A/N: I've decided to refer to Bra as the way the Japanese pronounce it, so don't be confused. (Bura) ^_^ Sorry it's taken soooo freaking long to update this. I hope you enjoy it. A lot of plot hints and developments going on here, so pay attention. *Hugs*
Princess
* * *
By: Mistress of the Dark/Faye Valentine
Chapter Five: Enter the Other Princess (Set...?)
As her strange stay continued aboard the Saiya-jin ship, Marron began to notice a transformation in the King's behavior. He seemed happier-almost excited. She mentioned her observation to Trunks one day as they sat eating dinner,
"Your father seems unusually satisfied with things lately," She said, putting a forkful of ginsbiru in her mouth. After a few days the odd taste began to remind her of chicken... Trunks didn't look up from his food,
"Maybe he's getting some," He mumbled. Marron frowned slightly and forced him to look at him by pushing his chin up with her delicate, pale fingers. Trunks swallowed the rest of his food and gaped at his new female, captivated by her eyes. As he stared, he saw images of the past few days—images of this beautiful, sarcastic, witty, and striking female that sat before him. He thought about the way she ate, the way she slept, the way she tossed her hair and wrinkled her nose when something didn't suit her fancy.
She looked at him intently, the same expression of pensive contemplation playing across her features. But he broke the spell, frustrated at the sway she was beginning to hold over him.
"Who told you you could touch me?" He said mischievously, a grin replacing his Vegeta-like smirk. Marron smirked herself.
"I don't listen to men, anyway, so save your breath." She remarked and put some rice in her mouth, perhaps sucking on the fork a little too long. Trunks bit his lip and grabbed her hand, dragging her out of the mess hall.
"Exactly what are you doing?" She asked nonchalantly, letting herself trot away with him. He gave a short laugh,
"You crack me up, Chikyuu-jin. You know exactly what I want, and you're going to give it to—" He stopped short and Marron bumped into him.
"What the hell?!" She demanded. Trunks looked back at her and frowned slightly, silencing her with a look.
"The answer to your question regarding my father." He nodded up ahead, at the crowd of soldiers gathered around something.
"What are they looking at?"
"I should have known—my sister's arrived." He said emotionlessly.
* * *
The bridge was silent save for the increasing tension that seemed to be ringing in Juuhachigou's ears. The dam was going to burst-she knew it. This was it. It was the end. How could she have been so stupid? And then-
"I will think about it. My son doesn't do anything he doesn't want to, you know." King Vegeta grunted. Juuhachigou's heart stopped its death - beat inside of her and she finally relaxed. She found the courage to smirk in her cold, android-like way,
"Good. So we have a deal, then?" A feeling of relief washed over her as she realized that if she kept the King wrapped around her finger her continual reign would be secured. Vegeta's eyes, which had been distracted by a distant burning star, suddenly snapped back to her face and the Queen of Chikyuu panicked again.
"I wouldn't go that far," He snapped. "Just remember this, android - you are conquered. Finished. Extinct! It is only by my ridiculous mercy that you haven't been exterminated like most of your people!" He grabbed her neck, standing up, and matched her cold gaze, "King Vegeta of the Saiya-jins listens to no one and does no one else's bidding but that of his own! I've allowed my son to take your worthless little princess as a whore, but if he doesn't like her, then I guess you're just fucked, aren't you?" He dropped her suddenly and she came down on the hard floor of the ship with a graceful thud. "Anger me again and I'll destroy every bit of wire you have inside you until you short out." He stepped away from his makeshift throne and leaned casually against a portal/window, a his disposition suddenly changed, remembering his daughter was here, after all, and she might need a training toy.
"So now that we've cleared some things up, there is another matter we must attend to." He smirked classically and crossed his arms thoughtfully. Juuhachigou was puzzled and a little freaked out. He's insane, She thought, afraid to move from her spot on the floor. The king seemed to read her thoughts and he chuckled. "I have a young daughter in need of training. She needs a training partner..." And then a better plan flashed into his brain, "If your daughter can beat mine, my son may take her as a mate, crossing the two bloodlines, benefiting us both." He shuddered, "But if she can't, well then you become her permanent partner and your daughter remains my son's personal mistress. Your princess versus mine."
Juuhachigou stared at the king in amazement. He was so... "Ugh!" She rose from the bridge floor and almost laughed when she realized she was taller than the king, but didn't do so for fear of the possible repercussions. Instead she just glared at Vegeta. She knew that the king's daughter held far more fighting potential than Marron ever could just because of her race. The princess didn't stand a chance... Still, if she backed down now, neither of them would stand a chance. Damn it, he's good. "I accept your challenge." Juuhachigou tossed her hair in defiance and stood straighter. Vegeta laughed, nodded, and left her on the bridge. The door opened and closed for him and the android was left wondering what the hell she was supposed to do. She turned and looked out the portal/window, feeling helpless for the first time in her life. Then suddenly a voice behind her startled her,
"You know, how in Vegeta's name did you even conceive a child, anyway?" The green alien asked loudly, the confusion apparent in his voice. Juuhachigou chuckled as she turned around, doubt somehow leaving her for the moment.
"I wasn't always an android, moron," She replied, narrowing her eyes playfully. "I'm still a woman in my heart," She looked him over, "...and in other things, if that answers your question." Her eyes flickered dangerously – she loved intimidating males, even if they were alien. Too bad she hadn't succeeded with the King. He was, after all, a lot more attractive than General Zarbon was. Oh well, she was already participating in one challenge, there could be some good points to another. Maybe if she slithered into the good graces of his general, there was a chance she could worm her way in with his majesty... She thought a moment more and her mind was made up. "So, general, tell me about yourself."
* * *
The blue-haired wonder unpacked quickly – she was excited to be on the ship at last. Now she was free to do anything she wished, she knew her father wouldn't put limits on her like her caretakers back on Vegeta-sei had done. She had him wrapped around his finger. That dolt of a brother had told her countless times the reason for this—she reminded their father so much of their mother that he just went weak and couldn't resist giving her everything she wanted. Trunks always had resented his sister – after all, their mother had died giving birth to her and Bura guessed he had always blamed her. Up until then, apparently he had always been a "mama's boy." Luckily enough for her, however, her father had never felt that way. There was a soft knock at the door and she looked up from the bags strewn across her large bed. She smiled widely, "Come in, Father."
Vegeta threw the door open and marched into the room, picking up his daughter and embracing her tightly, "How was your flight, princess?" He put her down on her bed and held her face fondly. Bura was the only person in the universe that could make him this happy. He was dressed in his finest – a blue button-down uniform with Vegeta-sei's seal on the chest. She stared up at him lovingly, admiring her father with a sense of pride no one could take from her.
"Wretched – as usual – complete with irritating alien rabble." She grinned, "But I've survived, haven't I?" She got up from her bed and hugged Vegeta tightly, "I've missed you, Papa!"
Vegeta almost choked on the emotion, realizing he hadn't been comfortable and happy in so long a time...He brightened, then, when he remembered his wager with that silly ass of an android. "Princess!" He held her at arm's length, "We're going to hold a royal court down on Chikyuu in three days' time, with you as the main attraction." His eyes held the familiar Saiya-jin hunger she was used to, but still slightly irritated with and she sighed.
"What have you cooked up now, Papa?" She asked, still smiling in spite of it all.
"A challenge, a fight! Princess, you're going to prove to everyone that you're the most skilled female in the universe today." He crossed his arms and smirked. Bura gave him a questioning look,
"With whom am I dueling?" She asked, suddenly tired from her long trip.
"Oh some silly little girl from Chikyuu. The princess – her mother wants to keep her power by binding your brother to her daughter. Quite amusing, really... I can't wait to see her face when you beat the living—"
"Three days' time, you said?" Bura asked, now completely disinterested. Vegeta grunted, still pleased with the little brat he'd raised. She was the perfect princess – spoiled, self-centered, and completely adherent to her father.
"Exactly. So get some training done to sharpen your skills." He put his arm around her and they walked out together, "In the meantime, let's celebrate your return, shall we?" And they started toward the royal dining room.
* * *
The Prince of Vegeta-sei hurried Marron back to his quarters and tossed her unceremoniously onto the bed, then continued to ignore her very presence, until Marron was in tears.
"Deep in thought, are you?" Marron yelled and hit him across the face, fed up, confused and hurt. But the look she received made her shrink back instinctively. She wound up sitting on the edge of the bed trembling. Trunks grabbed her hand and she feared for a moment he would crush each bone in the tiny appendage, but he did something rather unexpected – he took her hand and put it against his cheek. He closed his eyes and sighed,
"I'm sorry, princess. I'm just trying to figure out what my father is planning. With my sister back, and your mother aboard the ship, he must be up to something." His silent thoughts took over again, leaving Marron wondering what to do in the unbearable silence that followed.
What does he want me to do? Why did he take my hand so gently? He's crazy, he's –
"I want you to train with me. You're probably out of shape since you haven't been in battle for weeks." Trunks said abruptly.
"Why?"
"Because I think I know what my father has in mind."
*
The prince's bedroom became Marron's training ground, and the prince himself her partner. Every time a punch connected to his ribs, she almost cringed herself. Every time their hands touched or their bodies were close, it became increasingly awkward for them both. For so far, Trunks had kept his word, and hadn't laid a finger on Marron's body. She was really beginning to wonder how complex the prince really was. And then it happened, as was expected.
On the second day, during a particular heated match, Marron thew a kick to Trunks' head, but he blocked it, pulling her leg back down and letting his fingers linger on her thigh. Everything stopped, and all Marron could do was stare at his hand until he took his other hand and pushed her chin up to look him in the eyes. She didn't find his usual icy gaze when she looked, however, but burning sapphires that reminded her of the look of a small child who had lost its mother. She gasped before she could stop herself and he kissed her then, long and languorously. Marron melted and allowed her mouth to be explored, loving every minute. But it was Trunks who finally broke it off,
"Never let yourself be caught off guard..." He said huskily and left her standing there, watching him go into the bathroom. "I'm going to clean up. That's enough for today."
Marron sunk onto the bed and thought that if she did have to fight the day after tomorrow, she would certainly lose with the way her training was going.
* * * * *
Owari Chapter Five
A/N: Again, sorry for making you wait so long. I hope that my next update will be A LOT sooner than this time. I expect some citrus in the next chapter, so beware. Hope you liked. ^_^
~Faye-faye
