Author's note: Thank you for the reviews. Hope you enjoy.
To any Star wars fans peeking: I am working on the last chapter of To have a heart. Don't worry. Thank you for your patience.
Chichi visibly stiffened at the question. The haunting images and sounds of Goku screaming in pain during his battle with Piccolo came to her mind, making her shudder in the summer heat.
Vegeta silently watched her patiently, being able to tell she was trying to put herself together before answering him.
Slowly the princess took in a deep breath and then released it.
"I witnessed a terrible fight. I thought the man I loved was going to die in front of my eyes." She answered finally, choosing to forgo mentioning Goku by name. Not wanting to share such personal feelings she had about him with Vegeta.
"It all just left me traumatized, I guess."
Vegeta arched a brow.
"So, this man you say you love... If you love him as much as you say, why then didn't you step in the fight to save him?"
Chichi's eyes grew big. That was not what she had anticipated to hear.
she immediately took a bit of offense as his words, his insinuating doubt for her love for Goku.
"Because the monster named Piccolo that he was fighting against is way stronger than I am. He would have just killed me too. And it was a fight taking place at the world martial arts tournament. It would probably be against the rules for me to join Goku and I'd disqualify him from the fight. Not something he'd want."
This being named Piccolo instantly piqued Vegeta's interest. His Saiyan desire for fighting started to stir within himself and he eagerly wanted to go toe to toe in battle with whoever this piccolo was.
After the words slipped past her lips Chichi realized what she had said and instantly covered her mouth with her hand.
Oh, no! Why me? The princess mentally cried.
Vegeta smirked and then closed his eyes before chuckling at her accidental confession.
"So, it's Kakarot you love, is it?" Cockily asked the Saiyan.
She humorously narrowed her eyes at him
before giving a huff.
"Alright! Yes, it's Goku." She sheepishly admitted.
Of course. Why didn't I consider it before? Kakarot would be interested in the princess and would happily claim her once he witnessed how strong she is physically and strong willed. A perfect kind of woman for a Saiyan.
"I see. So where is that lover of yours at? The little dreamboat of yours? Is he off away fighting somewhere?" Vegeta sneered, feeling jealousy rising in him over the beautiful woman.
Hurt was visible in Chichi's eyes, washing away the jealousy burning in Vegeta's veins at the sight.
"He's not mine nor my lover," Chichi murmured under her breath, a lump forming in her throat. Her gaze went down to her feet, picturing Goku's face.
The Saiyan's brows came together as he was trying to understand.
"What?" He barked. "Did you two break up or something?"
Chichi swallowed down hard the invisible lump and turned her eyes to Vegeta.
"We never courted or anything like that." She calmly and bluntly answered him. "I thought he felt the same about me, but I misunderstood. I was wrong. He didn't. We still remain friends though."
Stunned at the revelation, Vegeta looked at Chichi with an astonished expression for a few seconds.
"So, Kakarot is an idiot then," Vegeta concluded to himself out loud.
Flattered, Chichi blushed at his words before his insult towards Goku came to her mind.
"Hey, don't talk that way about Goku! He's a good man!"
Vegeta scoffed.
"I said nothing about his integrity, Princess." Vegeta haughtily replied. "Just about his intellect. I can already tell he is an imbecile by him simply rejecting you."
His head injury that I suspect probably plays a role with his idiocy.
Chichi's cheeks turned pink, again flattered before her face turned red in anger and she growled.
"Vegeta, if you didn't need that wheelchair right now, I'd give you a punch you really deserve!"
Vegeta laughed in response.
"Oh, please don't let that stop you!" He shook with laughter. "Feel free to give me the best shot you got. But, there's one problem, Princess. I thought you gave up fighting?"
He raised a brow at her smugly.
Chichi's hands turned into fists at her sides in frustration and she growled at him in annoyance, making Vegeta burst out laughing at her.
Ugh! Even if I wanted to, I probably couldn't hurt him. The princess thought in irritation. He must be seriously stronger than I am.
I gave him the best slaps I got and still, nothing woke him when he was having that nightmare. Not until I powered up to a level I didn't know I could reach.
"Grr! Well, maybe I'll reconsider and start training to get stronger so I can pulverize you, you big jerk!" Chichi seethed and stomped her foot at him. "Don't talk about my friends that way!"
Vegeta's laughter abruptly stopped.
"Wh-What did you say?" Slowly he asked her incredulously. "Train to get stronger? What do you mean by that?"
Chichi crossed her arms and her brows came together, her anger dissipating.
She stared at Vegeta in confusion.
"What do you mean? You're strong, right? So you must know about training and stuff to increase your strength? How else could you be so strong?"
In response, Vegeta stared at her in bewilderment as if she had grown a second head.
"You mean you don't know about training?!" Chichi cried out in shock.
A member of a warrior race who doesn't know about training?
"I'm familiar with training, but not as a means to raise one's power level. Just to become a better warrior." Vegeta stated bluntly.
"Pow..er level?" Chichi asked.
With that, Vegeta's face went blank at the utter hilarity of the stupidity of the situation they were in.
How could two people have so much in common when it came to fighting, yet also have so many discrepancies?
Vegeta then gave the Ox princess a thorough yet simple explanation to her about power levels, reminding him of the explanation he had learned as a child and informed her about elites being born with a natural high power level while others were not so lucky.
"Wow. How interesting." Chichi remarked, brushing a piece of her dark hair behind her ear, and then she stroked her chin.
"Yes,... so now that I've so kindly explained that to you I want you to show me how you train exactly to get a stronger power level." Vegeta insisted firmly.
Chichi scratched the back of her head awkwardly, feeling unusual with the spotlight suddenly on her now with his request.
"Um, ...okay."
It would have been awfully nice to know before I picked a dress to wear that I was going to perform fighting moves. The princess mentally signed.
Guess I'll just stick to hand movements so I don't humiliate myself and accidentally flash him my underwear.
Chichi kicked off her flip-flops, her bare feet touching the warm grass. She took a fighting stance and imagined an enemy standing in front of her.
In a nanosecond she pumped her legs furiously behind her, running with great speed while her hands were made into fists, throwing many punches in the air at her imaginary opponent.
with a final powerful blow in the air and with a warrior's cry she gave one last shot at her nonexistent rival, delivering the death blow.
Despite her obvious low power level, she's remarkably fast, I'll give her that. Vegeta considered in a bit of admiration.
Chichi wiped some sweat off of her brow with the back of her hand as she was catching her breath. She slowly turned around and faced Vegeta.
"That's just one way of training." She smiled. "There are many ways such as meditation for example."
"Explain to me the rest of the ways you know of, princess," Vegeta demanded, hungry for such knowledge.
If I can learn these methods to increase one's power I can train to become powerful enough to destroy Frieza. Thought the Saiyan prince eagerly.
Chichi couldn't help but smile at how interested Vegeta was despite how the topic of fighting brought her anxiety. The expression on his face for his desire for knowledge reminded her of an excited child waiting to open up a wrapped up gift.
It was a sight so adorable to her that it made her trauma feel not as strong as it once had.
"Well, since you are our guest, I will do as you please, your highness" Chichi teased him warmly.
Vegeta gave her his trademark smirk in reply.
She then walked over to the Prince and sat on the ground in front of his wheelchair, fixing her long dress and making sure it appropriately covered herself as she crossed her legs underneath herself and then began sharing with Vegeta all the knowledge that she had on the matter.
The Saiyan had attentively listened to her, hanging off of every word.
When questions had come to his mind he would ask them earnestly and Chichi would answer them the best she could.
Once they were finished with the long lesson, Chichi took at their surroundings and could tell from the sky and sun that hours must have passed. It looked to be now noon.
"I want to try that mental training you told me about with you." Vegeta desirously urged.
After not fighting for such a long time the prince strongly craved a battle and this was the closest he could get to it, from what it sounded like.
Chichi's heart dropped a bit.
Exactly what I feared when I told him about this method. She internally groaned.
"Don't you think you should rest and heal more first?" Chichi asked worriedly.
Vegeta scoffed.
"I'm fine, woman! I fought in worse conditions. Believe you me. Besides if my health concerns you that much, we will only train for a little while."
"Uh, okay." She slowly replied. "Just for a bit." Reluctantly she agreed.
With that Chichi closed her eyes and allowed herself to sink into the meditative state.
Vegeta soon followed in pursuit, eyes closing and remembering the directions she had explained on how to do the action he was about to try to accomplish.
The two minds of the royals successfully linked and Chichi's soul found herself standing in the dark realm of their mental link.
Chichi stood in a defensive stance, being only able to see herself in the darkness but sensing with her natural human instinct of Vegeta's eyes watching her somewhere in the dark.
In the darkness, she began to try to tune in to sensing the power of the prince to locate him, a skill that she had been taught by her father but rarely had ever used.
It took a few seconds, but once she successfully located the presence of his power the princess felt a cool wave of fear and awe wash over her.
Vegeta was so strong! He had a titan like power compared to her!
How can anyone be so strong?!
Vegeta smirked maliciously in the pitch blackness he was standing hidden in, watching her with crossed arms and a troublemaking glint in his eye.
If felt good to stand again and to feel in power once more, even if it was only mentally with his soul.
Quickly the prince began to speedily move here and there around chichi in the dark, enjoying playing with his prey like a cat toying with a caught mouse.
All of a sudden Chichi seemed to lock eyes at him, catching Vegeta off guard and freezing him in place.
What?!
How does she know where I am?!
Quickly the princess rushed towards him and landed a punch on the Saiyan's chin in his shocked state.
Now with being so close to him Chichi was able to clearly see Vegeta.
"I've got you now!" She playfully grinned, bringing the Saiyan back to the present instead of being lost in his confused thoughts.
Vegeta returned her words with a smirk just as she began to unleash a myriad of punches headed his way.
Every punch she threw he blocked skillfully, amazing the princess.
All of a sudden out of nowhere, he grabbed both of her fists, trapping her. She couldn't move even an inch to free herself from his grasp despite her desperate attempts.
"You know, Princess," Vegeta confidently smiled at her. "You really should take heed to your own words earlier and train to increase your power. You show a lot of promise with your skills."
And with that being said he then gave her a punch in the gut, holding back much of his power.
Saliva flew from her mouth once his fist made impact with her stomach.
The pain of the hit was enough for her to unintentionally break their link and free herself from their mental bond.
With a gasp for air, Chichi found herself back in the reality of being on the grounds of her spacious home.
She let out a fit of coughs and held her stomach, waiting for the pain to go away.
"I meant what I said, Chichi." Vegeta seriously spoke while waiting for her to recover. "If you with your skills have the ability to become more powerful then why choose to cower in fear and stop from fighting altogether instead of choosing to become more powerful and defeat your enemies?"
Vegeta's mind was racing in delight.
It's what I plan to do with mine...
I should ask her if she would consider joining me and the other Saiyan's. She could teach them how to grow stronger while I strengthen myself to inevitably destroy Frieza and then rule the galaxies.
He opened his mouth to offer her the proposition and that's when unfortunately for the prince, Chichi's father had called out to the two from a window above in the castle, interrupting them.
"Come on you kids! Lunch is ready! Come and eat!" Cheerfully waved the Ox king.
Vegeta's stomach gave an involuntary growl at the mention of food.
Through her pain, Chichi put on a happy face and waved back at him, signaling she had heard him.
"We'll be there in a minute, Dad! Thanks!" Called back Chichi.
Vegeta's jaw went slack.
That's her father?
"Well, it's obvious you take your looks mostly after your mother," Vegeta remarked teasingly.
Chichi gave the prince a deadpanned look.
"Boy, quite perceptive aren't you?" She rolled her eyes and smiled.
Her hand began to rub at the soreness of her stomach. Most of the pain was gone. Now it just ached.
She certainly wasn't used to feeling that kind of amount of physical pain when she had trained. Her father which had taught her everything would always withhold from striking her like Vegeta had. Going way too easy on her.
Perhaps if he hadn't held back she would have been strong enough to beat Goku at the tournament?
And thus also have been strong enough to protect him against that demon Piccolo.
Her conscious whispered into her mind, wounding her. She considered the words Vegeta mentioned about her taking up training again.
Chichi couldn't help but feel grateful that the Saiyan hadn't gone too easy with her.
Vegeta considered mentioning his offer to her now but thought against it.
When a better time presents itself. He concluded, since they were about to go eat.
They would need to be alone and have time to thoroughly discuss the matter before he brought up the offer.
"Need a hand?" Grunted a voice.
Chichi looked away from her aching stomach and seen that Vegeta had offered her his monkey tail to help her up, his eyes looking off into the distance.
Avoiding her gaze.
A wide smile spread across Chichi's face at his act of kindness.
"Don't you mean a tail, Vegeta." She giggled while taking a careful hold of his tail, remembering when she had hurt Goku accidentally when they were kids with his.
A little red colored the cheeks of Vegeta at her teasing and he with ease he helped her stand.
.
.
.
It was morning and sunlight began to pour in from Chichi's bedroom windows.
The light had started to stir her awake and princess Chichi woke up with a smile on her face, the memories of yesterday filling her mind.
Yesterday with Vegeta had seemed so magical. She longed to think of it rather as romantic, but after her experience with letting her hope rise with Goku, her heart was now more guarded.
Her memories went back to yesterday's lunch and dinner they had both eaten together with her father at the palace's giant dining table.
Vegeta now actually hadn't needed someone to feed him, instead he had used his tail to gather in his food such as rice to bring to his mouth.
She had been afraid that Vegeta was going to treat her father rudely or disrespectful, but that thankfully hadn't been the case.
He just in between bites of food had solemnly answered her father's questions about space and the Saiyan race Goku was a part of.
Chichi's eyes slowly drifted to her sleep mask on her nightstand. The remembrance of her reason for choosing to not wear it last night came rushing back to her.
She had wanted to wake up at the crack of dawn after receiving a phone call last night that those she was expecting would be arriving around that time.
The arrival of that flower should be here soon if not here already!
Quickly, she tossed her blanket off and ran out of her bedroom. She rushed down the stairs, forgetting she was still in her red pajamas and was joyful to find the group of men and women she had hired waiting in the dining room for her, all eating breakfast.
Briskly they all stood up at the sight of her in respect and pushed in their chairs.
"Princess." They all unanimously and devoutly murmured together and bowed.
A very short woman with red framed glasses and a lavender shade of hair approached Chichi.
She bent forward in a bow.
"Your Majesty. About a truckload worth of the flowers you requested awaits you outside, Madam."
The princess's eyes sparkled at the news.
"Wow! A whole truckload!" She happily exclaimed.
Chichi turned her head and spotted the head butler of the castle standing nearby.
"Daisuke, I leave it to you to make sure they receive the payment promised to them." She informed the butler. "Make sure they also get a hefty bonus for such a gracious amount they've given us of this plant."
.
.
.
Her dark orbs sparkled once again when she saw the enormous stack of metal cases that she had been informed were filled with capsules. The flowers had been placed in the capsules using capsule corp technology.
Chichi opened a case and grabbed one of the capsules from out of a row of them in the case. She pressed down on the capsule and tossed it to the ground and a cloud of smoke appeared. Once the smoke cleared there was a bundle of the white flowers vacuumed sealed in a huge clear bag.
The sight of the beautiful flowers brought an idea to the princess and quickly she grabbed the bag of flowers and headed for the kitchen where their dehydrator was located.
.
.
.
"Vegeta, it's time to wake up. Your breakfast is ready and I've got a big surprise for you." Sweetly whispered a voice, waking the sleeping prince from his rest. Slowly his eyes opened, alarmed and startled to see Chichi standing there beaming at him.
She smelled like strawberries again and she was dressed nicely yet casual in a blue jean skirt and a green shirt. Her long hair was loose and in stylish waves.
Once his gaze broke free from the enchantment of her beauty, Vegeta's eyes went downward and he saw a tray table over his lap. A great amount of steaming white rice in a large bowl sat on it and a large cup of some pink colored tea was on the tray.
The prince blinked and focused on the tea, brows coming together. There was something floating in it. Moving it's way to the center of the cup was the familiar white petal with red spots from the antidotal flower he hadn't seen since he was a child.