Chapter Nine
"So, the little human, wants to continue her training," Ava laughed at Bulma when they landed back at Capsule Corp.
Bulma blushed as she headed toward the kitchen. "Well...you said that a woman should know how to defend herself."
Ava smirked at her as she followed, "So this has nothing to do with my brother?" Seeing Bulma's face turn tomato red Ava crowed with delight, "Do not be embarrassed, human, women will come from far and wide for the chance to win him." Ava grinned at her, "I would be as well, if he wasn't my brother. He does the ceremonial dance rather well, doesn't he?"
Bulma put her red face in her hands making Ava laugh again as they sat at the table.
"I... this isn't me... Since when do I want him...? I never even liked him before..." Bulma mumbled into her hands.
Ava looked at her piercingly, "Is that so, human?"
Bulma looked at her almost desperately. "Yes, we fought all the time like cats and dogs. He's rude, arrogant, and totally wrong for me..."
Ava cocked her head to the side. "Then who is right for you?"
Bulma dug her hands into her hair in frustration. "I don't know! I thought Yamcha was the one for me and you saw how that turned out! When I was a little girl I wanted to wish for the perfect boyfriend, then I wanted to wish for a man who didn't lie, cheat, and who didn't have a fan club."
Ava narrowed her eyes. "Did you actually wish for this man?"
Bulma sighed, "No, I didn't."
"Then, maybe, the man you were looking for or waiting for was my brother," Ava put her hand up to stop Bulma's protests. "He does not lie, cheat, and doesn't want to win any popularity contests. He would in fact love to be left alone with maybe a select few to keep him company. Answer me truthfully, human, when he takes a break from training who does he talk to?"
Bulma was shocked, "He either finds me to argue or he usually didn't say anything until you came."
"To a saiyan verbal fighting is as good as physical fighting. Who wins when you two fight?"
"It depends on what we're fighting about but usually it comes to a draw."
"Do you look forward to the arguments?"
"Well... I... Yes, I do." Bulma looked down at the table top.
"How did you feel when you saw him dancing tonight?"
Bulma blushed as she shrugged.
"Answer me, Bulma."
Bulma looked up as everything implied behind Ava saying her name sunk in.
"Bulma, you are an alien, and your world is alien to us but I know that if I make the effort to adapt to this place then so will he. The one thing that your planet has that planet Vegeta only had a vague concept of is family. Only the royal family knew who they were related to, not that it even came close to what you have here.
"When the King found out he had twins, he was outraged, how could this have happened, he decided right then and there that one would have to die. The Saiyan throne would not be divided, it was said that he stomped all the way to the birthing room to kill the one he deemed weaker. The only reason I survived is because he found out that I was female with a power level as high as my brother's, who had the highest power level ever recorded for a baby. Females usually did not have to high a power level so this was considered a miracle. He thought that when we came of age that we would make a stronger race of warriors with Vegeta heir to the throne and myself let loose into the general population.
"It was not to be. Frieza came into the picture and took a shine to my brother and I was hidden. They did not want both of us to be taken by that monster. So he took Vegeta away one day but being the prince of all saiyans he wouldn't take orders from the lizard no matter how many times they beat him or threatened him. Vegeta would not be controlled. Outraged, Frieza came back to our planet, determined to find some kind of leverage to get him to obey.
"I hadn't seen my brother for months and so I wanted to see him. I stood by the Queen's side with her many servants thinking that there was no way I would be spotted. While Frieza complained to the King, Vegeta made faces at Frieza's back and I laughed. Frieza saw me then and a strange look passed over his face as he smiled. Then he left.
"The King decided that night that he would get Vegeta back no matter the cost to the empire. Unbeknownst to everyone, Frieza had sent Zarbon to retrieve me, he had seen my resemblance to Vegeta, and had drawn accurate conclusions. By the time the night was over, the planet was gone, at least that is what Vegeta was told.
"Anyway, from then on, he became a model soldier to Frieza to keep me alive. The lizard threw me into that damned wall on his ice planet and didn't let me out until twenty years later when he transferred me onto a ship. He told me that I would see my brother one last time before I died."
"So, that's how Vegeta knew you were in the ship?"
"Yes, Vegeta knew how that monster thought. Bulma, you have the spirit of a fighter, we have both seen it. Tell me what you felt."
"I felt... A deep, almost instinctive, urge to claim him... I sound ridiculous..." Bulma continued embarrassed as Ava gave her a go-on look. "I felt furious that just anybody would be able to win the tournament. I wanted to kick anybodies ass that dared come within ten feet of him." Bulma laughed ruefully.
Ava smiled at her. "Remember, if you did not have an interest then you would have forgotten."
"But how could I have forgotten that?!"
"My point exactly. I think that you are in denial or afraid of being hurt again. Well, remember this, human, a saiyan will always mate for life and a saiyan royal always does things ten times better than anyone else."
Ava smirked at Bulma as she got up from the table to head toward her room.
"May you dream of blood and victory, Bulma."
"Um, sweet dreams to you too, Ava." Bulma answered absently as she, for maybe the first time in her life, looked inside herself for answers to the questions that she had never dared ask.
**
Ava smiled to herself as Vegeta came into their room by the window. She lay on the bed on her back with her feet crossed and her arms behind her head.
"What are you smiling about?" Vegeta grumbled as he sat on his bed.
"Nothing," Ava looked askance at him. "What are you looking so thoughtful for?"
"No reason," Vegeta narrowed his eyes at her.
They glared at each other then laughed.
"The human and I talked. I think I like her." Ava looked at the ceiling.
"I was thinking that the tournament is going to be interesting," Vegeta frowned. "What were you talking to the woman about?"
"Why do you want to know?" Ava raised an eyebrow.
"Ava..." Vegeta's voice had a warning note in it.
"Our conversation was about you, there, happy!" Ava growled at the ceiling.
"About me?" The surprise was obvious, "What about me?"
"She was considering fighting for you. It really isn't that surprising, Vegeta."
Vegeta was speechless. "Is she going to?"
"I am not sure. She seems to think that you hate her and thus is hesitant about it."
"Why does she think that?" Vegeta was puzzled.
"Maybe because she is a human and thus the way you treat her is, by human standards, hate induced."
"I do not hate the woman," Vegeta lay down frowning at the ceiling.
"You don't? Then what do you feel toward her?" Ava rolled over to look at him.
"Humph, why do you care?" Vegeta turned his head to Ava.
"Well," Ava rolled her eyes, "You threatened my happiness if you do not feel content with your mate."
"Oh, yeah," Vegeta looked at the ceiling again. "It does not matter the feelings I feel for her. She will not win the tournament."
"Are you so sure?" Ava lifted an eyebrow.
Vegeta lifted himself to lean on one arm facing her. "Do you know something that I don't? The woman probably can't throw a single punch."
"Maybe you shouldn't dismiss her so fast!" Ava snapped.
"Why so defensive?" Vegeta lifted his eyebrows.
"Why did you say that the tournament would be interesting?" Ava looked at him from under her lashes.
"What are you up to, Ava?" Vegeta frowned at her as she looked to the side refusing to answer. "I was wondering which of my former enemies would end up being your mate."
Ava gaze snapped to his. "Former enemies? There is no such thing."
Vegeta smirked as he leaned back against the wall.
"Are you playing with me?" Ava tilted her head at him noticing the mischievous light in his eyes.
Vegeta shook his head. "No, I am dead serious."
Ava glared at him. "Explain."
"No." He leaned forward letting his legs swing over the side of the bed so his feet would touch the floor.
Ava leaned forward as well. "You will tell me or I will make you tell me!" She growled with fire in her eyes.
Vegeta let his grin take on a feral tint. "Make me."
Ava edged forward ever so slightly. "No powers."
"Deal."
**
THUMP. BOOM. CRASH.
"YOU'LL PAY FOR THAT!"
Bulma stood outside Vegeta and Ava's door and she was afraid to open it.
"Ow! No biting!"
THUMP! THUMP!
**
Vegeta glared at Ava while rubbing the bite marks on his forearm.
Ava lunged at him managing to catch him off guard, only barely, taking him to the ground.
She didn't have a chance to enjoy her victory as Vegeta used the momentum to his advantage and flipped her over his head. He growled as she hit the wall and somehow managed to rebound off it, and back onto him knocking him back on the floor, a trick credited to her tail. Damn, he missed his tail!
"I am going to get you!" Ava snarled as she dug her hand in his hair and yanked, hard.
"Come on!" He challenged he rolled her over. He sat on her as he tried to dislodge her hand from his hair. "You always did fight dirty." He grumbled as she yanked again.
"What? You never said I had to fight fair," she grunted as she dug her nails into his arm.
"So..." Vegeta and Ava looked up, Vegeta a bit crookedly, to see Bulma in the doorway. She was grinning, "This is what saiyans do to bond."
Vegeta and Ava looked at each other horrified as she released his hair and they both scrambled to their feet.
Vegeta recovered first, "Listen, woman, I am not trying to become mates with my sister!" Vegeta stood there with his arms crossed indignantly.
"That is the most disgusting thing I have ever heard!" Ava mirrored her brother.
Bulma blinked at them confused when it dawned on her what they meant.
Ava looked at Bulma confused. "Vegeta, why is she rolling around on the ground while making that sound?"
Vegeta glared at Bulma. "I believe the humans call it hysterical laughter."
"Why is she laughing?" Ava looked at him curiously.
"Remember when I told you that all humans are idiots," Vegeta waited until she nodded before he continued. "Well they are all also insane. Woman!"
Vegeta stomped over to her and picked her off the ground by the shoulders. "You will desist from this ridiculous behavior!"
Bulma continued to giggle helplessly within his grasp. "You are too cute, sometimes..."
Ava grinned at Vegeta's indignant expression. "Aw, little Vegeta, is all grown up!"
Vegeta blushed as he let go of Bulma. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Vegeta growled as his sister betrayed him and joined the woman on the floor. "This place is corrupting you!" He threw up his hands in frustration as they only laughed harder.
"Did you see his face!" Bulma gasped as Vegeta walked out of the room in disgust.
"I can't believe he blushed!" Ava laughed with Bulma and they were friends.
