A/N: Thanks for the reviews!

Mew57 : Hey! Love you too! :D Don't worry Vegeta and Bulma will be just fine, hopeful? Lol, an Radditz and Goku will find out soon enough

isha: Oh, well what happen was that my computer with that story crashed...and I didn't feel like doing it over so I decide it was better to cut my loss. I'm sorry about that!

Nura20 : Hope you keep reading! :)

CHAPTER 23

Guilt had been the emotion burning within the princess' being as she finally made it back to the camp. It was late, but after announcing the camp's alert cry she was welcomed in. Something had happen when she woke up in that lonely room and it cut her straight to the soul. She had taken life for granted; she had clung to her own selfish reasoning. How could she have ruled a kingdom without the character of a real queen?

"Raven" interrupted David, catching her attention.

She glanced over her shoulder at the older man. She could see his profile by the light from the torch he held in hand. She hoped he wouldn't keep her long; she had things to think over. "Have you seen Goku and Radditz?" he asked.

Why would she have seen them? "No, I haven't. I really need to get to my tent, can we talk later?"

"Is something ailing you?" his voice filled with concern.

There was much ailing her, but she hadn't the words to speak of it. Her father had been right about her childish mannerism, even Launch had been right. She wanted things that she seen with her eyes, and didn't care whether it was right. She may have just been the reason for this entire war, all because she defied her father's wishes.

Marry Absalom that was all she had to do. He didn't come to her with war, but in hopes of joining their kingdoms together. Now many would be endanger, and all because of her selfishness. "I've made some terrible mistakes" she breathed, biting her bottom lip.

She could feel the heaviness on her heart, and the tears that wanted to come. How could she be entrusted with the kingdom? She would have everyone kilt. It was obvious with how many times she came close to death. She had also put Goku's life in jeopardy as well.

"We have all made some mistakes in are lives…you look like you have seen a ghost?"

ChiChi scoffed at the comment. "I've realized the true danger I've put everyone in, and how I may have signed everyone's death warrant. I should have married Absalom."

"A heart has the way of speaking the wisdom of God when we don't even know it. Don't regret the ones that will make a change that your heart needs. Embrace them and walk in the place you are destiny to be" he informed.

Where she was supposed to be? Why did David always speak in some unknown language? "How can I change anything when I'm so concern with myself, and what I want?"

"By showing someone else you put their needs first…even when you don't want too" he answered.

"Someone else…" she whispered. How could she do that? All her life she had been on the receiving end…she hadn't the slightest idea of how to be the giver. "Good night, David" she said, hurrying towards her tent.

She was tired, miserable, guilty and shameful! She had no desire to talk. She was nearly to her tent when she heard a few men chuckling, and rattling. She assumed it had been the guards bothering their blonde hair prisoner again. Quickly she slipped by not giving a second glance, and hurried inside her tent.

She needed to rest, and she needed to figure how she'd make amend for the mess she created. Marrying Prince Absalom was no longer an option, so she'd have to stick to the one she could- sewing the remaining suites. She laid down in her tent, after lighting her lantern. Of course she needed some rest first.

Her eyes were heavy with sleep, but the banter outside her tent was bothering her. "Put someone else before you" she whispered into the darkness, trying to keep her mind from the teasing guards. How could she do that? ChiChi laughed, shaking away a few unnecessary thoughts. "Leave it to David to give troubling advice…I mean when you don't want too? Wouldn't it be good enough if you do when you choose?"

A loud clanking drew her attention, and then she heard the voice of a woman yell. ChiChi was certain it was the girl, and by the sound of it she was certain she was calling for Krillen. Why would she call him? ChiChi turned to her side, covering her ears in hopes of drowning out the racket. She just needed a few minutes of sleep and then she would be well enough to finish the patterns.

Sleep had nearly taken hold of the princess when she heard another clank from outside. Now she not only heard the racket from the guards and the girl swearing, but she was troubled inside. Why? It had to be David's stupid words of wisdom troubling her. Try as she might she couldn't drown out the constant cries, and though she hoped someone else would stop the drunken party outside- no one did.

"Great! Just great" she shouted, and hurried to her feet. She was out of her tent in seconds and to the prisoner cage in less than that. A few men were circling the cage, some reaching to grope the girl, others teasing her with words. ChiChi didn't know why but she felt extremely terrible for the girl she had only days ago came near to killing.

She went for the largest man who had his back towards her, and with a powerful kick to the back of his knees he fell. He hit against the cage, fell backwards flat on his back, and she quickly rested her feet to his neck. "What is going on here?"

"Are you mad?" stuttered one of the drunken guards.

"No…not yet anyways. I do suggest that all of you leave" she glanced down at the man underfoot. "I also suggest you leave too and not bother her again, or else I'll break your neck and anyone else that does."

One by one the men filed away, and when none stood by she moved her feet from the quivering man on the ground. He hurried to his feet dusting off his clothes, and leaving just as quickly as the others.

ChiChi noticed that the woman was sitting in the middle of the cage her head between her legs. She was shivering, and a plate of food discarded to the side. Her heart burned at the cruelty of the men, and the hardness of her own heart towards the woman.

She hurried back into her tent and grabbed one of the throws, and two bananas she had. When she returned to the cage the woman hadn't moved an inch. She must not have noticed that the men left, and that she was safe.

"I'm sorry" said ChiChi in 18's native tongue.

18 glanced up with widen eyes at the voice of ChiChi, who stood with food and a blanket in hand. She could speak her tongue! 18 had become use to the behavior of the men, but since Krillen was always at her side she never had to worry. However, Krillen hadn't come to her this night.

ChiChi pushed the food and blanket through the bars. "Go ahead and take it, it doesn't look like you've eaten."

Reluctantly 18 took the blanket and then the food. Her eyes hard in gaze and directed at the cloak figure before her. She tossed the blanket around her shoulders, and then ate one of the bananas her eyes never leaving ChiChi.

"You speak my tongue" said 18 as she noticed ChiChi about to retreat. "How can you?"

"I was taught, and I speak three other tongues. It was a part of my duties growing up" she informed. ChiChi didn't know why she had answered the woman's question, or why she felt too weak to argue- but she did.

"You're a noble in your land than? Why are you out here with the peasants?" inquired 18.

"I'm not a noble, but who I am doesn't matter. They won't bother you anymore" said ChiChi. She turned on heel, she needed to get into the tent, and finally sleep.

"I don't understand why you would help me when days ago you were about to kill me. How can you help someone you don't even like?"

ChiChi felt a blow to her stomach at the woman's words, and David's voice sounded in her ears. 'Showing someone else you put their needs first…even when you don't want too'

"It's the right thing to do."

"No, for your kind the right thing to do would be to kill me. Terioken will come for me, and they might not deal as kindly to you as you have me." 18 took a bite out of the second Banana.

"You're smarter than that it's been days and they haven't come for you. They have left you for dead, deep down you know that."

18 did know that they weren't coming for her, but hearing it made her feel much worse inside. She had hoped that they'd come and rescue her the first few days since she became prisoner; but she knew- it was hopeless. Something in her wanted to keep ChiChi there longer; she had been the first person to speak to her in days in her own tongue. She had also shown her a strange gesture of saving her from those men and feeding her, if the shoe had been switch she knew she wouldn't reciprocate the gesture.

"Will you teach me your tongue?"

"And why would you want to learn?" questioned ChiChi, glancing over her shoulder.

"I want to know what that man that comes to me every night is saying. I want to thank him for helping me" she admitted.

"I see…but why shouldn't I think you getting caught was all a plan? Also that you wanted to learn our tongue to know our strategy's?" countered ChiChi.

"Would I have planned to see my brother die? Where will I go when I'm in chains? I know how the king is, and if I escape he may have me kilt for only thoughts of being a traitor. Going home to Teriok is not an option, and I have no one back there either." 18 moved forwards to the bars the blanket wrapped tightly around her.

ChiChi had alarms sounding in her brain not to buy into this woman's talk, and not to fall for her trick. However, her heart was telling her that helping this woman was the right thing to do. She felt trapped inside! Stupid David and his endless words of wisdom! All through her life he was in her ear trying to tell her what the right thing was to do.

No, would have been the simplest thing to tell the blonde hair woman and then go to bed. Only her feet were too heavy to move, and the woman's reasoning was truly factual. What could be the harm of teaching her their tongue, she could probably gain needed information along the way.

No! She was completely losing her mind; she shook away the thought and hurried away and into her tent. She would not become a fool and see the end of her kingdom all because she bought into the lies of the enemy. "I'm just going to go to sleep…and close my eyes, and I won't think about that. I mean I did my part and put someone else's needs first…but my heart…he said it will tell me what to do. Oh, come on ChiChi!"

Minutes went by and still her mind was restless. Sighing she stood back up and hurried out of the tent and back to the cage where 18 was laying against one end. "Fine! I'll do…but don't think I'll like it or anything. Also it doesn't come before my duties."

"Thank you" said a stunned 18 with wide eyes.

"Don't thank me…we were enemies remember? I'll be up in the morning to start" she informed and hurried away. She was certainly an idiot! Only she was now an idiot that was able to sleep.

It was early when ChiChi woke; she had heard the camp alert cry. She wondered who could have been out at such a time. However, she had more demanding things to do than put her nose somewhere it didn't need to be. She grabbed a few of the suites, and walked out of the tent and to 18's prison.

The blonde was still sleeping, snuggled beneath the blanket. ChiChi sighed, and grabbed hold of the bars and shook it till the woman sprung up. Her hair had been sticking up in all sorts of directions, her blue eyes large.

"Wake up sleeping beauty; we will begin the lesson in a few. I'm going to fetch us water and a brush for our mouth and also some breakfast. Watch these suites for me and make certain that no one comes near to them, if they do call me" commanded ChiChi.

"Fine" curtly 18 replied.

ChiChi hurried away towards the camps kitchen, she could smell the pot on the fire. When she finally made it to the kitchen there was a small line, and she grabbed two bowls and two cups. "Morning" said a solider to ChiChi as she came to stand before him with her two bowls outstretched. "Only one bowl a person till everyones had first" spat the man.

"One is for me and the other someone else so pour in the porridge" she directed. The man rolled his eyes but nevertheless filled the two bowls up with the creamy substance. It was harder than she thought to hold two bowls in hands and cups, she neared the water bowl resting the plates down.

It would be nearly impossible to walk across the camp with the water and porridge at the same time. She figure it out though she was certain. She took hold of one of the cup and reached to fill it with water but someone else beat her to it. Her eyes flashed with anger and she turned to give them a good chewing out, till she noticed the innocent of the man standing before her.

Her heart was caught in her throat, and her fingers felt terrible tingly at the small contact exchanged. "Oh, I'm sorry Raven" exclaimed Goku.

"Oh, um…Goku…what are you doing up?" asked ChiChi.

"Well I've been up pretty much the entire night, I was out looking for you actually. David told us you made it back hours ago though" he said.

"You were looking for me?" she asked in a daze.

"Yes" he said unfazed smiling. "We were worried when we found your mask near the lagoon, but I see you have a new one."

"You were worried about me" she whispered, she could feel her cheeks burning under the mask.

"Well me, Radditz, David and the camp" he informed slightly troubled by Raven's peculiar behavior.

"Will you two hurry out of the way" barked a solider behind.

ChiChi's eyes flared red at the solider, and just as she was going to give him a piece of her mind Goku spoke. "Sorry about that" he tolded the solider and then he glanced at the food and cups in ChiChi's hand. "Do you want me to help you?"

"Help me?"

"Yes...with the bowls or cups. Are you okay?" he asked.

No! She was a far cry from okay. "Of course please" she said handing him the cups. He filled it up with water and followed her. ChiChi had made to much of a fool out of herself to say another word.

When they arrived at the prison cage he rested the cups on the floor where ChiChi set the bowls. He found it perplexing that Raven had woken early to bring food to the prisoner, but then again he didn't know her so well. "I can't believe that you are bringing her food. I think that is very nice of you" he exclaimed.

"Really you do" she chuckled nervously, and she could have just kicked herself. "Sorry that I kept you up so late last night looking for me. If I would have known you were out there looking for me, I would have gone looking for you." Why was she in such a gushy mess with Goku?

"I want to speak with you a little later if that is okay. I just need some sleep, I'm really tired" said Goku between yawns.

"Oh I'll waiting for the moment you do" she breathed dreamily.

Goku arched a brow at Raven's peculiar behavior but said nothing as he left. ChiChi had remained caught away in her daze until she heard 18 snicker from behind. "You're quite hook on that one like a puppy its master she laughed.

ChiChi glared at 18 who happen to ruin her moment. "I'm not the one wanting to learn another language all just to say 'thank you'" countered ChiChi. "Let's just get to business."