Thorns

Disclaimer: *Evil grin* I don't own any characters in this story.

By: Selenity Jade (Jadesama@aol.com)

Chapter One: Breakfast

Buruma woke to a loud pounding at her door. Glaring at it, she growled. "What, Vejiita?!" she screamed.

"We are late, stupid Onna! Breakfast started five minutes ago!"

She blinked. "Why didn't you wake me earlier like you usually do, Vejiita?" she called through the door, getting out of bed.

She heard a loud growl and the door slammed open. She blinked as the hungry Saiyajin stalked into her bedroom. He paused and his eyes widened fractionally at her lack of clothing. She was only wearing a pair of underwear and a short white tank top that reached her hips.

She glared at him. "Idiot, I'm not dressed!"

His eyes snapped away from her body to glare at a point above her head. "Pants on now," he hissed.

Rolling her eyes, she bent over to retrieve a pair of sweats from the lower drawer on her dresser, and she could have sworn she heard a quick sucked in breath come from Vejiita, but when she turned back to him, he was as composed as ever. 'Must be my imagination. After all, Vejiita is more likely to be turned on by a good spar than my barely dressed ass. He's damn near asexual!' She pulled on the sweats, put her feet in her favorite pair of slippers, and walked into the bathroom to brush her hair and teeth. "I'll be a minute!"

A growl answered her, and she took it to mean it had better not be longer. She shook her head, and proceeded to make herself look a bit decent. Well, enough so that she could make it across the compound. She stepped out of the bathroom moments later, to find Vejiita pacing her room anxiously.

"Okay, I'm ready, I'm ready, geez! You could have gone without me, you know," she said pointedly, and walked towards the bedroom door.

He growled. "Not when I have to put up with your mother. Her cooking is better than your shit, but her... groping nauseates me."

She giggled. "Sorry, Vejiita. I do try to get her to stop."

He muttered something under his breath, before speaking louder. "Yes, I know. She does not do it that often when you are there. That is why I waited."

"I see," she said, opening the back door.

She started to walk across the compound, when Vejiita suddenly scooped her up, causing her to shriek and clutch him, and flew the few hundred feet to the other side. When he set her down moments later, she felt like decking him.

"Damn it! Don't scare me like that, Vejiita! I was afraid you were going to drop me or something."

He glared at her. "If I wanted you dead, I would kill you. I would not waste my energy carrying you into the air. I am fucking hungry, Onna!"

She smirked. "No patience," she teased, opening her parents' back door.

He grunted and followed her into the house. He grew silent as they entered the kitchen, and stayed near the door, leaning against the wall, and glaring around the small family. Buruma suddenly realized then that he was always like that. Except when they were at home alone. He talked to her and argued with her, even with others to witness it, but most the time, he was silent around other people. She blinked as the realization sank in. He didn't hate her. And although like might be too strong of a word, she couldn't imagine Vejiita liking anyone, he tolerated her. And no one else. She was strangely flattered.

She smiled at her mother and father. "Mom, Dad. Sorry we're late, I overslept."

Dr. Briefs smiled. "I should have made your mother fix breakfast later, especially with how overworked you are now."

Buruma shook her head, pulled out a chair, and sat at the table. Vejiita inconspicuously moved to the spot behind her, still against the wall. He wouldn't sit with them until breakfast was ready. And her mother was still cooking it. "Vejiita would probably throw a fit, Dad." She glanced at her mother who was busy at the stove. "Hi, Mom!"

The blonde glanced at her over her shoulder and gave a quick smile before she turned her gaze to the shadow behind her daughter. "Hi, Vejiita," her mother purred and winked at the Saiyajin.

Vejiita growled low in his throat and muttered something about damn human females. Buruma glanced behind her at him, and gave him a grin.

He returned her grin with a glare.

She stuck her tongue out at him.

He rolled his eyes before giving her a smirk.

She flipped him off.

"Buruma!" her father scolded.

Vejiita gave her another superior smirk and she glared at him before turning to give her father an apologetic look.

"How's the company doing, dear?" Dr. Briefs asked, petting the small furry cat on his shoulder.

She grimaced. "It's going great just as long as I spend every waking moment working," she grumbled.

Her father made a sympathetic sound, and gave her a soft look. "That's why I finally retired, dear. You should have Amudeku take up some of your work. He's a wonderful vice president, and I'm sure he'd love to help you. Besides, he does have a bit of a crush on you."

Buruma rolled her eyes, and Vejiita just snorted from behind her. "Daddy, I have Yamucha, remember? Although I never see him any more. But you're right; I should have him take up some work." She suddenly smiled. "Wow, thanks, Dad! I think I'll mess around in the lab tomorrow then. I'd like to finish working on the new space propulsion unit I've created."

"More combat bots," Vejiita put in.

"And more combat bots," she repeated, mimicking the Saiyajin's low voice.

He chuckled and she turned around to stick her tongue out at him again. "I suggest, Onna, you don't do that unless you plan to use it."

She gaped at him. "Hentai!" she snapped.

He just chuckled wickedly while Buruma's father rolled his eyes. "Buruma, remember to be careful with that. It is very dangerous to work around that much fuel."

She nodded. "I always am."

"I know, dear, but sometimes accidents happen. I don't want you hurt or dead."

Buruma gave her father a look. "I'll be fine. Besides, I blow myself up and Son-kun can just wish me back."

Vejiita snorted. "Why would he want to do that, Onna? You would be doing this planet a favor by staying dead."

Dr. Briefs chuckled before Buruma could flip off her roommate again. "Yes, he could. But what if something happens between now and then? The balls were just used and we'll have to wait a year before they become active again."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. I won't blow myself up."

"Pity," Vejiita drawled.

She glared over her shoulder at him. He just smirked.

"It's done!" her mother interrupted in a singsong voice. Buruma resisted the urge to cringe and knew Vejiita wouldn't have even bothered to suppress it. The Saiyajin didn't move to take a seat yet, probably waiting until her mother finished putting out the plates. The blonde moved around and placed breakfast in front of everyone, before walking behind Buruma to Vejiita's usual seat and placing his down. Buruma turned to give her mom a good glare when she looked like she wanted to go over and pull Vejiita to the table, and the older woman changed her mind and sat beside Dr. Briefs.

Vejiita took the seat beside Buruma, as he usually did, even though it was just across from her mother. He shot her a glance that held a bit of something that looked suspiciously like gratitude as he sat. He immediately began to eat his huge breakfast of pancakes with a speed that rivaled Goku's.

Dr. Briefs shook his head at the irate Saiyajin's manners, and her mother giggled. Buruma just ignored him, and began her own - and much smaller - breakfast. It was interesting having Vejiita on her left, as she was left-handed and he used his right. They often bumped arms and hands as they ate. But he never said a word to her about it, and she doubted he ever would, although, for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why not. He teased her about everything else and he didn't even give her a look when they bumped.

He suddenly glared across the table at Buruma's mother angrily, a low, almost inaudible growl coming from his throat. Buruma glanced at him, and then her mother, before she asked him so softly only his Saiyajin hearing could pick it up, "What did she do?"

"Foot rubbing my leg," he growled softly to her, suddenly moving his chair and plate towards Buruma a bit. He shot her a glare to stifle her smart-ass comment to his proximity, and Dr. Briefs hid a smile beneath his hand.

Apparently, that worked, and Vejiita stopped giving her mother death glares and resumed eating. Because they were so close, their arms bumped a lot more often, and Buruma almost grabbed his fork at one point. His thigh was just touching hers, as well, and for some reason, Buruma liked it. And felt a bit flattered he'd rather touch her and bump arms with her then be groped by her ditzy mother. She supposed she should be happy he didn't kill her mother, which confused her a bit. She knew he wanted to, but for some reason, he never even mentioned it.

As Buruma finished her light breakfast, her mother stood up, got her plate from her, and started to do the dishes. Vejiita was still eating, as usual. He'd usually pack down a huge breakfast, a human-sized lunch, and then another huge dinner. That was just the way he ate.

Buruma sat drinking coffee silently, her left arm on the table between the two of them, and he kept bumping it lightly every once in a while. Buruma didn't want to put it beside her though; they were sitting too close and she'd probably elbow him in the stomach or rub his thigh or something.

Her father finished his breakfast next, and her mother hurried to remove his plate as well, before giving Vejiita seconds. Not without rubbing against him and causing a growl to emerge from his throat though. Buruma shot her mother a look again, and the blonde scurried to the sink.

"So, Buruma, when's the last time you saw Yamucha?" her father asked.

The blue-haired female could have sworn Vejiita tensed slightly just then, but ignored her curiosity at his behavior. "Last week. He stopped by yesterday in fact, but I was working. We have a date scheduled for later today, though," Vejiita growled, but she didn't acknowledge the sound. "We're going out to dinner."

The phone rang suddenly and her bubbly mother giggled and picked up the cordless in the kitchen. "Hello?" the blonde answered happily. A few seconds later, Buruma's mom laughed. "Yamucha! Buruma was just talking about you." A long pause that was filled with only Vejiita's low growl. "Yeah, she's here right now with Vejiita. We always eat breakfast together on Saturdays." Another pause. "Sure, here she is, dear!" She handed the phone to Buruma, who rolled her eyes.

"Yamucha?" she asked, moving the phone to her right ear, and taking a sip of coffee with her left, nearly elbowing Vejiita in the shoulder.

"Hey, baby. How about we go to lunch today instead of dinner?"

Buruma smiled. "Sorry, Yamucha, I have plans. I promised I'd take Vejiita shopping."

She heard a muffled sound from the other end. "Vejiita!? Baby, I miss you. We're never going out anymore. Can't you postpone it?"

Vejiita growled again, and Buruma shot him a look. So, he could hear Yamucha's voice, hmm? "Sorry, Yamucha. I can't. I'm too busy at work most the time and Vejiita wants gloves this time and I'd highly doubt he'd wait another week."

"No, I will not," he snarled softly.

Glancing at him, she motioned him to be quiet. He gave her a glare, which she ignored.

"Baby," he pouted.

"Sorry, Yamucha, but I did promise. We've been through this before when I canceled that date two weeks ago because Vejiita destroyed his gravity room again. I promised the idiot I would work on his training equipment as soon as I could, outside of work and emergencies, and he promised not to barge into my office at work and kidnap me anymore. I'm keeping my end of the bargain, and he's keeping his, and thank you, but I don't want to have to deal with my employee's freaking out because a certain moody alien kidnaps me every couple days."

She heard Yamucha sigh on the other end. "I understand. Dinner then. Eight?"

"That sounds good. I'm going to finish breakfast now, Yamucha. I'd like to get showered and shopping out of the way before our date."

"Gotcha. I'll see you then, baby."

"Bye, Yamucha."

"I love you," he said suddenly, in one of those rare moments.

She opened her mouth, but for some strange reason, she hesitated. She could feel Vejiita's body begin to emit heat, and she glanced at him curiously. He gave her a hateful glare, and she could almost feel his ki rising. Must be the mushy subject matter, she decided. "I... love you, too, Yamucha," she said quickly, noticing as she did that Vejiita's eyes just went blank, when before they were angry.

"See you, baby."

"Bye," she said, hitting the off button on the cordless, she reached over and handed the phone to her mother, causing Buruma to lean across Vejiita's chest. He was still emitting heat, and a soft vibration could be felt from his chest. He must be growling again, she decided. She glanced at him worriedly.

Shooting her an angry glare, he turned his eyes from hers and resumed eating his breakfast. She watched him for a few moments before returning her attention to her coffee. Noticing her father's odd look, Buruma cocked her head at the old man in a silent question.

"Nothing, Buruma," the lavender-haired man said, suddenly rising from the table. "I've got a project in my lab I need to check on. See you later, dear," he said and disappeared out of the kitchen.

"Buruma, dear," her mother put in suddenly.

The young woman blinked and focused her gaze on her ditzy mother. "Yes?"

"Do you want some of those yummy cakes?"

She shook her head quickly. "No, Mom. I'm watching my weight."

Vejiita snorted but didn't comment, thankfully. Buruma suddenly felt the urge to smack the Saiyajin, but refrained. She watched him covertly over her coffee; noticing his suddenly closed off attitude, when before he was almost friendly with her. He didn't move away from her though, even though her mother was busy making him a third plate and probably wouldn't sit down again.

She then did something that shocked them both, but it felt like the right thing to do, for some strange reason. She grasped his right hand in her left one, causing him to start and gape at their hands. His eyes moved from them, up her arm, to meet her gaze. Those onyx orbs staring into her blue ones searchingly.

She blinked. He was looking almost into her, and she suddenly felt nervous. "Vejiita," she said, softly so her nosy and flirty mother wouldn't hear. "What's wrong? Did my mother do something again?"

He shook his head, giving her a small smirk, strangely. Pulling his hand from hers gently, he resumed eating.

But Buruma felt the heat coming from him settle into lower temperatures, and his eyes were no longer expressionless, distant but not blank. She had learned long ago that the less he showed on his face, the more dangerous it was. Because he felt something he didn't want to show. She felt better and the rest of his meal went smoothly.

~~~

AN: *grins* We get to the AU part next chapter people! But I loved writing this one! *Grins*

Lovies!