Finally!!!! I'm back! (dances around) Hope everyone likes this!!! ;)
----
Deviant Nature- Wow! Thank you so much! I'm glad I have such great reviewers that actually suggest my stories! I'm so glad you like the characters and the plot! Thank you thank you!!!! ;)
DBZ-fan-JESS- Get ready for another BV moment in this chapter! ;) mu hahahaha Thanks for reviewing!
Videlchan313- Hey, girl! Everyone seemed to like that Trunks and Marron scene in the last chapter! I'm really glad. I was sad to kill off Nappa, but like you mentioned, 'someone's gonna get it!' ;) Things are definitely getting more interesting with all the people getting closer to finding out the truth, especiall in this chapter coming up! hehehe. Thanks for reviewing! Hope to hear from you soon!
Toxiclover- Hiya! Yep, Marron's back. I wonder what kind of trouble I'll make her do this time around?! mu hahaha Thanks for reviewing! ;)
Daisy31- Hey, thanks so much! Don't worry, we're getting very close now! ;)
Shiro Ryu- ah man! You guys are really great to me! Thanks so much! Sorry about the evilness. I'm seriously thinking about that disclaimer! ;)
LucretiaDecoy- You wanted more, well.... here's more! I hope you like, and thanks thanks thanks for reviewing! ;)
KarineD- Cool, I made you jump! hahaha. Thanks for reviewing, and don't worry. It's almost time! ;)
Trunks Angle- Thank you! ;)
Sorceress Fujin- I've got plenty more where this came from! Thanks a bunches! ;)
Aikia- Sorry for the cruelness, but it had to be done! This next chapter won't be as big of a cliffy I think! ;) Thanks for reviewing!
Lady Frightmare- Hey, thanks so much! I really hope this isn't a huge cliffhanger at the end of this one, cuz I feel bad doing this to you guys! Sorry, they're just a lot of fun to write! ;)
Hinagiku- Hey! Thanks for reviewing!!! Um, Trunks is 5, close to 6 years a old. He doesn't really now how babies are made, most of what he said to her was just things he's picked up from hthe adults he's been around. He doesn't particularly know what the things mean, just that they are bad, or meant to insult someone. Sorry for the mix up! ;)
Ccfleursdelys- Thanks for reviewing! Hopefully, some of your questions will be answered in this chapter! ;)
Dopey- Thank you so much! ;) Glad you still like the story!
Princess Bulma- Hey, thanks! I'm really glad you like my story, and yeah! Updating can be kind of hard! I hope I didn't make everyone wait too long fore this! ;)
Rei Sakura Li- Thank you thank you thank you!!!! ;) Glad you like my story. Sorry for the major cliffies!
Bubbles- To be honest, I don't know why I made Marron cry yet, it just seemed right at the time! Who knows how it will affect her or the plot! ;) Especially since I'm so evil! Don't worry, though. Her and Yamcha will be getting their's by the end of this story! Thanks for reviewing!!!
Hanna- Hi!!! Thanks for the review! Glad you liked both chapters! ;)
Quicksliverwitch- Thanks so much!! You'll have to wait and find out! ;)
Sacredangel- (mouthful of cookie) afhadfg. (swallows) oops, sorry! Thanks!!! ;)
BlueAngel- Ahhhhh!!!!!! (has developed a fear of cactus, cacti) Sorry!!! But thanks for reviewing!!!! ;)
Gravidy- oh, you can keep it! (examines the beginnings of the sculpture) very nice! oh yeah! Thanks for reviewing. Don't worry. I'm thinking of a way to make you not feel bad for Marron again, at least I hope!! than again, I'm evil, ya know! ;)
TaiBulmaChan- As I'm writing these review responses, I'm thinking of how to further portray Marron. It's gonna be tough, no one wants her to feel guilty. I'm not even sure I do! Another challege! It's gonna be fun. ;) Thanks for reviewing, and I hop you like this chapter!
Elvenangel- Hey, thanks a lot!!! ;) Glad you liked that chapter, and I hope you like the next one!!
Rachel Kilowski- Thank you!!! I'm such an evil author!! mu hahahaha I love it! ;)
Seruleyan-Wings- Hey you! All my Bob-storming finally paid off!!! (inside joke!) hahaha. Anyhow, Thanks for all your support, gal! I'm so glad we've been able to talk these last couple weeks. I'm really glad I've been able to keep the momentum of this story going all this time! It's quite an achievment for me! Hope to talk to you soon! Luv ya, and get Brian- storming. We need an update on ODAD and new material!!! ;)
Draegon-fire- hey, thanks!!! ;) Yeah, Bulma and Vegeta are definitely going to get closer, and the truth will be out soon! As for Akira, well we'll just have to see how Vegeta takes the news! ;)
Sooner- Wow, thanks so much! I'm really glad you like my story! Thank you thank you thank you!! ;)
----
Chapter 18: Another one's Missing!
Vegeta paced back and forth angrily before the holgraphic image of a very smug looking pirate. Bulma had demanded that he let her into the room, and for some odd reason, he didn't deny her. It was her son too after all! Arthos stood back near the door, wishing with all his soul that the real Yamcha was sitting in front of him so he could slice his throat and be done with it. Everyone else was waiting outside in the hallway.
"I wonder," Yamcha said. "What could be taking Akira so long? I mean usually when you say jump, she jumps, Vegeta. Tell me," the image spoke with an malicious grin. "Trouble in paradise?"
Vegeta growled, fighting the urge to snap back at Yamcha. Bulma glared at the pirate. "Since we are waiting, why don't you show us our son? I want to see that he's alright," she demanded.
"Now, now, Marron," Yamcha replied, placing special emphasis on her 'name'. "Patience."
"Yes, patience," Akira spoke up from the doorway, closing them behind her with a soft click. She sent Yamcha a withering glare and walked forward to stand beside Vegeta. "Forgive me for the wait, Vegeta. I was in the Southern Province with the search parties."
Vegeta just nodded. He glanced back at Yamcha's image with disgust. "Alright, she's here. Start talking."
"I figured my intentions were obvious by now, Vegeta. You want your brothers and son back, right?"
The prince scowled, clenching his fists at his side. "That is the only reason you're still alive right now!"
Arthos let his eyes fall on Akira, and he swallowed the lump forming in his throat. "He wants an even trade," the prince spoke up from the back of the room, his voice wavering with emotion.
Vegeta and Bulma turned look at him, but he was still staring at Akira. The priestess had remained facing forward. She didn't need to turn around. She knew what Arthos said was true. "Fine," she stated, looking up at the image of Yamcha.
"What?" Vegeta shook his head. "No, you're not going anywhere." He fixed his gaze on the holograph once more. "There will be no deal! If you won't return them, then you will be eliminated." He reached over and cut the transmission before anyone could protest.
Bulma glanced at the call button. "No," she whispered. "No, no, no, Trunks! No! Get him back on this thing," she shouted frantically. "Give him anything he wants, Vegeta! Do it now!"
She started pounding her fists against the control panel, pushing various buttons none of which were the right ones. Vegeta pulled his wife back, holding her in his arms for the second time that day as she wept. Bulma wrapped her arms around him, letting her salty tears stain his clean, white shirt.
"Please, Vegeta. I need him back," she sobbed. Trunks might not be her child biologically, but in ever other way, he belonged to her.
"I'll figure something out," he whispered in a surprisingly calm, soothing tone. Gently, he brushed the hair from her face as she continued to cry.
Akira backed away from the scene. How could she allow all this to happen? Her friends were in pain, and it was all her fault. She had to do something. If Yamcha wanted her, than so be it. That's exactly what he'd get!
"Vegeta made the right decision," Arthos whispered in her ear, causing her to jump.
She hadn't realized that she had back into him. Her eyes drifted to her bare stomach, where his hand was now resting gently. She allowed herelf a moment of comfort in his arms, leaning her back against him and closing her eyes. 'Just a moment,' she thought, her hands moving up to cover his and carress the back of his hand. Behind her, the prince closed his eyes. He'd take what he could get from her.
The group from the hallway walked into the room, causing both couples to jump away from each other. Goku glanced at Bulma. "What happened?"
"He has them. He wants a trade," she told them, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
June went over and hugged her. "What does he want?" She asked.
"Akira," Vegeta spoke up.
Everyone looked around for the saiyan priestess, but they only caught a glimpse of her skirt as she walked out the door.
----
Akira locked the door to her tower and ran up the winding stairs to her bedroom. She knew exactly what she had to do. She ran over to her personal comupter terminal and typed in Yamcha's private frequency. The speakers popped with static, and she waited impatiently for him to speak.
"I knew you'd call me."
She glared at the terminal. "How intuitive of you," She growled back. "I'm negotiating this trade, so listen up."
Her ex-fiance laughed. "There will be no trade. Vegeta's given me his answer, and I've decided that I really didn't like it." He sighed. "I'm going to have to take matters into my own hands now."
Akira stood up straight, fear creeping down her spine. 'What is he up to?' she wondered. "Don't be a fool, Yamcha. I'm offering you what you asked for."
"Hmm, you know the great thing about technology?"
Akira stared at the speaker with a confused look. Was he trying to change the osubject on her? "What?!"
"It allows people to communicate over long distances." The speaker in front of her went dead. "And short distance," Yamcha finished.
"No," she whispered.
Akira turned toward her balcony, and there he was, leaninig against the pillar with a communicator held in his hand by his mouth. Yamcha grinned as he slowly made his way toward her.
"You've been on the planet this whole time," she accused. She walked to the right, trying to keep distance between them.
"No. I had to go to my ship for a little while. Those saiyan brats are a handful, you know, but I was here to witness that brillant explosion. Too bad Nappa didn't make it, but then again, I'm not surprised. He was hit head on by the blast. I was aiming for Vegeta and Arthos, but that idiot just had to get in the way."
"You asshole!" She lunged at him. How dare he mock Nappa's death! He had been a good man.
Laughing, Yamcha caught her by the wrists and twisted their bodies around, pushing her up against the nearest wall. "I couldn't make up my mind which one of them I wanted dead the most: Vegeta for keeping you from me, or Arthos for stealing your heart!" He held her arms over her head, keeping them in place with his left hand while his right hand carressed her cheek. "But none of that matters. I have you now, and there's nothing either of them can do to stop it."
"They'll find you," she warned, eerily calm for the position she was in. "And I will have no sympathy left for you when they do."
He narrowed his eyes as his hand moved to her neck, pinching a nerve and sending the priestess into unconsciousness. "They'll find nothing," he whispered, looking around the spotless room.
----
"What do you plan on doing?"
Vegeta shook his head. "I'm not sure," he replied. "He could be millions of miles away by now."
Arthos looked ahead down the hallway they were walking in. "You have my men at your command. My father will send men, too. You won't be alone."
" I don't get it," the saiyan prince blurted out. "How'd a simple pirate get his filthy hands on a weapon like that? It doesn't make sense."
"Shall we send out spies?"
Vegeta nodded. "Yes. Radditz has people. When he gets out of the tank, I'll send him to contact them."
"Marron seemed very upset that her son is gone." Arthos looked down at the floor. "She seems different."
"A part of me wants to say this is all an act, but I would be an idiot if I truly let myself believe that. Perhaps motherhood really has changed her for the better."
"Enough of a change to have your trust once again?"
They paused outside Akira's bedroom door. Contemplating his best friend's question, the prince shook his head. "No. I don't think she ever had it to begin with," he replied honestly. He gave his friend a thoughtful look. "Are you really happy with this Faolan woman?"
"Do I have a choice?" Arthos asked, smiling sadly.
Guiltily, Vegeta looked away. "You will keep an eye on her tonight. I will order her to let you stay."
Arthos chuckled. "Oh, she's going to love this!" His hand grasped the doorknob, and he attempted to turn it. "What the hell?" He jiggled the knob several times. "It's locked!"
Vegeta pulled Arthos away from the door and kicked it inward, sending splintered wood in every direction. Arthos rushed up the stairs first, with Vegeta close behind. When they reached the entrance to her room, they found the place emtpy. Arthos ran out to check the balcony, it being her favorite place, while Vegeta simply wandered around the room slowly. There was something very wrong here, and he could sense it.
"She's not out there," Arthos said. The riessian prince let out a frustrated growl. "She ran off to make the trade on her own!"
"Maybe," Vegeta responded slowly. His eyes landed on the computer terminal. A tiny red light blinked on the communications unit. "Maybe not," he stated firmly. "She left it on."
Arthos walked over to his friend's side and stared at the button. The same conclusion forming in his mind. They both knew her mind and how it worked. "She would have turned it off. She was preoccupied," he started.
"No. Akira rarely allows herself to get preoccupied, especially under pressure. She was caught off guard," the saiyan prince corrected.
"Which means that Yamcha must have found some way to have her captured." Arthos backed up to the foot of the bed and sat down. "There's something bigger at play here, Vegeta."
"I agree. Yamcha is just a typically space-pirate, moderately rich, and not near as cunning as he'd like to think he is. He's getting help from someone."
"This someone would have to hold something against you to risk involvement such a scheme." Taking a deep breath, Arthos looked up at Vegeta. "Someone powerful. Someone like Freeza," he suggested.
The simple uttering of the icejin's name made Vegeta seeth with anger. "Of course it's Freeza! They've conspired against me once before, why not a second time?!" He furiously ripped the terminal from the wall and threw it against the farthest wall, shouting angrily. He would not be made a fool of again by Freeza! After the shattered piece of the terminal came the wardrobe. He pulled it away from the wall, tipping it forward and spewing it's contents all over the floor. Arthos jumped up and tried to subdue his friend by grabbing his arms from behind.
"Vegeta, calm down! This little tantrum isn't helping matters!"
"Let me the fuck go!" He struggled against his friend's hold, nearly getting free, but Arthos' hold was too tight. They both had grown in strength over the years and were only realizing it now.
"Get a hold of yourself. This isn't going to bring the boys or Akira back! We need to think of a plan," he pleaded.
Vegeta growled, finally breaking free of the tight hold and sending the other prince sprawling backwards on the floor. "This is my concern, not yours," he roared. "I do not need your help!"
Arthos lay on the floor, staring back at the intense glare coming from the man standing over him. It seemed as if a demon was glaring back at him instead of Vegeta. Slowly, he got to his feet, keeping a good distance between them. "It is my concern," he spoke softly, but with an underlying firmness.
"It is my son, my brothers, and-."
"And your what?! Your Akira? Goddess! You're a married man, Vegeta," he hissed. "You let her think that you loved her, that you were coming back to marry her, and then you broke her damn heart!"
"And you did a lovely job of picking up the pieces, real nice. Don't think I'm ignorant to what happened on Merces between the two of you," he shot back.
"You've no idea what you're speaking of." Quietly, Arthos walked toward the stair, but paused before descending. "If you don't want my help finding them, that's fine, but I will search for them on my own."
The scowl fell from Vegeta's face as soon as he was alone. Dispassionately, he glanced around the room. What had he been thinking? He needed Arthos' help in this, but his damnable pride kept him from running after his friend and apologizing.
----(flashback)
She sat at the table, twisting her linen napkin in her hands nervously. The final battle was being fought on a small planet called Ullia, and Vegeta was there alone. Of course he had his closest men with him and the entire saiyan army to back him, but he didn't have his two best friends. No! They were hiding away on this lush, green planet full of endless meadows and beautiful flowers. Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps behind her, and she turned to Arthos.
"Any word?!"
He looked off toward the setting sun. "It's still going on. Nappa assured me that your brothers and father are fine, still fighting," he told her with a slight smile.
Akira nodded, glad that they were alright. "And Vegeta?"
Arthos chuckled. "He's fine. He was at the front when I spoke to Nappa, so I didn't get to speak to him directly."
The young woman sighed in relief. "Goddess, I can't wait for this to end, Arthos."
"Neither can I," he replied, though he didn't sound as optomistic about that sentiment.
His beautiful friend didn't seem to notice it. She just stared at the sunset. "I hope we can go home soon."
"Yeah." Though, to be honest, he's give anything to stay there with her forever.
----(end flashback for now)
'Where the hell could he be?' Bulma wondered angrily. She hadn't seen hide nor hair of her 'husband' in hours. She needed to know what he planned on doing about Trunks and the others. Turning down serveral corridors, she found his private study: a place Akira had told her he usually went to think about pressing matters. The door at the end of the hall was ajar, so she made her way toward it. Quietly, she pushed it open enough to get into the room. There was a fire crackling in the fireplace, giving the room a cozy feel, and nothing looked more cozy than the man lounging on the couch beside it!
Bulma couldn't believe her eyes. There he was, the proud saiyan prince Vegeta, hanging half on, half off the funiture with a crystal glass in his hand. He was drinking, and from the strong stench in the air, he was drinking a lot!
"Vegeta, what do you think you're doing?" She demanded, slamming the door shut behind her.
The sound made him jump, which resulted in him falling off the couch. The alchohol spilt from his glass, making him frown. "That fine drink had," he groaned, stumbling over his words and leaving some words out altogether!
"Yes, a real great drink you got there," she said, kneeling beside him and taking the empty glass from him. "Please tell me you sent your men out to find our son and your brothers before you went and got yourself smashed like this."
Vegeta sat up and rolled his eyes. "Of course not. Arthos has it all under control," he spat. "He's the big hero this time, not me, never me." He laughed. "I can't do anything right. Look at how badly I've fucked up Akira and Arthos' lives; my two best friends in the entire universe." He snatched the half emtpy bottle of whiskey from a nearby table. "They love each other," he whispered. "Always have, and they deserve to be together."
Bulma grabbed the bottle from him, sending him a concerned look. "Vegeta."
"I've kept them apart since the very second I found out, too. She should have been mine, could've been mine." He fixated his normally emotionless eyes on her. "Then I saw you. The only woman that I had ever seen to match Akira's beauty." He placed his hand against her cheek and smirked. "I was selfish. I had to have you both."
"Vegeta, you are very drunk right now," Bulma whispered, placing her hand over his. "You need to sober up and figure out what to do about the kids."
"Funny, how you've become even more beautiful over time," he told her, his hand gently sliding down her face. "You really have changed," he whispered, carressing her lips with his fingers.
A soft blush spread across Bulma's cheek and her breath caught in her throat. Her brain seemed to stop functioning. Was it possible to be drunk merely by association, because she felt very light-headed right now?! Vegeta pulled her close, pressing his lips against hers slowly, and Bulma found herself moving closer to him. She parted her lips slightly, and the prince deepened the kiss before she could pull away. Gently, she was pushed to the floor, but they never broke from the kiss.
With shakey hands, Vegeta unlaced the bodice of her dress as he trailed kisses across her collarbone. 'I need to stop this,' Bulma kept telling heself, but eveytime she made to push or pull away, a curious new sensation shot through her body. It felt too good to be true, and in the end, she told herself that he was drunk and there was no way he'd possibly remember this later.
----
The three saiyan boys sat around the unconscious priestess, waiting for her to awake. Arro let out a sigh, reaching for her hand. Her skin felt like ice. Worried, he moved closer and shook her shoulder gently. "Akira, wake up," he pleaded desperately. "Come on!"
Cass sniffled, wiping tears from his eyes. He hated that aweful pirate for what he had down to Akira. She was like a mother to him! He leaned over her and tried to help his brother wake her up, too. "Please, Kir. Wake up!"
Trunks swallowed the lump in his throat. What kind of monster was this Yamcha guy?! He let his eyes roam over Akira's body. Her clothes were tattered, and she had bruises everywhere, and blood. Lots of blood! What exactly had happened to her?! He reached forward and brushed the hair from her pale face. "Wake up, Akira," he whispered.
Arro saw her fingers twitch, and he held his breath. Akira opened her eyes and spotted three concerned boys glancing back at her. Shaking, she reached up and touched each one of their cheeks. "How long have I been out?" She asked, her voice was raw and hardly more than a whisper.
"Almost a day," Cass told her. "You're gonna be okay, right?"
She closed her eyes after hearing the waver in his voice. "I'll live."
"Did he," Arro paused before he could finish. He was just old enough to understand such things, but he didn't want to bring it up in front of Trunks or Cass. Akira held his gaze, and he continued, saying the only thing that he could. "Beat you?" He couldn't say rape, he just couldn't.
Akira quickly turned away from him to look at the wall, giving him his answer. Trunks and Cass gave Arro a funny look. "Of course he did," Trunks practically shouted. "Just look at her!"
"I'll be fine," she managed to say.
"I'll kill him," the former crown prince growled angrily. "I'll tear his heart from his chest and let him watch it beat once more before he dies," he vowed.
The priestess stared at the boy with wide eyes. "Arro!"
He ignored her, getting to his feet and going over to the door. He started pounding on it with his fists. "Do you hear me, Yamcha?! I'm going to fucking kill you, and if I can't, then my brother will. There'll be no safe place for you to hide, you worthless bastard!"
----
He felt terrible. He should have kept his temper at bay. He used to be so good at it. Taking a deep breath, Arthos let his hand turn the doorknob. Vegeta was going through a lot right now, and he needed him. Quietly, he stepped into the room and spotted the couple sleeping on the floor entwined in each other's arms. 'At least he found some comfort,' Arthos thought, backing out of the room and closing the door. He'd figure a way to track down Yamcha while he let Vegeta sleep off his anger with Marron.
"Hey!"
He glanced up and spotted Turlis walking toward him. "Just the man I was looking for."
Turlis nodded. "Yeah. Where's Vegeta?"
"He needs some time to gather his wits. Trust me on this. Let's get to work," Arthos said.
"Alright. Nor and Radditz are waiting in the council room. Mycal and my father should be along soon."
"Your mother?"
Turlis shook his head. "She's keeping an eye on Indara and has taken over Akira's duties for the time being."
Everything seemed to be calm, which was just what they all needed to figure things out. Arthos just hoped that Vegeta wouldn't be too angry that he had come back and took over like this. Time was of the essence, and they had wasted far too much!
----
Wow! Finally, huh?! ;) So, another chapter down! Took me long enough. Sorry about the wait.
----
PANDORA ;)
----
Please Review!!! ;)
----
Deviant Nature- Wow! Thank you so much! I'm glad I have such great reviewers that actually suggest my stories! I'm so glad you like the characters and the plot! Thank you thank you!!!! ;)
DBZ-fan-JESS- Get ready for another BV moment in this chapter! ;) mu hahahaha Thanks for reviewing!
Videlchan313- Hey, girl! Everyone seemed to like that Trunks and Marron scene in the last chapter! I'm really glad. I was sad to kill off Nappa, but like you mentioned, 'someone's gonna get it!' ;) Things are definitely getting more interesting with all the people getting closer to finding out the truth, especiall in this chapter coming up! hehehe. Thanks for reviewing! Hope to hear from you soon!
Toxiclover- Hiya! Yep, Marron's back. I wonder what kind of trouble I'll make her do this time around?! mu hahaha Thanks for reviewing! ;)
Daisy31- Hey, thanks so much! Don't worry, we're getting very close now! ;)
Shiro Ryu- ah man! You guys are really great to me! Thanks so much! Sorry about the evilness. I'm seriously thinking about that disclaimer! ;)
LucretiaDecoy- You wanted more, well.... here's more! I hope you like, and thanks thanks thanks for reviewing! ;)
KarineD- Cool, I made you jump! hahaha. Thanks for reviewing, and don't worry. It's almost time! ;)
Trunks Angle- Thank you! ;)
Sorceress Fujin- I've got plenty more where this came from! Thanks a bunches! ;)
Aikia- Sorry for the cruelness, but it had to be done! This next chapter won't be as big of a cliffy I think! ;) Thanks for reviewing!
Lady Frightmare- Hey, thanks so much! I really hope this isn't a huge cliffhanger at the end of this one, cuz I feel bad doing this to you guys! Sorry, they're just a lot of fun to write! ;)
Hinagiku- Hey! Thanks for reviewing!!! Um, Trunks is 5, close to 6 years a old. He doesn't really now how babies are made, most of what he said to her was just things he's picked up from hthe adults he's been around. He doesn't particularly know what the things mean, just that they are bad, or meant to insult someone. Sorry for the mix up! ;)
Ccfleursdelys- Thanks for reviewing! Hopefully, some of your questions will be answered in this chapter! ;)
Dopey- Thank you so much! ;) Glad you still like the story!
Princess Bulma- Hey, thanks! I'm really glad you like my story, and yeah! Updating can be kind of hard! I hope I didn't make everyone wait too long fore this! ;)
Rei Sakura Li- Thank you thank you thank you!!!! ;) Glad you like my story. Sorry for the major cliffies!
Bubbles- To be honest, I don't know why I made Marron cry yet, it just seemed right at the time! Who knows how it will affect her or the plot! ;) Especially since I'm so evil! Don't worry, though. Her and Yamcha will be getting their's by the end of this story! Thanks for reviewing!!!
Hanna- Hi!!! Thanks for the review! Glad you liked both chapters! ;)
Quicksliverwitch- Thanks so much!! You'll have to wait and find out! ;)
Sacredangel- (mouthful of cookie) afhadfg. (swallows) oops, sorry! Thanks!!! ;)
BlueAngel- Ahhhhh!!!!!! (has developed a fear of cactus, cacti) Sorry!!! But thanks for reviewing!!!! ;)
Gravidy- oh, you can keep it! (examines the beginnings of the sculpture) very nice! oh yeah! Thanks for reviewing. Don't worry. I'm thinking of a way to make you not feel bad for Marron again, at least I hope!! than again, I'm evil, ya know! ;)
TaiBulmaChan- As I'm writing these review responses, I'm thinking of how to further portray Marron. It's gonna be tough, no one wants her to feel guilty. I'm not even sure I do! Another challege! It's gonna be fun. ;) Thanks for reviewing, and I hop you like this chapter!
Elvenangel- Hey, thanks a lot!!! ;) Glad you liked that chapter, and I hope you like the next one!!
Rachel Kilowski- Thank you!!! I'm such an evil author!! mu hahahaha I love it! ;)
Seruleyan-Wings- Hey you! All my Bob-storming finally paid off!!! (inside joke!) hahaha. Anyhow, Thanks for all your support, gal! I'm so glad we've been able to talk these last couple weeks. I'm really glad I've been able to keep the momentum of this story going all this time! It's quite an achievment for me! Hope to talk to you soon! Luv ya, and get Brian- storming. We need an update on ODAD and new material!!! ;)
Draegon-fire- hey, thanks!!! ;) Yeah, Bulma and Vegeta are definitely going to get closer, and the truth will be out soon! As for Akira, well we'll just have to see how Vegeta takes the news! ;)
Sooner- Wow, thanks so much! I'm really glad you like my story! Thank you thank you thank you!! ;)
----
Chapter 18: Another one's Missing!
Vegeta paced back and forth angrily before the holgraphic image of a very smug looking pirate. Bulma had demanded that he let her into the room, and for some odd reason, he didn't deny her. It was her son too after all! Arthos stood back near the door, wishing with all his soul that the real Yamcha was sitting in front of him so he could slice his throat and be done with it. Everyone else was waiting outside in the hallway.
"I wonder," Yamcha said. "What could be taking Akira so long? I mean usually when you say jump, she jumps, Vegeta. Tell me," the image spoke with an malicious grin. "Trouble in paradise?"
Vegeta growled, fighting the urge to snap back at Yamcha. Bulma glared at the pirate. "Since we are waiting, why don't you show us our son? I want to see that he's alright," she demanded.
"Now, now, Marron," Yamcha replied, placing special emphasis on her 'name'. "Patience."
"Yes, patience," Akira spoke up from the doorway, closing them behind her with a soft click. She sent Yamcha a withering glare and walked forward to stand beside Vegeta. "Forgive me for the wait, Vegeta. I was in the Southern Province with the search parties."
Vegeta just nodded. He glanced back at Yamcha's image with disgust. "Alright, she's here. Start talking."
"I figured my intentions were obvious by now, Vegeta. You want your brothers and son back, right?"
The prince scowled, clenching his fists at his side. "That is the only reason you're still alive right now!"
Arthos let his eyes fall on Akira, and he swallowed the lump forming in his throat. "He wants an even trade," the prince spoke up from the back of the room, his voice wavering with emotion.
Vegeta and Bulma turned look at him, but he was still staring at Akira. The priestess had remained facing forward. She didn't need to turn around. She knew what Arthos said was true. "Fine," she stated, looking up at the image of Yamcha.
"What?" Vegeta shook his head. "No, you're not going anywhere." He fixed his gaze on the holograph once more. "There will be no deal! If you won't return them, then you will be eliminated." He reached over and cut the transmission before anyone could protest.
Bulma glanced at the call button. "No," she whispered. "No, no, no, Trunks! No! Get him back on this thing," she shouted frantically. "Give him anything he wants, Vegeta! Do it now!"
She started pounding her fists against the control panel, pushing various buttons none of which were the right ones. Vegeta pulled his wife back, holding her in his arms for the second time that day as she wept. Bulma wrapped her arms around him, letting her salty tears stain his clean, white shirt.
"Please, Vegeta. I need him back," she sobbed. Trunks might not be her child biologically, but in ever other way, he belonged to her.
"I'll figure something out," he whispered in a surprisingly calm, soothing tone. Gently, he brushed the hair from her face as she continued to cry.
Akira backed away from the scene. How could she allow all this to happen? Her friends were in pain, and it was all her fault. She had to do something. If Yamcha wanted her, than so be it. That's exactly what he'd get!
"Vegeta made the right decision," Arthos whispered in her ear, causing her to jump.
She hadn't realized that she had back into him. Her eyes drifted to her bare stomach, where his hand was now resting gently. She allowed herelf a moment of comfort in his arms, leaning her back against him and closing her eyes. 'Just a moment,' she thought, her hands moving up to cover his and carress the back of his hand. Behind her, the prince closed his eyes. He'd take what he could get from her.
The group from the hallway walked into the room, causing both couples to jump away from each other. Goku glanced at Bulma. "What happened?"
"He has them. He wants a trade," she told them, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
June went over and hugged her. "What does he want?" She asked.
"Akira," Vegeta spoke up.
Everyone looked around for the saiyan priestess, but they only caught a glimpse of her skirt as she walked out the door.
----
Akira locked the door to her tower and ran up the winding stairs to her bedroom. She knew exactly what she had to do. She ran over to her personal comupter terminal and typed in Yamcha's private frequency. The speakers popped with static, and she waited impatiently for him to speak.
"I knew you'd call me."
She glared at the terminal. "How intuitive of you," She growled back. "I'm negotiating this trade, so listen up."
Her ex-fiance laughed. "There will be no trade. Vegeta's given me his answer, and I've decided that I really didn't like it." He sighed. "I'm going to have to take matters into my own hands now."
Akira stood up straight, fear creeping down her spine. 'What is he up to?' she wondered. "Don't be a fool, Yamcha. I'm offering you what you asked for."
"Hmm, you know the great thing about technology?"
Akira stared at the speaker with a confused look. Was he trying to change the osubject on her? "What?!"
"It allows people to communicate over long distances." The speaker in front of her went dead. "And short distance," Yamcha finished.
"No," she whispered.
Akira turned toward her balcony, and there he was, leaninig against the pillar with a communicator held in his hand by his mouth. Yamcha grinned as he slowly made his way toward her.
"You've been on the planet this whole time," she accused. She walked to the right, trying to keep distance between them.
"No. I had to go to my ship for a little while. Those saiyan brats are a handful, you know, but I was here to witness that brillant explosion. Too bad Nappa didn't make it, but then again, I'm not surprised. He was hit head on by the blast. I was aiming for Vegeta and Arthos, but that idiot just had to get in the way."
"You asshole!" She lunged at him. How dare he mock Nappa's death! He had been a good man.
Laughing, Yamcha caught her by the wrists and twisted their bodies around, pushing her up against the nearest wall. "I couldn't make up my mind which one of them I wanted dead the most: Vegeta for keeping you from me, or Arthos for stealing your heart!" He held her arms over her head, keeping them in place with his left hand while his right hand carressed her cheek. "But none of that matters. I have you now, and there's nothing either of them can do to stop it."
"They'll find you," she warned, eerily calm for the position she was in. "And I will have no sympathy left for you when they do."
He narrowed his eyes as his hand moved to her neck, pinching a nerve and sending the priestess into unconsciousness. "They'll find nothing," he whispered, looking around the spotless room.
----
"What do you plan on doing?"
Vegeta shook his head. "I'm not sure," he replied. "He could be millions of miles away by now."
Arthos looked ahead down the hallway they were walking in. "You have my men at your command. My father will send men, too. You won't be alone."
" I don't get it," the saiyan prince blurted out. "How'd a simple pirate get his filthy hands on a weapon like that? It doesn't make sense."
"Shall we send out spies?"
Vegeta nodded. "Yes. Radditz has people. When he gets out of the tank, I'll send him to contact them."
"Marron seemed very upset that her son is gone." Arthos looked down at the floor. "She seems different."
"A part of me wants to say this is all an act, but I would be an idiot if I truly let myself believe that. Perhaps motherhood really has changed her for the better."
"Enough of a change to have your trust once again?"
They paused outside Akira's bedroom door. Contemplating his best friend's question, the prince shook his head. "No. I don't think she ever had it to begin with," he replied honestly. He gave his friend a thoughtful look. "Are you really happy with this Faolan woman?"
"Do I have a choice?" Arthos asked, smiling sadly.
Guiltily, Vegeta looked away. "You will keep an eye on her tonight. I will order her to let you stay."
Arthos chuckled. "Oh, she's going to love this!" His hand grasped the doorknob, and he attempted to turn it. "What the hell?" He jiggled the knob several times. "It's locked!"
Vegeta pulled Arthos away from the door and kicked it inward, sending splintered wood in every direction. Arthos rushed up the stairs first, with Vegeta close behind. When they reached the entrance to her room, they found the place emtpy. Arthos ran out to check the balcony, it being her favorite place, while Vegeta simply wandered around the room slowly. There was something very wrong here, and he could sense it.
"She's not out there," Arthos said. The riessian prince let out a frustrated growl. "She ran off to make the trade on her own!"
"Maybe," Vegeta responded slowly. His eyes landed on the computer terminal. A tiny red light blinked on the communications unit. "Maybe not," he stated firmly. "She left it on."
Arthos walked over to his friend's side and stared at the button. The same conclusion forming in his mind. They both knew her mind and how it worked. "She would have turned it off. She was preoccupied," he started.
"No. Akira rarely allows herself to get preoccupied, especially under pressure. She was caught off guard," the saiyan prince corrected.
"Which means that Yamcha must have found some way to have her captured." Arthos backed up to the foot of the bed and sat down. "There's something bigger at play here, Vegeta."
"I agree. Yamcha is just a typically space-pirate, moderately rich, and not near as cunning as he'd like to think he is. He's getting help from someone."
"This someone would have to hold something against you to risk involvement such a scheme." Taking a deep breath, Arthos looked up at Vegeta. "Someone powerful. Someone like Freeza," he suggested.
The simple uttering of the icejin's name made Vegeta seeth with anger. "Of course it's Freeza! They've conspired against me once before, why not a second time?!" He furiously ripped the terminal from the wall and threw it against the farthest wall, shouting angrily. He would not be made a fool of again by Freeza! After the shattered piece of the terminal came the wardrobe. He pulled it away from the wall, tipping it forward and spewing it's contents all over the floor. Arthos jumped up and tried to subdue his friend by grabbing his arms from behind.
"Vegeta, calm down! This little tantrum isn't helping matters!"
"Let me the fuck go!" He struggled against his friend's hold, nearly getting free, but Arthos' hold was too tight. They both had grown in strength over the years and were only realizing it now.
"Get a hold of yourself. This isn't going to bring the boys or Akira back! We need to think of a plan," he pleaded.
Vegeta growled, finally breaking free of the tight hold and sending the other prince sprawling backwards on the floor. "This is my concern, not yours," he roared. "I do not need your help!"
Arthos lay on the floor, staring back at the intense glare coming from the man standing over him. It seemed as if a demon was glaring back at him instead of Vegeta. Slowly, he got to his feet, keeping a good distance between them. "It is my concern," he spoke softly, but with an underlying firmness.
"It is my son, my brothers, and-."
"And your what?! Your Akira? Goddess! You're a married man, Vegeta," he hissed. "You let her think that you loved her, that you were coming back to marry her, and then you broke her damn heart!"
"And you did a lovely job of picking up the pieces, real nice. Don't think I'm ignorant to what happened on Merces between the two of you," he shot back.
"You've no idea what you're speaking of." Quietly, Arthos walked toward the stair, but paused before descending. "If you don't want my help finding them, that's fine, but I will search for them on my own."
The scowl fell from Vegeta's face as soon as he was alone. Dispassionately, he glanced around the room. What had he been thinking? He needed Arthos' help in this, but his damnable pride kept him from running after his friend and apologizing.
----(flashback)
She sat at the table, twisting her linen napkin in her hands nervously. The final battle was being fought on a small planet called Ullia, and Vegeta was there alone. Of course he had his closest men with him and the entire saiyan army to back him, but he didn't have his two best friends. No! They were hiding away on this lush, green planet full of endless meadows and beautiful flowers. Suddenly, she heard heavy footsteps behind her, and she turned to Arthos.
"Any word?!"
He looked off toward the setting sun. "It's still going on. Nappa assured me that your brothers and father are fine, still fighting," he told her with a slight smile.
Akira nodded, glad that they were alright. "And Vegeta?"
Arthos chuckled. "He's fine. He was at the front when I spoke to Nappa, so I didn't get to speak to him directly."
The young woman sighed in relief. "Goddess, I can't wait for this to end, Arthos."
"Neither can I," he replied, though he didn't sound as optomistic about that sentiment.
His beautiful friend didn't seem to notice it. She just stared at the sunset. "I hope we can go home soon."
"Yeah." Though, to be honest, he's give anything to stay there with her forever.
----(end flashback for now)
'Where the hell could he be?' Bulma wondered angrily. She hadn't seen hide nor hair of her 'husband' in hours. She needed to know what he planned on doing about Trunks and the others. Turning down serveral corridors, she found his private study: a place Akira had told her he usually went to think about pressing matters. The door at the end of the hall was ajar, so she made her way toward it. Quietly, she pushed it open enough to get into the room. There was a fire crackling in the fireplace, giving the room a cozy feel, and nothing looked more cozy than the man lounging on the couch beside it!
Bulma couldn't believe her eyes. There he was, the proud saiyan prince Vegeta, hanging half on, half off the funiture with a crystal glass in his hand. He was drinking, and from the strong stench in the air, he was drinking a lot!
"Vegeta, what do you think you're doing?" She demanded, slamming the door shut behind her.
The sound made him jump, which resulted in him falling off the couch. The alchohol spilt from his glass, making him frown. "That fine drink had," he groaned, stumbling over his words and leaving some words out altogether!
"Yes, a real great drink you got there," she said, kneeling beside him and taking the empty glass from him. "Please tell me you sent your men out to find our son and your brothers before you went and got yourself smashed like this."
Vegeta sat up and rolled his eyes. "Of course not. Arthos has it all under control," he spat. "He's the big hero this time, not me, never me." He laughed. "I can't do anything right. Look at how badly I've fucked up Akira and Arthos' lives; my two best friends in the entire universe." He snatched the half emtpy bottle of whiskey from a nearby table. "They love each other," he whispered. "Always have, and they deserve to be together."
Bulma grabbed the bottle from him, sending him a concerned look. "Vegeta."
"I've kept them apart since the very second I found out, too. She should have been mine, could've been mine." He fixated his normally emotionless eyes on her. "Then I saw you. The only woman that I had ever seen to match Akira's beauty." He placed his hand against her cheek and smirked. "I was selfish. I had to have you both."
"Vegeta, you are very drunk right now," Bulma whispered, placing her hand over his. "You need to sober up and figure out what to do about the kids."
"Funny, how you've become even more beautiful over time," he told her, his hand gently sliding down her face. "You really have changed," he whispered, carressing her lips with his fingers.
A soft blush spread across Bulma's cheek and her breath caught in her throat. Her brain seemed to stop functioning. Was it possible to be drunk merely by association, because she felt very light-headed right now?! Vegeta pulled her close, pressing his lips against hers slowly, and Bulma found herself moving closer to him. She parted her lips slightly, and the prince deepened the kiss before she could pull away. Gently, she was pushed to the floor, but they never broke from the kiss.
With shakey hands, Vegeta unlaced the bodice of her dress as he trailed kisses across her collarbone. 'I need to stop this,' Bulma kept telling heself, but eveytime she made to push or pull away, a curious new sensation shot through her body. It felt too good to be true, and in the end, she told herself that he was drunk and there was no way he'd possibly remember this later.
----
The three saiyan boys sat around the unconscious priestess, waiting for her to awake. Arro let out a sigh, reaching for her hand. Her skin felt like ice. Worried, he moved closer and shook her shoulder gently. "Akira, wake up," he pleaded desperately. "Come on!"
Cass sniffled, wiping tears from his eyes. He hated that aweful pirate for what he had down to Akira. She was like a mother to him! He leaned over her and tried to help his brother wake her up, too. "Please, Kir. Wake up!"
Trunks swallowed the lump in his throat. What kind of monster was this Yamcha guy?! He let his eyes roam over Akira's body. Her clothes were tattered, and she had bruises everywhere, and blood. Lots of blood! What exactly had happened to her?! He reached forward and brushed the hair from her pale face. "Wake up, Akira," he whispered.
Arro saw her fingers twitch, and he held his breath. Akira opened her eyes and spotted three concerned boys glancing back at her. Shaking, she reached up and touched each one of their cheeks. "How long have I been out?" She asked, her voice was raw and hardly more than a whisper.
"Almost a day," Cass told her. "You're gonna be okay, right?"
She closed her eyes after hearing the waver in his voice. "I'll live."
"Did he," Arro paused before he could finish. He was just old enough to understand such things, but he didn't want to bring it up in front of Trunks or Cass. Akira held his gaze, and he continued, saying the only thing that he could. "Beat you?" He couldn't say rape, he just couldn't.
Akira quickly turned away from him to look at the wall, giving him his answer. Trunks and Cass gave Arro a funny look. "Of course he did," Trunks practically shouted. "Just look at her!"
"I'll be fine," she managed to say.
"I'll kill him," the former crown prince growled angrily. "I'll tear his heart from his chest and let him watch it beat once more before he dies," he vowed.
The priestess stared at the boy with wide eyes. "Arro!"
He ignored her, getting to his feet and going over to the door. He started pounding on it with his fists. "Do you hear me, Yamcha?! I'm going to fucking kill you, and if I can't, then my brother will. There'll be no safe place for you to hide, you worthless bastard!"
----
He felt terrible. He should have kept his temper at bay. He used to be so good at it. Taking a deep breath, Arthos let his hand turn the doorknob. Vegeta was going through a lot right now, and he needed him. Quietly, he stepped into the room and spotted the couple sleeping on the floor entwined in each other's arms. 'At least he found some comfort,' Arthos thought, backing out of the room and closing the door. He'd figure a way to track down Yamcha while he let Vegeta sleep off his anger with Marron.
"Hey!"
He glanced up and spotted Turlis walking toward him. "Just the man I was looking for."
Turlis nodded. "Yeah. Where's Vegeta?"
"He needs some time to gather his wits. Trust me on this. Let's get to work," Arthos said.
"Alright. Nor and Radditz are waiting in the council room. Mycal and my father should be along soon."
"Your mother?"
Turlis shook his head. "She's keeping an eye on Indara and has taken over Akira's duties for the time being."
Everything seemed to be calm, which was just what they all needed to figure things out. Arthos just hoped that Vegeta wouldn't be too angry that he had come back and took over like this. Time was of the essence, and they had wasted far too much!
----
Wow! Finally, huh?! ;) So, another chapter down! Took me long enough. Sorry about the wait.
----
PANDORA ;)
----
Please Review!!! ;)