Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with any of the Dragonball series

A/N: I've uploaded a picture I drew of Appura, see my profile for the link to my page! Coloured version coming soon! If anyone else out there can draw and would like to attempt it, I'd love to see how other people see her. Also in this, I'm going on the basis that 1 Zeni is equal to 1 Yen, so the money mentioned is equivalent of £5million.

Chapter 8

Appura's new haircut

"Ok, now focus, Appura," said Goku, as he watched Appura from over her shoulder. He'd seen a glint appearing in her hands as they practiced channelling ki energy. She was still struggling desperately with it. The glint got stronger, slowly forming a small ball of ki energy between the slender fingers of the princess. "You did it!" shouted Goku, punching the air above his head. Appura laughed, the smile on her face was the largest she'd had in the whole three weeks she'd been with the Son family.

"Well, I think that's enough for this morning," Goku said as the ball of energy dissipated from Appura's hands, "We'll have lunch and then we'll have another go at it, ok?" Appura nodded. She placed a hand on Goku's shoulder. Goku was about to use his instant transmission when Appura stopped him. "Goku, I...I wanted to thank you in some way," she said, "For training me, letting me live with you...and, I...I know Chi-Chi refuses to let me help around the house so..." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper and handed it to Goku. Goku looked confused and opened it up. He quickly refolded it and tried to hand it back. "No, Goku, I want you to have it," said Appura, pushing his hand back, "It's half of the money I've made with my music."

"Appura, I can't just accept this," said Goku, "I mean, six hundred..."

"Six hundred million, five hundred thousand zeni," said Appura, "And you ARE going to accept it Goku. Your family won't have to worry about money for a very long time with this. Gohan can go to university with this and so will Goten." Goku stared at her dumbfounded.

"What about you?" he asked.

"Goku, I've barely spent a penny since I released my first album," she said, "My mom insists on working, the only major thing I've bought is my house. All of my money is either in a savings account or is in Capsule Corp shares. I had to get my mom's signature just to get that check for you. I'm serious, Goku, take it." Goku was wrestling with himself and losing.

"Thanks," he said, putting the check in his pocket, "That'll make Chi-Chi really happy."

"I know," said Appura, putting her hand on his shoulder once more. Goku smiled briefly before bringing his fingers to his forehead and taking them back to the house.

Goku's landing was a rare miss for him. He had to aim for a specific room rather than a person at the moment. With the press still permanently camped outside the Son's front door, they were unable to walk or fly to the spot that Goku chose for training so he was using Instant Transmission to and from his and Chi-Chi's bedroom, which now had the blinds drawn constantly just in case someone snuck round that side of the house. Today, Goku misjudged the landing and landed right on the edge of bed. Appura slipped first, landing on the floor and smacking her head against the wardrobe. Goku fell second, landing on Appura and winding her. "Ow," said Appura simply as the door opened.

"Hey Goku, nice landing," said a female voice that wasn't Chi-Chi. Appura looked over the lump that was Goku and saw her step-mother stood in the doorway, smiling at them. Goku hauled himself off the young girl and pulled her up. Appura rubbed her head and left the room, Goku following her.

"Guess who managed to..." Goku started when he saw Gohan but he trailed off when he saw that his son wasn't even paying attention to him. He was too busy scowling at someone or something. He was leant against the wall that separated the kitchen and sitting room, looking into the kitchen, his arms folded. Goku looked into the kitchen and understood why Gohan looked so pissed. Vegeta was sat at the table, leaning back in his chair, looking at nothing and no one in particular. This was Vegeta's first visit here since Appura arrived. Gohan had told Goku of his promise not to speak to any of the Son family or Appura whilst she was training. Goku turned round in an attempt to stop Appura from going into the kitchen. Her confidence had sky-rocketed in the past few weeks and the last thing anyone wanted was for Vegeta to send it crashing back down. It didn't work; she brushed straight past him, knowing her father was in the kitchen.

"Hey Appura, how was training?" asked Chi-Chi.

"Good," said Appura, looking at her father, "I've managed to finally channel my ki. Goku reckons another couple of weeks and he might start teaching me the Kamehameha." Vegeta snorted.

"Dad..." Appura said quietly. Goku slipped into the kitchen. Vegeta continued to say nothing.

"Dad, I...I'm getting stronger," Appura continued, "He...he says I'm going to be a great Saiyan warrior...that you would be proud of me..." Vegeta's eyes narrowed and focussed on Goku, who quickly looked away. "Dad..." Appura tried again, "Please...talk to me...Daddy..." Vegeta stood up quickly, the chair legs scrapping on the floor. He turned and marched out the front door without so much as a second glance at his first-born.

Gohan watched as Vegeta slammed the door behind himself and Appura bowed her head for a second. He could feel her ki rising and falling erratically. She was angry, she wanted to hit Vegeta but she also just wanted her dad to love her. For a moment she did nothing. Then she punched the wall, sending a huge crack from floor to ceiling. She let out a scream of frustration. "Arrogant son of a bitch!" she screamed. Gohan had never felt so proud of her.

"Appura! Language! Trunks and Goten are in the other room," Bulma snapped.

"Shut up! You're not my mother!" Appura shouted back. Gohan had to take a step back. Appura's power level was shooting straight up and showed no signs of slowing. "Appura, calm down," said Goku, "There's no point stressing out over your dad." It didn't work, her ki just kept getting stronger and stronger until finally it just vanished and she slumped to the floor, her head in her hands. Gohan had never seen someone go so high and then fall so far so quickly. She'd been so stable and happy for the last couple of weeks. She'd been around Vegeta for less than three minutes and she'd crashed back to square one again. The Saiyan temper had even flared up for the first time as her power level had risen. Bulma and Chi-Chi just stared at her as she crashed down, lying on her side on the kitchen floor, her shoulders shaking. Gohan walked over to her, determined to once again pick up the pieces that Vegeta left in his wake. He lifted her up to her feet and led her out the kitchen. Out the corner of his eye, he saw his father show a piece of paper to his mother who promptly fainted.

Appura didn't speak for half an hour. She just sat on the bed, staring at nothing, whilst Gohan sat backwards on the chair, watching her. "He's an ass," she finally said quietly. Gohan reached back over to his desk and grabbed the glass of water that had been waiting. He handed it to her and she sipped it silently. "Why can't all men be like you?" Appura said looking over at him. He looked so sweet, sat backwards on his chair, arms resting on the back, chin resting on his hands. She spun herself around so her legs were dangling off the bed. She leant forward so she was face to face with him. He smiled that Son family goof-ball smile. "If all men were like me, then the Saiyan race would be redundant," he stated. Appura sighed and looked towards the window, shielded by the blind to stop the paparazzi. "Can we get out of here?" she asked, "I just don't want to be here while he's here."

"Sure," said Gohan. He led her out the bedroom. He could over hear his dad and Bulma trying to bring his mother round. They snuck down the hall and into Goku and Chi-Chi's room which had become the unofficial back door for the house. They slipped out the window and hurried into the woods. Once they were far enough in, Gohan put his arm around her waist and Appura put one around his broad shoulders. Gohan took to the air, holding tightly onto the Saiyan princess, and headed in the direction of the lake, unaware that Vegeta had watched them go.

Later on...

The two teens stretched out on the side of the lake. Appura had her eyes closed, enjoying the feeling of the cool breeze that swept through the mountain. Her hands were folded on her stomach which gently rose and fell as she breathed. Gohan, however, had his eyes open and was watching her, his head resting on his hands. She looked so peaceful, so relaxed. Away from family, from training, away from where expectations were thrust upon her, away from the press. "Kami, I could do with a smoke right now," she muttered, shattering the silence.

"You smoke?"

"Are you kidding me? Bulma and my dad smoke like chimneys and I've been visiting Capsule Corp since I was eleven. It's just one of Bulma's bad habits I've picked up," she said, smiling. She rolled her hips so they were at an angle and reached into her back pocket and pulled out a cardboard carton. Gohan recognised the brand, the same one that Bulma always smoked. "Looks like I'm not the only one she rubs off on," said Gohan, laughing. Appura sat up and looked at him.

"There is absolutely no way that Son Gohan smokes," she stated, "You're too much of a good boy." Gohan sat up, mimicking her. "Around my mother, maybe," he said, reaching over and taking the packet from her hand. His fingers grazed over her skin, making it tingle. He took a cigarette from the packet and handed it back over. Appura laughed and then lit hers, handing over the lighter as she exhaled. "Ok then, if you're such a bad boy away from Chi-Chi," she said, "Any other vices?"

"I drink occasionally," he said.

"Bulma start offering you beer when you turned sixteen?" asked Appura. Gohan stared at her dumbfounded. "She is such a bad influence," Appura laughed. Gohan laughed too, before taking another drag on his cigarette. The two sat in silence, smoking until Appura decided to approach a subject that had been on her mind for a while. "Ever had sex?" she asked. To her surprise, Gohan nodded immediately. "Who?" she asked.

"Videl," said Gohan, exhaling his smoke as he spoke, "You?" Appura raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, when I was fourteen and another when I was sixteen," she said calmly, "What about you? What happened between you and Videl that made you break up?" Gohan bit his lower lip and looked at the ground.

"We err, argued," he said, "She didn't think she was capable of being with a Saiyan. That it wasn't fair to either of us because she couldn't keep up with me. A few times when we were...you know, being intimate, I hurt her. I felt so guilty about it that when she suggested we stopped seeing each other, I just went along with it."

"Do you still love her?" Appura asked, edging over so she was sat right next to Gohan.

"A little," said Gohan before taking another drag from his cigarette, "It used to hurt a lot to see her. But now..." He turned his head and was instantly greeted by the beautiful deep blue orbs that were Appura's eyes. His train of thought derailed and he just looked at her. She was so close; he could feel her breath on his cheek. "And now?" she said softly.

"It's not so bad," he muttered. He quickly dipped his head and captured Appura's lips with his own. She immediately relented and returned the kiss as she had done each time before. Gohan's hand came up and tucked her hair behind her ear before trailing his fingers gently down her neck. She moaned a little and Gohan deepened the kiss, gently touching her tongue with his. She tasted sweet, like a coffee with one too many sugars in it. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. Her skin felt warm against his and silky soft. He pulled her into his lap so she straddled him. His hands slipped to her hips and began rubbing her butt. She pulled away from him and bit her lip, going slightly red. "What's wrong?" he asked gently. Appura closed her eyes; she couldn't even look at him when he had that sexy look on his face. The look that was such a complete polar opposite of the typical Son face that she was half-convinced there were two separate Son Gohan's. She shook her head.

He kissed her neck and she breathed in raggedly. Gohan ran his hands up her back and pulled on her hair, causing her to arch her head backwards, allowing him greater access to the soft skin of her neck. He nipped at it gently. She gasped as he gently ran his tongue over the bite mark, just like in her dream. She ran her hands down his shoulders and arms, feeling the muscles that had been formed by a combination of intense training over the years and his Saiyan genetics. "Gohan," she whispered.

"Hmmmm?" murmured Gohan as he continued to kiss and nip at her neck, intoxicated by her taste and scent. "Gohan, you know he'll kill both of us if he catches us," she said softly. Gohan stopped and pulled away. He knew that Appura meant her father. "I'm not scared of your father," he stated confidently. He truly wasn't. He'd seen Vegeta at his highest moments and some of his lowest. He'd known the man for fifteen years and had fought both against him and alongside him. He knew what Vegeta was capable of and it didn't faze him.

Gohan smiled over at the girl sat opposite at him. A smile not lost on his father who just happened to come up for breath from his supper. Goku smirked a little and turned back to his food. Appura blew a strand of hair out of her face but it just fell back into her eyes and food. She slammed her bowl down. "I need a haircut," she said. Everyone looked up at her. Her hair had almost doubled in length since they had first met her three months before and was starting to look like her mother's. "But I think you look pretty with your hair long, princess Appura," said Goten, smiling at her.

"I know, but it's getting in the way, that's why I had it cut short before," she said.

"I have some scissors that I use on Gohan's hair," said Chi-Chi, "I'll help you if you like."

"I should be ok, thanks Chi-Chi," said Appura, "All I need is a mirror." She ran her hand through her hair, trying to tuck it behind her ear but it was just too unruly. She turned back to her food.

"So, Appura," Goku said between mouthfuls, "I was thinking you and I could use the Hyperbolic Time Chamber in a couple of weeks when you've got the hang of channelling your ki a bit more. We can give you a year's training in a day there." Appura looked up from her rice.

"Really?" she said.

"Yeah, with how much you've progressed in less than a month here, you should be almost on par with Trunks and Goten when we come out," said Goku, "What do you think?"

"I think it's a great idea," she replied, smiling again.

Appura sighed as she took the length of her hair in her hand. She hated having to cut her hair. She stared in the mirror. This was going to have to be precise. She twisted her hair in her hand to pull it straight. She raised the scissors to her hair and put them at the length she normally cut it at. She took a deep breath and was about to cut when... "Hey Appura, you done yet?" called Goku's voice. Appura jumped, her hand moved closer to her head just as she cut through the hair. Damn! Too short. She looked in the mirror. 'Thanks a lot, Goku,' she thought. Her hair was stood up on end, just like her father's did. In fact, aside from the blue eyes, she looked a lot like him. Dropping the rest of her hair into the trash, she smirked as an idea crept into her head. She frowned and watched as her eyes narrowed like his did. Oh this was going to be fun. She slipped out of Gohan's room and headed towards the kitchen, hiding round the corner. She could hear Goku talking to Chi-Chi. "I'm just gonna check on Appura," she heard him say. She set her face to mimic her father. As Goku rounded the corner, she jumped out and yelled, "Kakarot!" Goku squealed and fell backwards.

"V..Vegeta?" he said, sitting up only to see the person he thought was Vegeta was actually female and was giggling. "Appura?" he said, "What happened to your hair?"

"You, you idiot," she said, "You made me jump just as I was cutting it. Now I've got to look like my dad for a month or so while it grows."

"You scared me," said Goku.

"Thanks, I'll remember that."

A/N: Sorry this isn't as long as I would have liked it to be but I've had to do some rearranging with the plot and I'm also cat-sitting for my mother and one of them likes to sit in my lap whilst I'm trying to type. Oh, and the good stuff is coming in the next chapter so if stuff like that makes you uncomfortable just go ahead and skip it. You won't miss much plot wise.