Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Dragonball Z

A/N: This is going to be a long one, with lots of flashbacks which will be in italics.

Chapter 11

Puchin's Curse

"Trunks, will you stop jumping up and down, I need to concentrate," hissed Appura, attempting to slap her little brother's legs as he bounced about behind her. She'd been attempting to put on her eyeliner for ten minutes but the little Hybrid was bouncing on her bed. She made one more attempt but Goten promptly ran in and both of them started bouncing on the bed. Appura's hand slipped and she ended up with a thick line of eyeliner over each cheek. She growled and the pencil snapped in her fingers. She stood up. "Right, that's it!" she shouted. She spun around and was about to grab the two demi-Saiyans when they rolled off the bed and started to run. Unfortunately, Goten got caught up in Appura's bridesmaid dress and ran off with it wrapped around his neck. "Goten, come back!" she screamed but the two boys were long gone. She stormed off after them.

She was fuming. She'd accidentally left her dressing gown in Gohan's room the night before so now all she had on was the white corset, white panties with white hold-up stockings she was to wear under the silver dress. She didn't have any shoes on, her make-up was half-done and her hair was up in curlers. Bulma and Chi-Chi were helping her mother get ready so Appura's only job was to get herself ready but now she was chasing two little boys through the house in just her underwear. She knew where they were headed. One of the conference rooms was being used by all the guys to get ready; no doubt they thought they could hide in there to escape the angry Saiyan Princess.

As she got closer, she heard the door slam. She smirked. This was like hunting, except her prey were two little boys and her dress. She slowed down, deciding to lull them into a false sense of security. She slowly opened the door and peeked inside. Her father was nowhere to be seen. Goku was having his tie straightened by Yamcha and Gohan was just fastening his pants. Krillin and Master Roshi were talking off to one side. Appura smirked. May as well give Gohan a sneak peek at what he'd be seeing later. She pushed the door open all the way and stepped in. "Appura!" said Yamcha, "What the hell?" The other men all jumped as she stalked into the room and Krillin, Yamcha and Goku covered their eyes when they saw how little she was wearing.

"Don't worry, I won't be long," she said, scanning the room, her tail gently twitching as she searched for the two boys. She caught Gohan's eye. He promptly pointed at the table. Appura bent down. There was a scream and Goten emerged from the other side, complete with Appura's dress. She leapt over the table, landing in between the small boy and Master Roshi. She rolled her eyes as she heard the perverted old master chuckle. She held out her hand to the terrified little boy. "Dress, now," she said. Goten removed her dress from his neck and handed it over.

"Oh no you don't, old man," she heard Gohan say. She looked behind her. Gohan had hold of Roshi's wrist which was stretched out, trying to grab Appura's butt. "Thanks Gohan," she said, throwing her dress over her shoulder and leaving. "See you boys later," she said. No one replied. She smirked and headed back to her room to finish getting ready.

Vegeta took another drag from his cigarette. He'd been dreading this day, the day the mother of his daughter married that pathetic scar-faced weakling. It was forcing him to relive his past more and more when he thought of Ima. There were lots of bad memories associated with Ima, not all her fault but a few were. One stuck out in particular. It had been about six months after they had spent the night together, the night Appura had been conceived...

Vegeta stomped over to the tavern that the beggar-child had pointed to him right before he soiled himself. Raditz and Nappa were just behind him. Raditz was rather sullen but that was probably from the beating that Nappa and Vegeta had dished out the night before as a warm-up for what they had in store for the former High Priestess. She was going to regret ever running away and then Raditz was going to regret helping her.

Five months before, Vegeta and Nappa had returned to the quarters assigned to the four Saiyans from a 'meeting' with Freiza to find Raditz sat on his own, looking very sorry for himself. The pair had managed to force what had happened out the third-class Saiyan and had been furious. Ima, it seemed, had been plotting escape for a while and upon being discovered by Raditz, had convinced him to help her by holding over his head that got him to do anything: his younger brother. Even empty promises about going to find Kakarot would be enough to convince Raditz to do anything; the drunker he was, the more hilarious things he would do the other Saiyans had discovered some five years before. In this case, Ima had promised to find Kakarot if Raditz allowed her to escape.

Vegeta wasn't even sure who had been angrier about Ima's escape; himself or Freiza. Consequently, Vegeta had gladly spent the last five months hunting his one-time bed-mate down, if only to give her a piece of his mind before he blasted her into the next world. Freiza had dealt out beatings all round for the remaining Saiyans for allowing the last female of their species to escape.

Vegeta eyed the door of the tavern with contempt, like it was the inanimate object before him that had wronged him and not the woman beyond it. Nappa and Raditz hesitated as Vegeta paused. They'd never seen the Prince as pissed as he had been when Ima had run away. The pair knew that the Prince had bedded the much older Priestess during the woman's heat, much to the disappointment of Raditz who had hoped that Ima would choose him.

He had gotten fairly close to her in the lead up to her heat eight years before. Nappa had shown no interest in Ima, having already bonded with a female who had been caught in the destruction of their homeworld and Prince Vegeta had only been seventeen. He wouldn't have known that Ima was in heat if it had smacked him round the back of the head and said 'hello'. Raditz had been twenty and VERY aware of what was happening to her. He had been practically giddy in excitement at the idea of possibly bedding a Saiyan woman, scratch that, the last Saiyan woman. But instead, Ima had merely locked herself away for those three days and Nappa had slapped Raditz around the head and told him to control himself. Vegeta had just carried on as usual, completely ignoring what was happening between the adults around him.

Vegeta kicked the door off it's crude hinges. The door flew across the room and promptly crushed a bar maid to death. Not that the arrogant young Prince cared. He just wanted to find Ima. The people inside the tavern remained frozen to the spot as the three Saiyans walked in. Nobody moved, very few even dared to breathe. For a moment nothing moved until, a blur at the back and the back door flew open. "After her!" barked Vegeta. He, Raditz and Nappa leapt across the room and followed the woman out the door. The door led out to a criss-crossing set of alleyways but thanks to the relative weakness of the native population, it wasn't difficult for the three Saiyans to isolate Ima using their scouters. She wasn't far away, in fact, given the speed she left the tavern, Vegeta had expected to be much further away. She was being slowed down by something. It took only a matter of moments for them to catch up with her. She was at the far end of the alleyway, her shape half-obscured by the white cloak she wore. "Game's up, Ima," Vegeta called as he came to a stop, "We've come to bring you back to the fold." He smirked as he lied to her. He watched her form stiffen and her arms moved around to her front. "Vegeta, please," she said softly, "I beg you to reconsider what you're going to do...please, even you would not be that cruel to the future of our race."

"What? What are you talking about?" spat Vegeta, wondering if Ima was trying to trick him.

"You didn't tell him, did you Raditz?" asked Ima as she looked over her shoulder.

"No," replied Raditz. Ima sighed and slowly turned around. Vegeta's eyes widened as he understood Ima's words and the reason why she had been going slow. Her stomach was fat with child, her arms gently cradling it. The future of their species. His child. He knew that the child was fully developed, the last three months in Saiyan pregnancy were just for developing the dense musculature that Saiyan's possessed. "Stay here," he ordered Nappa and Raditz numbly before walking over to Ima, his eyes fixed on her stomach.

"This is why you ran away?" he said slowly. Ima nodded.

"I killed you," said Vegeta.

"What? What are you talking about?" said Ima confused.

"I killed you, for betraying your race and fleeing like a coward," stated Vegeta firmly, "Isn't that right?" He raised his voice for the last three words.

"Yes, boss," replied Nappa, "Blasted her into a billion pieces, it was brutal, wasn't Raditz?"

"Absolutely," confirmed Raditz albeit unenthusiastically.

"Vegeta, you've never done a kind thing in your life, why are you doing this?" said Ima.

"I will not allow my child to be raised under Freiza's tyranny," said Vegeta, "I want you to get as far away from Freiza's territory as you can before you give birth. If Freiza asks, I killed you, give me something of yours so I can confirm it." Ima removed a small chain from around her neck. "The mark of Thuranz, the last one in existence," she said, handing it over.

"Perfect," said Vegeta, taking it, "Now. Run before I regain my sanity." Ima smiled and then quickly turned and headed off as fast as a heavily pregnant Saiyan could.

Vegeta smirked and took another drag from his cigarette. Ima, even after everything he'd put her and Appura through, had never uttered a word of that encounter to anyone, not even their daughter. He owed her his daughter, perhaps he could pretend to like the pathetic weakling Ima had chosen as his replacement, after all, Yamcha only had what forty years left before his life energy ran out...Ima had potentially another hundred or so...

Appura sighed as she walked back into her room, removing her curlers as she went. She threw her dress back onto her bed and caught sight of herself in the vanity table's mirror. She groaned and walked into her en-suite bathroom. She ran the warm tap, wet a fresh face cloth and began to clean the eye liner off her skin. She looked up at the mirror and dropped the face cloth in shock. It was not her face that greeted her but rather a wrinkled greyish green face that resembled a frog's, with yellow eyes that just plain looked evil. "Greetings Princess Appura," said the reflection. Appura looked over her shoulder. There was no one there. "Oh I am no mere reflection," he continued, "I am the Grand Sorcerer Puchin...and you will pay for what your family did to me." Appura tried to move but felt frozen to the spot, like every joint and muscle in her body was locked in place. "You are the daughter of a Priestess of Thuranz," continued Puchin, "And it is truly fitting that you are dressed this way, so you will die looking like the whore that your ancestors were." He raised his hand.

Appura had just enough time to scream Gohan's name before bolts of green energy erupted from mirror, shocking her and making her fall to the ground.

"Gohan!" came the scream. Almost as quickly as it started, the scream ended. A thump resounded and Appura's ki began to fluctuate wildly. Gohan, much like the night of the home invasion, acted on instinct. He skidded round the corner, knocking Vegeta clear off his feet as he ran up the stairs. Goku promptly added to the Saiyan pile-up on the hallway floor by not looking where he was going. The door behind them flew open and Bulma appeared just in time to see her friend being flung through the air at her as Gohan leapt back to his feet and ran for Appura's room, Vegeta hot on his heels. She just managed to dodge to Saiyan who dented the floor as he landed. She didn't stop to ask questions; she followed Gohan and Vegeta, closely followed by Ima and Chi-Chi, both of whom were still only half-way through doing their hair.

Gohan practically flew into Appura's room. He looked round, not thinking to check the bathroom and was confused by the lack of Appura. Vegeta marched straight past Gohan and up to the bathroom door. He pulled the door open and was greeted by a horrific sight. His daughter, surrounded by a net of green energy, convulsing on the floor. Time seemed to slow down. He didn't move a muscle and neither did Gohan. Neither of them knew what to do. Ima was the next into the room. She was in her wedding dress, her hair still half in curlers and her make-up wasn't done. She too froze as she saw what was happening. She looked at the mirror. "Puchin..." she said gently, "No, that's impossible..."

"Ima, what do we do?" said Gohan as the others came running in.

"Keep Trunks and Goten out of here," said Ima, "I don't know what to do..." Puchin cackled and the energy net increased in intensity, causing Appura to convulse even more.

"We have to do something!" barked Vegeta.

"Dad..." croaked Appura from the floor. Vegeta looked down as Appura's eyes began to roll back into her head. Her mouth opened and a trickle of blood burst out. Vegeta couldn't help but remember the death of Future Trunks at Cell's hands...he'd be damned if he would watch two of his children die. He took a step forward. "Ah-ah-ahh," said Puchin, "I don't think so, Prince Vegeta, if either you or her whore-mother touch that net, you'll be joining her." He turned up the intensity a little more, causing Appura to spasm even more. Puchin cackled. "Ah, Priestess Ima, I hope you enjoy watching your daughter die like your sisters did," he added. Ima frowned and bared her teeth at the sorcerer.

"You son of a bitch! How fucking dare you!" she snarled.

"I dare because your family condoned that heathen practice of whoring their daughters to the Royal family and called it religion," said Puchin, "I hope you're happy to see your daughter die, looking like a whore."

"No!" cried Gohan. In a split second, he'd pushed past Vegeta and Ima, leapt over Appura and had grabbed the medicine cabinet that the mirror was mounted on. His body blocked the green energy that had been killing Appura, zapping him instead. Appura coughed and spluttered as Ima dropped to her knees next to her. Gohan felt his energy begin to drain and his muscles began to spasm out of his control. He struggled to maintain his grip on the cabinet as he tried to wrench it from the wall. "Boy! What the hell are you doing?" shouted Puchin. Gohan ignored the pain and the shouts and focussed solely on keeping his grip on the cabinet. He finally wrenched it from the wall and threw it to the floor, smashing the mirror. The green energy disappeared and Gohan fell to the floor, feeling drained. "Gohan, are you ok?" came Bulma's voice. Gohan turned and looked. He actually felt fine.

"Medical wing, everyone, now," said Bulma.

Appura sat on the medical wing's bed, one leg crossed over the other, wearing her bath robe that someone had kindly retrieved from Gohan's room. Gohan was leaning out the window, having a sneaky smoke while his mother was out the room. Ima had finally been convinced to go finish getting ready with Chi-Chi as had Yamcha. Vegeta was leaning out the window with Gohan, also having a smoke to calm his frazzled nerves. Goku, Krillin and Piccolo, having already gotten ready, were there for no other reason than they were bored. "Now this is weird," said Bulma, reading the print-out from computer.

"What's wrong?" asked Gohan, bringing his head back in but leaving his hand outside.

"Nothing, that's what's weird," said Bulma, "Everything has come back normal. Your vitals are all normal, slightly increased adrenaline in both of you. Appura shows no sign of internal bleeding. She's got a couple of hormones slightly elevated cos she's in heat..."

"Gee, thanks Bulma," said Appura, putting one hand over her eyes and flushing bright red.

"...Sorry, sweetheart," continued Bulma, "No signs of any trauma or anything with either of them. I know Saiyan's heal quick but this is like there was nothing wrong with them. I guess you're ok to go. Any questions?"

"Yeah, what do you mean Appura's in heat?" asked Gohan.

"Vegeta, I thought you were going to talk to him about that with Ima," said Bulma.

"It's on my to-do list," said Vegeta, looking over his shoulder from the window.

"You can train for eight hours a day but you can't find ten minutes to sit down with Gohan and give him an update on that Saiyan birds and the bees talk you gave him a couple of years ago?" said Bulma.

"What talk?" said Gohan.

"Vegeta!"

"It's on my to-do list, woman!"

The actual ceremony was being held at Capsule Corp while the reception was being held at a hotel a few blocks away. Appura stood, looking out the window. A beautiful archway had been decorated with white flowers. An official was there to preside over the ceremony, several white chairs were stood facing the archway and people were starting to gather. On Yamcha's side were the Z fighters and their families. Piccolo was stood on top of Capsule Corp. On Ima's side were a lot of old friends from Satan City and a few people from West City Records. Yamcha was stood at the archway, chatting with Tien, clearly a bundle of nerves as he kept wringing his hands. Ima was pacing behind Goku and Appura, speaking on the phone in hushed tones. She was speaking to her old boss, the kind man who had taken care of Ima and Appura when they first arrived on earth.

Ima was looking out the window of her pod. A planet was coming up. She rested a hand on her swollen stomach. Maybe this would be a good place to stop and pick up some supplies. She may have been far beyond Freiza's grasp but she still didn't feel entirely safe. She felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen. She was out of time. She started punching buttons to land. She felt another sharp pain. "Oh you just have the best timing, little one," she grunted, as she finished putting in her trajectory. The pod swerved off towards the planet.

The landing was less than smooth and Ima could barely crawl out of the pod. She'd landed a safe distance away from city. Not too far away that she was too far from help but not too close that she landed on someone's home. She crawled out the crater, continuously stopping as another pain hit her. She then stumbled out towards the road. It was dangerous, it was night-time and the road was sparsely lit. Another pain hit and she doubled over. She was just standing up when a car came speeding down the road. The driver wasn't looking forward and it only just registered in his mind that a woman was standing in the road before he almost hit her.

Ima flung out her arms and stopped the car with her strength. The engine died just as her strongest contraction hit. She collapsed onto the road. The door opened and the driver clambered out. "Hey lady, are you ok?" he asked.

"No, please, help," Ima grunted.

"Holy shit! Are you having a baby?" Ima could only nod. The man panicked for a moment before realising there was a hospital just a couple of miles down the road. "C'mon, let's get you to a hospital," he said, helping her up and into his car. He quickly turned the car around and set off for the hospital. "What's your name?" he asked, looking over at the strange woman next to him.

"Ima," she grunted as she tried to breathe deeply, "You?"

"Err. Mike," he said, "Where's the baby's dad?"

"Grr, far away from here but not far enough," said Ima as she tried to get comfortable before the next contraction hit. "Didn't end well between you guys, huh?" said Mike.

"Didn't even start, he just got me pregnant," grunted Ima, "I had to get away from him."

"What about your parents? Any other friends and family?" asked Mike, scared that he was now responsible for this woman. "All dead," said Ima.

"Oh, yeah, King Piccolo killed a lot of people," said Mike. Ima didn't register this. She didn't know who Piccolo was nor did she care. She just wanted to have her baby. Mike pulled in at the hospital. He helped Ima out the car and led her in, passing a young couple who were carrying their own child. Ima turned her head when she thought she saw a tail but passed it off as her imagination. "Can I get some help here?" Mike called. Two nurses ran over. One started to lead Ima to a seat. The other stayed with Mike. "Are you the father?" she asked. Mike shook his head.

"I just found her out by the road," he said, "She says she's run from the father and she doesn't have any family left." The nurse nodded and scurried off to speak to the head nurse.

"Mike!" called a voice. He looked up. It was Ima.

"Please, I'm scared," she said. Mike wanted to run. He didn't even know her. Why should he care about her and her baby? But he didn't run. Instead he sat down next to her. "Don't worry Ima," he said, "I'll stay right beside you for as long as I can." He took her hand.

"Thanks Mike," she said as she patted her stomach, "From both of us."

"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" he asked. She shook her head.

"I don't care," she said, "So long as they're healthy and don't take too much after their father."

"Where will you go afterwards?" asked Mike, "You look like you've been on the run for a while and you don't have any family." Ima just shrugged.

"I dunno," she said, "I never thought this far ahead." Mike bit his lip and thought for a moment. Another contraction hit. Thankfully instead of squeezing his hand, Ima grabbed hold of the chair next to her. She let out a scream and pulled the chair up. Mike stared at her physical strength. That chair had been bolted to the floor! Then an idea hit him. "You know, if you want to, I have a place you can stay and a job for you if you don't mind heavy lifting," he said. Ima looked at him as she dropped the chair. "I need a warehouse worker," he said, "It's just stacking shelves but it's good money. I can also give you an apartment in the City in a block I own. My wife will watch the little one too."

"Won't she be watching your own children?" said Ima. Mike shook his head.

"My wife and I...we can't have children," he said, "Lazy swimmers." He smiled painfully.

"Thank you Mike," said Ima, "But...why?" She wasn't used to this sort of kindness.

"I can't let a woman and her child live on the streets," he said.

Ima was on the phone with Mike right now. She'd worked with him for fifteen years before she and Appura had moved to West City. He'd promised he'd give her away but now, his wife was sick. He couldn't make it. She hung around and screamed through clenched teeth. "Mike's not coming is he?" said Appura. Ima shook her head. She flopped down onto a chair and put her head in her hands. She looked defeated. Appura smiled as an idea formed in her head. Mike was the closest man to family they had except for one. Appura ran outside, heading for where everyone was sat, heading for the row where the Briefs and Son families were sitting. "Everything ok, Appura?" asked Chi-Chi as she tried to wrestle Goten into sitting still.

"Minor technical hitch," said Appura, "Dad, I need your help." Vegeta didn't move.

"What?" he grunted.

"Dad, Mike can't make it, mom doesn't have anyone to give her away," said Appura.

"And that's my problem how?"

"C'mon, Dad, for once in your life stop being such an ass and do something nice for the woman who gave birth to your kid," said Appura. She was no longer afraid of him so she wasn't afraid to poke the bear once in a while. Vegeta sat stock still for a moment for getting to his feet and shuffling out the row. He didn't say a word; he just headed back to the house. Appura smiled and looked at Bulma who gave her the thumbs up. Appura quickly headed back to the house. "So I just have to escort you down the aisle to that moron?" she heard her father say as she walked in.

"Yes, Vegeta, and then you can go sit back down," replied Ima, "It's all ceremonial."

"I'd rather go back to training after but Bulma disconnected the gravity room," muttered Vegeta, "Fine! I'll do it."

"Thank you Vegeta," replied Ima. Appura smiled. It was nice to see her parents getting along.

"He really makes you happy?" asked Vegeta. Ima nodded.

"Not that I care," he quickly added.

"Sure sure Vegeta," said Ima as she checked her hair in the mirror. Goku smiled and started heading out to stand next to Yamcha as he was best man. Vegeta extended his left arm slightly and Ima linked hers with his. Appura smiled and took her place behind them. They started heading up the aisle with Appura just behind them. As they reached the end, Appura watched her father bend down and say something to her mother quietly. She couldn't hear it, but it made her mom smile.

Yamcha couldn't help but stare at Ima. She looked beautiful. She wore a white dress that came down to her mid-calves with plain white shoes. She also wore a silver bridal jacket. She looked amazing, especially with the flowers that Bulma and Chi-Chi had woven into her hair. He barely registered when the official addressed him. Goku had to poke him in the shoulder so he could recite his vows. He stuttered a lot but he got them out. He could feel himself blushing deep red in front of her, especially when she recited her own perfectly. The official announced them as husband and wife. Yamcha smiled, stepped forward and kissed his new wife. Without a doubt, this was the happiest day of his life.

The group were just making their way to the front gates of Capsule Corp to head to the reception when a car sped past swiftly followed by a few police cars. Ima looked over her shoulder. Gohan and Appura were watching the cars go past with a look on their faces that clearly said they wanted to follow. "Go on you two, don't be too long," she said quietly and smiling.

"You sure?" said Gohan. Ima nodded.

"Go on," said Yamcha, "Looks like fun."

"Yes," hissed Appura.

"Just be back for the first dance," said Ima. The two teens smiled and nodded. Bulma had tidied up Appura's Saruo costume and built it into a watch like she had for Gohan. The pair hurried away from the group, so as not to arouse suspicion.

Hidden out of sight, they pressed the buttons on their watches and instantly became the Great Saiyaman and Saruo. They took to the air, quickly catching up with the chase. "Ok, I'll stop the criminal, you slow down the cops so they don't cause an accident," said Gohan.

"Right!" said Appura. Gohan sped up and landed in road some way ahead of the speeding vehicle. People stopped and stared. The Great Saiyaman was a rare sight in West City. "Halt, criminal," he said, holding out one hand to stop the car. The criminals inside were so shocked, they slammed on the brakes. Saruo hadn't had chance to warn the police to slow down and were going to crash into the stopped vehicle. She quickly landed and stopped the first police car with her strength, crumpling the front of it, destroying the engine. The next two subsequently smashed into the first police car and shunted it and Saruo forward a few feet. Slightly dazed, the officers clambered out the cars. "Sorry about that!" she called over to them.

"Not a problem," said one of them, "Those men have just robbed West City's top jewellers, including some custom pieces that were made for Bulma Briefs herself!" Saruo hurried over to the criminal's car and ripped off one of the doors. Between her and the Great Saiyaman, they pulled all three criminals from the car and deposited them in the police cars that weren't totalled.

"Thank you Saiyaman and you too Saruo!" said one of the police officers.

"All in a day's work," said Saiyaman. Saruo sniggered.

"You sound so stupid with that voice," she said.

"Shut up," hissed Saiyaman, "Hadn't we better make a move? We're going to be late."

"Yes, something far scarier than fighting crime will be waiting for us if we're late," said Saruo.

"What's that?" asked the police officer.

"Our mothers," said Saruo and Saiyaman in unison.

"So, you wanted to talk," said Ima, her arms folded as she stepped out of the hotel. Vegeta was watching for Gohan and Appura's return.

"Yes, I want you to explain how the fuck Puchin is still alive," barked Vegeta, "He should have died the day our original homeworld was destroyed."

"Vegeta, I've told you everything I know," said Ima, "I told you, I was only a child when it happened. Most of what I know is what your own father told me. The only thing I remember clearly from that day was my father dying." Vegeta bowed his head.

"Someone, somewhere, has lied to us," he said softly, "I don't think the original Planet Vegeta was destroyed in civil war; I think we were forced from it and our elders lied to prevent us seeking revenge."

"Whatever, Vegeta," said Ima, "What's happened has happened, I suggest we move on." She began to head back inside.

"But, there could be more Saiyans out there," wondered Vegeta.

"And if there are, they are loyal to Kuda, not Vegeta," said Ima stiffly, "They made that clear when they started the war."

"But..."

"Now you listen to me, Vegeta," snapped Ima, turning to face the Saiyan Prince again, "I saw that war tear our people in two, I watched my sister's die in agony because some alien declared them whores and heathens...I watched my father die to protect yours...I don't wish to believe they are still alive...I am happiest with there only being four Saiyans left; me, you, Kakarot and Appura. I suggest you leave it alone." She promptly turned and headed back inside, her last memories of the planet she was born on flashing through her mind.

Seventy years before...

"Come, Kabu, we must run!" bellowed King Vegeta as the pods began to take off behind him, making his red cape billow in the wind. The man he was shouting at was limping and carried a small girl in his arms. Vegeta rushed forward and took the girl from the man. "Kabu..." he started. The injured man pushed the King away. "No, my King," he said, "Leave me. I'll just slow you down, save my daughter, save Ima!"

"Papa!" cried Ima as she struggled to free herself from the King's grip.

"Kabu..." said Vegeta once more.

"No, my King! Save her, I could not save her sisters! Save my daughter!" barked Kabu, "I'll hold off Puchin and Kuda's men as long as I can. Take her, take my youngest and get her to safety." The King debated everything in his head as he looked down on High Priest Kabu. "Save her," said Kabu once again, "Save yourself." The King didn't argue anymore. He tightened his grip on the five-year old girl in his arms and ran for the remaining pods. "Papa!" Ima cried as she looked over the King's shoulder at her father. King Vegeta found an empty pod and climbed in, one arm still clamped around the struggling girl. He took one last look and saw Kabu, his trusted friend and advisor crumple to the ground before Puchin. The sorcerer's attention turned towards the last pod and he began shouting a curse. King Vegeta quickly slammed the pod door shut and switched on the engines, blasting him and the Priest's youngest daughter into space.

Ima began to cry. The King just looked down at her, unsure what to do. He sighed and switched on the communication system. "Alright everyone, we managed to make it off the planet with minimal losses," he said as the other pods indicated they were listening, "Follow me. Time to find a new home." He plotted a course as far away from his home world as possible and fired the engines. The hundreds of thousands of other pods that had blasted into space from around the planet followed.

The King sighed and leant back against the seat as the little girl in his lap sobbed. How had it come to this? He, the King, running from his own planet, in fear for his life. He looked down at Ima and reminded himself that Kuda had started all this and now, Vegeta's only responsibility was to those loyal to him. He would find them a home, even if it meant eradicating a whole other species.

Gohan took a drag from his cigarette and looked up at the sky and the stars. He exhaled the grey smoke as the door behind him slammed shut. "My mother is never allowed to get drunk ever again," came Appura's voice. She sat down on the stone steps next to him, two half-drunk glasses of champagne in her hands.

"Why? What did she do?" asked Gohan as he traded his cigarette for one of the glasses. Appura took a quick drag on the cigarette before answering. "

She's only decided to go and announce to everyone that she used to fool around with your uncle," she said, making Gohan choke on the champagne.

"What?" he croaked as he wiped his chin.

"Yeah, you and I, almost cousins," said Appura, knocking back the champagne in her glass, "Dad isn't helping. He just sits there, encouraging her. He's as wasted as she is." Gohan laughed. Vegeta had certainly been slurring his words a little but that wasn't surprising as they'd been drinking for a good eight or nine hours now. Yamcha was currently passed out in the honeymoon suite having been carried up there by Gohan and Goku an hour ago. Gohan and Appura were still sober having spent the rest of the day running around, attempting to keep Trunks and Goten in line. The pair were currently fast asleep, lying across some chairs, waiting to be taken home. Chi-Chi and Bulma were sitting at the bar, giggling as they compared husbands, Goku was finishing off the remnants of the buffet and Vegeta and Ima were just too wasted to do much except attempt to bitch at each other and fail miserably in their drunken stupor. All the other guests had either gone home or gone to their rooms in the hotel, including Chester, Appura's bi-sexual childhood friend, who had been very drunk when he left and kissed both Gohan and Appura on the lips as he went. Gohan and Appura were to take the boys back to Capsule Corp and stay there overnight.

There had only been one more hitch in the wedding, bringing the grand total to three. Chester's older brother, Lao, the man who had slept with Appura and then run away two years before had shown up. Vegeta had smashed three or four tables in an attempt to get to the man but had been too late. Appura had got there first and broken Lao's nose. Lao had quickly left, only stopping to call Vegeta and Appura 'psychos' before running away from the angry Saiyans.

Appura stubbed out the cigarette. "C'mon," she said, "You and I have some work to do before we can go home."

"Like what?" asked Gohan, thinking that now the wedding was over surely the work was too.

"Like, tearing your mom and my step-mom away from the bar, your dad away from the food and putting my parents in the correct rooms, and that's before we even speak to the hotel manager about the three urinals our fathers broke when they started fighting in the bathroom," said Appura standing up. Gohan sniggered and stood up to follow her. That had been a funny sight. Apparently, Vegeta hadn't taken kindly to Goku using the urinal right next to him and it had wound up becoming an all-out brawl.

It was almost two in the morning before Gohan and Appura arrived back at Capsule Corp, each carrying their exhausted younger brother. The pair were happy with a job well done, all three sets of parents were asleep in the correct rooms with the correct partners and the hotel manager's palm had been greased sufficiently that all the staff who'd been kept up two hours longer than previously thought could be paid and all damages would be fixed with a little to spare. Appura led the way to Trunk's room and found a clear path from the door to the large bed amongst all the toys, half-finished puzzles and board games. She, rather unceremoniously, dropped her little brother onto the bed where he stretched, scratched his nose and rolled over, all without waking. Gohan, rather more gently, put Goten down next to his best friend. He turned around just in time to see his lover disappearing out the door. He smiled and followed her down the hallway to her room.

Appura dropped onto the bed and kicked off her shoes. She looked beautiful in her silver knee-length bridesmaid dress. Her hair was fully-grown now, almost reaching her waist and identical to her mother's, making the two of them almost look like twins save for the light lines that creased the corners of Ima's eyes, showing her age. Appura reached up and grabbed Gohan's tie, pulling him down for a kiss. He ran his hands through her long hair, slowly extracting the white flower that was tucked behind her ear. "Gohan," she said softly, "I lo..." Gohan cut her off with a bruising kiss.

"Don't say it," he whispered against her lips, "Show me." Appura leant backwards onto the bed, pulling Gohan with her. He bent his head down and began kissing and licking the soft spot where her ear met her neck. Appura's hands snuck around his neck, holding him close as he gently used his knees to part hers and knelt between them. He gently nipped at her neck, making her moan gently and she returned the favour. He slid his hands around her hips and gripped her butt, pulling her hips closer to his. "You look beautiful," he whispered to her, "And all I wanted to do all day is kiss you, let people know you're mine..." He tried to stop himself from saying the last five words but a primitive part of his brain switched on whilst he was talking and wouldn't let the rational part control his mouth. Appura paused. "Yours?" she said. Gohan winced at her tone. She pulled her head back and looked at him. Gohan didn't know what to do. She still had her legs hooked over his hips and her hands on his neck so he wasn't sure she knew what she was going to do either. He just looked at her, hoping she didn't freak out too much. She looked at him for a moment before whispering, "What were those last two words?"

"You're mine?" he said cautiously. A feral smile crept across her face.

"Say it again," she said in a voice barely more than a growl.

"You're mine," Gohan said a little more confidently. He felt her move her hips against him and she reached up and kissed him.

"Say it again," she whispered against his lips as she began opening his shirt buttons.

"You're mine," Gohan said, reaching underneath her and unfastening her dress, "You're all mine. No other man can have you." She'd undone all his shirt buttons and his tie and was pushing them off along with his suit jacket. Her dress was now loose around her top half. He tightened his grip on her before flipping them over so she was on top, straddling him. She pulled her dress off so she was only in her underwear, the beautiful white corset with matching panties and stockings. She smiled as she felt Gohan harden beneath her as his eyes took her in. He shifted himself so he was sitting up and holding her against him. His hands slid over her buttocks and gripped them tightly, forcing her to move up and forward. His head ended up in her ample bust, not that he was complaining. He lavished attention on her breasts, kissing and nipping the soft flesh. Her hands were in his hair as he began to untie the white silk ribbons that fastened the corset.

Slowly, almost tortuously slowly, the corset started to slip from her body, exposing her to him. He pulled it away from her and it joined her dress and his shirt on the floor. He could tell she was very aroused. The first clue was the intense heat that his member was yearning to reach through his remaining clothing, the second was her breasts. Both had little hard nubs that were just begging for his attention. He gladly gave it, taking one in his mouth, eliciting a gasp from his beautiful Saiyan lover as he gently rolled it with his tongue. "Gohan," she moaned his name. He quickly silenced her with a kiss.

"Shhh, my love," he whispered, "We don't want to wake them." He lay back, pulling her with him. Her hands fumbled with his pants fastening. He smiled and whispered, "Impatient little Princess" to her mockingly as she finally got them open. Gohan wrapped his arms around her and rolled them so they were lying on the bed properly with him on top, careful not to kneel on her tail.

He quickly removed the last of his clothing before returning his attention back to the beautiful woman before him. He kissed her lips before trailing them down over her jaw, her neck, her chest, gently nuzzling her breasts as he went. He kissed her stomach and stopped just millimetres from her panties. "Gohan, why'd you stop?" she whimpered as she felt his hot breath on her skin.

"You're mine," Gohan said in a voice so low that Appura barely recognised it as his, "Do you understand what that means? If you ever go near another man, I'll rip his head from his shoulders and then I'll do the same to you." He surprised himself with the sudden surge of possessiveness he felt.

"I know," came Appura's response, surprising him even more, "I'm yours. All yours." Gohan reached up and gently stroked where her skin met the material of her panties with one finger from her hip to just below her navel then trailed downwards between her legs. She gasped and he kissed her thigh as he continued to caress her intimate area through her panties. "Gohan!" she moaned. The Hybrid smiled, deciding he'd tortured her enough. With one swift movement, he literally ripped the panties from her body, leaving her in just her stockings. He returned to kissing her neck as he rubbed himself against her heat, her legs involuntarily wrapping around his waist. "You're mine," he whispered in her ear and thrust himself into her. Appura bit her lip so as not to cry out. If Trunks and Goten discovered them, there would be hell to pay. Gohan's strong hands grabbed her arms and held them above her head as he began move against her, grunting as he did so.

Something was different tonight. Gohan was normally a very gentle lover but tonight...he was very animalistic and primal, very...Saiyan. His sharp canine teeth seemed to grow longer and scraped against the skin on her neck. "Mine," he kept grunting, "All mine." His pace picked up and he let go of her arms to support himself. Her hands roamed over his muscled back, her finger nails leaving red trails across his skin. Gohan could feel that familiar pressure growing in his groin and knew he was close. "Appura," he whispered against her neck before biting down hard on the delicate skin as he came, puncturing it and his tongue lapped up her bitter blood. A euphoric wave washed over him as he felt her bite his neck in the same place, breaking the skin and drawing blood. They lay that way for a while, legs and bodies still entwined, teeth still sunk into each other's skin until they each stopped bleeding and finally pulled away from each other. Gohan looked down at her, his woman, his prize. She licked away a stray few drops of blood that were stuck to her upper lip as she looked into his eyes. The marks on their necks were red and raw. They were perfect symmetry too. On the right hand side, just where the neck met the shoulder.

Puchin smirked as he looked at the building from the other side of the chain link fence, the words 'Capsule Corporation' painted on the side. Perfect, the girl was mated. He could take out a couple of the others when he exacted his revenge on King Vegeta and the Temple of Thuranz. He walked six feet further down the fence, leaning on his staff. He couldn't actually enter the compound. The security was too strict and he couldn't risk being trapped in there should the Priestess or Prince return. He had hoped to take out the Priestess today but he had waited seventy years to kill her, a little while longer couldn't hurt. He extended his right hand toward the building, towards a fifth-storey window. The window belonging to the Princess Appura's room. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and imagined himself becoming one with the wind. He could see, even though his eyes were closed. He went to the window and peered in. The Princess lay asleep and smiling in the arms of the eldest half-breed son of some third-class dog, her mate. Oh, the Prince would be furious when he found out what they'd done and he would. But for now, Puchin would bide his time, allow Kuda to carry out his plan, and then, at their weakest moment, he would destroy Vegeta, Ima and Appura. The descendants of those who had defied his word.

The next morning, Appura craned her neck to get a better look at the mark on it in the mirror. Two perfect puncture marks on the right hand side, where her neck met her shoulder. The feminine meets the masculine if she quoted her mother's sex talk. Appura swallowed. This could cause some problems, mostly with her father but it was his own fault. He should have explained Saiyan mating habits to Gohan like Bulma had asked him to. Not that it would have changed what happened the night before. Even if her father had told him, Gohan would still have marked her. Saiyans fall hard and fast, but at least if he'd had The Talk, Appura would have been able to talk about it with him. As it stood, Gohan had no idea what he'd done and Appura was too shy to explain. She would just have to let nature take its course.

She sighed and looked into the new mirror in her bathroom. She could see the TV on the dresser in her bedroom was switched on, meaning Gohan was awake. It was a news programme, featuring some Army General who was talking about the problems with vigilantes. She tore her eyes away from the TV reflection and looked at her own. She had to admit, she liked the way she looked in Gohan's t-shirt that bore the name 'Son Gohan' on it. She smiled. A picture of her and Gohan as the Great Saiyaman and Saruo appeared on the TV. They looked good together. She smiled even more. She was meant for him and him for her. Together, they could take on anything...except maybe her dad.

A/N: This is 15 ½ pages long! I can't believe it only took me three days to put together from various versions of this chapter I'd already written. I hope you guys enjoyed it!