Love the response for this guys! Hope you enjoy this chapter as well!
Vegeta didn't dream that night.
The sun was just peeking over the horizon when he awoke. Yawning, the prince stretched and rose from bed to ready himself for morning training. Once he was clean and dressed, he made his way across the hall and down the stairs.
This time, he was surprised to see someone else besides himself awake; the girl was perched on the railing of the back porch, gazing out at the morning sky. She was in her purple nightgown from the night before with her hair still mused from sleep. Kumi looked up when he approached, "G'morning Veggie." She greeted him quietly, smiling politely. He grunted and sat next to her on the stairs, watching the rising sun.
The two sat in silence staring out at the morning sun as it rose above the horizon. Vegeta looked at the girl out of the corner of his eye; she didn't seem as terrified as she was the night before, however, the wariness in her eyes was still present. Her stomach growled and she giggled, "My tummy made the rummblies!" She looked at him with a big grin, "Momma says it's the tummy monster yelling for food." Her grin faded at the mention of her mother and the prince ruffled her hair, "Well let's get you fed then, kid." He stood and led her into the kitchen.
He dug around in the cabinets for something simple to feed her as his cooking skills were limited and it was much too early for anyone else to be awake. Kumi yawned from her place next to him and climbed up on the counter to assist him, "What are you doing?" Vegeta asked, giving her a soft glare. The girl just smiled and reached up to take a box of cereal off the shelf, "Helping," with that, she leapt off of the counter with the cereal and went to the table. The prince frowned and retrieved two bowls and spoons from the cabinet before joining her at the table.
Putting the box of cereal down on the table, Kumi walked towards the fridge and opened it with her tail. Vegeta vaguely entertained the idea of how easy this was for the two of them as he prepared the two bowls with the appropriate amount of cereal as she returned with the milk. He watched as she struggled to lift the jug of milk onto the table and was quick to take the jug from her. She frowned but let him pour the milk into their bowls and sat across from him.
Once the milk was poured and the table was set, the two dug into their breakfast hungrily, not caring about how much cereal was spilled out onto the tabletop. Vegeta looked up at her as she lifted the bowl to her lips to slurp up her milk, chuckling when she spilled some onto her nightgown. She grinned up at him in return and continued on with her breakfast. When they'd had their fill, they each took their dishes to the sink and then headed outside; Vegeta with the intention of going to train and Kumi because Veggie was heading outside.
The prince noticed this and turned to her, causing the young one to bump her nose into his leg, "If you want to be out here, you should change out of your night clothes." He said, nodding to her purple nightgown. Kumi's grin grew and she dashed off back into the house, her tail flying out behind her.
Vegeta chuckled and began to do some warm ups on the lawn, seeing as he was still banned from the gravity room; the thought only ruining his mood. He continued his warm up with some mock punches and kicks in the air while he waited, not acknowledging the small demi saiyan a few yards behind him.
Kumi ran out of the house wearing some clothes that she found in her dresser: a black tank top, some cargo shorts and a pair of sneakers; she'd tried to find something close to what Veggie was wearing and this was the closest she could get. Once she'd gotten outside, he had already started whatever he was doing.
He was lifting his arms over his head and leaning over to the side; Kumi did the same, feeling a strange pull in her side. But it didn't bother her, so she kept following him. He switched to the other side and so did she. This continued on until Vegeta was finished with his stretches and began his combat warm ups.
Of course, he had noticed that she had arrived and had been copying him; he was just as curious about how she would do as she was about what he was doing. Vegeta figured she would do one of two things: She would either grow board or tired and leave him to his training.
Or she would continue with training and demand to try more as she had yesterday. He hoped it was the latter.
He was purposely going slow as though he was teaching her. His mock punches and kicks were slower and more precise than he would normally do, so she could see clearly and copy.
It wasn't until he heard her 'oof' as she fell over from kicking too high that he turned around and acknowledged her.
She was getting onto her feet when he caught her gaze with a stern look. Immediately, he saw her shock and panic at being caught, like she thought he would be angry with her for being there. She looked away first, looking down at her sneakers in shame.
That wouldn't do.
"Kid,"
Her head shot up and he smirked.
"Keep your center up when you kick. You only fell over because you were leaning too far to the other side." He corrected, showing her with a kick of his own. And like magic, the shame melted away and was replaced by determination. Her eyes lit up and she grinned, copying his movements with ease.
The two continued this way for another hour or two, Vegeta demonstrating and Kumi eagerly listening to his critique and following his instruction. He had to admit, she was doing better than he had given her credit for. Kumi was panting by the time the others began to rise and greet the world.
Bulma didn't know what to make of the situation, although she couldn't say she was surprised in any sense; Kumi had practically been stuck to Vegeta's hip since she had arrived. The thought made her smile into her cup of coffee as she leaned against the porch railing, watching the two in the yard. 'He's so good with her. Good with kids.' She thought, mentally adding it to the growing list of pros for Vegeta.
Sensing the rest of the house waking and Kumi's waning energy, the prince declared that they should break for water and food, "To keep your strength up," he told her when she went to argue. The two walked back into the kitchen, Vegeta grabbing two water bottles from the fridge on his way to the table. He handed one to Kumi, who in turn handed him an apple she had snagged from the fruit bowl on the counter, biting into one of her own as she did. The two nodded to each other before heading back out onto the porch for their break.
Again, Bulma didn't know what to make of the scene before her: these two aliens who just met yesterday, one prince that didn't fully trust anyone on this planet and a little girl that no one knew a whole lot about. Yet here they were, already communicating in silent looks and nods. The blue haired scientist stayed on the porch and watched the two; she told herself it because she was worried about the little girl, but her eyes lingered on the way Vegeta's muscles moved under the tight uniform.
Goku and Gohan showed up another hour or so later to use the gravity room. Bulma informed them that they missed the show as Kumi had taken a break for lunch and was resting on the porch beside the her, watching Vegeta train. Goku raised a brow before motioning her inside.
Once the two were in the kitchen, he turned to her, "Do we know anything about Kumi yet? Her parents? Who those guys were that are after her?" he asked, sounding worried. Bulma shook her head, "I haven't gotten the chance to talk to her yet, she was training with Vegeta when I got up this morning. She doesn't seem very comfortable with anyone other than him." She looked outside where the child in question sat on the porch, conversing with Gohan.
Gohan watched his father and Bulma go into the house before approaching the younger saiyan, "Hello Kumi." She looked up and jumped on him with a grin, "Gohan!" she squealed in delight, making him giggle. He put her down and they resumed watching Vegeta run through his training.
The young demi saiyan nudged her shoulder, "Have you been practicing with him?" Kumi nodded enthusiastically, "Yea, we did kicks and stuff like this." She got up and started to demonstrate a jump kick, almost falling off the porch in the process. Gohan laughed and caught her arm, setting her upright, "Wow, you're a natural." She grinned again, sitting back down, "Yea, my momma taught me some stuff." Her grin slipped a bit and the boy noticed, "Kumi, where is your mother?"
Kumi looked away for a moment, "She's in the scary place, with the mean doctors with needles and the bad people." A deep voice answered. The two looked up to see Vegeta had wondered over during their conversation. The girl was quiet, staring at the wooden porch, until the prince headed inside nudging her along with him. Gohan followed behind them, both curiosity and worry coloring his features.
OoOoO
Kumi sat at the table, eyes downcast and a heavy weight in her stomach. Veggie and Carrot sat on either side of her, offering support as Bulma asked her gently prodding questions about herself: where the scary place was, where she ran from, why she was running, who was chasing her.
She didn't answer much beyond a shrug and it was starting to eat away at Vegeta's nerves. He bumped her shoulder none too gently when she shrugged again, "Kid, I know you don't want to talk about it, but we need to know these things to keep you safe." Goku nodded, "And get you back to your mother." Kumi looked up at the two of them with watery eyes, "I'm scared."
Bulma reached across the table and grabbed the little girl's hand, squeezing it gently, "I know, sweetheart, but we can only help you if you tell us ok?" Kumi shook her head, "No, Mr. Red is gonna get me…he always does." Vegeta leaned forward, "Who is Mr. Red?"
"He's the bad man that brings the needles after lunch time." She said with a grimace, "He left the door open yesterday and Momma took me outside to play a game." Goku's brows knit together, "What game?" Kumi sniffled, "She said it was hide and seek; we were gonna hide from the bad man and doctors." Vegeta met Bulma's eyes across the table; this wasn't good, "What happened next, kid?"
Kumi looked away, "There was a loud ringing noise and Momma told me to run into the woods, but I got lost and I don't know where she is." Her eyes welled up with tears, "I miss my Momma!" she cried, throwing herself into Vegeta's neck. And like that, he had her in his arms, rubbing at her back; much like he had the night before.
He didn't like this, not one bit. He met Kakarot's eye and nodded at the same look of determination in his eye. The look that said they were gonna find these men and get this girl back to her mother.
OoOoO
Kumi was quiet for the rest of the day, watching everyone train from the porch. Veggie and Carrot were inside with the blue lady talking and it wasn't until Gohan began training with the green man from yesterday that she moved from her spot on the deck.
Gohan didn't like that Kumi was so quiet and sad looking; he wanted his new friend to laugh and smile like she had the day before and that morning when she had seen him. She smiled when he pulled her from the porch and onto the grass to train, but he could tell it wasn't a real smile.
He threw a punch at her and wasn't surprised that she dodged it and landed a kick to his side. It wasn't a hard kick, but he could tell that she put her whole body into it. He pushed it away, noticing her grin as he jumped back, giving them space. She sank into the fighting stance they taught her the day before, smiling excitedly.
The two spared around the yard, falling in the dirt every now and then, laughing like the children they were. Goku watched from the porch, taking a moment from arguing with Vegeta inside; it had been a while since he saw his son act like his age. Gohan was only seven and had been in more battles than most people had ever been in in their entire lives, it was refreshing to see him play with Kumi.
He leaned against the house, his arms crossed, deep in thought. Vegeta had wanted to go back to where they found Kumi and track her steps back to where she had come from; not a bad plan but, they had no idea what would be waiting for them. He had to admit, the prince had made a good point when Goku had shot down his idea: there was very little evidence that Kumi's mother would even still be alive.
Whoever this Mr. Red was, they didn't think that he would let a breech in security go without some sort of consequence.
The two saiyan were arguing while Bulma ran their DNA against Kumi's to try and figure out if they were related in anyway. She claimed it was just covering the bases, just in case; if only to give her something to do to get away from their constant arguing. She knew they were worried about Kumi and that, somehow in the last 24 hours, the two had grown fond of the little girl, but Bulma was worried about her too; they didn't know where this base was or even if her mother was alright.
Her hands stilled over the keyboard; she didn't want to think about that. Kumi was obviously really close to her mother and Bulma didn't know what she would do without her mother; no child deserved to lose their parent. Kumi would be devastated and where would she go? Would she stay here, with Bulma? She had enough room but with the rising threat of the androids and whoever was after the kid in the first place, that would only endanger the girl.
There was no way she could just kick her out, she was just a kid and Bulma doubted Vegeta would agree with that decision.
After running the tests as much as she could, the blue haired scientist left her lab and made her way to the back of the house.
OoOoO
Dinner was quiet that night and, after the two Sons retired home for the evening, Kumi went upstairs to her room. Vegeta knew she was crying but he didn't make a move to go comfort her; he didn't see a point. She needed to work through the thick of it on her own and then, if she asked, he would help her.
Kumi sat on the balcony with her forehead against the cool metal of the railing. Her eyes were closed, and she sighed shakily. She had been crying since Gohan had left; she was so confused. She liked it here, Veggie and Carrot were nice and so was the blue lady and Gohan too, but she missed her momma. Actually, talking about what happened helped her remember what she needed to do; she had to find her momma.
With that thought in mind, the young girl stood and gave a shaky sigh. She looked up to the moon, taking comfort in its full glow then she looked towards the woods that lay beyond the property line. A feeling of determination swelled in her chest and she held her head up high; she would find her momma all on her own.
Turning on her heel, she ran back into her room and began to rummage through her closet until she found what she was looking for: a backpack. It was a sparkly gray color, 'perfect for sneaking', she thought.
She took the bag and began stuffing clothes into it, not paying much attention to what they looked like. After she was satisfied with the bulging pack, she zipped it up and slid on a hoodie and her shoes. She looked around the room, checking to make sure she wasn't missing anything, before throwing a strap over her shoulder and heading out on the balcony.
Nobody panic! I have a plan for little Kumi, trust me.
Until next time lovelies,
~Shikamaru'sLove