Here's Chapter 77! Thanks to Dark Domination, SuperSaiyanKnight, Perfect Carnage, Dragon1157, Diosa de la muerte, Ryo-chan wolfgirl, Hoshi124, ceciliamarianamenezes and Caedus Vitiate for all the reviews on chapter 76. Thanks also to ShadowLDrago for their reviews on chapters 2, 3 and 4.
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters, Akira Toriyama does!
….
"Hey, kiddo! Did anything exciting happen while you've been holding things down on your own?" Zailora called out to Gohan.
"Nope. It's been pretty dull," the little demi-Saiyan answered with a yawn. Ember dozed at his feet.
"Might be gittin' some compny' since Turles done pulled is' stunt!" Gartoas huffed.
"Just jealous you didn't think to do it," Turles snickered.
"I need to go change," Zailora stated.
"Be puttin' somethin' decent on !" Gartoas barked.
"Aw, go count your warts!" the she-pirate shot back.
"Ah ain't got no warts, sides' yer tha witch!" the Kardanagan snorted.
"Is that so? Well I'd turn you into a toad but you're already fat and ugly!" Zailora chortled.
"That will DO, Zailora!" Turles cut in.
Gohan struggled not to giggle at the antics of the two squabbling pirates. He hoped they would leave this place soon and head for someplace exciting.
….
Zailora had changed back into her typical ice blue and black armor. She fought to get her uncooperative hair into its usual braid.
"It looks better down!" Turles called out as he walked past her. She spun about staring in surprise after the departing Saiyan.
"What the….?" Zailora wondered.
…..
Bulma stormed into the small white building that served as living quarters for her and Chi-Chi. Her still damp hair appeared pasted to her forehead, her beautiful gown was ruined and her exquisite jewelry had been purloined by that arrogant Saiyan pirate!
'I can't wait to hear the explanation for this !' Chi-Chi thought to herself as she watched the furious blue-haired scientist fling things about. She couldn't resist a small dig at the former heiress.
"So…how was the meeting?"
….
"Daiz, I believe it would be in my granddaughter's best interest if other arrangements were made for the length of your stay with us," Cronos declared.
"Cronos, If I have offended you in any way I'm truly sorry…." Daiz began.
"Your presence here is a distraction for Markelia, she is beginning to question the life she is allotted to. Her life is here in this village the outside world is not for her," the elderly Dayogien insisted.
"Is it wrong to want something more?" the former royal asked.
"My granddaughter is to be a dutiful obedient mate to the one who is chosen for her. She is not to expect anything more," Cronos answered.
"She doesn't even get a choice of who she's mated to? " Daiz blurted out.
The Dayogien elder chuckled," Of course not! Such an important decision is not to be entrusted to a female. You do not understand because you are not one of us. Our ways are not yours.
"You're right, I DON'T understand!" the Kabochan huffed.
"In time you will see it is for the best I'm sure. I will inform you when the proper arrangements have been made for you. Now I have business to attend to."
Cronos left the room without another word.
With a weary sigh Daiz sat down on a small cushioned seat staring into the flames of the fire-pit that was set before him. They brought other flames to mind…..
(Flashback)
An enormous teal-skinned fist slammed into his chest followed by a vicious kick. He suddenly felt himself hoisted in the air and flung towards a fissure in the rocky soil filled with boiling magma. Only a warrior's reflexes kept him from plummeting into it. A great explosion shook the ground and a chasm opened up beneath him. He hit the surface below hard, when he tried to rise it became apparent that both of his legs were damaged. One was bent at an awkward angle the other looked as if it had been pummeled by a giant's fist.
Daiz threw up his hands as a wave of intense heat blistered his skin. The ornaments he wore literally scorched his flesh. He quickly yanked them away. His eyes widened in horror as he saw a mass of molten rock beginning to flow directly toward him. Another tremor shook the ground and he was falling once more then everything went black…..
The next thing he knew a cool hand touched his cheek and a soft voice had spoken to him…
(End of Flashback)
Daiz smiled as he recalled Markelia's infinite patience with him as he recovered from his injuries and struggled to learn their language as well as his almost futile attempts to recall his memory. So many things he still could not piece together…
Markelia burst into the room, tears were streaming down her golden-skinned face.
"Please tell me it isn't true! Tell me my grandfather is not sending you away!"
The dark green-haired warrior bowed his head," I'm sorry Markelia…"
His words brought on a fresh torrent of tears. Markelia threw her arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder. He awkwardly patted her back and stroked her hair as he tried to calm her.
"What impropriety is this?" an angry voice demanded.
Agalaki stood in front of them his eyes blazing with fury. Cronos glared at them as well.
"THIS is how you repay my kindness….my trust?"
"Cronos! You know I would never…."
"YOU would never have been here if it wasn't for an over-indulged spoiled child who was allowed to bring an outsider to our village!" the Dayogien guard spat venomously.
"Grandfather, please listen to me!" Markelia begged.
"Enough! You have become willful and disobedient. It has been made clear that you need a strong hand to keep you under control. I have apparently been far too lenient with you, Markelia. When the gathering season ends….
"Grandfather, NO!"
"She dares to interrupt her elders? Such disrespect!" Agalaki growled.
"… it is my decision that you will be bonded to Agalaki as his mate in the tradition of our people," Cronos continued.
"DON'T DO THIS! PLEASE!"
Markelia pleaded as she fell to her knees. Cronos ignored her.
Agalaki yanked her up by her right arm. When Daiz would have lunged for him the elderly Dayogien threw up his hand.
"Do not interfere, Daiz! You will be directed to the home of the commander of the guards where you will remain for however long your stay is with us. Markelia will be kept under the watchful eye of Akalia until her bonding ceremony is completed," Cronos declared flatly.
"NO! I won't be one of your mother's slaves!" the young Dayogien female protested as she tried to snatch her arm away. She bravely attempted to slap the leering Agalaki.
She gasped in pain as the guard cruelly twisted her arm and forced her to comply. Daiz swallowed hard as he watched her weeping form be dragged away by the now triumphant Agalaki. How he would love to bury his fist into the smug guard's face right about now.
"How can you allow this, Cronos?"
"In time you will understand, I am doing what I know to be best for my granddaughter. Farewell, Daiz," Cronos said with a low bow that for once Daiz did not return.
"I owe her my life I don't know how I'm going to manage it but I WON'T let her be bonded to that monster!" Daiz swore under his breath.
A young boy appeared who informed Daiz that he was to follow him to the home of the commander of the guards. The Kabochan gathered his meager pile of belongings and was shortly on his way...
...
"I really miss Daiz," Gohan mused as he brushed Ember's brilliant red and yellow fur.
"Ah guess it ain't bin' tha same wi' out tha pest around," Gartoas grumbled.
"I know Zailora really misses him," the little half-blood pressed.
"Ah magine' she does, Brat," the Kardanagan sighed.
"Do you think Turles misses him?"
Gartoas snorted at that.
'Surely he misses Daiz just a bit ?' Gohan thought to himself.
...
The nightmares had begun again. Turles had warned her that eventually the suppressant he had procured for her would no longer prevent the images that plagued her dreams. Tears rolled down her sculpted cheekbones as Zailora tried to forget her latest horrific dream. A laughing Zarbon had incinerated Daiz right in front of her and she had been completely powerless to stop him. It had seemed so real, she could almost smell the sickeningly sweet smell of scorched flesh. She had to get some air...
When Zailora entered the bridge area she found that she was not the only one that sleep eluded. Turles once again kept his lonely vigil standing in front of the large observation window. His forehead was pressed against the heavy glass.
"You really miss her don't you?"
Turles snapped his head up and gave her an icy stare.
"I have no idea who you could possibly be referring to!" the dark-skinned Saiyan snapped.
"So that's how it is , huh? You're the big tough Saiyan that feels absolutely nothing for absolutely no one, right?" Zailora snapped.
"Watch your tongue and your tone, Woman! I've killed others for far less than that!" the Saiyan pirate warned.
"So go ahead then! Blast me into nothing! What's stopping you? " the she-pirate cried out as she stomped right in front of Turles.
The Saiyan sniffed the air between them, "It doesn't appear that you've addled yourself with the wine..."
Turles chuckled darkly as he caught her fist before Zailora could even properly aim her punch.
"I just want the hurting to stop!" the Kabochan female cried out as she buried her face into Turles's armored chest. She felt him stiffen immediately and heard a sound almost like a gasp escape him. Her eyes widened and her face colored as she realized.. he wasn't wearing any armor! A garment of black silken material covered his muscular chest. It suddenly occurred to her just what she had done. What in Kami's name had possessed her to behave in such an outrageous manner?
For once Turles was at a complete loss as to what was he supposed to do..supposed to say to this foolish woman who...a scent that almost seemed like citrus combined with flowers suddenly reached him. Scent above all else appealed to the Saiyan race. It must be the woman's perfume...no it was not a manufactured scent...it was her scent!
He breathed in the sweet scent of her hair, "Woman, your scent is intoxicating!"
Damn. He hadn't meant to say that aloud.
"You...you smell like some rare spice," Zailora blurted out. She gasped and covered her mouth for saying such a thing.
"On Vegeta-sei, that would have been considered quite the compliment," Turles declared.
The dark green-haired female looked up at him nervously. A genuine smile lit his face. He surprised her by nuzzling her cheek.
"Hmm, it's not just your hair...the rest of you smells just as enticing."
WHAT?
Zailora was sure that her eyes were going to pop right out of her head when the Saiyan's lips brushed over hers. His kiss was nothing like that from Daiz...
DAIZ!
"C-Commander! We have to stop....Daiz..."
"... is no longer here," Turles murmured as he managed yet another kiss. Her head was beginning to swim. Kami help her the Saiyan had magic in his kiss!
"LET ME GO! PLEASE!"
With a sigh of disappointment, the pirate commander released her. Zailora bolted from the bridge area.
...
Back in her quarters Zailora watched the door nervously. Surely Turles wouldn't follow her, would he? He could over-ride any door on the ship if he chose to. What was she going to do now? Things had gotten seriously complicated...
...
Until next time! Please review!
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