Waking up from a long and undisturbed sleep, Vegeta arises from his bed and sleepily trudges out of his room. Being awake only in the minimal sense of the word, he slowly staggers down the hallway and towards his bathroom to freshen himself up. Pushing the door open and letting it close by itself behind him, Vegeta rubs the sleep from his eyes as he takes off the few ragged scraps of clothes left on him. Ripping the useless garments from his gnarled body, he discards them in a heap on the floor next to another pile of clothes he has failed to notice.
With a deep yawn, the gears in his head start to chug into life and as he opens his heavy eyelids a torrent of gushing blood rushes forth from his nostrils. Clutching his bleeding nose and gawking about in alarm, Vegeta stands wide eyed in shock; the other bathers in the room soon realise they are not alone any-more. A pale and delicately slender body aside the more toned curves of someone he saw naked less than 24 hours ago. Piercing screams ring through his head and echo off the tiles as the naked princess of Jurai attempts to cover herself before turning her back to him and desperately running off for a towel. Regrettably for Vegeta the other bather is not ashamed in the slightest at being seen in the nude, in fact she seems to be rather pleased with this turn of events. Last time she appeared before him in the bath and it looks as if he is repaying the favour to her. The air hisses as Ryoko phases behind the stock-still Saiyan and cuddles him, slim arms firmly wrapped around his beefy neck, pressing her body against his back as she lightly rests her chin on one of his shoulders.
" You're bleeding, Vegeta. … So now with that silly little challenge of yours done, let's have some fun." She whispers delicately into his ear, her hot, steamy breath caressing his cheeks as his face turns the same shade as the blood dripping through his fingers.
Not knowing what to do, whether to try and cover himself up or stop his nose bleeding, to try and turn and run, the Saiyan's mind goes into meltdown. Ryoko's hands soon start to eagerly explore the rough musculature of Vegeta's shoulders, back and finally chest whilst he stands still in shock, his eyes seeing but not observing. Like water cruising peacefully down hard, rocky riverbeds, the cyan haired woman's fingers lightly trace down the many scars of the Saiyan prince. The churning cogs in his brain barely got enough time to warm themselves up before they came crashing down to a grinding halt, his body senses her touch but his mind rejects it. This cannot be happening to him. One name is blaring like a siren in his skull. Appearing once again but now wearing a silk smooth light pink bathing towel tightly tied around herself for modesty, Ayeka comes back into view charging towards Ryoko.
" Unhand Lord Vegeta this instant you foul demon!" Her cheeks still flushed with colour from being caught and seen in the nude by a man for the first time, she draws closer to the two sources of her distress. Yet she fails, for she cannot bring herself to look at, or go, any nearer to the naked body of the near vegetable state Saiyan.
" Hahaha, what was the princess? Didn't quite catch tha- Oh my, look what we have here." The taunting and goading from Ryoko frays her last remaining thread of constraint. Grinding her teeth, Ayeka turns and lunges in a head-on attack at the woman groping her prince. Her eyes widen and her mouth falls and gasps in shock as the might channelled into her fist simply passes straight through Ryoko's Cheshire smile. Turning her body corporeal again and with one deft hand movement from the space pirate a towel slowly drifts down to the floor, as do a few more drops of blood. Squealing in mixture of shame and disgrace, Ayeka tearfully sprints off covering herself.
" Let's begin where we left off now…" The space pirate's hand, and gaze, begin to drift down over his chest and stomach. Immediately coming back round to his senses when he detects her delicate fingers at his navel, the prince of Saiyans' mind has successfully rebooted itself.
" Here, take this drying cloth Lady Ayeka." An extended arm holds out a spare towel to the crying young woman crouched down in the shallows of a far off pool. Hesitantly she turns her head to see the source of the gruff voice. To her relief it is Vegeta and he is no longer baring all for the world to see, unlike, to her dismay, she is.
Timidly she accepts the towel with some quiet words of gratitude, thankful that he has purposefully averted his eyes from both her and Ryoko - who is angrily floating in the air where moments ago she was so close to achieving her heart's desire. Glazed eyes stare unfocused off to the far reaches of the bathhouse .Dressed now in a dark crimson gi, similar in style to the ones that Goku wears except for the lack of an emblem and under-shirt, he instant transmissions as soon as she takes the towel from his grasp out of the bathroom and to his place of refuge and sanctuary where the women dare not and can not tread.
Panting for breath, his mind is still racing from what happened and nearly happened due to his grave error of barging into the bathing quarters without thinking. The distant sound of a door closing followed by the whooshing noise of his son leaving to get an education like his mother wanted him to barely registers to him. His thoughts are still drifting around what he saw, what they saw and how another woman has touched him in the way only his wife had ever done before. What he read has been read again through actions. He curses himself for a warrior taking this long to adapt to his environment would die. Vegeta recalls the last time he saw his own wife's body in that state.
" … Bulma …" His mean and cold eyes start to glisten with moisture. Blinking and clearing his eyes he jabs at the control panel, snarling at how pathetic and cowardly he is behaving. Grief is for the weak and he shall purge this weakness through training.
The console starts to groan as it is forced into giving off its maximum capacity of five thousand times Earth's gravity onto the lone occupant. Scarcely able to hold up his own body weight he bares his teeth and growls from the overpowering strain and effort. His body is stronger than it has ever been for a Saiyan's might grows with each battle and near death experience, like the one he suffered through last night. Testing himself and the new limitations of the upgraded training room, he channels ki around and throughout his body to protect it from crushing itself. One burden though is weighing down on his heart more so than any amount of gravitational force could muster and that is the memory of his first love. Gravity shall not strip him of this. The aching pain that has and will never truly leave him despite how much he wants it to gets stronger as he tries to strengthen himself against it.
" I … I have betrayed you." Through clenched and bared teeth he forces these words out of himself, hoping a verbal confession would ease his gut wrenching feeling of guilt and chagrin. Self-loathing and disgust builds like bile in the back of his throat at the thought of having brought dishonour unto himself and his son at such carelessness. Knowing of but only one way to purge these painful and self-destructive emotions out from his heart and detach their clinging sorrow off of his soul, a guttural growl slowly rises from his throat as his fists clamp tightly together and eyebrows furrow.
Teeth grind against each other, fingernails start cutting into his palms and the air around him starts to glow with a brilliant purple hue. The jagged, purple rays burst into pure rays of gold as his muscles grow in the ascendant transformation to his strongest form. Finally, with all his heart and soul, he lets the agonised roar rip through his chest and throat. The floor and earth beneath him starts to convulse and tremble as he releases all of his heartache in a crescendo of pure power, rage and noise.
An absent father to a son he is proud of. An uncaring husband who spends as much time as he can from his wife. A Saiyan warrior not worthy of either of them with his bested power. A widower to a wife he needs. An adulterer to the woman he loves. A man who brings no honour to his broken family.
" Huh, what is going on? Ryoko is that you? Stop it." Having quickly gotten dressed -but still recovering from her severely embarrassing ordeal - the purple haired maiden looks across to Ryoko who has thankfully decided to put on some clothes.
" Does it look like I'm doing anything?" Ryoko flippantly replies whilst attaching one of her tails onto her new blue dress and pink waistcoat. " Anyway that sounds like … Vegeta!" Phasing into existence downstairs Ryoko peers through the porthole of the door leading to the training chamber and is forced to shield her face and avert her eyes from the blazing beacon of energy and the man at the centre of the conflagration he is creating.
By the time Ayeka cautiously comes down the stairs to investigate the commotion rattling the whole house her least favourite person has already gone and switched on the T.V hoping that Washu's cameras in there would offer a better view. Ayeka walks up behind Ryoko to get a better look at the screen, whilst still retaining a good clear distance away from the criminal, as Washu's observation cameras automatically adjust themselves to the great amount of blinding illumination to reveal the third form Super Saiyan. Blood is flowing freely from his hands as the salty waters of his eyes trickle down his face before exploding in instantaneous evaporation making the room appear like a sauna. The roar eventually dies as even Vegeta's lungs exhaust themselves before pulling in more oxygen to continue cleansing himself of the deep cutting anguish.
" I … I don't know what to do…." As the deafening noise of his yelling stops echoing around the small metal room, faint sobs wrack his body. Having never properly grieved for his wife's passing it has finally caught up to him. Only for a finite amount of time can you run from something, eventually the inevitable can only be delayed and never denied. "Bulma!"
Sinking to his knees, his hair shortens and darkens as he starts pounding on the adamantium tiles. The raw wounds that are his palms spray crimson onto the floor with every impact, within his clenched fist he can feel his blood boiling as soon it leaves his self inflicted wounds. Weighing close to 400 metric tonnes the immense physical pain he is subjecting himself to is nothing but a mild discomfort to the undiluted torture of losing the one most dear and precious to him. Not knowing or caring that his tormented wails are being heard, his blows continue to crack and demolish the floor; shards flying high into the air before crashing back down, a hail of metal raining down upon him and carving open his back. No amount of self-flagellation would ever make Vegeta feel better, being as accustomed to physical pain as breathing in air nothing short of fatally injuring him could cut through the warrior's impervious mind-set.
" My … my actions have soiled you, … p-please … forgive me!" A killer without guilt asks for a reprieve for a sin he cannot live with.
As soon as it started he ends his mourning and quietly tells the console to shut down. The whirring of the machine slows and ceases whilst he stands still, staring at nothing and everything. The two women continue to gaze at the screen longingly, unsure if trying to comfort the blackened and torn heart of Vegeta would be a wise decision or just inflame the situation more. The gravity machine beeps, alerting all that it has powered down; the only sound that can be heard in that otherwise deathly silent room. Terminating the contemplation on his bereavement, Vegeta looks down at his ruined palms and the decimated tiles and closes his wet eyes. Slow deep breaths permeate the air as his chest slowly rises and falls. He vanishes.
Squatting down he rinses his hands in the now sullied waters of the lake and splashes some of the cooling water onto his face, eradicating the memory of tears from his countenance. As the ripples he has caused drift slowly across the still lagoon he stands back up with his regained frosty demeanour of callousness. Far off a sabre-toothed tiger howls as it signals to its pride, calls of the wilderness are brought to his ears by the gentle breeze stirring the serene landscape. If he so wished this whole scene could be aflame, the world no more than a pile of ashes. No more weak humans, no more women and no more Kakarot; an easy solution to the intricately complex problem called life. Not truly an easy way though for Vegeta but the coward's way out. Earth was his wife's home, his son's as well and has become his own, making himself lose his second home planet over something everyone who is alive eventually goes through is meaningless. All is without meaning to him though except for the one thing that was drilled into him from the first breath he took, and that is to fight. Fists and feet begin to fly as the ever restless warrior hones his martial art moves and techniques to perfection in the outside sun with it still continuing its ascending arc in the sky. Testing out new movements, defensive positions and guards, learning the blind spots and openings in his attacks he catches a fist from behind him and turns to face his opponent.
With her new blue dress billowing from the rapid movements, Ryoko starts to spar with Vegeta. Those same feline eyes that had been lustfully captivated by his early morning blunder now have a different emotion held within their depths. Vegeta is not the best person at reading the emotional state of someone, even with the aid of sensing their ki aura, but he can hazard a rough guess at what Ryoko is currently thinking. Her eyes are dead set in determination as she gives it her all in attacking him yet he can decipher the underlying currents of tenderness hidden in her focused pupils. She has exactly the same chance at beating him now as she did when she landed on Earth, maybe even less now that Vegeta knows her powers among other things, but for Ryoko she is not fighting to defeat him. Ryoko is doing this simply because it is the only way she can think of to reach out to him during this darkest hour she witnessed him go through. Her punches and kicks hold serious clout behind them and were Vegeta anything but close to omnipotent he would be in serious trouble. With her joining in his training session has degraded into something that has no benefit for him physically, he cannot improve himself against an opponent such as her.
Vegeta's lips crack into the smallest of smiles. Bulma always believed herself above such things. A Saiyan is always happiest when brawling, the thrill of the fight is all they live for and even though her power is nothing compared to his he is beginning to find that he is enjoying himself. Despite his speed he is not fast enough to hide his growing smile from Ryoko. Amused by these pitiful and feeble blows that are casually and effortlessly caught and blocked he begins to toy with her, seeing how close he can let her attacks get to him before he has to dodge or simply observing all the ways in which he could take her down with one blow.
" I feel like we've done this whole song and dance routine before … you had better realise that with but a fraction of my power I could kill you with one well placed finger." Trying to goad her into a reckless attack and anger at the insult of her weakness, he ducks and catches the soft fist of Ayeka.
Having the ability to sense her intentions before the princess even left the front door he is still surprised by her actions. Her physical build is not that of a fighter or warrior, she has far less musculature and strength than the other woman he is sparring with yet all the same she is giving it her all. Most of Ayeka's movements are hampered by her kimono, especially her footwork and kicks, but in all honesty it matters little to the end result of her physical aggression. This is an important moment, far too important for her to spend a good while changing into something more fitting physical activity. A single limb, his left arm, is what he challenges himself to use as his single item of defence from both Ayeka and Ryoko; handicapping himself for fun not for evening the battlefield in any way. Not before an hour is out the exertion of the fighting begins to weary the two young women, as they start to flag and tire their movements get sloppy and lose much of the strength behind their strikes.
" This all you two have got? I wonder though what could have brought this on Lady Ayeka, dirtying your hands in bare fist brawling is not something I thought Juraian princesses did? Surely you were not getting jealous from the physical intimacy of the sparring between me and Ryoko here?" Whatever opponent he faces he is always a tactical genius, right on cue this halts the women's actions as their cheeks begin to slightly colour. Not truly needing their guard to be down and with no movement at all he repulses the women back away from him a few metres. Struggling to remain on their feet and desperately trying not to end up sprawling on the floor, both of the fairer sex spring back in unison towards him to re-join the fight.
" Oh Vegey!" A small redhead calls from Vegeta's house, distracting him with that pet name his wife always called him by. With his attention focused solely on Washu, back in her adolescence, he completely forgets about the two women bearing down on him. With two impacts both equal to a train hitting him Vegeta is still frozen in place staring at the scientist. Ayeka quickly recoils her fist and starts to apologise for punching him but it falls on deaf ears as he has his target in sight and is ready to pounce. Bringing Ryoko with him as she still hasn't moved her fist from his cheek, he appears behind Washu and grabs the back of her neck. Being violently lifted up and turned to face the tenant of the house, she submissively looks into the Stygian and harrowing depths of his menacing stare.
" What. Did. You. Call. Me?!" Her squirming and distress brings great sadistic joy to him whilst her feet dangle helplessly and Ryoko flinches away from him.
" W-whatever do you mean? I-I called you Vegeta … Prince of all Saiyans." Hearing her cough and splutter out these words whilst she struggles to breathe properly is enough for Vegeta. Accepting her fabricated innocence as a lousy form of an apology he slowly lowers her back down but still keeps his firm grip on her neck.
" What is it then Washu? Why did you interrupt our little bout?" Feeling a shudder run down the spine he could so easily snap, he releases her and steps back to her great relief. She stops to get her breathing back to normal before continuing with what she has to say.
" My long range scanners picked up a large craft approaching Earth. It appears to be a Juraian vessel, by my estimates it is either a first or second generation royal tree and will arrive here in …" The sudden lack of Vegeta in front of her cuts short her explanation. A slight snarl appears on Ryoko's face as in her mind this can only mean trouble; whilst Ayeka, who didn't hear what Washu had to say, is stepping towards her asking her to repeat what she just said. As soon as Washu opens her mouth to begin again darkness falls upon them as a large shadow engulfs the three women. Holding the spacecraft aloft above his head, the women's attention is drawn to the Saiyan counteracting the enormous momentum of a spaceship with sheer brute force before flying it down and landing it under his own steam. Reappearing back by the women and Sasami, who has joined them out of part curiosity and part boredom, he subtly examines the expressions of the two royals near him. The happiness on Sasami's face is clear for the world to see, but Ayeka seems ambivalent at best about this unexpected arrival. Vegeta knows what fear looks like and she is not hiding it well.
Pressurised gas hisses as the airlocks depressurise and a large wood like panel of the ship gracefully lowers itself down to form a ramp like gangway. The interior of the expansive ship is still hidden in gloom and shadows. A large misty shade moves out of the darkness and into the Sun's rays; a slim built man with hair as black as the night tied back loosely into a long flowing ponytail. His slight fringe flutters in the breeze over his expressionless dark brown eyes and his long, flowing, pure white robe adorned with red and gold emblazoned pauldrons flaps against his legs. Raising his strong jaw, he surveys where his ship was escorted.
His eyes travel over to the group of five humanoids on the other side of the lake and the crashed Juraian ship behind them. With a barking order that echoes through the tranquil scenery more obscurities rise from the depths of the ship's interior. Rushing forth out onto the grassy meadow an honour guard of similarly dressed men appear. Over five score men all armoured and armed with long halberds, spears and naginatas. The deadly shine off of the keen metal seems to illuminate the leader of the group as he marches in front of his men.
The air hisses and as the Juraian leader turns back to look at the party of women in the distance, he is instead greeted by the harrowing eyes of Vegeta. His eyes and mouth widen in shock but quickly close to show no sign of weakness to this strange man before him.
" I presume your landing was comfortable? Now before I send you back to wherever the hell you came from answer me this; what is your business on my planet?" Vegeta steps closer to the new arrival and stands up to his full height, unfortunately he is still nearly a full head shorter than who he is trying to intimidate.
" My name is Yosho Katsuhito Jurai, I come to this planet seeking my fiancé who mysteriously vanished in this sector of the galaxy. My sister's name is Ayeka, have you by any chance happened upon her?" Yosho looks down at the Saiyan then back up trying to make out if his sister is among those stood in the distance or not, the wrecked ship has no features distinguishing itself as Ryuoh but the chances of another Juraian going missing in the same area is very slim. Seeing a man appear right in the midst of the women, Yosho shakes his head in astonishment and glances back at where he thought Vegeta was still standing.
" So there was a reason that the high princess of Jurai was alone in space with no crew on her ship, no guards and no armed escort. Now I know the true colours of Juraians …" With Vegeta but mere inches away from her face, Ayeka looks puzzled at him, trying to hide her niggling doubts and suspicions about who she suspects he just talked to.
" Wh-whatever do you mean Lord Vegeta? I told you we were on our way to a political meeting between the different families of the Juraian high court, nothing more than that." His eyes pierce into her very soul. She tries to maintain his stare, knowing that turning away would be to undoubtedly prove her guilt and his accusations.
" Different families of the Juraian high court, seems to me that you people seem to like keeping things in the family. Or is it just my imagination that your brother over there said he was engaged to you! … What kind of sick place is Jurai to allow such foul things? You people have no honour or pride." With that said he turns his back to her to see the entourage of Juraians slowly trudge around the lake towards him. Ryoko looks at Ayeka with a look of mingled shock and disgust.
Her smaller sister Sasami gently holds one of Ayeka's trembling hands to try and comfort her. Without the dragonballs to repair her ship this was inevitable sooner or later. Looking at the dirt on her shoes through a fine mist over her eyes, she thinks back to the moment she disgraced her family; when she tore away from her planet at top speed leaving behind her people, her family and Yosho. Without thinking she took her younger sibling with her, not asking whether she wanted to leave behind her friends and family and for that she regrets her decision even more. At the slightest excuse from an attack by a certain space pirate she went off in pursuit hoping to be led into a far off hive of scum and villainy where she would never be found, but that all went horribly wrong when her spaceship Ryuoh was permanently disabled. Stranded and shipwrecked here on Earth, with no means of escape, she knew that he would come for her sooner or later. She failed in escaping her fate.
Still with her head dropped in shame, not daring to look at the people surrounding her, judging her, her brother arrives before the group. His head held high and with a small, kind smile playing across his face knowing that his bride-sister is safe and found, he calls and waves at her. Meekly raising her face, she timidly returns the gesture as does Sasami. Sweeping his eyes over the rest of the group, Yosho's eyes linger on one person in particular. Reading up on criminals active in this sector whilst he followed the trail of his sister's ship Yosho sees a face he recognises.
"So you are the one responsible for the kidnapping of my sister. Surrender now villainous space pirate! Your days of tyranny are over Ryoko!" Pointing at the cyan haired woman with one hand whilst the other quickly moves to the sword at his belt's hilt, Yosho proclaims the guilt of a woman he knows to be innocent. Soldiers talk, he cannot have them learn of the personal matters of the royal family or the shame of the runaway princess: Ryoko becomes an unfortunate scapegoat in this endeavour.
" Men, ready your weapons. Attack!" As a single unit the Juraian guards lower their weapons and charge in a headlong sprint at Ryoko who is still surprised at being recognised – and also flattered that her far reaching infamy and reputation proceeds her even into the highest authorities of Jurai.
Every single armed man collapses to the floor in a heap like marionettes with their strings severed, each one with their spears shattered, knees and arms broken like twigs and pain wracked cries bursting from their throats. A single man stands in the midst of the fallen Juraians. Bloody knuckles drip sanguine onto the trampled grass.
" That was a grave mistake Yosho. I'm afraid this planet belongs to the Saiyans and the puny Juraian empire has no jurisdiction here, so why don't you just try that again and see how far it gets you." Vegeta calmly announces whilst wiping the gore of his victims onto his same coloured loose garments and Ryoko mischievously grins at the Juraian prince knowing she is perfectly safe with Vegeta on her side.
" Surely you jest? The scourge of the galaxy known as the Saiyans were thankfully eradicated from existence decades ago. Them and the Cold empire they served are no more." Yosho scoffs back at the man who single-handedly took down his entire force in the blink of an eye, without damage nor fatiguing him in the slightest.
"You are a fool to believe that, say that all you like and it will not make it true. I am Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans, and I'll tell you just this once: the Saiyan race is not dead and this planet belongs to me." Raising his hands and clenching them into a fist, Vegeta snarls in rage at the insult to his species as the immobilised bodies of the crushed guards begin to rise into the air along with other small loose objects from the ground. Alarmed by this show of power, Yosho staggers backwards away from the surging emanations from the Saiyan. Keeping his long hair out of his eyes, the only male Juraian still conscious glances across to his unmoving sister blankly staring in his direction.
" Vegeta? That name also rings a bell. If memory serves then that was the name of one of a trio of fiends who, at the very least, destroyed five of our most heavily colonised planets … leaving no survivors." Yosho stands his ground now, showing he will not be sent back with his tail between his legs. With a swish of his wrist, all of the comatose elite troopers of Jurai are hurtled by Vegeta over the head of the other prince and land in a neat pile at the foot of the ramp from which they left mere minutes before. Yosho appears unfazed by the sight of his subordinates being treated like rag-dolls and keeps his eyes firmly on the face of Vegeta.
" Yes, I suppose I did do that didn't I. Ha. The punishment for that is death, is it not? Well then I should warn you that neither I, nor Ryoko, will turn ourselves in. I'm afraid it's bad luck for you, I'm resisting arrest." Walking back to the spectating Washu, Sasami, Ayeka and Ryoko, he leaves the Juraian to make his choice. Ryoko moves to the man who once again has bought her freedom to thank him in her own special way when a quiet voice comes from Yosho.
Her ship lies in ruins crashed on an alien planet with telltale signs of a fire and damage from being fired upon. No sign of physical harm is apparent on either of his sisters. Sasami would not look as happy as she does if this murderer were mistreating them. Yosho's keen eyes observe the scene and go to the scientist. Washu would not betray Jurai or allow the capture, torture or worse of the royal family. This Saiyan is to be feared. This pirate could share responsibility. There have been no reports of Saiyan activity ravaging his worlds for long over a decade now.
" Return with me Ayeka. I am not so blind that I do not know that you fled of your own accord because of your coming of age. You must return, don't you see? Without this marriage a civil war is inevitable. The balance of power in Jurai is an imbalanced thing at the best of times, precariously swaying on the brink of disaster after Frieza, would you honestly want to plunge the whole empire into a civil war?" Yosho pleads to his sister, stepping slowly towards her with his arm outstretched. The slight trembling in Ayeka's hands slowly intensifies as her brother draws closer. Pulling out of Sasami's comforting hold she takes a small step towards her arranged fate. A sad look of resignation on her face as a single solitary tear starts to form in the corner of her eye.
" You do not have to listen to him, what he is proposing is wrong. Only sickness and weakness come from the joining of family." The rough hand grasps her shoulder tightly. Flecks of red from the downed guards rub off his palms onto her robes. Without turning to face him, for she knows she cannot and still keep her composure, she solemnly shakes her head.
" But … I h-have to. I have duties and r-responsibilities I must attend to. I.. I have no right to neglect my roles as a member of the royal f-family for ch-childish and selfish reasons. The empire- the empire comes before me. As a prince yourself you must understand, Lord V-Ve-Vegeta." Her voice is barely audible. Her words catch in her throat several times as she forces herself to say these painful words. Trying to persuade herself as much as the man she has grown to care for, a chance for freedom she thought she could take.
" This surely cannot be the best course of action to take. Although Saiyan's never had much want for peace, each royal family never wanted to lose the throne to another. Assassinations and murders were commonplace, but our honour never allowed us to stoop to such lows as you are about to. It is an abomination against nature. Even Kakarot would see the stupidity in this." The prince of Saiyans removes his hand from her and looks at her face, awaiting a response. Her head slowly turns around. Gracefully she faces him and smiles weakly. Her single tear falling down her face. Thinking that he has finally solved a problem with his tongue and not his fists, Vegeta inaudibly growls as she turns back and continues towards her brother Yosho.
" Is this what you really want? Truly there is no other way?"
Yosho shudders as he hears the harsh tone of Vegeta arise from behind him. Quickly turning round to face this powerhouse of destruction, he impulsively raises his arms in defence seeing the hand of his foe reaching toward him. Looking like a fool, Yosho now lowers his arms after seeing no menace in the face of Vegeta and a glistening teardrop in the palm held out towards him. The tear of his sister. Swishing his hair from side to side as he looks from the stern face of Vegeta to the gentle forlorn face of Ayeka, a smile unfurls on Yosho's face.
" I am the only Juraian prince from the Masaki household, it is impossible for power to be shared between different houses of Jurai. Every other house of significant power is greedier and more corrupt than the last. Your forces and Frieza almost tore us apart. The people need stability, they need leadership not bureaucrats squabbling for every claim they can. The only possible marriage for us two is to each other, save Sasami but that changes nought, and if not then a dispute for the throne between us will surely ensue, despite our wishes for such a thing to not occur. My mother is not Ayeka's mother, and my sister's maternal grandmother is someone with many enemies where I would serve as a rallying point against. The other families of power will jump at this chance and soon begin to make their claims, and before you know it anarchy will erupt and destroy the empire we have worked so long and hard to build and maintain. This cannot happen just as we begin to recover. I do this not because I want to, believe me for I do not as I love Ayeka as a sister not as a woman, I do this for the consequences of not doing so are too severe. …"
Yosho nods at that explanation and watches as this other prince listens and learns of their empire's state. Sympathy is not going to be had from this Saiyan who's own political state is quite dire with his species' extinction. His brain has ticked onto a possibility he is sure his sister has also conjured up. This great destroyer lives on a secluded planet, in a modest home in the countryside sheltering his sisters, arguing for a cause he has fought himself. He knows full well the history and what Ayeka's grandmother has said on the matter, but this is a chance and this Saiyan has not attacked his empire in a long time. His sister would flee from a tyrant, Sasami would cry if she were abused. He is the one causing the fear in Ayeka and not this murderer. He shall take this chance for what it is worth, knowing the risks, but with this Haruna and him could be together. His brown eyes flash at his sister then at the Saiyan prince before him as he smiles wryly.
"However... there just might be another way. It was tried and thought of before but, options were limited, alliances strained and those that were not killed off by the Cold Empire were closing borders. If, hypothetically speaking, … my sister were to marry not me but still into royalty, royalty that did not belong to a member of another house of Jurai - maybe not even the same species. Mayhaps even a prince from a species well known for their might and power... It is not a perfect plan, the politics is hell, but it buys me and Ayeka our freedom. Who knows living under the roof with a man is no small feat for my little sister, you might even be someone she doesn't mind marrying …" The crystal clear insinuations in Yosho's tone causes a flutter, more akin to a swarm, of butterflies in Ayeka's stomach as she hurriedly hides her head in her hands to cover the rapidly spreading blush. Vegeta stares at Yosho's calm expression for a few seconds too shocked to do anything else in that time, nothing but stare and think about what he just said. Embarrassment soon catches up to Vegeta which he quickly turns into his favourite emotion, the one that coincidentally Ryoko is feeling at this exact same time. Anger.
" Bravo. You nearly had me there. Here I was thinking you were an honourable man for a second. I have the blood of billions of innocents on my hands: women, children, the old, the frail, the weak and the defenceless – even those of your own race I have slaughtered in countless droves. You have witnessed but a minuscule taste of my power as your men fell before you. You who comes here talking of incest and somehow make it worse, you offer your innocent sister to the likes of me. Tell me, what kind of man are you? This is a matter for Jurai to decide, if they have any backbone there. Leave me, and this planet, out of it. I will not be some pawn in your games. Begone. Go find the solution to your petty problem elsewhere." Vegeta points at the Juraian spaceship, his eyes showing no hope of persuading him. Few have upset his sense of honour and pride as much as Lord Katsuhito has, those being among the likes of Goku and Frieza.
" I cannot do that. You have not yet met with our parents, leaving my sister's here is not a viable option. If you acquiesce I might be more lenient." Yosho meets the gaze of Vegeta like two bulls locking horns.
" You will be leaving this planet and soon. You decide whether you'll be alive when you do so." The threat from Vegeta drips with the knowledge that he can easily back it up.
" No, please Vegeta! Don't kill Yosho, I beg of you please!" Ayeka pipes in, the look in her mauve eyes distracts Vegeta momentarily. She fears Yosho, fears him for the marriage that was arranged between them, and yet she would still plead for his life and safety. Yosho has done no wrong in this, he is another victim of the same fate. For her sake Vegeta reluctantly nods at her then turns back to face his foe. In the fleeting moment he just had with Ayeka, Yosho has wasted no time and taken the opportunity to draw forth his sword, or to be more precise the hilt of his sword for it bears no blade. He hopes his sister and Vegeta are on good terms for his life's sake.
The intricate craftsmanship of the small weapon shows that this was a sabre lovingly made not just for ceremony but for practicality. The three red, ruby like spheres embedded in the pommel glow and with a flash a smooth, long, sapphire blade of energy bursts forth from the hilt. Rushing him with a sideways feint followed by a viciously fast downward swipe, Yosho's face gapes in awe and terror simultaneously. With but one finger Vegeta holds the blade locked in position millimetres from his head. His fingertip on the point of the blade crackles as sparks of energy dance between them.
"Y-You stopped Tenchi-ken, my sword. But how?"
" I stopped it because you are weak. Royals should be strong, it is their job. Now try not to scream too much, this may sting a little." Lifting his finger slightly up and then bringing it back down with a loud fizz, bang and a crunch, Vegeta ends Yosho's attempt to resolve the issue through physical means.
The now dormant hilt drops to the floor as the Juraian prince clutches at his arm. Having judged his strength just right, Vegeta managed to minimise the damage done to him and only turn most of the bones within his hands to fragments no bigger than particles of dust. Looking at the man he felled so easily with distaste, his sister worriedly runs towards him. As she frets over the damage done to her brother, Yosho gives hers a pained smile.
" Ayeka, I shame Jurai. There is nothing for it, I cannot win you back. I am too weak against this villain. You might have to reside here a while longer … Washu, I hope I do not have to tell you your orders." It was a most painful show to put on but in his defeat Yosho has bought time. This can be a reason for his retreat home to Jurai without Ayeka whilst his sister persuades and courts Vegeta into accepting this offer. His scientist employee nods back at him, this is a whim she can carry going along with.
" Dear brother Yosho I know it is cruel and selfish of me but … I could never marry you. I can't stand the thought of it so yes, I would prefer to stay here. At least for a little while. Thank you for this. Just please buy me some time here away from all the stress of Jurai." Accepting her rejection easily for he never had any interest in the marriage either, they embrace as brother and sister – as best as he can with his broken hand - before he stands and faces the man he lost Ayeka to. The man he has caught his sister looking at again in a demure manner.
Vegeta offers his left hand to Yosho and the Juraian takes it with his still working hand. They both grip firmly in the handshake but Yosho knows not to try and push his luck with Vegeta or else he would end up without the use of either hand. A slight wet feeling causes Yosho to end the handshake and pull his hand back. He sees within his palm a small wet circle. The tear of Ayeka. Both men smile at each other in understanding. Leaning in close, Yosho begins to whisper.
" You know if you did one day marry Ayeka you would become heir to the crown of Jurai, Prince to both empires." Yosho's last ditch attempt is scowled at by Vegeta who gives a curt response.
" I have no wish for reigning over subjects as pitiful as Juraians, politics is a boring matter, consumes time I do not have to spare, and I am sure Jurai would hardly be in support of me being heir. If that is what I wanted then I would have taken the throne on my own with ease." With that Yosho heads back off to his ship and up the ramp, thankful that his men landed just on the ramp so that he wouldn't have to carry their limp bodies with one hand. As the ramp door slowly rises Yosho waves a last farewell to his sister and this time her returned gesture is no longer a meek one. He curses under his breath as he slams his fist on the button to lower the gangway again and leaps through the half open gap and strides once again back towards the group.
"By Tsunami, how could I have forgotten. Please forgive me sister, I did not mean to ignore you." The greatest swordsman from Jurai kneels before his younger sister Sasami, bowing his head apologetically. He was so caught up with the whole incident involving Ayeka that his other sister completely slipped his mind. She pats him on the head affectionately with a kind hearted smile.
"You silly billy. I might be small but you didn't have to ignore me, but do you have to leave so soon?" Yosho raises his head and smiles back at Sasami, patting her on the head also with his non-pulverised hand.
" It's probably best that I do. You know, go get my hand fixed and scold the men at their ineptitude. Before I forget, I should probably ask you Sasami about your choice."
"My choice? What do you mean, I'm too young to marry you."
"No, no tha-that's not what I meant at all. I meant whether you would like to come back to Jurai with me or not."
"Back home? Back to my mummy?" Every child yearns to be with her parents and Sasami does dearly love her mother. Yet as she looks about at the adults around her she sees one that answers the question for her. " … I don't know. I would like to see my mummy again, but if Ayeka's staying here then so am I." The elder Juraian princess stands forlornly gazing out across the lake, distancing herself away from Yosho and the painful decision she had to make.
"Sasami are you sure about this?" Such an important choice should probably not be left to that of someone so young but Yosho respects his sibling and knows she possesses some wisdom that most children her age do not. Sasami grins back at his serious expression.
"Yep, I can't leave Ayeka here. Without me then there's no one to do the cooking and she'd starve and that would be bad." This remark brings a smile to Yosho's face, his sister was always one to think of others before herself. Ayeka never excelled in any of the culinary fields, the very few times he tasted any of her cooking always proved to be a mistake and a short visit to A&E.
"You look after her then little one, goodbye for now Sasami." The Juraian prince stands after hugging her, with a wave goodbye he leaves to re-enter his spaceship. With all he set out to accomplish said and done he stands in the airlock ready to depart from Earth.
"Brother Yosho." Moments before he can close and seal the airlock door Sasami calls out to him. He watches her jog up to the side of his ship Funaho and stop just outside it.
"Yes?"
"Next time you come can you bring my mummy back with you?" She beams up at him with her radiant smile, Ryo-Ohki balancing on her shoulder meowing happily in chorus with her.
"When I get back to Jurai I'll be hard pressed to stop her flying over here as soon as she knows where you are." He chuckles to himself as the door slowly rises and blocks his view of his female siblings and the man who destroyed his hand. Inside his head he curses at having to lie, his intentions are to stall the Emperor and his wives for as long as possible. Deceiving Sasami is cruel, not as cruel as forcing his and Ayeka's futures to be one.
With the door closed and the airlock pressurised a few minutes pass before a loud groan erupts from the ship. The raucous sound eventually bursts forth into an almighty roar as the spaceship ascends vertically towards the heavens, quickly becoming just a twinkle in the blue sky. Soon the twinkle disappears and all that remains to show that another extra-terrestrial visit had occurred are the spattered blood patches, downtrodden grass and the fresh tears rolling down the princess of Jurai's face.
Feeling part of the reason why she is crying, Vegeta goes to her and after an awkward moment of hesitation hugs her, hoping that this will stop her tears. If on any other occasion this had occurred she would be blushing and madly embarrassed but now it is what she needs. A shoulder to cry on and the warmth of a man to comfort her. She does not care if it is not proper or the done thing for a princess to do but she badly needs to get this out of her system; she knows that this is a just a short reprieve and next time she will not be let off the hook so easily. Tightly she grips onto Vegeta and weeps, she weeps for the potential outcome of her choice, for the predicament she has been stuck in for years and for the swift retribution she knows her father will bring down upon her. Her brother has bought her a piece of freedom. With one side of his gi soaked with the salty tears of a woman, Vegeta watches as she disengages from him and slowly starts back off towards the house without a word. Sasami runs up to her and walks with her to take over the role of comforting her sister. Unsurprised by the sound of someone phasing next to him, he also lets Ryoko hug him knowing full well that the green eyed monster would not allow her to let Ayeka get a hug and not her.
" You saved me again! You don't know how grateful I am that you stood up and protected me from him and those nasty Juraians. How can I repay you?" Her mischievous smile and wink say it all.
" Some discipline for you would not go amiss." Vegeta grumbles, still not particularly comfortable with Ryoko pressing herself against him as tightly as she is.
" Oh! Have I been misbehaving? Am I a naughty girl who needs a good spanking?" Ryoko cheekily quips. Thoroughly unamused, Vegeta just frowns and looks down at her with a steely glint in his eye then back up as she has cunningly positioned herself so when he did so he would get a nice look down her top and at her ample cleavage.
" No, I was thinking more along the lines of using you for target practice." With that she pouts, lets go of him and phases off elsewhere. He could have used that opportunity alone with her to discuss her behaviour and what occurred in the bathroom but he would rather leave things like that unsaid. Sighing to himself, he goes to the training room to complete his endless pursuit of omnipotence. Before he closes the heavy door behind him to start his session, he hears the quiet voices of Ayeka and Sasami drifting down from upstairs, with a huff he slams the door shut.
Hours pass and Sasami is back outside with Ryo-Ohki picking flowers by the lakeside, knowing not to wander off too far from the house now. Both Ayeka and Ryoko are sat down in the front room, the T.V. long since turned off for Vegeta's ability to move faster than their eyes can follow negates the point of watching. Nursing a large bottle of sake Ryoko is trying to stem off boredom as much as the princess sat opposite her is. Sitting quietly, Ayeka is left only with her thoughts and after earlier events she badly craves a distraction to take her mind off of it.
Standing up she slowly ambles her way to the shelves crowded with hardback books and randomly selects one. Just one look at the front cover and she knows it was a futile attempt. This planet does not use a written language she knows and unless Vegeta brought books with him from his space-faring days she would be hard-pressed in finding reading material. The only other item that appears of any interest is that large metal box that Ryoko bought. Curiously, Ayeka walks up to where the machine sits in the corner and starts to examine it.
" What is it? Do you want to try out my Karaoke machine princess?" Ryoko chimes, with no slur from the copious amount of drinks she has had to be heard in her voice.
" Karaoke? I am not familiar with that term, so what is the function of this … thing?" Ayeka turns to Ryoko who has just jumped out of her seat to land next to the princess, obviously excited about the prospect of finally getting to try out her little toy.
" The man at the shop said it plays music and shows lyrics to the song on the screen allowing you to sing along. Sounds like fun." Ryoko bends down to look at the control panel for the Karaoke machine and forcing Ayeka out of the way.
" But have you heard any Earth music? Can you read or understand the lyrics, … better yet do you know how to work that thing at all?" Ayeka goes to sit down seeing it is useless as Ryoko blankly stares at all the many buttons and dials, trying to decipher which one would turn it on. Vegeta plugged it in but that was about it.
With his hands firmly placed on the mottled green insectoid exoskeleton, Vegeta charges up ki into his hands and fires. Having always wanted a chance at Cell in his perfect form after Gohan saved his life from him, a smug sense of satisfaction rolls over him as he descends back down from Super Saiyan 2 and leaves the training room wiping the sweat from his face with a towel. Lowering the towel from his face and placing it over his shoulder he looks across the room at the two women who turn their heads to look at him. Seeing no need to stay there, he goes to move on out of the room to grab a bite to eat when Ryoko phases in front of him with a sad look in her eyes.
" Vegeta please help me, I'm so bored! I'm gonna die." Ryoko looks at him with puppy dog eyes wanting him to solve all her problems, his disinterest is clear.
" Go and entertain yourself in whatever way you see fit as long as it doesn't bother me or get in the way of my training." He steps to the side to get past her but she steps to the same side blocking his path.
" But Vegeta I can't get my Karaoke machine to work, I can't read the instructions." She points to the large black metal box with one hand as the other starts to stroke his still sweaty chest. Seeing that he would get no peace unless he gave her something to occupy herself with, Vegeta lets out a long exhalation before heading over to the Karaoke machine. Approaching it he sees that Washu must have wired the rest of it in earlier and then points to the large switch with the word 'ON' written next to it and presses it, explaining what a few of the other less complex buttons do to the space pirate. An overjoyed Ryoko pounces back by the machine and slowly starts pressing some buttons as Vegeta turns to leave the room, out of the corner of his eye he notices that Ayeka was paying close attention to what he was saying as well. If what he saw today was a glimpse at what life of a royal is truly like then he is glad that Frieza denied that from him with his iron fist.
Before he can take more than four steps a blaring power chord of a guitar is boomed out followed by some brutal and fast galloping riffs. Proving to be just her cup of tea, Ryoko whoops and starts messing with the volume dial and other random dials and knobs. The strong bass of the song starts shaking the floor and in a flurry Ayeka hurries from the room, complaining about her absolute distaste in whatever genre of music that is. Wanting just a bit of peace and quiet, Vegeta once again goes to Ryoko to tell her to turn it down but she misinterprets his approach and springs up with a microphone in her hand holding it out to him.
With happy and hopeful eyes she beams at him. He looks down at the microphone then back at Ryoko before just turning around and walking out of the room leaving Ryoko on her own. Looking upset and disappointed with her hopes downtrodden, the space pirate goes to turn off the machine and eventually after several failed attempts locates the correct button and powers down the machine.
Finally making his way to the kitchen and with the goal of the fridge in his sight, Vegeta stops when he sees the empty stare of Ayeka as she absently looks out of the kitchen window. Feeling the Saiyan pull towards food he then continues to the fridge and empties it of most of its contents before closing the door to look back at Ayeka who is now looking at him with the same pained expression of sadness she had when he comforted her.
" I had a brother once. Tarble was his name, he was a pathetic, skinny runt and no good at fighting. Of course he died along with the rest of my race when Frieza blew up my planet so I'm not the best person for giving advice on family issues. I don't presume to know about your species' culture, but you are a woman of royal blood. Just because others can't get along is no excuse for you to be forced to stoop that low. It's a matter of pride." In between mouthfuls Vegeta says this to her, knowing it isn't the best thing to say, it isn't what she needs to hear but it's the only thing he could say. She weakly smiles at him as he continues gorging himself and walks over to Sasami who is also in the kitchen and busy setting about the final preparations for dinner and glancing disapprovingly at Vegeta scoffing his face right before her meal. Vegeta continues to stay in the kitchen, waiting patiently for more food to become available for him to consume and is sat down at his place at the head of the table the moment that the table has been set and dinner served.
With Ryoko on one side of him and Ayeka on the other, Vegeta digs greedily into the food that Sasami has cooked for them today and with a flicker a seventh place at the table suddenly is set. A weary Washu slowly emerges from her lab rubbing her eyes, drawn by the scent of sustenance when the front door crashes open and two young Super Saiyans fly past her.
" Ah! What are you trying to do, give me a myocardial infarction?!" She shouts at the two Aryan lads catching their breath and sitting down next to Sasami.
" No fair Trunks, you cheated! You set off before I said go." Goten complains to his best friend, completely oblivious to the irate Washu entering the kitchen and taking her place at the table whilst shooting evils at them. The women have learned by now to grab what food they can quickly while it lasts as Saiyans do not mess around when it comes to filling their stomachs.
" Itsh not my phfault hat your too shlow." Talking with his mouth full, Trunks' silences the loser of their race home before chowing down again. All of Sasami's care and effort she put into making her food appear neat and presentable are ignored as plate after plate are devoured by the ever hungry Saiyans. Letting out a little sigh of resignation, Sasami looks at the two half-pints eagerly wolfing down what she toiled over a hot stove for. Giving up there being any chance of being thanked or at the very least acknowledged for her culinary skills she listlessly sets her cutlery on her cleared plate to begin clearing away.
" Uh it's Sasami, right? Why don't I take that for you? After all you did cook us such a yummy meal, much better than mum. … Wait, please don't tell her I said that!" Goten stands up taking Sasami's plate from her hands and stacking it on top of his own before depositing it in the sink. A girlish and tender smile graces Sasami's faces as she watches the two boys hurry off down the hallway.
" Trunks! If you are going to play at least go and do it in the training room. You can show Goten the new capabilities of it." After barking to the two trouble makers he continues feasting on the scraps and leftovers.
" So Vegeta, it was Bulma's family who invented this capsule technology? It is quite admirable work, a bit shoddy in a few places – well compared to what I could have done at least. You don't keep any of the schematics and blueprints that were used around here do you?" Not batting an eyelid at the mention of his lost love, Vegeta still carves his way through the last virgin dish on the table before relaxing back in his chair and shaking his head.
" Fair do's, I like a challenge anyhow so be seeing you later, got to get cracking on this." With suspicion in his eyes Vegeta tracks Washu as she disappears off, distrustful of what she does in her little hidey hole. A slight tap on his biceps draws his attention.
" I – I knew or suspected that you had probably been responsible for … wiping out Juraian colonies. Quite a few of them to be honest. But – but I know that you were a different person back then. You were a soldier following orders and doing your job, you had no personal agenda or vendetta against my people. Following the statue of limitations for the Juraian empire, technically those crimes were committed by a different person for who was responsible was killed on Namek and it is an ancient rule that any previous sin of a person is washed away should Tsunami, in her wisdom, bring someone back from the dead. … What I'm trying to say is … You helped me a lot today, d-despite... despite what happened in the morning. I am most grateful for what you did for me, concerning Yosho. So please, … have this Yakitori from my plate as a show of goodwill." The humble modesty of Ayeka astounds Vegeta. The offer of food is tempting as ever, but it was the other commodity she offered him that he is reluctant to take. He is no hero and his dark past cannot be overwritten by flmisy excuses. The honesty and purity in her eyes causes a great conflict within him. He cannot accept what isn't rightfully his, he dare not pass up on something he probably will never receive again and he really, really wants the food.
" Why would you want her food when you can have mine? Look oo an ake it right out o' my mouf." Leaning close to him, the woman on the other side of him has what appears to be most of a Tonkatsu being offered to him from her lips. Beseeching eyes looking at him, imploring and pleading from both directions and the heady aroma of the foods teases his nostrils. He takes an escape route. The table clears, the dishes and utensils are cleaned and put neatly away in a flash but most of all the both women are left looking at each other as the man who was in-between them is now sat outside contently munching on the gifted morsels of food.
Licking his lips, he catapults himself to the brim of the lake landing on his left hand. The tendons and muscles in his arm grow taught then relax as he rises and descends, counting each push up in his head silently, the repetition lulls and soothes him. From his upside-down view of the world the unmistakable sight of the women appearing from his house so soon pauses his extended arm.
Coiling like a python, he releases the built up tension in his arm to pitch himself many lofty metres into the afternoon sky. Gyrating and somersaulting his body like a drill, a flash of brilliant purple jets out towards the house. Blazing past the side of Ryoko on the rooftop the blast continues to rip across the sky for two miles before it hits its designated target. The pterosaur died before it knew it was being attacked as nothing but its ashes and embers drift down on the wind. Thumping back into the turf on his right hand at the precise moment when the sound from the far off slaying of the winged reptile reaches the shores of the lake he continues exercising.
Panicked, Ryoko quickly calms down after seeing a bolt of energy searing towards and past her. She gently bites her lip. 'He must have done it.' She thinks to herself. For only the briefest of instants she felt him brushing against her lips. It felt more like the gentle touch of a feather than what her hopes and dreams vividly imagine what he did. Fawningly she stays at her post on top of the house with her head held in her hands, a rosy colour to her cheeks and just sits there watching him, imagining the kiss they shared. Her goal can be reached and Jurai will not steal from her, she found Vegeta first. Vegeta actually just grabbed it with his hand unbeknown to her.
The Sun continues its fiery path across the sky and disappears behind the soaring peaks, plunging Vegeta into gloom. Goten left hours ago for he knows his mum would disapprove of him flying home in the dark. From the roof Ryoko watches with her cat like eyes beginning to glisten and reflect light in weird hues. A red orb of energy hands around her lighting up the roof around her. In the comfort of the warm house Ayeka is sat down by the window also following his every move. A chill night wind ruffles Ryoko's spiky hair into her face, obscuring her view of the perpetual quester for enhancement. Shaking her head to bring back the sight of him as the stoic man eases himself back onto his feet, strolling back towards his hearth and home.
Following the well worn down dirt path that leads back from the lake to his doorstep, Vegeta glances back to the slates on his roof then the doorway as he accurately predicts and tracks Ryoko's phasing. With a burst of unseeable haste he beats Ryoko to her destination even though she was halfway through teleporting. Ayeka comes round into the hallway and happily smiles in greeting at Vegeta, with Ryoko looking dumbfounded as to how he got behind her. Ryoko fades into existence in front of him and next to Ayeka, a swift glare is exchanged between the two women.
" Has that mad scientist woman come out of her lab yet? I have need of her and would not like to catch her skulking around my house, tampering with things better left undisturbed." The quick shake of both women's heads is all he needs to know, although he did not really need Ryoko's input saying she wasn't even in the house to keep an eye on Washu. Passing the women he turns the doorknob that leads down the rabbit hole and to the world of Washu, entering it alone. The large white entrance hall is deserted, Washu is not on her flying cushion and Vegeta has no time to search her whole warren of corridors and rooms. Placing two fingers on his temple he concentrates on the only other ki signature in this dimension.
" I presume this place has the ability to manufacture goods?" Washu jumps out of her skin when the deep, monotone voice of Vegeta echoes from directly behind her.
" Gah! Stop doing that! Of course my lab can make things, why do you ask?" Tidying up her notes and dismissing her shadowy laptop, she turns and looks at him in a very displeased mood at this surprise.
" We may have need of your services and equipment soon. A far off and distant power has been sensed by me and probably the other fighters of this planet. It might be just a new life form but it is already outmatching Dr. Gero's androids in term of sheer power and it has the same feel to it as Majin Buu did. Make me more Saiyan battle armour."
" A new foe? Well I suppose it's nothing to worry about, sure I can make that armour of mi - yours. Hell I could even improve its durability and resistance several times over without even trying." Satisfied by Washu's response and willingness to help his preparation for the coming storm, he leaves her to whatever she was doing before he interrupted her.
Leaving her dimension he is not at all surprised to see both Ryoko and Ayeka still stood by the door where he left them. As they step towards him their elbows nudge each other. Sparks fly as they lock eyes and horns with each other. Wondering why it had to be him, Vegeta watches as the two women wrestle against each other, pulling each others cheeks and hair and slapping each other. Their faces warped in hatred.
" Look you two, if you are so keen on fighting you had better learn to fight a lot better than that and quickly." His words ring on deaf ears as they continue to struggle against each other. Wafting his hand the gust generated knocks them off of their feet and ends the fight before the nails and claws come out. As they look at him from the floor, he walks the short distance to the training room.
" I have no need of your petty squabbles, see you tomorrow."