High noon and the Sun drifts high in the sky. These several hours of laborious training have done wonders for Vegeta, allowing him to relearn his body and its innermost workings and functions putting him back on top form. Not truly fatigued or weary yet he still stops his training. Something is gnawing away at the back of his brain, a niggling feeling that something is wrong but he can not place his finger on it. He has been uninterrupted for hours now and has not heard a peep out of the others inhabiting his home, not one raised voice or argument. No bickering or quarrels distracting him. He cannot for the life of him think why this is troubling him or why he expected these to break the silence he cherishes.
Two faces pop into his head. Faces that look as though all the happiness in the world has been drained from them and it all becomes crystal clear to him. Ryoko and Ayeka, or more specifically the harsh words he said to them, are what is stopping him from continuing training. Guilt rarely frequents his mind, even if he killed someone in cold blood he would feel nothing but with this it has sown its seeds deep and ignoring it will only cause these feelings to germinate and fester. Switching the machine taking up the centre of the room off, he leaves to check on the repercussions of his rash actions influenced by the tendrils of death that had not fully left him.
Still stood where he left them, Vegeta stands in front of the two women he has wronged. No reaction, no random hugs or fights erupting between the two, they just stay perfectly still with glazed eyes staring into oblivion. Like husks with the souls removed from them they stand with shoulders slumped and a heady air of depression seeping out from them. Vexed by this catatonic state, he steps right up close to them, sure that if he caused this then he must also be the cure. Pacing around them several times, wafting his hand in front of their faces and even poking them lightly still does nothing. His fist stops less than a millimetre from the bridge of Ryoko's nose and she doesn't even flinch, or blink, much to his surprise. Raising his eyebrows as he tries to figure out an answer to this quandary and with a flick of his wrist several gallons of fresh water from the lake hurls itself at the motionless rivals.
Success, a freezing cold dousing snaps them out of unresponsiveness and drenches both to the bone. Ayeka coughs and splutters between shivers with her precious gown sticking to her body. Wiping the lake's waters out of her eyes with her sleeve she sees Vegeta looking curiously at her and the other woman stood by her side. The intense eyes of his bore through her. Not meaning to do anything in particular but to ascertain what they were doing and why, Vegeta unwittingly continues to unnerve her already fragile being until it becomes too much for her in this delicate state. Breaking his stare and running, she flees back into the house with the sounds of sobbing following her. Following her with his piercing eyes, Vegeta makes a movement to go and chase after her until he hears a soft sound from behind him.
Legs buckling as her whole body gives way, Ryoko falls to her knees. Shoulders trembling and head bowed hiding her face. A glistening drop falls and wets her lap quickly followed by many more, and these are not from the waters of the lake. This is not going how Vegeta semi-planned it to, torn between which of these two women to attempt and comfort first he, on instinct, goes for the one closer to him. Setting his gloves alight with ki so they fall off of his hands in fluttering embers, Vegeta bends down so he is at her level and lifts her chin up so he can see her face. The tears running freely from her closed eyes ruin the light make-up she has so carefully applied yet he does not care about things like this. Ryoko tries to pull her head out of his light grasp but he simply puts his other hand on her cheek and wipes away her salty tears and smudges her mascara even more in the process. The feel of his rough skin on her face makes her open her eyes at this unexpected touching.
" I'm the one who suffered in the infernal abyss of Hell, so what's the matter with you and Ayeka. It can't have been any worse than what I - "
" You rejected me! I - I waited for you a-and-and then … and then you just say no. … How could you?! Do I mean so little to you, …I mourned for you! Y-you don't know how I felt when you abandoned me." Her intense glare shocks him as much as the words shouted at him. A fresh batch of tears run over his ungloved fingers.
" Abandoned? Death didn't leave me much say in the matter. You think I wanted to die and be taken away from my son? Stop trying to make it sound as if you were worse off than me, I have been through things no mortal should ever suffer … and that was just you and Ayeka arguing constantly." The little jest of his offends her, yanking her head out of his hands she turns around to face away from him. Shunning Vegeta with her back to him, she tries to force herself to be angry with him, that she could deal with but not this. Simply walking around so he is back in front of her Vegeta stands still.
" I will not be ignored by some low rank, would-be pirate who smells like a brewery, now stop with this idiocy. You were sad that I died, I understand, I've lost my wife and gone through that but I'm back now so I don't see why you're behaving like this." Ryoko stands up slowly, her eyes full of the wrath she has been striving for to end her heartache.
" You bastard! All you ever do is think of yourself! Just because I'm not some repressed megalomaniac like you doesn't make me an idiot. You really want to know why I'm acting the way I am, why don't you just go and read my mind again because you're too stupid to work it out yourself. … Did you forget what you said just before you died?"
" What I said? I had most of my brain blown to pieces and you expect me to remember. Last thing I recall was that thing on top of me stabbing my ruined body and me showing it what happens when it dares to mess with Saiyans. You should pay no heed to whatever I might have said beyond that point, they were just the ramblings of a dead man."
" You … you don't remember? How can you not remember?! But … you said …. Heh, you're right. You didn't say anything, y'know why? Because you're a coward!"
He has never been called those words directly to his face. He will not stand for this insubordination. Seizing her by the collar and bow tie of her dress, Vegeta yanks her towards him so that his forehead is touching hers – he did have to drag her down a few inches or else his forehead would only come up to her nose.
" I have laid down my life to save you and you repay me by accusing me of cowardice, go on say it again to my face."
" You think I'm scared of you, well I'm not! You are a coward. Maybe not when it comes to battle but whenever someone tries to get close to you all you seem to do is run away like a little girl. Pushing people away and keeping them at a distance 'cos you're scared." Vegeta lets go of her and walks away back towards his house. Calm strides carry him away from Ryoko who still stares at him, seething that he dare just leave her mid-conversation.
" See there you go again, tail between your legs. Oh wait, you don't have one, ha! You - "
" You are right Ryoko." A scarred hand stretches out towards her, not in the aggressive manner of earlier but in the extension of asking for reconciliation. " Kakarot has always had an open heart towards all, sickening as it is, it's still something that I am not capable of. I was raised to never let anyone get close, taught that emotions are for the weak and only led to pain and death. Even with Bulma I never treated her the way she deserved and she was the only woman I had ever had feelings for. I failed her as a husband and as a man in the end. I cannot change who I am and you have to accept that Ryoko." His hand hangs there as his cold demeanour thaws slightly. She is right in everything she has said and it would be arrogant to ignore, a good warrior learns his flaws or weaknesses and adapts himself around them.
" Huh, V-Vegeta? Wh-Wha? I don't - " Extinguished are her fires of rage, gone and forgotten now she sees him there conceding to her. Vegeta's softening expression calls to her yearning heart.
" I apologise. I was out of line for what I said to you earlier and … I do remember those words I uttered with my dying breath." Neither break eye contact as he says this, his fairly emotionless stare meeting the longing look she cannot hide. Colour graces her cheeks once again as she takes small tentative steps full of doubt as her mind wavers. Ryoko traverses the gulf that he has bridged between the two of them to accept his offered hand, reaching her own hand out as her heart flutters and races. Just as her fingers skim against his, the hand of Vegeta disappears. For a split-second she fears the worst, that he has lured her into a trap and he betrayed her feelings for him, but they are dispelled as his mighty arms wrap around her slender waist. Instantly Ryoko blushes an extremely dark shade of red, her face glowing in embarrassment from the extreme intimacy of this unanticipated act from Vegeta.
A few seconds later and he releases her and watches her slowly walk off still in a daze and holding her rosy cheeks. He gave just enough to satisfy her for a while and no more, the sharp mind of Vegeta always has a plan, not to say some part of him did not enjoy the hug. Back in his house part two of the problem presents itself, Ayeka at the top of the stairs obviously having witnessed all that passed between him and Ryoko. The manicured fingers of the princess dig into the banister as they tremble, her red and bloodshot eyes the only sign of her weeping as she is still dripping wet from the drenching. She sees him looking at her with a face as easy to read as a professional poker player. Storming out of his view and traipsing water all over Vegeta's house she pays no attention to where she is walking, only needing to be far away and put some distance between her and him.
Vision blurred and not concentrating on her surroundings, she walks straight into an immovable object, a large limb at chest level barring her progress onwards. Heat diffuses through the muscular limb and into her now bone dry clothing. It does not take someone of Washu's intellect to decipher who this arm belongs to and so Ayeka recoils from it. Stumbling backwards awkwardly straight into the sturdy bulk of the newly positioned Vegeta. Gripping one of her arms he spins her around to face him, a look of scorn and disdain warping her pretty face.
" Jealousy does not become you, you heard what I said to Ryoko and the same applies to you. I came to apologise and ask your pardon for what I did earlier." Taking a long inhalation through his nostrils he sniffs the air around her. " Try as you might with this façade your body betrays you, I can smell the hormones and pheromones rolling off you." Ayeka's stern eyes harden into a scowl.
" Humph, what makes you think I'll accept your apology, because I will not. Talking to me as if I am a common guttersnipe you seem to forget that I am a - "
" A princess of Jurai, yes I know, as is Sasami. You are not of higher standing than me, I am prince Vegeta."
" Your royal blood is a joke. Royalty is supposed to represent and help the people, bit hard to do when there is only one other of your species and he does not and will never see you as his ruler." She will not relent in this rancorous grudge she is holding against him. A laugh escapes from Vegeta's smirking lips as he steps closer towards her, something dark passes behind his eyes as they draw level with hers.
" Kakarot will bend his knees to me before I smite him down and what's so good about who you rule. Me and that clown are the elite, the strongest beings in existence and unrivalled in our might. When I was a mere infant I obliterated several of your empire's planets with ease, any wise ruler would have anticipated or prepared for such an eventuality and set up orbital defences to shoot down our pods before we landed. Truth is, your father did nothing to protect those civilians. Not one single bit of resistance we ran into in the two years we were in that sector of the galaxy." That riposte takes all the gusting winds out of Ayeka's sails. Taken aback by such a unthinkable truth that her father, the Emperor of Jurai, allowed citizens of the empire to die does not sit easily with her. Disturbed by these words and the wicked look on Vegeta's face, she shuffles backwards away from him only to have him casually take two strides towards her.
" That's all in the past now, if I destroy any more planets it will not be because I am following commands but if I have no alternative left in whatever future battles I am sure to get into. Will you stop acting as cold as my corpse was a few hours ago if I hug you like I did Ryoko, is that it?"
" Ye –No! No! You think I am that weak willed? What makes you think I'd be interested in anything of the sort? If that's - " A small piece of paper is held up before her, a square image that stops her from talking as her words catch in her throat.
" Do I detect that you did npt want me to find that you had a picture of me hidden under your pillow? Hmm, what was that you were saying, you seem to have gone all quiet all of a sudden."
" H-how did you get that? You've been in my room! I never said you could enter my room so give it back!"
" This is my house I go where I like and on the subject I never said you could steal one of my wife's pictures. Here, you can have it back … and keep all those others you have stashed away in that secret box under your bed." Vegeta hands over the photograph to the princess still reeling that he knows about her secret hiding place where she also keeps her diary among other things. Ayeka stutters, her tongue tripping over itself, not sure whether to thank him or be outraged that he has gone and invaded her privacy. All her thoughts are silenced as he springs on her a surprise hug dealing with her in the same way he did with Ryoko.
As awkward as the proud warrior is when trying this fairly simple task it achieves its goal, her protests and ill feelings towards him are calmed. He thinks to himself that it is all far too easy as he lets go of the blushing maiden and walks back down the stairs as she slowly recovers from the embrace. A smug sense of satisfaction at being able to deal with those two with no hassle at all makes him feel so much better about being alive again. Slumped down at the bottom of the stairs by the door leading to a laboratory sits Yamcha, it has been only a few hours and he is already in the doghouse. Vegeta stands by this fellow warrior who sheepishly looks up at him.
" That did not last long at all, what the hell could you have done already?"
" It's not my fault, honestly. All I did was maybe have a little accident and a few unimportant things went and broke." Yamcha hops onto his bare feet.
" Were these things Washu's bones by any chance because if you were going to do that tell me next time and I'll come watch."
" Oh no it wasn't anything like that. She asked me to power-up … yeah she should have thought about what happens when we do stuff like that. About half of her lab now has lost power, I think it was half 'cos I have no idea 'bout that weird place." They share a knowing mischievous grin with each other as Vegeta sets off back to the training room with Yamcha tagging along. Although he normally insists on solitude whilst training the Saiyan did enjoy pummelling him earlier so allows him to accompany him.
" So Yamcha, you up for a rematch. I hope during my death you didn't let Trunks shirk in his training."
" Count me in for some training, got to waste some time before it's safe to go back in there and about Trunks … me and him didn't exactly see eye to eye most days and with him being able to go Super Saiyan I couldn't force him to go and train or do anything for that matter." Vegeta nods, he understands the predicament that Yamcha was in and he cannot think of a punishment more fitting than what the problem is, being weaker than a child. The men who had enjoyed the life of bachelors before these space-farers arrived agree between themselves that they will not bother with a simulation and just put the gravity up to 100G, Vegeta also promises not to transform which still does not do much to improve Yamcha's odds.
" OK, c'mon then. I'm betting on 5 minutes." Yamcha jogs on the spot, warming up his muscles and psyching himself up for the bout.
" Don't make me laugh, you'll be lucky to last one. Go!"
The air hums as every particle in the sealed room is disrupted countless times by the fighters racing around faster than photons. Half a minute passes as Yamcha tries fruitlessly to back up his boast. Giving it his all still leaves him leagues behind the agile prince who nimbly evades each failed attack and bides his time. Another twenty seconds and the effect of fighting in the high gravity field taxes Yamcha's endurances. The time to strike is at hand. With the bandit slightly off balance mid-sprint and one arm extended at the long since vacated spot where he aimed a punch, Vegeta draws back his fist and slams it hard into the exposed throat of Yamcha.
Dropping like a stone onto his knees, grasping at his crippled throat and trying to inhale through his compacted and crushed trachea Yamcha's vision dims and objects dance in his field of view out of focus. Lumps of shattered cartilage move beneath his fingers as thin wisps of oxygen are drawn into his lungs, working his windpipe into a shape that allows for respiration to occur. Standing confidently above the one on the verge of defeat, a hearty chuckle echoes through the room from Vegeta. Yamcha lashes out a frantic kick in a last-ditch effort to retain some dignity from this fight and again strikes nothing but air. Hard leather slams into his grounded leg removing his support, Vegeta's kick strikes true and sends his opponent corkscrewing in the air. Mid revolution the left side of Yamcha's ribcage caves in from a swift chop spinning him around to face Vegeta's smirk as the warrior is still upside-down in the air. Quicker than is possible for Yamcha to dodge or recover a hand rises facing his stomach. A glimmer turns into a spark. The ki strikes the helpless man and blasts him into the wall of the training room next to the door and straight through it.
" Drokk it." Vegeta mumbles under his breath as the smoke clears and the 10ft wide path carved through the front of his house is revealed.
Getting carried away in the moment this slight misjudgement has gutted the thankfully empty portion of his house that was unfortunate enough to be the direct line of fire. Splinters and embers drift down through the torn metal wall to the feet of the Saiyan as he steps out following the furrow carved through the floorboards of his house. Looking about he sees that is was probably a good thing that he pissed off the women because if they were sat watching him train as he knows they do then there might have been a few more casualties. The photo frame is still intact, balanced just on the edge of what is left of the table, if that were destroyed his son would never forgive him …he'll need to replace some of his furniture.
Wedged into a large boulder with his head that ploughed through many metres of ground still encased in the soil, Yamcha's arms crossed against his torso feebly hang down onto the crisped grass. Life saved by only just managing to block and deflect most of the power of the attack the form encased in rock flops out onto the superheated ground still smoking.
Trampling over the desecrated ruins, the weak charred timber disintegrating beneath his weight, he makes his way through the debris and out through an opening in his house that was not previously there. Such a ruckus has drawn the other occupants of the household to gawp at what has become of where they are living – rubble and devastation where the front door used to be. Quickly they put one and one together as they see the man slowly walking along the path of his blast to the downed warrior struggling to try and lift himself up onto his elbows. A flash of magenta darts out from in-between Ryoko and Ayeka. Washu rushes towards Yamcha, trying to get there before the looming menace beats her to him. She is too late, Vegeta's hand darts out down to him when she is but mere feet away.
With forethought about the state of Yamcha, Vegeta solicitously lifts the injured man back onto his feet and brushes him down. Scarcely able to keep himself up under his own power and still badly wounded, harsh rasps are all that escape from Yamcha's throat along with a copious trickle of blood. Coughing to clear his throat of his own windpipe stains Vegeta's clothing with crimson splatters. Washu arrives grabbing onto Yamcha and getting in the way between Vegeta and Yamcha, allowing the wounded warrior to lean on her to take the weight off his battered form.
" You fought well for a human, now go and hobble off with your woman. I have to clean up this little mess." Yamcha grimaces through the pain as he accepts Vegeta's handshake, a sign of no hard feelings between the two fighters as the injured one is lead away back into Washu's lab for some tender loving care and maybe some medical attention. Washu gives Vegeta a dark look, shooting daggers at him as she guides Yamcha back through the hole in the wall his body created and traverses between the three others stood gawking.
" What the devil's going on?! What have you done? There's a ruddy great big hole in your house and Yamcha is half dead, what have you to say for yourself?" Ayeka is flipping out, her mind still not decided on whether she has forgiven Vegeta or not. Ryoko and Sasami do not seem as agitated by this as the princess is. A brusque motion wipes the spat out blood off of Vegeta's blue raiment as he casually pivots around and sighs at the audience he has attracted. From outside he gets a true view of what damage he has caused, causing another swear word to escape from under his breath. He will have to fetch the spare furniture he has stored in the loft down.
" OK show's over, now go on about whatever it is you normally do. Unless you are, Kais forbid, going to do something helpful." With that last remark he gets two women glowering at him and nearly undoes all that work he did a few minutes ago. He cares little for their annoyance and more for the fact of their inherent laziness or lack of drive to do anything, idleness is one thing he cannot stand.
" Mr. Vegeta, I'll help."
" No Sasami. You do enough around the house with all the cooking unlike your free-loading sister and Ryoko." Sasami, who was quite eager to do something and help out, steps back, going off to find Ryo-Ohki to play with.
" Gr, how dare you compare me to the likes of this harpy!" Ayeka is taking this personally at his offhand remark, Ryoko could not care less as the irritation of Ayeka is music to her pointy ears. Vegeta simply shrugs.
" Why shouldn't I? Both of you are as bad as each other, can either of you name one thing you have done to aid this household?" This retort causes the princess to think: what has she done?
" Vegeta I bought all the alcohol and the karaoke machine- "
" Ryoko you got those with my money and only purchased them for your own benefit." The one-upmanship of the pirate is quickly cut down. Not one to give up so easily when it comes to outdoing the snobby princess, Ryoko phases behind Vegeta repaying his hug with one of her own. Floating off the ground with her arms wrapped around his bulk of muscles she whispers softly into his ear whilst her eyes fix on Ayeka slyly.
" C'mon, I'm sure there's something I can do to earn your favour that she'll never concede to do. Just hold me again, please." Vegeta raises one of his eyebrow at this remark along with Ryoko's hopes, he seems interested or at the very least intrigued. Ayeka snarls.
" Yes, I can think of quite a few things Ryoko. …" The insinuations in his tone excites her, a giddy smile rises on her face. " … How about rebuilding my house for one?" Her smile fades quickly.
" Why would I do that? You're the one who went and broke it." He smirks and leans close to her and whispers into her ear.
" You don't seem to understand how appreciative I would be if you aided me now …" His crafty words brings back the wide grin on her face. Merrily she flies off and tries to tidy up the debris as fast as she can, gleeful giggles erupting from her as she lifts up chunks of burnt lumber and starts piling it up. Vanishing back into his humble and smoking abode, Vegeta pops into existence behind the Juraian woman.
" Oh my would you look at that, looks to me like you're being outdone by Ryoko. How embarrassing for a high princess of Jurai to be beaten by a common space pirate." He chuckles at her, she turns glowering at him.
" You think me a fool? I will not be so easily manipulated into doing you bidding like some lap dog." Ayeka crosses her arms stubbornly and stares Vegeta down, he strides further into his house away from the princess then stands stock-still calculating his next plan of attack.
" Fine, suit yourself Ayeka but it'll be your loss. You see I was planning on bestowing a great reward upon the woman who helps the most today."
" What prize might this be? You're making this up on the spot to try and get me to tidy up your mess. Honestly, what could you offer to tempt me into debasing myself to such lowly chores."
" If you're not going to do anything then I guess Ryoko wins by default and the victor gets to spend the whole day tomorrow accompanying me as I go to West City."
He has them right where he wants them, he can just afford to skip one day of training for the important business he has to take care of in the city he lived in for most of his time on this planet. Voicing it loud enough so even Ryoko busy in her toils hears and perks up immensely, her attached tail wagging excitedly, Vegeta leaves the tantalising bait on the hook. The speed at which Ryoko is working doubles, eager to impress the Saiyan prince. This is one thing however that Ayeka was not counting on, he has offered up to her a prize that she sorely wants. She cannot allow the villainous space pirate to win, who knows what she would try and do in that day alone with him. On the other hand if she tries to win the prize then Vegeta will have succeeded, she will be forced to do manual labour and he will know how token this mask of hostility she is displaying truly is.
The princess swallows her pride and concedes to what her heart is craving for her to do. Ayeka storms off past the smug smile of Vegeta saying that she will return when she has changed into attire more appropriate for the servant work. The Saiyan makes a quick note of her body language and attitude before stooping down and hauling several tons of mortar and wood up above his head. Casting it away from his house so it lands by the large pile of scrap Ryoko has made next to Ryuoh. Dusting his hands the job is completed effortlessly a quarter of an hour before Ayeka returns in clothes she deems fit for chores.
" Ayeka there is plant-life growing from inside your spaceship and its ki signature is a shadow of what it was when you first arrived here, were you aware of this?" Not surprised by the wreckage already being cleared but by this statement from Vegeta, Ayeka is dismayed by this news.
" Indeed I have, Ryuoh has taken root. The soil here is not as fertile or rich as that of Jurai and so it will wither and die, it will lose its power which allows Juraians to preserve themselves and live long lives." She is sad in acknowledging this slow death of the spaceship she has had since childhood and her loss of eternal youth.
" Guess you'll just have to get stronger so that you can use your own powers to stay in your youth, though I wouldn't be worrying about such a thing at your young age. What are you, twenty?"
" I turned 21 a few weeks before Ryoko attacked my spaceship a month ago. That was when I fled Jurai because I was old enough to marry brother Yosho. Hehe, you did not hear her say that she was over 200 years old did you. Poor old Ryoko is the one who should be thinking about such things not me, ha-ha." The space pirate's ears twitch hearing her name being said and phases next to the two in conversation asking why they were talking about her.
" Ryoko's ki doesn't have the feeling of that amount of age. Ryoko exactly how old are you and how long ago do you think Frieza blew up my planet?" Ayeka's giggles continue when she sees the smile drop off of the rogue's face.
" You shouldn't ask a pretty young lady her age - "
" Then what's the problem with him asking you then?" Ayeka's retort provokes Ryoko's anger, Vegeta has to intervene to stop them from attempting to gouge each others eyes out. With an outstretched hand on their shoulders he keeps them from causing more destruction in the place he has just tidied up.
" Ryoko just answer my question, I'm 46 if that's any consolation." The Juraian princess looks thoughtful now she has found out that this man is over double her age, but age has never been a boundary for love and with Juraians naturally living centuries a 20 year gap is nothing. Ryoko sighs, knowing she will have to say the embarrassing truth concerning her age.
" Um … I told you I was abandoned when I was young so I don't exactly know how old I am but my best estimate is …is t-two hundred and fifty seven, or thereabouts." She looks to Vegeta to see how he reacts, which he does not for that she is thankful, the same cannot be said for Ayeka. " As for when your planet was destroyed the first time I heard that news was maybe 90 years ago I think."
" As I thought, my planet was in fact destroyed in the same year Kakarot was born which was 39 years not 90. You are closer to one hundred not two hundred if we use this standardised galactic year. I'm not going to bother with precise calculations, you can pester Washu for that."
Ryoko ponders upon this and seems very pleased that she has shed over a century from her age. Ayeka though will not leave well enough alone and continues to tease and mock her rival being 5 times older than she is. Bickering and arguing descends into yelling and snarling. The prince tires of holding them back and moves out from in-between them to outside his house, they lunge at each other. If their fighting skills were in a league closer to his own then Vegeta would enjoy watching their furious bout yet it bores him and he still has one last thing to do. Wooden beams are hewn from the forest and fuse in place replacing those missing from the wall, DIY is much simpler when using ki. He shouts through the newly constructed wall that if their fighting continues then neither will get the privilege of a day out in the city, silence is the reply.
All of the damage caused by blasting a man through the front of his house has been repaired and from what he can hear he has the women using their spare time to be productive, life is good but one major thing he wants to do is calling to him. As he is about to contact the one person above all others he must notify of his return he is distracted by the muffled sound of feet touching down on the ground beside him.
" You're home early son, what've you done now?" The lavender haired youth absently kicks at a rock on the ground looking guilty. This is not the first time that his son has had trouble at school and been sent home. Normally Bulma would deal with this side of his life and he the training but now there is only him and helping Trunks integrate into everyday society is not something Vegeta is particularly good at.
" I was expelled from school. I did what you always told me to do and those mean bullies won't be picking on me or Goten ever again though." Most parents would be disappointed or displeased that their child has managed to hospitalise over a dozen of his fellow classmates, Vegeta sees nothing wrong with how his son handled the situation however.
A cunning idea forms in his mind to solve the matter of his son's education. Vegeta beckons for his child to follow him inside. Stepping through the doorway a little girl notices the premature arrival of the other of her age and walks up to him asking why. Sasami agrees that he should not be punished for defending himself and his friend from bullies but keeps it to herself that she disagrees with the use of violence of such excessive force. The father of Trunks asks her to follow too as a growing smile spreads on his face, Sasami sees no reason not to and does. He leads the innocent children into the lair of the beast know as Washu, like sacrificial lambs they follow him, oblivious of what awaits them on the other side.
The scientist is busy finalising the application of healing salves and drugs to mend Yamcha after his little escapade. She hears footsteps approaching her position, only one person but the man on the slab before her dares enter her laboratory. Vegeta is not her favourite person at the minute after what he has done, not like she was ever too keen on this dominating man in the first place. Slow strides are followed by two additional pairs of feet walking briskly to keep up. The heavy footfalls of Saiyan boots stop behind her. Vegeta stands waiting for her as the two kids look about stupefied into this dark and mysterious world they have been led into. Washu grits her teeth in anger, the boldness of him to just waltz in when he nearly killed her precious Yamcha irks her immensely, sharply she turns to face him with a glare of womanly fury.
" What do you want Saiyan?" Emphasising the last word as if it were the most debasing and vulgar term in her expansive vocabulary, Washu spits these words at him. For Vegeta though being called the species he is could never be an insult, his undying pride for his near-extinct race prevents this, ignoring her he looks at the man apprehensively squinting from the medical table at him.
" Shame you aren't of Saiyan blood or you might be worthy of me fighting again after that beating. For a mere human though not too shabby." A weak smile appears on Yamcha's face, compliments from Vegeta are not offered that often and should be savoured despite the cost to his body to receive it. " Woman, you are now in charge of my son's and Sasami's education."
" Hell if I'm going to do anything for you - "
" If you don't like it then you could always find another house to infest; the offer is stay and have this duty or decline and get out." Vegeta has her ensnared with this blackmail, if they thought he were allowing them to stay out of the kindness of his heart they greatly overestimated his capacity for such things. Growling under her breath, Washu does not break her stare with the prince, she is not left with much choice unless the greatest mind in the universe feels like living in a cave. A tug from the fruit of his loins ends this staring competition as Vegeta looks down at Trunks.
" Hey Dad what about Goten, can he get taught by Miss Washu too?" Without consideration Vegeta agrees to this with a nod of his head, an additional bit of work and trouble for this pesky scientist sounds a good idea to him. He is truly enjoying pushing Washu's buttons and provoking her to see what she will do for he knows how limited her options are.
" You're forgetting one thing, I am Washu the greatest scientific mind in the universe not the greatest teacher. I don't even know what this planet even teaches to the poor kids who have to go the schools here." Such a feeble excuse, he expected more from her. Tutting under his breath his grin widens.
" Admitting to defeat already are we? I thought teaching would be of no trouble to someone who says she is so smart, or were those all idle boasts? I'm sure if it gets too much for your little brain to handle then Yamcha over there will be available to help you."
" C'mon Vegeta, what can I do? You know I was a bandit throughout all of my youth so never got an education or ought." The downed man pipes in with a hoarse rasp trying to get his say in the matter no matter how pointless it is trying to argue with someone as arrogant and insidious as who they are tenants to.
" Not my problem. If both of you want to stay in my house then you better do what I say." He is no longer in the lab, gone with the wind he leaves. Washu is left with a still battle weary man and two children looking up at her. The two kids seem quite excited by this prospect, Washu does not share their mood and sighs.
Content with the aggravation he has caused as a side product of sorting out the issue his son had created, Vegeta returns outside to do the thing that he has been dying to. Eyes closed and mind cleared his sixth sense drifts and wanders about the planet, seeking out his bane, the perpetual thorn in his side. One short telepathic communication later and the icy eyes of the Saiyan reopen. Muscular arms crossed across chest, he awaits for a reply from the clown. His burning desire to meet again with his arch-nemesis wells up within him, there is something he just has to find out.
A fizz in the air dead in front of Vegeta makes way for five humanoids Instant Transmissioning in response to his call. Goku's family appears, all five of them. The two muscle bound Saiyans march towards each other, a fierce glint of the flames of war burning in their eyes as they look at each other. The prince of this low class scum notices that his orders to come alone have been unheeded yet this defiance against his will goes unpunished for the time being. Like brothers in arms they welcome each other with a strong and firm handshake, within that vice-like grip Vegeta's worst fears are confirmed.
" Not hiding your face in disgrace in the dirt? That's a change from the last time I saw you. I assume now you have come you want to make up for that utterly humiliating defeat and try and get a shred of honour back for your pitiful family."
" Not today Vegeta, would be a shame if you nearly died on the same day you were revived. Probably we should find some place to fight before we schedule another rematch."
" Yes, for when we fight the planet we're on will fare nearly as worse as you shall." Their knuckles whiten as they continue to tighten their handshake, testing the other and seeing who will give in first. Neither blinks nor moves a muscle save for the wry smiles playing on their faces. Chichi and Videl cannot help but look on with worry for Saiyan might is never too far from being unleashed and wrecking havoc, but the two eternal rivals lose interest in this trivial feud when they are interrupted by Goten asking where his mate is. Vegeta dismisses the lad saying that his son's location is in Washu's lab and then realises he has to give the kid, who was unfortunate enough to inherit Goku's intellect, directions as to where that would be in his fairly large house.
Running off happily through the doorway in search of Trunks, Goten leads the way as the rest follow behind him at a more casual pace into Vegeta's hearth and home. Making himself comfortable on the lone remaining sofa by the Television that he did not inadvertently destroy earlier, Vegeta leaves his guests to make themselves comfortable. The thin fraying strands restraining Vegeta from starting an all out war against Goku are sorely tested when the other Saiyan sits next to him. Hands ravaged by the flames of countless scores of battle itch to form a fist and put Kakarot in his rightful place, somehow Vegeta manages to control his urges long enough for distractions to occur and take his mind off who he is sat next to.
Chichi takes the small space on the seat next to her husband just wide enough for her slim hips as two other women nearly trip over each other on their way into the room. Never a moments peace for Vegeta ever since he 'invited' Ryoko and Ayeka to live with him, something he only regrets doing half of the time he is awake. He tunes out the senseless drone of their voices as they continually pester him to see if he would like help with anything or needs anything. For the first time in his long and lonely life Vegeta experiences what his birth right should have naturally entitled him to, people waiting upon his every beck and call to carry out whatever whim enters his royal mind. Throughout most of his youth in-between missions he dreamt of moments like this, sitting on a throne in his castle with unparalleled power in his grasp and exotic beauties from the far reaches of the galaxy fawning over him. Now as an ever more bitter, wiser and mature warrior the duo of women fighting for his attention and praise makes him thankful that he was never granted this life of luxury and opulence.
Ryoko and Ayeka being in the same room as one another is a ticking time bomb ready to explode unexpectedly at any given moment much to the dismay of the prince. Pre-empting such an outbreak between the two of them he courteously declines both women in turn of what kind acts they wish to do to make his life easier. Graciously they accept this dismissal of their services and go in pursuit of other odd jobs that they could carry out to win this competition set before them. They will be hard pressed to find any chores though as Sasami is diligent in the house work and efficiently carries out all work that the nanobots Bulma installed are not programmed to or are not capable of doing. Ryoko phases off upstairs on her quest whilst Ayeka scours the kitchen for any possible dirty spot left unnoticed she can clean.
Cricking his aching neck and flicking some loose strands of long ebony hair from his scarred visage, Yamcha walks into the room from the small doorway under the stairs greeting his long term buddy Goku. The kind heartened Saiyan is pleasantly surprised to find the desert bandit here and wonders why he is here though. Puzzled by Yamcha's presence a question to probe this is about to leap from the tip of his tongue when a flash of pink hair follows the Z-warrior from her atelier of science. Yamcha sees the wonderings in his friend's eyes as the woman at his side links arms with him affectionately and explains his situation – how he came to become a man in a long term relationship (by his and by her standards). He sneaks in a mountain of compliments to feed the egotistical nature of Washu and earn some brownie points in the process. Chichi has a few niggling doubts about how stable such a relationship will last between such radically different types of people but she wishes them the best of luck for they will need it.
" Wait, excuse me if this is rude, but Washu the last time we met I am positive you were a lot younger." Gohan's observant mind would not allow him to drop this obvious change in age. Washu nods, she has come to expect these questions and can reel off the answers in her sleep she has had to use them that much. She puts them in the know about how she has conscious control over her age and uses it to revert herself to childhood or adulthood whenever she feels like taking that form. Upon hearing this one person in particularly is incredibly intrigued learning that such things are possible and would like to know more specifics about this technique. Chichi leaps out of her seat and vaults across the room, grabbing Washu and shouting for her to tell her how such a thing could be accomplished. The slow and cruel ravages of time being forever halted is a dream come true for this housewife bordering on middle-age who hates the fact her husband clearly ages a lot slower than she does – on top of that his eight years of being dead (seven with his Hyperbolic time training subtracted) have only emphasised that to a further degree.
Goku calmly stands up and separates his frantic wife from Washu. He has told Chichi time and time again that he does not care about her outward appearance, yet personal vanity always wins over his heartfelt words. Quietly telling her to calm down and that she is embarrassing herself, he breaks her grip on the front of Washu's clothing and attempts to soothe his betrothed. For a few moments the frenzied part of Chichi's mind puts up resistance at Goku's efforts to remove her from this person who holds the secrets to youth eternal. As his wife's struggles diminish and die down against his overpowering strength Goku takes her back down to be seated when his son, Gohan, continues Chichi's line of enquiry.
" How is this possible? I've never heard of anything like this, even from the Kai's." She scoffs at the supposed omniscience of these mythological beings and boasts at how her knowledge far exceeds that of all of them combined. Goten, Trunks and Sasami then also leave the laboratory all holding a single piece of paper in their hands. Each child looks at their sheet with an extremely puzzled and confused look. Apparently the worksheets that Washu handed out to them to establish the level of learning they have reached might be a tad challenging. Goku's second son approaches his first brandishing the paper in front of him, asking for his big brother to help him out with it. Stroking his scarred chin, Gohan's jaw drops at a simple glance at the questions Goten was expected to know the answer to.
" Resonance cascade effect? Quantum tunnelling devices? Anti-mass spectrometers? This level of technology is far beyond anything that exists on Earth. I'm sorry Washu but I don't think anyone but you could answer most of these questions. I could try but it'd all be hypothetical." His mind whirs as he tries to decipher what such wondrous devices and technologies could be and how they could aid the planet if he figured them out. Washu sighs.
" Really? Oh I thought it would be a good beginning spot for them. Back at the Scientific Academy I studied in this would've been a correct level for them, … I just don't have a clue what I should be teaching them."
" What do you mean teaching them?" This is news to Chichi and if it involves her child then she is all ears. With just a hint of dismay in his voice Yamcha briefly explains the little agreement that was made between him and Vegeta where he and Washu have been put in charge of educating the younglings in exchange for being allowed to stay here together. Washu chips in how it was such a generous offer from him that they were so delighted to accept with buckets of sarcasm pouring from her mouth.
" Yes it was, so don't push your luck. Now how about you just ask the damn kids what they were being taught at the time they were kicked out of school?" Vegeta will let her demeaning tone be forgiven this once but he shall remember it should she ever do it again, there are only so many second chances he can give to people. Washu concurs that his idea would be the most straightforward route, though a little unimaginative, and so asks Goten what was on the syllabus and then explains what that word means.
" Miss Washu we were learning about timesing big numbers together."
" Now tell me Goten, how big were these numbers in standard index form?"
" Umm … they were two digit numbers, is that what you meant?" The exasperated sigh of Washu upon hearing how much she would have to debase herself to stoop to such a profoundly primitive area of arithmetic pleases Vegeta.
" Don't sound too disheartened, it's not like I asked you to teach Kakarot. That buffoon has to be the stupidest imbecile I've had the misfortune to meet." Goku laughs sheepishly rubbing the back of his head, agreeing that he does have a point and is not that good when it comes to mathematics.
With the adults occupied with this discussion now of intellectual capabilities and being told that they cannot do the work set for them, Trunks and Goten seize this opportunity to run off and go play outside in the bright sunshine. Soon the conversation boils down to Washu and Vegeta swapping stories from their days voyaging through space. Talking about planets they have visited, races they have met and in Vegeta's case what he wiped from the planes of existence. The Saiyan prince is enjoying relaying the news to Washu that around a quarter of her favourite destinations in space are no longer there either down to his handiwork or that of other mercenaries working for the Cold empire. Sasami, like the rest of the people in the room, is feeling left out of this weird dialogue and as the lads have gone and deserted her she announces that she will start to prepare dinner.
The ears of the two Saiyans twitch at the mere mention of food and hungrily listen to the footsteps of the young cook entering the kitchen. With their attention divided, Goku and Vegeta continue their conversations but all the time listening out to the sound of pots and pans clattering, knives carving meat and broths bubbling. Videl, who is still very new to this world of powerful alien races and intergalactic quests through the final frontier, excuses herself to go and aid the azure haired princess of Jurai. Vegeta's amplified Saiyan hearing ability also catches the sound of two other women in the kitchen and so the well ordered regime of Sasami's cooking is thrown into anarchic chaos. Try as he might to drown out the feminine voices drifting from the kitchen he cannot help but overhear every single word being said. Amidst the rows of plates set up by the juvenile culinary prodigy the space pirate Ryoko subtly sidles up to the young fiancée of Gohan.
" You're Videl right? The girlfriend to that Gohan fellow, he's part Saiyan isn't he so … what's it like with a Saiyan?" Not too quietly she inquires cheekily to the confused Videl.
" Huh? What's what like?" A wicked grin manifests on Ryoko's face, she steps closer to Videl. With dark insinuations lying deep within her eyes she leans in and whispers into Videl's ears. As all becomes clear to Videl a very deep crimson blush creeps across her cheeks hearing the filth Ryoko is susurrating. Finished clearing up any ambiguity in her previous question, Ryoko looks with a predatory, feline gaze at the young woman hungrily awaiting a response.
" I-I …I don't know what you're talking about." Such a shamefaced answer from an extremely personal and intimate question is not what the cyan haired rogue wanted to hear. She continues to push and persist poor Videl for any little secrets about the nocturnal habits of a certain species. The raven haired daughter of Mr. Satan keeps on denying Ryoko access to such private information and blushes more and more from the deep embarrassment of the brash and bold way she is being asked these things. Out of the two other females in the kitchen Sasami is oblivious as to what Ryoko is getting at with the protective barriers of childhood innocence stopping the dirt of Ryoko's mind staining her but Ayeka on the other hand does not like what she is hearing. The high princess of Jurai will not stand to overhear such muck and storms over to stop it and save Videl from the insistent bullying and probing of Ryoko. However, as soon as the buccaneer's attention is moved from Videl it instantly latches onto Ayeka and she begins to have some more fun. Demure Ayeka is not prepared for this.
" What, oh psh princess, you were thinking the exact same thing and I know it. We're both women so it's nothing to be ashamed of. You do want a hot night of steamy passion with Vegeta too, am I right?" Ayeka violently shakes her head in denial at these words. Her whole face flushing bright red, a lot more than the person they are discussing who's face is also reddening at what he overhears.
" No! No, no I am a princess of Jurai. A lady of class and stature not a woman of such loose morals, I … I do not have such base thoughts as the likes of you." The two rivals of love are solely fixed on each other now allowing for Videl to escape and take Sasami with her as the complex preparation for the meal is done now, all that is left is to wait for the food to cook.
" Are you sure? Come now Ayeka don't play little prissy princess with me, I can see straight through this act of yours. It's pathetic really. Remember during all those nights when you had those certain special dreams? Well, I heard you." The purple haired royal is taken aback by this humiliating notion and she blushes a great deal more.
" Liar! Y-you're just making that up! I - " Ryoko phases behind Ayeka, quietly talking into her ear.
" Oh poor Sasami, such a young girl being kept awake at night because of her sister and the foul things she screams in the night."
" Stop it! Stop! Shut up. You harlot!"
" Hey, no need to get your knickers in a twist, just saying the truth. Does this jog your memory at all Ayeka?" Ryoko then proceeds to mimic Ayeka's voice and make exaggerated groans and sighs throwing in Vegeta's name in every now and then along with some other choice exclamations. Whether her furious wrath is directed at such an affront to her as a pure maiden or the deep set embarrassment of her forbidden thoughts being said aloud does not matter to Ayeka, all that matters is that she shuts Ryoko up. The two are about to lunge and begin round two of their catfight when the prince decides he has had enough. His ears burning from things he really did not want to be hearing whilst trying to entertain guests at the same time, Vegeta shouts from his seat into the kitchen to silence the quarrelling pair.
" Ryoko! Ayeka! Will you two shut up and when is food going to be ready?" He sinks back into his seat satisfied when he hears a peaceful hush from the kitchen followed by clumsy crashes of pots and pans. Ryoko and Ayeka have been thrown into disarray, reminded of their original reason to be in this room but they have just found out that what they have been saying is now also known by Vegeta. Ayeka feels so humiliated and embarrassed, a hell of a lot more than Ryoko who is quietly snickering to herself. The elfin eared reprobate has no feelings of guilt or shame over the eavesdropping but is rather cheerful that it is out there in the open ready to be acted upon, much unlike the high-born Ayeka biting her nails in dread.
The racket that is the pandemonium occurring when you leave two women who cannot cook in the kitchen to supervise the cooking foods dies down after a few minutes. Nostrils twitch as Saiyans detect food ready for consumption in close proximity. The wooden door to the kitchen opens and closes as princess Ayeka goes to tell the expectant guests that food is being served when, just as she enters the front room, Ryoko's voice booms from the kitchen the exact news she wanted to tell. Mumbling at how rude shouting in a house is, Ayeka still escorts Chichi, Washu, Yamcha and Videl into the dining area of the kitchen for the Saiyans are already sat down staring at the plates of steaming food looking like a pack of ravenous wolves over a fresh kill. Barely managing to control their primal urges to consume all in their path, the Saiyan's remain in their seats, patiently awaiting for all to be sat down before tucking in. Trunks is enjoying being sat next to his dear father for a family meal even with some of the dishes slightly burnt or not on par with what Sasami would be capable of is she was left on her own with no one else meddling. The lavender haired youth was enjoying it till his place by his father is usurped by Ryoko phasing and floating in the gap between his and Vegeta's chairs. With a woman on either side of him Vegeta ignores the comments he heard earlier. Every time his plate is devoid of food or his glass empty either Ryoko or Ayeka take it upon themselves to see his insatiable appetite is appeased, all of their offers of food to him are greedily snatched up and devoured instantly without a word.
An adequate meal cooked mainly by a pirate and a princess very unskilled at such domestic duties is quickly engulfed by the gluttonous quintet of Saiyan blood. Before the last plate is cleared the rivals contending against each other are stumbling over each other to be the first to clear away all the dishes, breaking quite a few in the process. Between the apologies for the ruined ceramics and rustle of dresses, Vegeta pretends not to notice all this hard effort the women are putting in due to him. His thoughts are if they see he is not paying attention then they shall try harder and push themselves further and show what they are truly capable of.
Not much time has passed since they arrived, well under an hour, but the guests feel they have outstayed their welcome – mainly Goku because if he is around Vegeta for long amounts of time then his chances of leaving with the same amount of teeth he arrived with diminish. They stand up from the table still being cleaned and Vegeta leads them on their way outside and says a short goodbye to who he wants to crush under his boots like a bug. Whilst being thanked for his 'hospitality', Washu takes this opportunity to attempt and expand her near infinite database on all organisms. A shout of terror rises from Goku when he sees the hypodermic needle clutched in her hand, his crippling phobia for this needle was unjustified as it is in fact aimed at the youngest of his sons not himself. Caught in the act red handed, she freezes with the sedative so close to being injected into its intended victim. The other fully matured woman turns and coldly looks at the one who seems to be threatening her beloved child. Then the menace and rage rise in her eyes.
Lucky for Washu her guardian angel is on standby to protect her. Yamcha moves in-between the two women and takes the blow that would easily split a boulder to his jaw. He rubs the side of his face where the punch landed and keeps the angry Chichi from harming Washu.
" Woah, bit protective aren't we. No need to be alarmed though, all I was trying to do was bridge a gap in my database by analysing a Saiyan-human hybrid. You should see this as an honour that your son will have the privilege of being memorialised within my databanks. " Washu peeps over Yamcha's broad shoulders when trying to explain why she was doing what she was. For some reason though the words coming out of Chichi's mouth are a resounding no concerning consenting for Goten to be a guinea pig at her mercy. Once again Goku has to pacify the acute maternal instincts of his missus. With her calmed down and reluctantly letting Washu off the hook, Chichi follows her husband out of their house and holds his hand as they Instant Transmission back to their own household.
Vegeta is still thinking about what he found out from this meeting with Goku. He knew his suspicions would be proved true but not by such a degree... and then there is the matter of them. A long sigh escapes through his teeth. He turns around to look at the duo behind him. All throughout that meal Ayeka's cheeks always held some colouration to them and now with his intense gaze on her it intensifies into a strong blush yet again. He knows what is coming. He tasked them with something and promised them a reward so now he shall have to deliver on his promise, he is a man of his word after all. Cracking the knuckles of each finger and every vertebrae of his back as he walks over to Ryoko and Ayeka, he braces himself. Seeing the expectant look in the eyes of both women he realises that he might not have been keeping count of what they have been doing. Meeting both of their eyes he begins.
" Both of you have actually managed to pull your own weight and you await the final verdict. You want to know who has done the most work, who shall receive the prize? …." Ryoko and Ayeka hold their breath in anticipation. This one moment they have been working so hard for is at hand. Vegeta smiles and looks at both women in turn, then looks down at his hands and one by one slowly counts on his fingers each thing the women have done. Both women sweat-drop. After slowly mumbling under his breath their chores and coming to a conclusion he looks back up to them.
" Interesting …. Ayeka, high princess of Jurai, …" He focuses his stare on her as her face lights up. " … how does it feel to know that you have … " She smiles joyfully, waiting to hear him say those last words and announce her triumph over Ryoko. " … somehow managed to do the same exact amount of work as Ryoko." Ayeka's face drops. Both women look shocked at each other, this is most unexpected. As their eyes meet they harden and teeth grit. A row starts as to who did the more important jobs or did it to a better quality. Vegeta quickly interrupts them and the altercation spewing from their mouths.
" Be quiet the both of you, I'm sure the city will be able to cope with both of you accompanying me tomorrow." They forget their quarrel, although not their preferred outcome, they are overjoyed and immensely happy at the prospect of a day out with him. Vegeta's tongue moved faster than his brain, the city might be able to handle both Ryoko and Ayeka but he is having serious doubts as to whether he can for a full 24 hours.