I admit, I regretted even debating on alternate pairings after I posted the last chapter. There's already enough going on in this story without worrying about weird pairings. Don't want to overload my wee little brain! I am kinda fond of Saitou and Kaoru, so I'll just use him as a friend here and maybe do a separate story with their alternate pairing later. And in one of the reviews, TigerWolf mentioned a couple that I had been thinking about, so I might just toy with that for a bit. After all, I don't know if I'll ever bring these two worlds together again. Better play while I have the chance! I think I ramble more than I write! Sheesh! Enjoy!
Oh, and to Marstanuki : When I said Kaoru and Vegeta look alike I was referring to the expressions they had on their faces. I do agree they don't exactly look alike normally. It was just the expressions!
Kaoru…the Saiyan??
Chapter 4: Learning the Basics
It was getting quite late. The sun had gone down hours ago and the only sounds left were a few crickets chirping in the dojo yard and the leaves rustling in the wind.
"Well, if Kaoru-dono has training early tomorrow, we should all go to sleep." Kenshin stood to go prepare the guest rooms when Goku smiled sheepishly at him and put one hand to the back of his head.
"Uh, actually, I'm kinda hungry now. Could we eat first?"
Chichi and Bulma went into action before Kenshin could answer. "Oro?"
Megumi stood along with Sanosuke and Saitou. "I think we'll be going now, Ken-san. I know tomorrow will be a full day for all of you." She then walked over to Kaoru and embraced her. "You know, Tanuki-chan, we may not act like it, but I do consider you a friend. I'm sorry all this happened to you, but you're strong and I know you'll get through it."
Kaoru looked back at Megumi wide-eyed. It's not everyday she was nice to anybody, let alone Kaoru. "Thank you, Megumi."
Sano looked over at her. "Oi, Jouchan! If you learn any good fighting moves when I'm not here, you better fill me in first chance you get." She had to smile at that. It was such a typical Sanosuke thought.
"You got it, Rooster." He thought once about retorting, but let it go. Poor girl's had a rough day. I can let one little comment slide.
Saitou turned back from his place at the gate. "Remember what I said, Kamiya-san. The offer still stands." He turned and walked off. Megumi and Sanosuke left right behind him.
Kenshin put a hand on Kaoru's shoulder and she turned to look at him and gave a sad smile. "I'm sorry for earlier Kenshin. It's just very hard to have all that thrust upon you. It was easier to let my emotions flow freely."
"Don't worry about it, Kaoru-dono. You did no harm to anyone. Misao-dono was hurt by your reaction, but she understands and has forgiven you now."
Kaoru looked toward the living area of the dojo where everyone was seated. Sure enough, Misao was laughing and making jokes with the new arrivals. "I guess we should go inside, Kenshin." He nodded and followed her into the room where everyone else was waiting for dinner.
Goku and his two sons were sitting across from Aoshi and Misao. Future Trunks was sitting next to Misao and Chibi Trunks was seated next to Goten, Goku's youngest son. Vegeta was standing with his back to the far wall, one foot off the floor and planted against the wall, arms folded over his chest and head hung low with his eyes closed. Bulma and Chichi came scurrying from the kitchen, loaded down with food. Piccolo was following close behind with a burden of his own.
Misao looked at the food in disbelief. "Don't you think that's too much?! There's enough here to feed Aoiya customers for a week!"
Bulma and Chichi looked at her and laughed. "You'll see, Misao! Just wait until they start eating." Chichi was right. As soon as the words left her mouth, Goku was refilling his bowl already.
Yahiko came from his room and stared, oro-faced at the sight. His expression was mirrored in the faces of the rest of the Kenshin-gumi.
Bulma saw their confusion. "Saiyans have rather healthy appetites. Doesn't Kaoru?"
Kaoru blushed. "I guess I eat more than most women my size, but it's not as much as they're eating!"
Chichi ushered her, Kenshin and Yahiko to a spot near the food. "Now you all eat. Tomorrow is going to be a hard day! You'll need your energy to be at its peak."
They all sat and ate. Well, watched more than ate. They were still transfixed by the picture the Saiyans made. Goku and sons looked the same with bulging cheeks and noodles dangling, while Vegeta's group had better manners, but still had cheeks stuffed with food.
After dinner, everyone retreated to their rooms. Gohan stopped Kaoru on the way to bed. "Kaoru? I just wanted to thank you for letting all of us stay here. Also, I wanted to let you know that your training will start with me. I'd like to start around dawn. We have a lot you need to learn in a very short time."
Kaoru nodded silently and trudged off to bed.
^^^^^^^^^^
Kaoru woke to someone not so gently nudging her with a foot. She mumbled sleepily to the intruder. "Yahiko, stop. I had a really weird dream. I'll train you later."
"You'll get up NOW, woman!" Vegeta's bellow made her sit bolt upright.
"Get out of my room, baka!"
"You need to train and it's dawn. Get up and get dressed and meet us outside in ten minutes!"
She moved her mouth mockingly as he walked out of her room. Who does he think he is showing up at MY dojo and demanding that I go and train? Stupid Saiyan! It was then that it hit her. It wasn't a dream! Shit! She quickly threw her gi and hakama on, tied her usual ponytail and walked outside.
"Woman, what do you think you're wearing?"
"My training clothes, brother. What should I wear?"
Piccolo shook his head at her. "I'm afraid Vegeta's right. You can't wear those. They won't protect you enough."
Kenshin and Yahiko were watching the scene from the kitchen. They had heard the commotion in Kaoru's room and decided to watch. Misao and Aoshi came up behind them. "What's going on, Himura? I heard Kaoru shouting in her room."
"Well, Misao-dono, it seems Kaoru-dono's training is beginning."
Piccolo walked up and placed a green hand on Kaoru's head. With a short yell and a burst of energy, Kaoru's attire had changed. She was now wearing a blue spandex body suit, just like Vegeta, with the same silver armor on her torso. The only difference was she also had armor that resembled very short shorts on her lower region. She also had the same white gloves and white boots as her older brother.
"Is this better, Vegeta?" She twirled in her new suit and Vegeta nodded curtly to her.
Kenshin was fighting his nosebleed with Misao and Aoshi's help while Yahiko rolled on the ground laughing. "Busu looks even uglier now!"
Kenshin got the flow of blood under control and sat back up. I LIKE Kaoru's new outfit!
Oro! Battousai don't think such things of Kaoru-dono!
I ain't blind, rurouni. That Kaoru has some figure on her!
Stop it now! Sessha likes it too, but…oro?! Did I just say that?
Kenshin snapped out of his mental argument with himself and turned to make breakfast, deciding it was best to keep busy.
By the time he finished breakfast, the only thing that had been accomplished was Kaoru had adjusted to her new outfit. "Hey, everyone! What do you think of the new suit? It's not exactly proper, but then again, I'm about to fight some deranged madman and I'm actually from some alien race. So, who cares about propriety right now?"
Kenshin had to smile. She was adjusting to her new situation rather quickly. "With Bulma-dono and Chichi-dono's help I think we made enough food for everybody." He had to admit he was getting a bit fond of the two ladies. They helped him immensely in the kitchen and Bulma was quite adept at keeping Vegeta in line. Everyone ate in silence wondering what the first day of training would bring.
Sano sauntered into the yard just as Kaoru and the Z Warriors were getting ready to begin. "Remember, Jouchan. If anything good happens, let me know."
She shook her head with a smile on her face. The stupid rooster really knew how to lighten the mood. She was terrified of her training, but since she knew she could trust the strange men, she tried to relax. Gohan sat down in a patch of grass.
"All right, Kaoru. Sit across from me and we'll begin. The first lesson is controlling energy and flying."
Kaoru sat down across from Gohan. "Flying? Yeah right."
Kenshin was sitting at his washtub, listening in. Flying? People can't fly. By this time, Aoshi, Misao, Sano and Yahiko had gathered on the porch to watch.
To prove to Kaoru that people could fly, Chibi Trunks took to the air. "There's nothing to it, Aunt Kaoru. It's really easy once you know how to control your energy."
Goten followed. "Yeah. It's lots of fun."
Kaoru was able to speak, although with some difficulty. "Well…uh…if you…uh…if you guys say so. Teach me, Gohan."
"The first step is to find the center of your energy and control it. Now, focus deep inside of you and find your energy. It should feel like a tug in your stomach, then relax and just bring it out. Like so." Gohan formed a small glowing energy ball in between his two hands. The ball dimmed and he looked at Kaoru ready for her to start.
"Here goes nothing." Everyone got totally silent and watched as Kaoru attempted it. She brought her hands within a few inches of each other and concentrated on her energy. She located it, but was too tense to draw it forth. Her eyebrows scrunched together and her shoulders slowly went up with tension.
"Relax, Kaoru. It won't come out unless you calm down." Gohan gently pushed her shoulders back down and sat back to watch.
Kaoru opened her eyes and looked down at her hands. The Kenshin-gumi looked on in amazement as a small ball formed in Kaoru's hands.
"I did it! Look! I did it!" She let it go and Gohan congratulated her.
"You caught on really fast, Aunt Kaoru." Future Trunks came up behind her and crouched down. "Are you ready to learn to fly?"
Kaoru nodded eagerly. Maybe all this Saiyan stuff isn't so bad after all. She had come to terms with her new identity quite easily. Instead of thinking of her old life and family as a lie, she decided to embrace her new life and new family. Not many people have the chance to have two families, so she considered herself incredibly lucky.
Gohan motioned for her to stand. Kaoru stood up and then felt a strange sensation in the air. She looked towards the porch and noticed Misao looking down at her own hands, a small energy ball in between the two. Future Trunks had moved over in front of her and was teaching Gohan's lesson to Misao. She had to smile slightly. She knew Misao loved her Aoshi, but she also sensed Future Trunks' attraction to her. She then looked at Aoshi and saw a frown on his face. This could get interesting.
She turned her attention back to Gohan and awaited his next set of instructions. "Okay, Kaoru. Next step, you have to focus and put your energy under you. It will lift you up, and you'll be flying."
Kaoru focused and tried and tried. She could feel the wind shift and her energy surging around her, but she could never put it underneath her. After two hours of trying she felt exhausted. "Gohan, I have to take a break. I'm worn out." She started to fall forward,
but Kenshin was there and caught her before she hit the ground.
An hour later, Kaoru woke up. They all had lunch and then training resumed. "Okay, Kaoru. Again. Focus your energy underneath you and then it will lift you up."
Kaoru tried again and ever so slowly her feet came off the ground. Her eyes were closed in deep concentration and she had the brightest smile any of them had ever seen on her face. By dinnertime, she was flying around the yard, having improved far more than they had expected.
"Are we done with today's training?"
Goku looked at her and yawned. "I believe so. It takes a lot out of you to learn to fly. We can start with the hard stuff tomorrow. Piccolo, it will be your turn."
"I understand, Goku." Piccolo turned to Kaoru. "Our training begins before dawn in the mountains. Be dressed and ready to go before the sun is up."
"Um, Vegeta? When do I train with you?"
"Don't be stupid! You are far too weak to train with me yet. When you are strong enough, I will train you. As you are now, you would only slow me down and I would probably end up killing you." With that said, he turned and flew off into the forest.
Goku put a hand to her shoulder. "Try not to be upset by what he said. He blames himself for your current situation. He thinks he should have sensed you and come for you earlier. He believes he failed to protect the Saiyan royal family."
Kaoru nodded numbly in understanding. She took one last glance in the direction Vegeta went and then went in for dinner.
