A Clash of Races
A/N: Thanks for the reviews, guys! There is going to be a lot of drama and character interaction in this chapter. So yeah. be prepared. look for blossoming romances all over the place, 'cause they're bound to happen. so yeah. Enjoy and as always, I love feedback!
It was a new morning on Vegeta-sei. Everyone was already up and tending to their duties. Makaze and Bulma were already in the lab helping out Bardock. Kitsune was wandering around the palace after escorting Chichi and Mala to the place they would be tested. Chichi and Mala were warming up for a day of what they figured would be difficult tests. Vegeta was up and about and in a conference with his father about the neko-jin guests. Kakarot, Radditz, and Nappa were on patrol duty and later on working with the girls. It was sure to be a very promising day for the group. That was for sure.
The first test that the girls would have to take part in was the senses test. They would be tested in vision, hearing, scent, and ki senses. Chichi was sure to do just fine in all categories. Mala was not. Due to her genetic defect she was sure to fail the hearing test, but hopefully get the job anyway. Bulma had reassured the raven haired woman that she would do just fine that morning.
The vision test was fairly easy and both of the girls passed with flying colors. Kakarot and Radditz had chosen that moment to stop in and watch the girls. It would be interesting to see the two in action. Over the years, Mala had honed her telekinetic senses to detect objects around her or within a mile radius. That had made up for the hearing, but sometimes when she was nervous, she couldn't focus her senses and would ultimately fail to detect danger and fail to hear it. She was hoping that it wouldn't happen, today.
They had chosen a special stealth warrior since the pink featured neko-jin was an Elite guard. They had blindfolded her and she was dull to the sounds of his boots coming closer. All the saiya-jins stood shocked that her ears weren't moving. She couldn't even hear the whipping sound the baton made as the stealth warrior swung it around. Although, her telekinetic senses were moving in a frenzy and confusing her. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore and ripped off the bandana and shouted, "I'M DEAF, OKAY! I DON'T HAVE SENSITIVE EARS!"
Kakarot and Radditz had to witness that display. Goku knew that she couldn't hear well but Radditz was shocked. He had no idea that she couldn't hear that well. He had assumed that she could. Goku saw the look on his brother's face and explained it to him. "Neko-jins with a floppy ear like that are usually looked upon as shunned creatures because they aren't tuned to sensitive sounds like normal cats are. She has a genetic defect, one that she can not help or even hope to fix."
The saiya-jin guard who was doing the testing was going to go all out with a tongue lashing on the young neko-jin. "You are a pitiful excuse for a warrior if you do not have acute hearing. You do not deserve your title."
That got Mala fired up and she spat, "I'll show you why I am an Elite." She charged up her ki and focused her anger and transformed into the Fainaru Ryoku. It was a trick she had learned three years ago when she was seventeen. Some idiot had been hassling her about not being able to hear well and it made her go off the deep end. All the saiya-jin soldiers gasped, including Chichi and Radditz. Kakarot had already known since she had told him. He, too, had a secret. He was the only one on the planet with the ability to go Super Saiya-jin.
After that they had immediately given Mala the job as an Elite Guard and was sent off to patrol with Radditz and Kakarot. Chichi went through the rest of the tests and was given the job as a Royal Guard and was sent off to patrol duty with the other three, also.
Bulma was on her last nerve as she tried to assemble the piece in place. The task was becoming rather difficult and she had Makaze up her ass making nasty remarks every time she tried to do something. The Princess had to remind the other neko-jin exactly who was royalty and could quickly get a replacement royal advisor if the need should arise. Makaze seemed to quiet down after that and left Bulma to assemble the piece on her own without any instructions. Now she was having trouble.
Kakarot, Radditz, and Mala walked in the room at that exact moment and Bulma was happy for the distraction. Goku and his brother had come to see their father and Mala had come for a visit to the Princess. Just when they least expected it, the Prince came into the room. Everyone waited for him to speak and explain to them why he had stopped by. As if he understood, he spoke, "Came to check up on the progress and take the Princess out to lunch. King's orders."
The room seemed silent so Makaze took it upon herself to say, "Oh! It's the midget!"
A growl escaped the throat of the saiya-jin Prince as he jerked his head to look at the one who offended him. He snapped, "Shut up, woman! Don't make me blast you," in response.
The translucent eyed neko-jin chuckled with a roll of her eyes before answering with, "Mhm. I'm Lady Bulma's advisor. You can not injure me or she will be up your ass for it."
"Blah blah blah. Like I give a damn!" The Prince shot back.
Mala had to get her two cents in this argument. "That's the spirit!"
"And you, moron!" Vegeta said turning to the shorter neko-jin. "Get the fuck away from me!"
"Awww. C'mon Vegeta!" she whined.
"I mean it!"
"You're no fun! There's nobody fun on this planet except for Goku!" The second class Elite said referring to Kakarot by the nickname that his mother had given him a long time ago. It was also what Bardock called his son, sometimes. Of course, everyone knew the nickname but refused to call him by it.
Radditz decided to get into the disagreement and said, "I'm fun!" It was time for seduction attempt number two. It was just something about this neko-jin that intrigued him. She could act so childish but her intelligence was more appealing to him. The darker side. Truly a mystery.
Mala huffed and replied with, "No, you're not! You ate my last doughnut!"
A growl of frustration was released from the taller saiya-jin warrior and he reassured the smaller neko-jin with, "Oh shut up! I'll buy you a new one!"
Her pink eyes lit up with joy and she shouted, "YAY!" Mala threw her arms around him and that was when everyone noticed the height difference between them and seemed completely amazed. She snuggled into him with her head resting against his rock hard abs. Neko-jins were generally in the five foot range. It was not unusual to find one as tall as Mala. Most neko-jins never grew to anything past five foot eight. She quickly continued, "I like you! You buy me food!"
Makaze sneered at the insane, childish, cat woman. She shook her head and said, "Don't mind her, she's a little... I don't know if stupid is the word for it."
Radditz quirked a brow at the girl embracing him and replied, "I noticed."
The aqua patterned Princess growled out in disgust at her Royal Advisor's words. Her sapphire pools scanned the second class guard's face for any signs of pain and found her lips twisted into a smile and her eyes full of hurt and rejection. Bulma stepped to the fearless woman that she admired, which she wasn't admiring at the moment, and snapped, "You insult her one more time and you'll be missing a mate." She turned to the Prince and calmed down considerably just by seeing the admiration for her boldness in his eyes. She smiled softly and spoke, "Let's go, Vegeta."
He offered a small smile to the protective Princess and wrapped his sleek brown tail around her long, satin light blue and aqua tail. They left the room leaving a confused Bardock, Kakarot, and Radditz. Also, a happy yet broken Mala with her metallic beauties extended and a narrow eyed Makaze. The tiny neko hissed at the taller Makaze as she walked by and returned her claws to hot pink finger nails. Tail rapidly waving behind her telling all of her anger.
Radditz left to follow her and Kakarot stayed behind to talk to his father. Makaze was going to go sit and complain to Kitsune who would most likely be found in the gardens since he had a strong reverence for nature.
The girl with the light pink tail with magenta tabby patterns walked down the hall brewing in her own wrath. She was beating up herself for being so emotionally weak to be offended by such comments. Acceptance was truly a big issue for the feline warrior. Out of the corner of her eye she could see someone come up next to her. Instantly she knew it was Radditz. Nobody else she knew was that tall. Mala looked up at him with hurt drenching her beautiful hot pink eyes. She offered a small smile before looking away.
Radditz stopped and grabbed her tail with his, pulling her body against his. He was fond of the way she felt against him. He looked down at her and asked, "You alright, ichuunoonna?"
"Deshou." She replied simply with a look of defeat on her face.
He frowned and pulled her up against him so that they were at eye level. He leaned in and captured her lips with his. Radditz was shocked to find that she was kissing him back. He was going to have this enigma one way or another.
Mala kissed him back needing the physical contact. Her hands rested on his shoulders and her legs wrapped around him. Her long, satin tail was curled around his fluffy brown tail. She pushed her body needily up against his practically begging for what was to come next. A small smirk peeked through when she felt him levitate and move down the hall. Of course, after this was over, she would become a cold emotional shell for a week before returning to her carefree attitude. Everyone was in for a shocking change.
"You've barely touched your food," the Prince said with concern.
Bulma looked up with a small smile and replied, "I know. I can't really eat when I'm upset." She continued to poke at her plate of crab rangoon before shoving it away from her. It was a shame because it was one of her favorite foods, too.
"If it had been Kakarot, I would've done the same thing."
"Did you ever have a royal advisor?" She asked out of curiosity.
"Yes. He's the one who talked my father into handing me over to Frieza. Then when I was eleven I was sent here by Frieza to kill him. It seemed my advisor betrayed the bastard lizard. I had great satisfaction out of killing him, but I was also glad to see Kakarot again. Radditz and Nappa still worked for Frieza at that time so I saw them nearly everyday."
The blue haired woman nodded in understanding and said, "I haven't seen my friends in fifteen years. It feels good to be around them again." Finally getting an appetite back, she picked up one of the crab rangoons and munched on it, but in small bites. Talking to Vegeta felt good because he could understand everything. They shared a similar past so it made it ten times easier for the both of them.
"I don't understand why you even have an advisor. Your work is fine. I'm sure Bardock would pick up on any small miscalculation. He's an excellent scientist. He never makes any mistakes. Personally, I don't think you need an advisor. You work for Frieza. You could learn a lot more on that base then from that woman." He replied with full honesty.
She smiled softly and answered, "Maybe you're right."
"Of course I am, woman. I'm always right," the Prince smirked egotistically after he said that.
"Oh brother. Always the ego."
He chuckled and stole a piece of crab rangoon off her plate and ate it.
She growled and yelled, "Hey! Those are mine!"
His black nights met with her blue oceans and replied, "Oh really? Is that so?" Then he picked up another piece and shoved it in her mouth. "I suppose you better eat them before I do."
Bulma laughed with a mouth full of crab rangoon. She grabbed her plate and protected her food from the saiya-jin Prince. The Princess swallowed the last of the treat in her mouth and extended her metallic aqua claws. That made Vegeta back off in a hurry. She giggled and continued to eat, as did the Prince.
Nobody would ever be able to tell it by looking at her but Mala had the same romantical background as Radditz. She'd once been in love but got over it after being mistreated and decided to have relations without emotional attachments. It had been ten times easier for her especially because of her job. She didn't have time for emotions.
After catching her breath, she got up and began scanning the room for her clothing. She ignored Radditz who was calling her name. The tiny neko-jin got dressed and just as she was putting on her white tank top, he wrapped his tail around her's and pulled her against his body. Mala knew he was confused by the lack of emotions in her hot pink hues.
Radditz was startled by the apathy in the girl's eyes. He'd never had that happen to him before. Every other woman would practically be begging him for another round. Not this one and he was confused as to why. Curious, he had to ask, "What's wrong with you?"
She smirked and replied, "I have no more use for you."
"You bitch!" He snapped.
"What? Did I hurt your tremendous ego? Big fucking deal. You made me forget for half an hour, I appreciate it. I'm sorry if you thought you were going to get more out of this." She powered up to Fainaru Ryoku and pushed him back against the wall with her ki before powering down. She finished putting on her clothing and walked out of the room.
Bulma and Vegeta were walking back from the cafeteria when they ran into the second class Elite. The blue haired genius stepped in her friend's way and got a whiff of a familiar scent covering her friend's. She inhaled again and wrinkled up her nose before saying, "You reek of saiya-jin."
Mala chuckled before replying, "So? What's your point?"
"Oh Kami. Oh no. Don't tell me you...slept with a saiya-jin?"
"Yeah, so what? I needed a release and he just happened to be the most convenient. No biggie."
Vegeta caught a whiff of the scent and instantly recognized it as Radditz's. He growled in protection of his oldest friend and said, "Is that all he was to you? A convenience?"
Mala nodded without any hesitation and pushed the Princess aside before heading down to the cafeteria to eat.
Bulma looked after the girl worriedly before Vegeta left to go find his best friend. Knowing him he was probably in his room, sulking. He left without a word to the Princess and headed down the hallway. She looked after him and then returned to the lab without going after him knowing where he was going. She sighed and walked into the lab with a sullen look on her face. She didn't want anyone asking any questions or else she just might flip out on them. That was something that she didn't want at the moment.
Vegeta had not found Radditz in his room but in the gardens instead. He usually didn't come out here unless something was really bothering him. The Prince didn't like coming out here himself. It reminded the twenty one year old too much of his mother. "I don't know what the hell you could possibly see in that idiot."
Radditz growled and snapped, "She's not the idiot, I am. I knew what kind of person she was. Knew what her opinions of men were and still I wanted her. I didn't even lust after her until she showed me her intelligent side. I just didn't think she would turn so mean. Guess that's some neko-jin women for you. I should've known better than to get involved with one of them."
The shorter saiya-jin shook his head and sighed, "I have to get back to the conference. Father's being a pain in the ass. You and I will discuss this later."
"There's nothing more to discuss," the taller saiya-jin growled as he got up and walked back in the Palace to tend to his guarding duties.
Bulma noticed that Makaze was unusually silent as she was working. "What the hell's got you so silent?"
The older cat shook her head and replied, "Nothing. I'm just studying your method. Looking for a way to ridicule it since it seems perfect."
The blue haired beauty laughed and said, "That's a first. Unless you're just being nice to me because you're afraid of losing your job. If that's the case, it's okay to say something nasty about my performance. I need a little encouragement." At that moment, Makaze started making all kind of remarks about the direction of the wrench, her posture, and tons of other little things. The beauty sighed and instantly regretted letting her say anything at all. She could tell these next couple of months were going to be very long.
A/N: Yeah. here is another update. The next chapter skips ahead a little time and shows how the characters have developed to being around one another and Radditz comes clean with Goku in the next chapter which is going to be like a week or two later. yay. so Review and lemme know what you think! by the way, the really long jap word raddz said means sweetheart and deshou means i think. so yeah. just so you know.