A/N: Sorry a million times that it took me so long to update this. Thank you a billion times for your reviews, not ONE went unnoticed. Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy!!! &Warning: Implied citrus&
Princess
::Ariele Dawntreader::
:Faye Valentine:
Chapter Six:
Brought to Life (Go)
"For some reason I feel as if you're avoiding me." Bura said loudly, startling her brother as he walked into his chamber. He whirled around,
"How did you ever guess?" He narrowed his eyes and smirked, "I hope you don't still think that you're going to win tomorrow's match, by the way," He said, turning away to drop his newly acquired sword onto the bed. Bura ignored the comment, and her eyes moved to the weapon.
"Who gave you that? The little Chikyuu-jin minx you're doing?" She raised an eyebrow, waiting for Trunks' response. It wasn't what she had bargained on,
"As a matter of fact, the Chikyuu-jin Princess did give it to me -- but I'm not doing her." He flashed a mischievous smile her way, and walked into his bathroom, knowing the princess remark would bother her to no end. He turned on the water for a quick shower before his afternoon meal, but stood and listened as his sister began to protest loudly,
"I'm the only princess aboard this ship, you dolt! And by the way, I intend to win that match tomorrow, and after its done, I'm having that sickening female thrown off the ship. I won't have my own brother screwing a Chikyuu-jin! And the idea that she could possibly beat me….."
Trunks didn't listen to the rest of the rant and let himself enjoy his shower. Who cares if she's Chikyuu-jin? If I want her, I'll have her.
***
Juuhachigou rolled over in her newly acquired, oversized bed on board the Saiya-jin ship and murmured in her half-sleep. Zarbon. Where was he?
"It was a dream, damn it!" She told herself fiercely. She shook her head, her straight, pale hair coming down in a mess in face. She had never let herself be ruled over by a man… why was this happening to her now? How was she letting him take over her thoughts like this? Even when Kuririn had been alive, she hadn't dreamt and fantasized like this. Of course, her marriage to him had been one more of convenience than love…
"You have a visitor." The electronic drone picked up a presence outside her chamber and she jumped involuntarily. She threw on a robe quickly and opened her door, wondering who in a thousand gods was there at this hour of the morning. When she saw that it was Zarbon, she thought her eyes were deceiving her and she rubbed them roughly.
"My apologies, Queen Juuhachigou - it's quite early, I know - but I was sent to inform you that in a few short hours, your daughter will be competing with Princess Bura for the right to remain Princess of Chikyuu. King Vejita wanted me to inform you, so that you would be ready to take your place beside him." He seemed to choke on the last few words, as if he didn't approve of them. Juuhachigou smiled smoothly,
"Thank you, officer Zarbon. Your-" she searched for the right word, "-consideration is admirable." She fingered her robe nervously, not sure of what to say next. Over the past few days, he had become used to her presence, even though he seemed to have resented it at first. After a while, she had even made some subtle advances towards him, not even sure herself of what her true feelings were. Zarbon nodded suddenly and turned to walk away, when Juuhachigou stopped him,
"Uh, Officer - a question?"
He turned abruptly and looked at her quizzically, "Yes?"
"Why is it that you are the King's number one advisor and yet you're not a Saiya-jin?" She asked the question, uncertain as to how he was going to react. He seemed calm enough, but you could never tell with a warrior…
"Because I'm the only person on this ship who has ever beaten the King in a sparring match," He chuckled for a moment, "But of course, that was before he ascended to the next level." He smiled cockily and turned to leave again.
"Can-" She made him swing around again, "Has Princess Bura ascended?" She asked, her voice hushed from its usual harshness. Zarbon's smile quirked,
"No. Luckily for your whelp, eh?" And he left. Juuhachigou let the breath she had been holding out of her lungs and realized that even though she really wouldn't lose anything from Marron being kicked off the ship, it would still do something to her pride to have her only daughter beaten by a savage.
***
Bura pranced importantly into the somewhat large arena on the Saiya-jin ship, silently enjoying the catcalls from the crowds. She knew that if anyone actually meant what they yelled, Vejita would have them castrated before they knew what was happening, but it was interesting all the same. She knew that she was prettiest Saiya-jin female on the whole of Vejita-sei and beyond. That was the only part of being half-human that satisfied her. She rolled her eyes at the thought of her mother - the blue-haired Chikyuu-jin that she had barely known before her death when Bura was barely a year old. The only woman that Trunks had ever been obsessed with. Bakayarou. She thought of her brother and was disgusted that he had the same attraction to Chikyuu-jin females as their father had. She probably could have ascended by now if she didn't have that blood in her veins…
Marron lingered in the shadows of the stands of the arena, waiting for Trunks. She wasn't sure why she cared if he was there or not - she had some serious doubts as to whether or not she was capable of defeating his sister - but she liked the company. Ever since he kissed her a few nights ago in the heat of training, she realized that there was something a lot deeper to the Saiya-jin Prince than he was letting on to everyone else. She flexed her arm muscles unthinkingly, trying to gather hope that maybe she wasn't kidding herself.. That she could remain on the ship with Trunks. She wondered with sudden longing where he was. She shivered, nervous. She needed him, damn it! A voice came on the loudspeaker,
"The match will begin in precisely seven minutes. Civilians sit down or get out!"
Marron rolled her eyes, but saw Trunks stroll in the main entrance like he was the one fighting. Maybe he is in his own way. She had noticed in the short time around him that he and Bura held a deep feeling of rancor between them and she wanted to know why for some reason. Maybe it was because he looked so much like a Chikyuu-jin- with that hair and those damned beautiful eyes…
"Marron. What are you doing? Stretch, warm up! You look like a bundle of nerves standing around. Gather your presence." Trunks was in front of her already. Gods, he's fast. She obeyed his commands, knowing he was right. She stretched out her leg muscles and they felt pretty good. Not sore, like that had been feeling ever since she started training with Trunks. One of her biggest handicaps was that she couldn't fly. Another wave of nausea overtook her at the thought of being thrown back onto Chikyuu…without Trunks. She stood up and did some kicks in the air, earning an approving glance from her trainer. When she was finished, there were two minutes left before the match began, and Trunks took hold of her arms firmly, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "Marron, make me proud. Remember all we've done. Anticipate her moves - she doesn't play fair like I do," He said with a sideways glance at his sister, who was already working the crowd on the main floor. "I should have taught you differently, but I-"
Marron was confused at his sudden burst of emotions and concerns, "I'll be fine. If she wins by foul play, at least I can leave with my dignity in tact. You trained me well, Trunks. I appreciate it - you didn't have to do it." Her tongue slipped and said his name without his title preceding it. He didn't seem to notice; he just kept looking into her eyes, piercing her blues with his own icy gaze.
"You have the confidence of a Saiya-jin, but the strength of a Chikyuu-jin. The outcome shouldn't matter anymore," He paused as if he were thinking, "No, it shouldn't…" He murmured something unintelligible and gave her a gentle push onto the main floor as the announcer cried that it was time to begin.
***
Two thirds into the match, Marron's confidence was wavering. She was bleeding badly from a gash on her leg. Bura had picked her up and slammed her down on the edge of the arena, and Marron, in her naiveté, had struggled to get back on the floor, and in doing so cut her leg on the thick tile that covered the floor. She failed to realize that Saiya-jins didn't end fights just because one was pushed out of the ring. Her arms were terribly bruised from the quick, piercing punches of Bura, and she had a feeling that she was losing stamina fast. She had hardly gotten in a few kicks and punches, and she wished she would just pass out and end it all. Bura now held Marron's frail form suspended in the air, and was about to slam her back down when Marron caught sight of Trunks, sitting next to her mother. His face was extremely calm and encouraging. She couldn't let him down now. Not now! Not after everything he had taught her, everything he had made her feel in the these past few days that seemed like years…
Marron regained the strength in her arms and punched Bura square in the face, causing her to tumble backwards and Marron to fall hard on the ground anyway, but reminded again of Trunks she picked herself up quickly and ran to kick Bura in the side before she could recover from the earlier blow. Bura growled and got up, throwing a few punches at Marron. They clipped her on the shoulders, but she figured they must have been numb at the point because she didn't feel them. Bura's eyes flared at her sudden ineffectiveness and kicked hard at Marron's abdomen, hoping it would be the final blow. But with her emotions suddenly welling up inside her, threatening to burst, Marron gathered enough strength to catch the kick in midair, twist Bura's foot and slam her to the ground.
Combined with the shock, shame and sudden pain that Bura felt, she collapsed and remained unconscious long enough for Marron to be declared the winner. Trunks would have called out had he been seated somewhere else, because the look on the King's face could have killed a man where he stood. Trunks almost snickered at the incredulity that had planted itself on his father's face, knowing that Bura had somehow always been his favorite child, and this was preposterous! He imagined that Vejita was wondering how in the name of Broly did a mere Chikyuu-jin defeat his daughter. He stood up, suddenly proud,
"I trained that girl, and look at the results. You should have put more faith in her, father. You of all people should have guessed-"
"Shut up, Trunks." Vejita's tone was deadly low and composed. It made Trunks sit back down again. "Luck." He stared at Trunks, measuring and calculating…guessing the truth: that Trunks had developed feelings for the little Chikyuu-jin female- just as he had done and gotten himself hurt when she died- He shook his head defiantly and turned to Juuhachigou, who was beaming, "Well, android, I guess those genes of yours paid off. The little whelp of yours has earned a place on my ship… and remains Princess of Chikyuu. How lucky for you."
Everyone in the arena was being herded out, and finally left alone were Vejita, Juuhachigou, Trunks, Bura and Marron. Vejita levitated down slowly from his place in the stands and gazed into Marron's eyes coldly. Trunks stood up where he was, ready to go down to them when Juuhachigou put a hand on his arm. He realized grudgingly that she was right- he shouldn't interfere- not when his father was in this mood.
"Well, Chikyuu-jin, it looks like you've won this little game of ours. It may increase my respect for your position as princess, but it does not make me like you anymore than I did before," He lowered his voice so that no one but she could hear, "And stay the hell away from my son. He has enough problems without some bratty human interfering with his life - and mine. So just stay away and you can keep your fancy title." He moved to where Bura was standing, looking dazed and took her arm, leading her back to her quarters. Juuhachigou was the next to leave, giving her daughter what Marron interpreted to be an appreciative, almost proud glance before the doors sucked shut behind her automatically.
Marron seemed to forget that Trunks was still there and she collapsed, in a mess of ripped clothing and long blond hair on the floor, breathing heavily. Her nerves would never be at rest- not if the king was going to keep making threats to her like that. After all, it was Trunks who had made the advances, not her. She didn't even… or did she? She wiped sweat from her face, but was startled when she felt Trunks behind her. She got up and spun around,
"Trunks…" She murmured, not having enough energy to care how he viewed her anymore. She must have looked terrible anyway- why pretend? She felt herself falling and as quickly as the vertigo had overtaken her, his arms reached out to her, catching her long before she would have reached the floor.
"Princess…" He said back, smiling a little at her closeness. His Saiya-jin side was fiercely battling in his brain against his human side as to what was important right now. He couldn't show his feelings. Women were for mating, not cuddling or protecting. Only male babies were worth protecting… He almost cried out at the argument that was beginning to form in his head- an argument that had gone on so many times before and was sick of losing. In a burst of light, they were back in his chambers, and Marron felt extremely tired. She clung to him as he lowered them down onto his oversized bed, stroking her hair gently, some part of him suddenly beginning to feel fulfilled.
Marron looked up quickly and saw they weren't in the arena anymore, "How-?"
"It's a technique I've been working on for a while. I'm- I'm not sure how I did it just now. The power must be…sporadic inside me. I'm not sure how to control it, but I wanted to be here just now, with-" With you. He couldn't finish it aloud, but Marron knew what he would have said. Her heart filled with longing, intensified by all the events she had experienced in the past week that had not even come close to sinking in yet, and she moved her face closer to his, all inhibitions gone. But she saw something come over his expression that she had never seen before - fear. She didn't think it was possible for a Saiya-jin to feel fear, but - he had to be part human. That was his secret. This confirmed it . It must be why the King wanted her to stay away from him. He didn't want him to experience the same pain he had felt --
Trunks pulled away gently and went into his bathroom quickly, grabbing a towel and soaking it with soapy water. He immediately put it on Marron's bleeding leg, ripping away the shreds of her pants around the cut. Marron winced, but the pain eased when the cut was cleaned. And he was being so gentle, she wasn't even thinking of the pain anymore, but the anomaly that was the Prince of Saiya-jins. It was all so confused. She pushed away the cloth and took Trunks' hand to her face, holding it to her cheek. He brushed the hair away from her eyes and hesitated slightly before putting his lips on hers. This was different from the first time they had kissed - it was so gentle, yet insistent, not rough, just…perfect.
Marron felt a kind of desire shoot through her that she hadn't felt in ages. It had been so long since she had had the time to love or make love. And now he was all hers - or at least… What about Vejita's warning?
Fuck his warning, she didn't want to ruin this moment - not the one moment she had finally felt happy in since her father died.
She coaxed Trunks to slide back onto his bed with her, gently pulling him as close to her as was physically possible. He kissed her gently and with feeling, overwhelmed by the sensations of the room. His chamber was always heavily scented with a type of incense that reminded him of his mother, and it mixed with Marron's scent now, too. He felt blood rush to his face and then downward into his pants at her closeness. As if in a trance, Marron stripped away his clothing and he helped her with hers, seemingly in the same state, stripping away layers of confusion and secrets and hurt…
Trunks gazed at her body beneath his with sudden longing, his usual ice-covered eyes like a warm ocean now, filled with the pounding waves of her desire. Their lovemaking was slow and gentle, her pleasure spiraling again and again, only to crest at the same time as his. She cried out almost quietly and her eyes watered with sudden emotion as she stared into his face, kissing him softly as he moved to lie beside her, stroking her breasts, her belly, her face again. Never in his entire life had he experienced anything close to the pleasure he just experienced with Marron. She was strong and beautiful, this Princess, and he wanted to have all of her.
Marron drank in his kisses and caresses with a hunger she didn't recognize as coming from herself alone. She was feeding off Trunks' warm invitation and was again amazed at the complexity of the man she had just made love with.
Now she was determined to unlock his secrets, and fulfill him the way he was fulfilling her in these stolen moments outside the chaos of the Saiya-jin ship, even if it meant ignoring the King's veiled threats.
OWARI CHAPTER SIX
