Thanks to: Panny, underwater angel, SaiyanSerpent (4 RGPs!), RiceC25,
Syaoran's Blossom, Miss Myrhe, jewels, DR. SQUEE, and Sutaseiu :For Reviewing
the Last Chapter.
This chapter is dedicated to SaiyanSerpent for the enthusiastic reviewS
(note: I loved them! *grins wickedly*).
SNFM: All right, I know this is REALLY late and while I'm writing this I'm thinking of a way to keep you guys reading, EVEN with my inconsistent updating. I had a family crisis that required immediate attention at the time. Another thing, I've decided I needed more Saiyans so I'm either going to make my most consistent reviewers into Saiyans or borrow some of everyone's mates. I'm not expecting to get any, but it would be a HUGE help if ANYone would send them my way (I promise I'll give them back!). Oh yes! You can email me at: Mintpandabear@hotmail.com -Mintly >:D
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On with the fiction...
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Chapter Five 'Not the Strongest Monkey in the Barrel'
Turning around, Pan came face to face with....her Grandfather? She could
feel all color leaving her face as the sparks that once
crackled around her diminished. For once, there was complete silence
in the large, dome training facility. The man in front of her rolled his
eyes skyward and took a fighting stance.
"Onna," he barked with his baritone, slightly rasped voice "are you going to fight me or admire my good looks all day?" his tone was dripping with sarcasm. Pan blinked once. Twice.
He wasn't her Grandpa! No, he couldn't be. Her facial features scrunched up and brows furrowed in thought. How could she have missed it before? His ki signature was all wrong. Too low and dark to be the one of the angelic savior of Chikyuu. If he wasn't Grandpa Goku? Who exactly WAS he?
"Huh?" she asked arched a delicate brow.
"POWER THE FUCK UP!" Pan flinched, then frowned at the man in front of her. Well, he wasn't the only one that could be uncourtly.
"You asshole! You don't have to yell at me," she countered back, nearing him. 'I can't believe I mistook him for Grandpa' she inwardly scoffed.
"Not if you don't STOP being a baka and fight me!"
With that Pan took the offensive and lunged for him. Catching the voluminous Saiyan off guard, she connected her fist with his right cheek with an intense charge. The blow thrust his head backwards, and for a few moments, there was no movements at all from the soldier. Inch by inch, he turned his head back towards her, a fire much akin to the one she'd see in Vegeta's eyes in this unknown fighter's own dark orbs. Underneath was a highly thin layer of shock.
"I wouldn't have done that if I were you," he said in a soft voice, TOO soft for her tastes. It was then she noticed it, their proximity. 'Damn,' her eyes widened fractionally. 'Baka! What did 'Queen' Bulma tell you?' Pan could already see a little aqua-haired genius chiding her in her head 'You have to avoid the males, Pan! Although this dose will subdue the alluring scent much, it doesn't do practically squat in close proximity contact.' There was only one thing Pan saw fit to do at a time like this. Reaching her fist back, she slugged him again.
The strange warrior yelped and clutched his stomach fiercely, tail now curling tightly around his waist. Recovering quickly, his vision shot back to hers. Pan wasn't too sure if he were going to strike her or swallow her whole and also wasn't sure which she liked better. So quickly, she got into her fighting stance and waved him at her.
"I'm ready now," a smirk adorned Pan's lips as she powered up slightly, pretending to be oblivious of the little scene that had just carried on AND the innuendo he implied with his eyes. It looked as though he was confused at first, then furious, but then a smirk that mirrored hers and was about to begin his assault when.....
"There you are, you little shrew!" came an fiery growl from the doorway.
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Radditzu stopped dead in his tracks at seeing all the wounded soldiers scattered like toy dolls all over the room. None were hurt beyond a few hours in the regeneration tank, he decided assessing the damage, but none were also without injury. Well, all but two.
"Uncle?! What are you doing here?" He arched his brow upon noting his father's twin's presence. Radditzu observed pointedly from his blinking scouter that his Uncle was almost two thirds of the way powered up, but not quite at his pinnacle. It appeared the little vixen had angered the hot- headed Turles.
His Uncle growled deep within his throat. "Stay the fuck out of this," he outstretched his finger to point at the gawking Pan, "this is between ME and HER!" he roared.
"That's right!" Pan jolted in.
"Stay out of this!" came synchronized vociferations as they turned to face her. Pan jumped a little, but kept glaring at the two burly Saiyans.
"You don't understand, she's not LIKE us," Radditzu accused, referring to Pan. Turles rolled his eyes.
"All right, Radditzu. What the hell is wrong with her," he asked, voice dripping with sarcasm as his impatience to the situation became obvious. Radditzu growled and stepped closer to his uncle.
"Not a word of this escapes from your lips, agreed?" Turles nodded in agreement. "I just came back from talking with the Queen. She's demi! Just like the crown prince," he whispered hoarsely.
"You mean..." Turles looked over to the female for confirmation, "a weakling half-breed?!" it looked as though Turles' eyes were about to pop, they were bulging so much. "And I was playing with the idea of taking her, she smelled so good!"
"Not a weakling," he corrected. "Don't forget what happens to the hybrids of Chikyuu-jins and Saiyans!" he was referring to Prince Trunks, who was nearly as powerful as his father at half the age. "You were thinking of taking her as a mate?!" Turles looked exasperated.
"Not as a mate! Just taking her," he raised his eyebrow to further imply his nephews thoughts. Radditzu was sure to shoot him a dirty look before approaching the female.
"What are you doing?!" his Uncle shouted at him. Radditzu cocked a brow.
"I'm going to escort her to her room," he said as if it were an obvious thing.
"No," Turles shook his finger in front of his nephew's face. "I'm going to fight the onna." Radditzu's ki flared a little.
"You don't get it, I have my orders!" his scowl deepened as he realized
his brawny Uncle wasn't going down without a fight.
Meanwhile..........
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Trunks was walking along the long corridors of the palace. All his thoughts centered on getting a good spar in. His blood demanded it after killing those worthless weaklings on planet Romula-sei. Another thought that brushed his mind was his whore/mistress or whatever she was supposed to be addressed by. He knew his father was right, and he should have destroyed her months ago if he could replace her. Finding willing females was definitely not the problem. In fact, many a time had Trunks-ouji 'disposed' of onnas after finding them in his bedroom when he came back from a spar in the early hours in the morning or sneaking in during his rest.
The biggest problem was finding females that were strong AND desirable. It was hard enough to find creatures who could handle his...stature...and fulfill his......special needs without breaking or at least in the regeneration tank for a few weeks. The few that were strength-wise worthy could be down-right gruesome and cause sores on the eyes. It could take hours of staring to distinguish their sex from the facial view.
The lavender-haired demi knew that by law any female had to succumb to the Saiyan no Ouji if he wished of them. A law that had been traditional for mating royalty for hundreds of generations.
His mind floating back to sparring, he knew his father was preoccupied and his mother probably wouldn't walk for another few days so he had to satisfy himself with training with the lower classes.
On his way to the elite training facility, he could hear voices from the first class room.
"Voices?" he thought aloud "what are they........talking about sparring instead of the actual fighting?" he shook the thought off as he further investigated.
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Pan was currently watching the two men battle back and forth over her. Although the discussion or verbal fighting happened to be about her, they seemed to be oblivious to her presence.
"Men," she rolled her eyes as she watched them practically yell down each other's throats. Pan wasn't sure whether she should leave or kick their asses but it seemed fighting happened to be the farthest from their minds at the moment. She could see some of the Saiyans that had previously met her fist or toe, getting up and either limping off (probably to the medical wing) or listening in. Those who stayed to listen in, were enthralled in the argument unlike herself.
"Well, I don't care what you think *Uncle*, I have my orders!" yelled a steamed Radditzu, mere inches away from his uncles face.
"Orders!? From who, may I ask *Nephew*," Turles yelled back.
"Queen Bulma," came a cocky response as repetitive gasps could be heard around the room.
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Trunks had been watching interestingly the whole conversation until his mother was mentioned.
"What about the Queen?" Trunks faded out to stand right before the duo. The two arguing relatives' jaws dropped open and closed like fish, as if they were going to speak and nothing came out but squeaks.
"S-she ordered me t-to escort Son, Pan to her r-room," Radditzu barely choked out. The Prince, as always, had that mischievously dangerous glint to his eyes. It had been said he could be just as cruel and un-relenting as his father was.
"I see," Trunks attention to the situation left as he stared at the female in front of him. She was absolutely stunning. Her long healthy hair didn't defy gravity at all like the average Saiyan women's. It glistened in the lights, and seemingly slid against itself. Her eyes were wide, as if she had been caught doing wrong, deep intense black contrasting to his own pale ice. Both were directed straight at him. "Well, I'll settle this," the corners of his lips tugged into a smirk, not taking his eyes off of the female nor did she off of him, "I'll escort the little female," he said smoothly, deep voice rumbling.
The female, 'Pan', as the lower class had said, seemingly snapped out of her stupor and glared at him.
"I don't need a fucking escort!" she said icily, crossing her arms with jaw set into clear defiance. After overcoming his immediate shock, his grin grew bitter-sweet as he arched his brow at the female.
"Such a foul mouth for a seemingly serene creature," he said amused by the female's response. He knew she was intrigued by him, her eyes never left him. 'Of course,' he thought arrogantly.
The two lower classes scoffed at the Prince's choice of words. "You should of seen her earlier, my Prince," said the one with shorter spiked hair, laughing in amusement. "She stole this from me," he said pointing to the slight reddening on his cheek, "and this," he pointed to his stomach. Trunks refrained himself from breaking out in laughter. So she liked to play rough? This was excellent!
"I would have done more too if this," Pan stepped towards the longer haired Saiyan, "BAKAYARO didn't stop me from pounding his friend into the ground!" Pan raged, eyes alighting with fire once more. By just looking at her he could see she was full of life and energy. 'Perfect' Trunks eyes glinted with twisted mirth while watching the female flagrantly insult the two soldiers.
"Weak onna, you could have only tried," the older Saiyan crossed his arms and scoffed. Trunks put on an air of indifference as he waved his gloved hand.
"Enough!" Trunks-ouji interfered. Signaling to the steamed relatives with his fingers, he ordered them back to their rooms. It was then and only then that he was to find that the little Saiyan female had disappeared as well. Trunks chuckled.
"Little minx, you have taken my interest. You will not escape me now,"
and with that he chuckled in delight and went to go talk with his Mother.
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It was a few hours later that Vegeta-ou was having a conference with leading officers for all four classes and his right hand man, his head of the science wing and strategical commands.
"Bardock."
"Yes, Sire?" came a mechanical reply from the brawny Saiyan.
"News on Chikyuu-sei?" Vegeta grunted out as he balanced his head on his right palm.
"It seems our leading ally has revolted. News traveled fast of the massacre on Romula-sei and the Chikyuu-jins weren't too happy about breaking the treaty with our allies," Bardock said bluntly to the shocked officers.
"That preposterous!" Officer Beileo of second class cried out, jumping out of his chair.
"Of course it is," Bardock nodded his head as he willed the outraged officer into his seat, "but we can't do anything about it. I had talked out the terms with one of their diplomats and it seems they refuse to believe we did not assault them," Bardock said seriously, a slight frown on his face showing his agitation. A round of coughs made its way around the room, at the thought of their King's actions labeled 'unprovoked'.
"What about the Queen, is she not of their origin? Could she not 'talk'
with the Chikyuu-jins?" asked the first class commander.
Vegeta-ou's head perked up at the mention of his mate. A secretive
smile crept onto Bardock's face, not having to read the King's thoughts
to know or what or *who* he was thinking of.
"No, you forget Gallot. It was many years ago that her highness lived on her native planet. For Chikyuu, the generation that would have remembered her vast significance with inter-planetary affairs is gone," several heads lowered at the thought of their Queen's fragile life span.
"Enough. We will continue this at a later date," Vegeta-ou commanded with the wave of his hand, "what of domestic news?" he asked with an air of indifference contrary to his piqued interest. If the rumors were true it seemed things would be interesting around the palace for a while.
"Ahem," began Gallot, clearing his throat "a third of my soldiers are
located in the regeneration tanks, Sire" he mumbled out.
Vegeta-ou blinked.
"I heard about that!" exclaimed Ry'ono the third officer, "A single soldier took out at least forty without a scratch on him!" Beileo, Bardock, Gallot and Fringo nodded in agreement. All had heard the same rumor floating around the halls. Vegeta rolled his eyes. His soldiers were no better than gossiping onnas.
"I heard your brother and son was involved too, Bardock," Beileo grinned. Bardock looked shocked at first, and then covered it up with a smirked.
"I wouldn't be surprised. I'm sure you've all experienced the hot-headed duo," the four winced in agreement. Vegeta-ou was silently becoming more interested by the minute, if this were true, then things were looking up for acquiring a new sparring partner. A wicked grin spread across his face at the thought.
"Er.." Gallot started, shifting lower in his chair, "It wasn't exactly one of my soldiers.." synchronized brows furrowed in confusion.
"What is that supposed to mean?" asked the burly elite.
"Well, um..itwasanon-classedfemale" he blurted out all at once.
"NANI!?" shouted the once silent King Vegeta. All looked up to their King in horror, "Where!?" he raged.
"Her? I-I-I don't know! She disappeared with Bardock's kin!" he pointed the finger straight at Bardock. Vegeta arched his brow at the senior Saiyan, tail twitching back and forth in agitation.
"Bardock?" he asked calmly, a little too calmly.
"I haven't seen either since before I left this morning, Sire," Bardock answered before his King had to ask. Vegeta grinned roguishly and pointed a gloved finger straight at his science wing head. "You will talk to your son," he commanded. Moving his attention towards his officers "and YOU will let word out that I want this female living and kicking...so to speak, at my throne in two days."
"W-will you be releasing an award, Vegeta-sama?" asked Beileo gravely, sliding up a little in his seat. Vegeta smiled evilly.
"No. Let it be known that if I don't have this girl in the time I specified,
I will be very displeased," and with the threat in hand, all
members of elite board gulped.
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Next Chapter: Nighttime falls upon Vegetasei. Pan and Trunks mostly *grins evilly*. Yes, the next chapter is about Trunks and Pan. Maybe some more info on this tournament? What does Pan think after seeing Trunks again? What do you get when you cross a feisty temptress and a pushy Prince in an awkward situation? The next chapter!
All in store in: 'All Steamed Up'
SNFM: All right, I know this chapter was supposed to be what the next chapter is. But I didn't think I could fit it all in with out giving you a half-ass job (and I did it anyway >.!!!). Gomen Nasai! I promise I'll try to hurry the next chapter. -Mintly
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Mintly: Ugh, I know you guys are thinking *HEY! There is so LITTLE of Pan's view here!* but-
Stan: Actually I was thinking the exact-
Mintly: THERE IS *frowns at Stan* a really good reason for that.
Stan: Which is?
Mintly: I decided to incorporate Pan's feelings in the next chapter *smiles sweetly*
Stan: You know what?
Mintly: ?
Stan: That was possibly THE WORST excuse I've ever heard..............ever....
Minty: No! It's true, so be prepared for the next chapter. It's all about Trunks and Pan.
-Mint n' Stan