famished after such a long
journey to our planet." Vegeta snorts just a little before nodding in agreement.
Suzaku's grin spreads into a small smile as she looks over to one of the guards.
"Go to the kitchen and inform the cooks to prepare a large feast." The guard
nods and leaves the room.
An old,
gray-bearded man looks over to Suzaku with an intense look in his eyes. Is
this truly wise, mistress? Inviting these... Saiyans... into our domain freely.
He speaks mentally to her, and only to her.
I don't see
why it wouldn't be. I would much rather have them under watch and relaxed than
have them going ahead and tearing apart our planet.
Yes,
mistress. The old man nods to her, lowering his eyes to the ground, knowing
that once her mind is made up, it is never changed.
"Please, sit
down. The food should be here shortly." Suzaku motions to the long elaborate
dining table surrounded by chairs in a cozy yet spacious arrangement. The
Saiyans move over and sit down at the table, as does Suzaku, who sits down at
the head of the table. Her eyes never leave her guests. She knows of the
Saiyans' warrior spirit and chaotic pasts.
"Don't you
care at all why we're here?" Vegeta leans back in his chair, looking at Suzaku.
His eyes have been studying her, as hers' have been studying him since their
meeting.
"Oh, I know
why you're here. Your reputation precedes you." Suzaku's smile fades a bit as
she knocks Nappa's feet down from the table with her hand. "Apparently, Freeza
never has bothered with teaching manners." She looks back towards Vegeta. "But
we do not talk business at this table. We will speak more on this topic
tomorrow."
The smirk
still stays on Vegeta's lips as he stares at Suzaku. "Fine. We'll talk first
thing in the morning."
Suzaku nods to
him. "Yes, first thing in the morning. You should have no trouble in finding
me." She smirks slightly to him. There is something about this saiyan... He
certainly is much stronger than the other two, but the fates have something
completely different in store for him... "Though, there is one thing I must
ask you?"
"And what's
that?"
"Just who
exactly am I speaking to? You merely told me that you were Saiyans, not what
names to call you by."
"I am Vegeta,
Prince of the Saiyans."
Suzaku waited
for Vegeta or the other two to say who there were, but nothing was said for
countless moments. Impatience sits in as she continues to stare at him,
wondering if he'll ever take the hint to finish the introductions. She lets out
an annoyed sigh. "And you're two friends...?"
"Nappa and
Raditz."
"I see. Thank
you for finally answering." She shakes her head a bit as Vegeta glares towards
her.
The door to
the dining room opens and the food is brought in, carried upon large platters
held high above the servants' heads. They bring the platters over, setting them
down in front of the Saiyans and Suzaku.
The food isn't
on the table long enough to glance at before Nappa and Raditz plunge into it,
ripping and tearing away at the flesh of what once was fish and eel-like meat.
Suzaku stares
at them, one eyebrow raised with disgust in her eyes. Never before had she seen
anyone lack enough manners to eat properly. They continue cramming large portion
after large portion, leaving barely enough time to breath. She puts her hand
over her mouth. "Ahem..."
They look up
at her, Nappa having a string of meat hanging from his mouth. "What? Never seen
a saiyan eat before?" He smirks, sucking up the string of meat.
"I've heard
that your appetites were uncanny, but I never imagined that your eating habits
could be so disgusting." She glances over at Vegeta, seeing that he has yet to
touch his food.
"Inviting
other races into your home for dinner and not expecting different habits is
plain ignorance." He smirks at her, taking a rather hefty bite from the fish,
spitting out the bones.
Suzaku's
glance turns into a glare. "You're also forgetting that when someone is kind
enough to invite you into their home you should at least have the common decency
not to make pigs of yourself."
The saiyans
stare at her, with amusement in their eyes. "Just consider this as a compliment
to your cooks, that the food is just too good." Raditz chimes in with his own
patronization.
Suzaku sits
back in her chair, arms crossing over her chest, omitting defeat in this futile
battle. Sensing the victory, the saiyans go back to devouring their food
fiercely.
Hours continue
to pass and the saiyans ferocious appetites are now settled. "Ah, that long journey
left me empty." Nappa lets out a tremendous belch.
"Agreed. Lucky
for us to have found such great cooks." Radditz chuckles to himself, leaning
back in the chair.
Suzaku sighs a
little, looking over the Saiyans. She glances lastly at Vegeta, whose stare has
become fixated upon her. She raises a brow, wondering why his stare is so
intense. Uneasiness overwhelms her as she breaks away from their staring
contest. His soul is so dark, but with a glimmer of hope. Yet, to look in
those eyes is almost to seal my own fate. Drowning pools of ebony. She
shivers slightly before standing. "It is time to retire."
"But it's
still daylight..."
"Yes, Nappa,
it is still daylight. Torinosu has two suns. One on the northern hemisphere and
one on the southern hemisphere. Darkness never truly sets in, only a slight dusk
as our planet rotates. Do not fret, though, each of your rooms will have heavy
shades, enough to give the illusion of night." She smiles faintly at him, not
wanting to glance at Vegeta again in fear of being roped into his eyes. "An
escort shall lead each of you to your rooms. You will be retrieved when it comes
time for our discussion on your presence here." Suzaku bows slightly to them,
before turning away to leave.
A hand
suddenly clasps down on her forearm. She spins only to meet Vegeta's eyes. "Just
so you know, Saiyans are an impatient breed."
The guards
remaining in the room step forward, to protect their guardian. Suzaku raises her
free hand, motioning them to back down. ";When morning comes, Prince Vegeta, I
will awaken you personally to begin our discussions. Is that satisfactory?" He
merely smirks to her, releasing her arm. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I do have
other commitments to attend to." This time, she is able to walk away from the
table and out of the room.
Vegeta's eyes
follow her every move; from the sway of her hips, to the ever slightest twist in
her shoulders. Even her stride is powerful. And the control of her powers....
I can not sense them in the least, yet that one time. She could have destroyed
us in a blink of an emerald eye. He shakes his head, banishing the thoughts
from his mind.
Three escorts, all female, walk into the room. Each possessing their own beauty, yet none as
exquisite as Suzaku. The saiyans stand as the women walk over to them, holding
out their hands. Nappa and Radditz almost too eagerly take their hands and are
lead from the dining hall. Vegeta stares at the woman, never touching her. She
concedes and motions him to follow her to his room....