-Plays a fanfare on a trumpet horribly- Chapter 8 is here. Onto the squishy cuteness!

Disclaimer: Yadda yadda yadda…don't own DBZ…blah blah.

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Chapter 8 - Questions and Feelings

Aisha and Vegeta talked until they were tired. They told each other a little about themselves. There were awkward silent moments from time to time, and Vegeta sometimes made Aisha feel uncomfortable, but they seemed to get along.

Aisha found out that Vegeta was eight, confirming her guess about him being two years older than she was. Vegeta also told her about his father and how he gave Vegeta over to Frieza. He didn't tell her everything though. He felt it wasn't her business.

Plus, he didn't know her too well anyway.

Aisha told Vegeta everything she remembered, which wasn't a lot. Her past was filled with empty voids, those being the things she didn't remember too well. Vegeta acted like he didn't care, but deep down he almost felt sorry for Aisha.

Again, his pride got in the way.

Aisha curled up on the floor against a wall and soon drifted off to sleep. Her light, gentle snores were all that could be heard. Vegeta sat up on his bed and watched her sleep.

What was with this girl? Why had she taken a liking to him? Maybe it was because he was the only one on the base around her age.

And that kiss…

Vegeta placed his hand where Aisha had kissed him.

Was it really just a 'thank you' kiss?

So many questions flooded his mind. He had the answers to almost none of them. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop looking at Aisha…or forget about her kiss. He tried shaking his head to get his thoughts clear. It worked temporarily.

"What's wrong with me?", Vegeta quietly asked himself. He stared at the ceiling for a minute or two trying to figure out the answer. He'd been feeling strange ever since he met Aisha.

"What have you done to me?", he asked while looking back at Aisha.

Was he starting to…care for her? Were those strange feelings he kept having…feelings of love? No, it couldn't be. Vegeta. Prince of ALL Saiyans. Loving someone (other than himself)? The mere thought made him sick, yet he couldn't control it.

He punched his pillow angrily and growled to himself. Had Aisha awoken Vegeta's feelings?

The very things that Frieza had taught him, as a younger child, to get rid of…the things that he was told could get him killed…the things he felt made him weak. Ugh, the thought made him furious. How could he have been so weak as to allow a female to make him…feel again?

He walked over to where Aisha was sleeping and stared at her. The peaceful expression on her face as she slept, and the way her face glowed in what little light the room did offer, made his fury slowly melt away. He sat down next to her and watched her sleep.

She was so calm and tranquil. Vegeta even thought he saw a slight smile on her face.

She's happy, he thought. Am I the reason for her happiness?

Something inside him said 'yes'.

He slowly removed the glove from his right hand and gently placed it on Aisha's face. Her skin, despite the many beatings, felt soft. He slowly caressed her cheek and Aisha's tail wiggled in response.

Did she know it was Vegeta who was touching her?

He removed his hand and slipped the glove back on. Aisha's mouth curled into a frown, though only for a second or two, then reverted to normal. Vegeta gasped.

She DID know it was him. Even in such a deep sleep, she knew his touch…which he found weird since he hadn't touched her so gently before. And gloveless, at that.

That moment suddenly made him realize something. He did, in fact, love her. He'd been trying to ignore it, but now it was inevitable. Somehow his feelings came back to him…but he was afraid.

He hugged his knees to his chest and rested his head on them. He'd have to act like he didn't love or care for her at all. For his sake…and Aisha's. For he knew if Frieza found out, he'd surely kill her. He could still hear Frieza's words in his head…

…"Feelings are for weaklings. They only get in the way. That's what separates the feeble, fragile warriors from the mighty, powerful, feared warriors. Remember this, Vegeta."

Vegeta heard soft whimpering. He snapped back to reality and looked at Aisha. She was trembling horribly and crying. Vegeta wondered if she was having one of those horrid nightmares she told him about.

Vegeta held her close to him and tried to calm her down.

Her body…it's so warm, he thought.

Aisha felt someone close to her and she stopped trembling so hard. Soon, she stopped altogether and her crying ceased as well. Vegeta picked her up and walked over to his bed. He placed her gently on top, and her gentle snores were heard again.

"Good, she's sleeping peacefully again", Vegeta said softly to himself.

He climbed into bed and laid next to her, leaving a considerable amount of space between them. He felt his eyelids grow heavy and figured it was time for him to get some sleep as well.

No more than ten minutes after drifting off to sleep, he felt something warm clinging to him. He wearily opened his eyes and saw that Aisha had snuggled up close to him. He also saw another smile on her face. He gently placed his arm around her and went back to sleep, and a small smile crept upon his face as well.

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SoOo, how'd you like that one? Gah, I find it simply adorable. Unfortunately, it doesn't last forever. You'll have to wait until my last two chapters to find out what happens when Frieza finds out! -O.O- It won't be pretty. Review... pretty please?

OoX-EbonyDuchess-XoO