Erg! I am so sorry I haven't gotten more of this out sooner, I hate waiting
so long between chaps b/c I look forward to reviews SO much! Oh, speaking of
reviews, Suki-sama, I tried writing you, but the SN didn't work, I got a
mailer demon back, but e-mail me and we'll talk, k? Anyway, once again minna,
forgive me for taking so long for this after that evil cliffhanger *Winces* I
know it was awful of me to leave off there, I honestly didn't plan it. As for
making the chaps longer, well, I already have them marked off in my notebook
and they're each about ten pages written, give or take a page. It takes me
over two hours to type each one up. Longer? I don't think I can, but I'll
take it into consideration when I mark off the next chaps.
Disclaimer: *Dons a samurai costume*I don't own anything except my sword and
my honor...*Giggles*


Bring on the Rain
Chapter 7

" You've been here all day?" Vegeta demanded, beginning to smirk.
" Get over yourself," her voice was soft, amused, not angry, " I've only been waiting for you an hour. Earlier I was on the roof, thinking."
" How did you get on the roof?"
She shrugged, " I want to talk to you. I think... I think I misunderstood you earlier. I would like you to explain why you asked me that. I...I'd like to stay here again...if you want me to..." For a moment Vegeta was shocked. She wanted to stay?
" I'm sorry, Vegeta," she continued quietly, taking his silence the wrong way. Meekly she began to walk to the door. Vegeta stood in the way. He smirked.
" You're not going to like it," he promised. When he'd tried to explain it to Bulma, she'd actually accused him of trying to trap her.
Usagi sighed, " Just tell me Vegeta." His smirk almost turned into a smile, he loved the way she said his name.
" Saiyans mate for life, baka onna. What we did, it would be considered a binding, lawful marriage." He smirked again when her eyes widened in surprise. " Saiyans do not typically have more than one mate in their lives but..."
" Bulma left you," Usagi answered, voice even quieter than usual. Vegeta nodded.
" And...asked me that...because you thought I'd leave you too?" He nodded again. " Do you consider us to be married?" she asked in a whisper, eyes even wider than before. Vegeta couldn't help but to smirk more. Another nod was his answer.
" Oh Vegeta...I'm so sorry," she whispered, rushing to him and throwing her arms around him. " I didn't know, Vegeta! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten mad."
The Saiyan prince's arms tightened around her. He couldn't believe his ears. She was apologizing? To him?
" Stop it," he ordered quietly, " I don't...deserve...an apology from someone like you." She snuggled against his bare shoulder for a moment before suddenly looking up.
" Vegeta...does...does this mean that you love me?" she asked in a dazed voice.
" I'm here aren't I?" he questioned back, brushing his lips across her neck. The fact that they were together said it, even if he couldn't. He moved his kiss to her lips, hoping to convey his love for her with that.
She probably understood, considering that within moments he found himself lowering her to the floor.

Before he was even awake Vegeta was instinctively reaching for Usagi. He jerked completely awake when he couldn't find her.
" I'm right here, Vegeta," a quiet, amused voice said. His head jerked to it to find his lover standing by the bed in what most human females considered a workout outfit: a small, midriff showing white tee-shirt and blue shorts. In her hands she held a pair of tennis shoes, and her hair was pulled into a long ponytail.
" What are you doing?" he demanded with a chuckle, grabbing her wrist and pulling her down on top of him.
" I promised Bulma I'd go walking with her this morning, for exercise," she answered, kissing him softly.
" Onnas," he growled, " You all think there's something wrong so you decide to walk. What does walking do?" he wrapped his arms around her, " Absolutely nothing. You should train." She laughed.
" But if we trained, then we wouldn't need you men to protect us," she teased.
" You like to be protected?" he was surprised.
" Of course, as long as it doesn't interfere with a personal fight. You know? Will you protect me?"
" You don't need it."
" So?"
He gave half a laugh, " All right, onna," he agreed, secretly pleased. " I'll protect you. On one condition,"
" What's that?"
" You give me my shirt back."
" You mean the pink one?"
He nodded. Usagi began to laugh, " But I like that shirt! Please Vegeta? How about if we share it?" he grunted in response. " Well," she laughed, " let me up and I'll think about it."
" No, I don't want you leaving this room today."
" Why not?"
" Why not? Because you're mine."
" Hmm...if you let me keep the shirt, then I won't leave the room today," she fluttered her eyelashes.
" It probably smells like you anyway," he grumbled in consent, letting go of her and standing up. " You stay here," he commanded as he pulled on some clothes, " I'll be back in a while. Tomorrow you need to move your things into this room." Usagi laughed and stretched out.
" Ok Vegeta."

He smirked to himself as he went down the stairs. Unlike Bulma, Usagi didn't mind his ordering her. She understood that that was the way he was and didn't try to force him to change.
Ignoring the stares and greetings from Capsule Corp's occupants, he began to pile up food to take back to the room. He was completely serious about not letting Usagi out of the room. It was a Saiyan tradition dating back, who knows how long. I was meant to symbolize that he would take care of her.
" Hey Vegeta, you didn't pass Usagi in the hall, did you?" Bulma asked, she was dressed in a ridiculously loud workout outfit.
" No," he growled.
" She's supposed to go walking with me!" the blue haired woman complained, " What's she doing?" Vegeta began to smirk.
" Maybe the question isn't what, onna, but who."
" Huh?" everyone asked.
Vegeta cast a glance at his son and decided not to elaborate. The boy had the habit of picking things up that he shouldn't and the Saiyan prince had already taught the eight year old many things he shouldn't know on accident.
" None of you will lay eyes on Usagi today," he clarified, turning to leave.
" Oh no...Vegeta you didn't...kill her?" Bulma asked in horror, a hand flying t her throat, " How could you..."
" Baka!" he snapped, " Why would I kill my own mate?" Trunks dropped his fork and went very pale.
" Mate?" Bulma asked, eyes wide.
" D...Does this mean Usagi is my stepmom?" Trunks asked, voice barely hiding his fear. His hand began to shake and he stuffed it under the table.
" No of course not," Bulma answered quickly, " In order for that to happen they'd have to be..."
" She is," Vegeta answered, interrupting.
" No she's not, you two aren't married."
" It's a Saiyan marriage, baka!" He snapped.
" Oh Kami, not this again!"
" She agreed to it," the prince said evenly, glaring and standing as proudly as ever, " That's what matters. Besides, how do you think we could manage a human style marriage when I don't even have a last name, let alone any records of my birth?" with that he left.
The dazed Yamcha looked over at Bulma, " Vegeta doesn't have a last name?"

Trunks snuck down the hallway as quietly as he could. His dad was in the gravity room, like usual, and his mom had taken Yamcha to some big scientist convention Mr. Briefs was having. Mrs. Briefs had gone shopping and Oolong was at Kame house. Pu'ar had, of course, gone with Yamcha. Trunks was left alone in the house with Usagi, his stepmother.
Heart pounding, he inched open the door to his father's bedroom and peeked carefully inside to see the monstrosity that was a stepmom. He was surprised.
Usagi hadn't grown any horns or fangs, her skin had become leathery or her eyes red. She looked the same way she always had. A small, stunningly beautiful woman (even at his age Trunks can tell she's pretty) with shining, endless blue eyes and cascading blonde hair which was currently tied back into a solid braid of pure gold. She wore a pair of dark blue jeans and his father's pink badman shirt. The sleeves were rolled up, revealing the scars on her arms. Although Trunks couldn't see them, he know there were more, worse scars on her body, especially her back.
His Saiyan blood kept him from being revolted by them, as did the fact that they did nothing to hinder her beauty. Trunks had always thought that his mother was very pretty, but not even she could compare.
He thought, clenching his fists. He observed her as, humming happily to herself; she put the many clothes she had accumulated on shopping trips with Bulma into the drawers and closet in Vegeta's room. She really was moving in. Trunks shifted and accidentally mad the floor creak under him. Usagi looked up. The lavender haired boy cringed, waiting for the worst.
" Hey Trunks!" she greeted cheerfully, shocking him, " I haven't heard a word out of you all day! I thought you went with your mom." He wordlessly shook his head, Bulma hadn't let him come with her ever since he's accidentally lighted the toupee of a very influential scientist on fire. It really had been an accident, really.
" Not training today?" He shook his head again, he'd decided that spying out Usagi was more important. If stepmothers were as bad as Goten had said they were, then he knew he'd have to destroy her and save the world. Even if she was the tenshi he's wished for.
She smiled warmly at him, " You want to help me put some of these things away?" she asked.
" No," he answered quickly and coldly. Usagi didn't seem to notice.
" Ok, well why don't you come have a seat then? I'd love some company." Trunks blinked. She hadn't turned into a monster and tried to eat him. She hadn't yelled and forced a mop into his hand. She hadn't even kicked him out of the house with only a piece of bread to make a trail with! Numbly, he walked over and sat down on the bed.
" What are you singing?" he asked after a couple minutes, deciding to test his luck.
" Just a song from my world." Silence, but for her soft humming, filled the room. Finally, after awhile, Usagi was done putting her things away. She faced Trunks with a smile, " Want some hot chocolate?" she offered, holding out her hand. Trunks hesitated for a moment, then took it.
They walked down stairs in silence when they got the kitchen Trunks dropped Usagi's hand in relief and sat quickly in one of the chairs. Without a word Usagi made the hot chocolate.
" You want marshmallows in yours?" she finally asked.
Trunks hesitated, " S...sure. If you have some...and let me put them in!" he agreed, keeping a careful eye on her.
"Ok," she laughed, bringing the two mugs and a bag of marshmallows to the table. She set one down in front of Trunks and then sat across from him. Trunks opened the bag of marshmallows and put two in each mug, watching Usagi's face. She didn't flinch. But did look kinda eager. She thanked him and them picked up her mug to drink.
" Wait!" Trunks said quickly.
Usagi froze, " What?"
" I want that one, switch with me!"
She laughed, " Ok Trunks." She switched the mugs, "Though I promise I put the same amount of chocolate in each of them." The minute Trunks had swallowed his first sip of hot chocolate he froze. If Usagi had poisoned it then she very well could have put the poison in her own mug, knowing that he'd switch them! (Paranoid, ain't he?)
Usagi noticed that Trunks had gone very pale, " Trunks?" she asked with concern, " Are you all right?"
" Fine," he choked out, a hand going to his throat.
" Are you sure? If something's the matter you know you can tell me. We're friends, aren't we?" she smiled although her eyes showed she was worried.
" Ah...it's a little too hot. Taste it."
Usagi shrugged and took a sip of her hot chocolate, " It's a little hot, Trunks, but I didn't think it was too bad. Did you burn your tongue?"
He shook his head, " Taste mine." With another shrug she reached across the table took his mug and sipped from it.
" It seems fine," she told him, putting it back down. She smiled. " Trunks if you don't like my hot chocolate just tell me, I won't make you drink it."
He relaxed a little, " No, its fine."
" Trunks are you sure you're ok? You've been acting kind of funny today."
" Are you my stepmom now?"
Usagi looked surprised, " Well I...guess I am...according to Sayajin standards anyway. Why do you ask?"
His face fell with disappointment, " If you're my stepmom then that means you have to be mean to me now," he said with a little sadness, " I didn't know that when I wished for you."
" Trunks, who says I have to be mean to you?"
" All stepmothers are mean. Goten told me so. He knows these kids named Cinderella, Hansel and Gretle, and Snow White and their stepmoms did all kinds of mean things like make them clean, and try to poison them, and kick them out of the house!"
" Goten...knows them?"
" Well no, but Gohan does. He told Goten about them and Goten told me."
" Trunks, those are fairy tales. They never really happened, they're just stories. Haven't you ever heard fairy tales before?"
He shook his head.
Usagi reached across the table and took his small hand, " I promise you , those storied aren't real. Almost every kid in the world has heard them over and over again. I grew up on them myself."
" So, you know the stories then? Can you tell them to me?"
Usagi turned out to be a very entertaining storyteller. Not once while she was reciting every fairy tale she could think of did Trunks' attention waver. It was the ringing of the phone that finally brought the two back.
With a smile, Usagi stood and answered it on the cordless, " Hello? Oh hi, Goku-san...mm, he's out training, is it important?" she suddenly laughed.
" What?" Trunks asked.
Usagi covered the receiver with her hand, " He wasn't sure if it was important of not, so he went to asked Chichi," she giggled, then went back to the phone, " Oh it is?...Of course I don't mind getting him, hold on," she turned to leave the kitchen.
" Wait!" Trunks jumped in her way, " Do you have any idea how cranky my dad gets when something interrupts his training? You better let me get him."
" Nonsense," Usagi laughed, breezing past him to the gravity room.
Trunks followed, determined to protect Usagi. His instincts told him that the fact his dad was with the small blonde meant that he loved her, but Trunks knew from experience that when Vegeta was in a training haze he didn't think clearly. And Vegeta would hate himself forever if he accidentally hurt Usagi. He'd also hate Trunks for letting him hurt her.
" Let me turn off the..." Trunks began, but it was too late, Usagi had already opened the door to the gravity and stepped inside. While it was set on 450g's.
Trunks turned super and rushed in, prepared to save her from being crushed by the extreme weight of the gravity.
As it turned out she didn't even seem to notice it.
Vegeta didn't look up at their entrance, he merely continued in his strenuous training, struggling to keep his mind focused. The reason for the struggle was that he'd rather go inside and be with his mate than train. He'd had the feeling once or twice before when he was with Bulma, but this was worse than it'd ever been then!
Suddenly someone touched his arm.
Vegeta whirled to face the object of his thoughts. Without his consent, his face softened. Then he realized something.
" Onna, it's four hundred and fifty times earth's gravity in here," he growled, " you shouldn't be here."
" I didn't notice. Hm, I guess it doesn't affect me."
Vegeta smirked and reached out to wrap his arm around her waist. At just that moment he spotted Trunks standing behind her and snatched back his hand.
" Go turn off the gravity, boy," he ordered.
Smiling a little, Trunks did as he'd been told.
Vegeta looked back at Usagi. Kami, she looked good. " What are you doing here?" he asked, voice loosing some of its harshness. Usagi began to smile. Vegeta leaned down to kiss her but before he could she held up the phone between them.
Usagi burst into laughter at the expression on his face. " Telephone," she said sweetly.
Scowling, Vegeta took it. " Hello?" he asked, his scowl grew, " Kakarrot!" he seethed, " You planned this, didn't you? Just to interrupt my training...what?" he was silent for a long moment, face steadily getting angry. He cast a glance at Trunks, who was now standing beside Usagi, holding her hand. " All right," he finally growled dangerously, " I'll be there in a moment."
He impatiently handed the phone back to Usagi and she clicked it off as he glared at Trunks.
The eight-year old shifted uncomfortably under the gaze of his father, a man who had destroyed countless civilizations without a second thought. Unconsciously, he squeezed Usagi's hand.
" What did Goku want?" Usagi asked, her sweet, soft voice forcing Vegeta to break his concentrated glare.
" I have to go over there," he grumbled, " Don't know when I'll get back."
" I'll make sure Bulma saves some food for you."
Vegeta came as close to smiling as he ever had. He reached out and cupped Usagi's cheek before lowering his head and brushing his lips across hers. He pulled away after a few moments, letting the kiss go on for too long would not only be bad for Trunks to see, but would also without a doubt stall his departure.
Roughly he grabbed his son's arm and pulled him away from her side. " The boy's coming with me," he declared.
Usagi smiled, " Bye Trunks. Bye Vegeta." She stepped away from the door in order to let them pass unhindered.

TO BE CONTINUED...