Vegeta Muyo!

by Llwchwr

A year after the Buu saga the Z warriors continue life in peace until tragedy strikes, a family is shattered and hearts broken. One Saiyan excommunicates himself and lives as a hermit training day and night until one day a visitor crashes into his life.

16. Vegeta Muyo! Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Ascending in a groggy fashion up out from the nadir of unnaturally enforced slumber, he shrugs off the chains of lethargy and opens his eyelids to dim lighting and a metal tiled ceiling. Charts showing his skeletal system, neural pathways and circulatory system hover above his prone body, bar charts and line graphs dot the air with data he cannot understand. He moves his arm to scratch his nose, having long since realised he is somewhere within Washu's lab and she has been running her tests again. His wrist meets resistance. Yamcha's arm will not budge, neither will any of his other limbs. Looking about in alarm, he sees the reason why: all but his torso and head have been completely and utterly encapsulated in several thick layers of a strange material. He has to turn his eyes back away from the restraints as just looking at them is causing him to develop a headache, they are made of a sleek and glossy metal but his mind cannot fathom how they are shining an impossible hue. A colour that is not a colour, an impossible colour that doesn't exist on Earth and should not exist at all. Dancing on the edge of perception being not a part of the visible light range.

All his reserves of strength and ki have been sapped from him. Laying still and staring up at the cold, metal ceiling he thinks to himself that he should have seen this coming sooner or later. Probably acting in a manner less alarmed than all other men would, he sighs to himself and resigns himself to the fact that she has finally developed something that can securely hold him and yield him no hope of escape. After long giving up the ghost of trying to use brute force to win himself freedom, he calls out to the darkness and the shadowy areas of the room for his jailer to release him. Suddenly, an impish face leans down over him with an evil grin, smirking at the unfortunate position this man has found himself in.

"Yes Yamcha?"

"Oh, I didn't see you over there. Sorry but it looks like I must have just gone and fallen asleep and accidentally activated these restraints so would you kindly let me go?" He sheepishly and worriedly smiles at her but that smile fades as her toothy grin widens. Washu's eyes gleaming in the low level lighting causes Yamcha's flesh to crawl with an urgent sense of foreboding.

"Silly Yamcha. Oh it was no accident, I can assure you. No need to worry though, simply had to do this for the invasive surgery." Alarm bells start ringing in his head as a horrified looks sweeps across his face. His muscular arms and legs clank about within their individual prisons but their efforts quickly end as they become leaden from fatigue.

"Surgery! What did you do to me Washu?" She silently observes his fruitless efforts to get off the slab he is welded to and flicks through the data feeds before turning to look back at him. Only once before has Yamcha ever felt this helpless before and that was when …

"You are on the ball today, aren't you Yamcha? Honestly, why would I not implement those energy absorbing devices of Dr. Gero into my restraints, it'd be stupid not to. How nice of you it is to make a great power supply for my lab. " Her smile slowly dissipates from her face as she leans her head closer to Yamcha's, her enjoyment out of watching him acting so unnerved is being spoilt by one little thing. For a moment her face disappears from his extremely limited field of view then pops back again with a slight frown showing. She appears to be holding something but he can't quite make it out. Her dainty hands move the object so he can get a good look at it: a large glass jar containing a translucent yellowish liquid quite similar to formaldehyde. One of her small fingers points at the thing suspended in the solution, her fingernails tap thrice on the glass.

"What is this?" Washu asks firmly. Yamcha is still in a partial state of shock at learning part of him is no longer internal but external, his fear is showing clearly as he looks at the thing floating in the jar. Small and vermiform is the cylindrical lump of flesh, its colour paler than it should be due to the preservative liquid it is pickled in. As the woman above him gently shakes the jar and its contents bob about, Yamcha's terror dies down to frustration at her thinking she can do whatever she wants to him.

"Did you take that out of me? What the hell Washu! You could have atleast asked me first, I should be able to go to sleep and not have to worry about missing some of my vital organs when I wake up." His lover ignores his entirely justified complaints and continues pressing her question about his anatomy.

"Tell me, what is this?"

"Why do you expect me to know, I ain't a doctor or anything."

"Come on, you must have a basic understanding of the contents of your own insides. I'll make it easier for you then, look it came from there and was attached to the larger portion of your intestinal tract." She is getting more and more annoyed at his inability to answer as she prods sharply at a fresh scar on the right hand side of his abdomen, disrupting the stitches holding his flesh in place minutely. The look of horror arises again on Yamcha's face as he sees the new wound on his lower stomach. He lets out a loud groan and sighs, giving her an answer seems to be his only option of escape.

" … Well, if I had to take a wild stab in the dark, I'm gonna go with saying that it's-was my appendix." Yamcha nods his head, that guess sounds round about right to him looking at the shape of the organ and where it should be in his body. Washu's bright green eyes glance over the thing in the jar she holds, she hasn't heard of such an organ before. Enticed by the thought of finding out something new to her, she sets down the jar on Yamcha's abdominals and eagerly looks at him.

"An appendix you say, what does it do then? What're its functions and its purpose?" The wolf warrior can see the hunger deep in her eyes, her insatiable thirst for knowledge about to be quenched by his reply. That is if he can remember what an appendix does actually do. Now that he thinks on it he is not sure he has the faintest clue to do with anything remotely about it, this could prove problematic. Racking his brain for a good few minutes, he eventually just gives a half-arsed answer.

"Umm, randomly gets infected and kills people." He knew when that sentence was half way out of his mouth how it was going to end up so he can't say he is surprised when she takes the jar back off of his stomach and frowns at him. She didn't like that answer, she thinks he is purposefully trying to hinder her efforts to further what she knows. Washu finds his lack of cooperation annoying.

"I won't let you go until you tell me." She quietly says this, a small hint of menace arising in her tone. He lets out a low growl, his irritation at his predicament has been growing with each second entombed in a metal he can't even properly perceive.

"How is that fair? Why would I know what it's supposed to do, all I know is it sure as hell won't do it now it's outside my body! Let me go now Washu!" She steps back away from the slab, this is the first time he has ever risen his voice against her out of anger. He is just making it harder for himself though, Washu is not someone to be easily pushed around or intimidated.

"Fine then, be that way. Until you start cooperating and behaving yourself don't expect to be released or to get this back." She rattles the jar above her head as she turns around and walks off, beginning to disappear into the perpetual murk. Just the tip of her pink ponytail can still be seen by Yamcha when he calls out to her again.

"Washu, stop! Come back … d-darling. Hey I was just messing around, didn't mean to offend you or ought. I'm sorry I shouted at you, just let me go. If I could tell you about my appendix I would but you know me well enough by now to see I'm telling the truth that I can't." Her hair disappears into the blackness, that was his last chance and it failed miserably. Or so he thought. Well oiled gears grind against each other as the table he is on rotates around so he is now in a vertical position and able to see Washu stood in front of him. Her arms are folded across her chest … her small chest. A sudden realisation hits Yamcha, he knows why she is acting like this now. " You aren't still mad about last night are you, … light of my life?"

"I don't know, am I ?" He remembers it all now. Basically it all comes down to her staying in her adolescent form. Yamcha tried to persuade her to turn back to her adult form but he might have said a few things that could be taken wrong if out of context and Washu has not forgiven him for it. His acute reluctance to look at her, or even be near her, left her disgruntled. Never mind that was before he said those things to her, things such as how she was much smaller –in every sense of the word – and how he doesn't particularly like her that way compared to her other form. Back to the present and he is struggling to think of any response ( there is no right or correct answer whenever asked that question by an angry woman).

"I'm sorry Washu. I really, truly am. … But, … it doesn't change the fact that you're technically a child right now."

"So you only like me for my body, is that what you're trying to say?" He tries to meet her eyes but he cannot hold her penetrating gaze for more than a second, she is looking mightily pissed at him. Everything he possibly says or does will be turned against him. Arguing against a woman is a futile task, arguing against someone who is as smart as she is turns into just wasted breath and effort.

"No, no, no it's not like that just … it's plain wrong to be attracted to someone your age." Yamcha tries to skirt around the elephant in the room in the least offensive way possible, Washu is making his job that much more difficult for him though.

" Humph! You said you didn't care I was 20,000 years old! I thought you were different Yamcha but you're just like the rest. You only liked me for two reasons and now when they're not as big you couldn't care less about me."

"Washu, that's not what I meant. Just listen to what I'm trying to tell ya. I still like you, I like you a lot, but I have principles and when you have the body of a young girl that's a boundary I won't cross."

"I've got some tests to run on this 'appendix'. I'll be back later." She turns her back on him and storms off, taking the jar with his appendix in it with her. He hangs his head and lets his mane of hair fall down in front of his face as he exhales loudly, the buzzing and humming computers and machinery the only things to hear him.

Vegeta stands in the training room. For over ten hours he has been in there nonstop with the artificial gravity on at 2,000 Gs and it has taken its toll on him and on the room. All the weights have warped or snapped due to the extreme environment, most of the other exercise equipment has also broken or had its shape altered and distorted by gravity so it is no longer useable. Even the flooring has begun to crack under the enhanced weight of the Saiyan prince thudding about. The room and everything inside of it was not built to withstand anything above 1,000 Gs and so Washu's improvements have pushed it past what it was originally designed to handle.

It is not enough though, it never will be enough for Vegeta; he could spend all 24 hours of each and every day training and it would still not come close to sating his need for more power. He has even missed the call for breakfast, which he rarely ever does, ignoring Sasami as she knocked on the door to the training room to alert him to the fact that food is ready. His body needs a break, just one small rest and a chance to recuperate after so long of pushing himself past his known limits. There is only one last thing left for him to do in this room to help improve himself. Scratching the rough five o'clock shadow that has grown on his jaw and trying to rub away the sleep and fatigue from his eyes, he goes towards the main console to activate whatever simulation he hasn't tried yet. His meaty finger goes down to press one of the many buttons on the keypad when the high humidity of the room caused by his own perspiration evaporating tickles the back of his throat. He coughs. His finger and whole hand plummet straight through the console. Vegeta does not look impressed at all as his body once again takes on its natural weight and any chance he has of training has now deteriorated significantly. Angrily snarling in irritation at his misfortune, he stomps one of his booted feet on the floor, demolishing one of the near indestructible tiles into atoms. The room is useless to him now, the main console is broken beyond repair so with a waft of his hand he disintegrates it into ashes.

No one else but Sasami is in the kitchen as he enters, all the others having obviously already eaten well over an hour ago. Silently sitting down, he engulfs the now cold plates of food considerately left out for him. He stands up from the table feeling a lot better now and exchanges thanks and some minor pleasantries with Sasami for her cooking as he leaves the kitchen and his house. Vegeta positions himself right by the edge of the lake and raises his left arm casually. As his arm outstretches so too does the water from the lake begin to take to the air, in an effortless use of his telekinetic abilities he lifts all the water from the lake a clear 20 feet above his head. Dropping his left arm he immediately begins to rise his right for as soon as the water begins to drop blasts erupt from his fingertips and purge all the fish from the lake with deadly accuracy. When the water finally impacts back into its rightful place with an almighty splash he proceeds to dodge all the water droplets spewing forth. Nothing offers up a challenge to him anymore. His body requires him to be active but there is no activity worthy of his time.

Walking back to his house with short strides, he stops before entering. He senses two disturbances of ki. Vegeta leans back against the doorframe and slides down so he is sat upon the long, uncut grass, he knows what is coming so he might as well face it in comfort. Closing his heavy eyelids, he awaits patiently for them to come to him. Rest, it's what he needs but what he will not allow himself to indulge in more than is barely necessary for him to continue functioning. With his head propped up by the wooden wall behind him, he hears two sets of footsteps approaching him, the door opening and closing and then something unexpected occurs. He feels a slight weight on his chest.

"Meow. Meow, meow mew." Opening one eye and then the other he discovers it is none other than the cabbit Ryo-ohki merrily perched upon him. He looks down at the small animal, its wet, whiskery nose nearly touching his, and gently scratches it behind its massive ears. If only pleasing the rest of the people staying in his house were as simple as this he thinks to himself. Ryo-ohki leaps off of him as he stands back up to face the Juraian princess and the space pirate. Ryoko is dressed in the same outfit she wore when she first met and attacked him, she smiles warmly at him, reminiscing over yesterday's magical occurrence. Princess Ayeka though is not smiling, a faint trace of forlorn self pity about her. She has tried to disguise her now lopsided head of hair in a simple side braid but his eyes can still make out the charred ends amongst the sea of purple.

He says good morning to them and they reply to the same effect. His Saiyan eyes pick up that they most probably want some answers, or to talk to him, concerning his actions yesterday, but there is something he feels he must do first and he knows Ryoko will not like it.

"Come." He takes one of Ayeka's hands in his own and begins to briskly walk off back into his abode. Vegeta doesn't bother to look at the princess' blushing face or Ryoko's great scowl as they both follow him, one because she has no choice in the matter and the other as she wants to know what the hell the Saiyan is doing. Before he even takes two steps into his own front room he is being bombarded by questions by both women, most originating from Ryoko though. Stopping in front of the door to the former storage cupboard under the stairs he tells Ryoko to stay there for the minute and to not follow him inside. With that he turns the doorknob and enters, taking Ayeka with him. As the door slams shut behind the two, Ryoko hovers in the air, quite annoyed at being left in the dark about what Vegeta is doing in there with her of all people. For now she will do what he says, but if he spends any length of time in there alone with Ayeka she will not wait idly by.

Vegeta wastes no time within Washu's lab, as soon as he enters and sees that she is not in sight he, and the still confused Ayeka, vanish. In a gloomy room they reappear, a large, black monolith before them and an unfortunate soul still stuck to it – Ayeka having got moderately accustomed to this form of transportation hardly has any adverse reaction to it at all. Yamcha would wave at them but for the time being he'll just stick to saying hi. The modest princess averts her eyes from the poor sod abandoned in just his underwear whilst still wondering what thoughts are going through Vegeta's mind and feeling quite pleased that it is her, and not Ryoko, he has seemingly chosen to accompany him. Two small bright flashes of light later and Yamcha can now freely move the whole top half of his body, another two and he hops down from the slab. He then proceeds to stifle a short scream of pain as he clutches at the small of his back.

"Thanks Vegeta. Not as young and spry as I once was." Grimacing through the major discomfort, he straightens himself up to his full height and clicks his vertebrae back into their natural positioning. Sighing in relief, he goes to the small table where his clothes are and begins to get dressed. "So what brings you here Vegeta? Looking for some alone time with the princess are ya?" The Juraian princess' cheeks redden at the insinuated possibility as she watches Vegeta stiffen and try to stop himself from striking the human after such an insolent remark.

"I'm looking for Washu you fool. For some reason most of this strange place is now giving off ki readings and with her being so weak I cannot differentiate her from this incessant background noise. Tell me now or I'll find a way to put you back where I found you." Vegeta barks at Yamcha, his need to find the woman with which this man has become romantically involved with is urgent. Yamcha finishes putting on his clothes and kneels down in the debris of his restraints, fishing around for something in particular.

"If you want an answer to why this place is messing with your senses it's partly due to me … and to that." He tosses across a small, pink gem with a tail of circuitry and wires attached to the spherical device. Vegeta picks it out of the air and needs but a short glance at the thing to recognise what it is, his hand closes and crushes the energy absorption gem.

"Damn it all, she's been reading up on the few things that can actually harm us. Not like it's any true threat but still she's a dangerous enough woman as it is. You know the layout of this place, where is she most likely to be hiding?"

"I need to find her too. She took out one of my organs when I was conked out. Can you believe that, my appendix of all things." The Saiyan prince raises his eyebrows at this but otherwise ignores that statement. Disinterested about Yamcha's predicament, he once again tries to focus and pinpoint where Washu precisely is within her labyrinthine warren. Bingo. Not exactly what he was after but if she is now using ki to power her machines then the area with the ki lowering must be where she currently is. Ayeka is still looking about perplexed as he closes his eyes and instant transmissions them away from the desert bandit.

"Woman, you are needed." Gruff tones resonate from less than six inches behind the miniscule scientist, Washu gets badly startled by this sudden, unexpected sound from immediately behind her person. Jumping out of fright, her hands lose their grip on the tray of test tubes she was carrying and they smash to pieces on the tiles, spilling their noxious and viscous contents on her perfectly clean floor. One small dot of the chemical splashes onto Washu's left shoe and straight away a smell of burning can be smelt and the sound of fizzling can be heard.

"BAH! Don't do that! If I am needed it is helpful if you don't try scaring me half to death first." The pink haired scientist kicks off her quickly dissolving shoe to stop the hazardous acid getting onto her white socks, or worse her foot, and quickly turns around to face the duo. Her razor sharp eyes flash towards the person the Saiyan has brought with him, she did not predict him coming in here with company. Only now does Vegeta let go of Ayeka's fragile hand and crosses his arms across his barrel chest.

"Fine, have it your way Saiyan. What is so important that you have to come and ask for my help ? You need some pointers on what Juraians really like, a bit on their anatomy ?" She screams. Just for an instant she saw a clenched fist hurtling towards the bridge of her nose. Cowering with her eyes closed, she recoils in pain as he flicks the tip of her petite nose hard – hard for her but to him that was as light an attack as he could ever do. Rubbing her sore nose she apologises for what she said.

"My training room is broken. The higher gravitational fields it could create due to your improvements have caused it to destroy itself, I demand you repair it at once."

"What's in it for me?" Her annoyance at Vegeta gets the better of her as Washu pushes her luck. His eyes narrow their harrowing gaze on Washu, the temptation to blast off one of her limbs is rising within him. The wise words of his dead wife echo through his head, reminding him that violence is not always the answer or solution to every problem, thoughts he occasionally embraces against his better judgement. Actual violence he is not going to do but threatening her life is something he will feel no guilt whatsoever over. Unfurling one of his crossed arms, a small sun spawns in the palm of his hand.

"For starters your life, beyond that your home, wellbeing, this lab and anything else I could take from you whenever I choose. Just get the job done and be quick about it." Washu offhandedly agrees, knowing she has no choice if she values living, and summons her phantom laptop to rapidly type something down. Having written down a full conclusion to her experiment that abysmally failed thanks to her test material being dropped on the floor she turns her attention back to the one man she cannot gain dominance over. Vegeta's gloved hand points towards the young woman stood behind him, bringing the princess' attention back to the conversation he and Washu are having. Not being personally involved within their dialogue, Ayeka couldn't help but look around in amazement at this arabesque style room, bizarre yet fantastic whilst incomprehensible in its geometry. Only a few times did Ayeka ever venture forth into Washu's personal laboratory before Earth and those times she did not have need to move more than a few metres from the entranceway wish she was thankful for.

"Washu, there is also a favour I will ask of you. During her duel with Ryoko yesterday, Lady Ayeka sustained some … painful injuries that have left her with scars she would rather be without. Sort them out for her." The same bright and happy smile that had been missing from Ayeka when she greeted him this morning has returned to her. He knew the cause of her depression to be the disfigurement of her body. Vanity alone not being the sole perpetrator but the way she has been marked like cattle, the shameful, mocking memo of debasing herself when she was forced under pain and agony to submit to Ryoko. Her royal pride was the thing that suffered the largest wound and that is something he understands perfectly.

"I'd have to anyway Saiyan, even if you weren't here. Being under the employment of the Juraian royal family, which Miss Ayeka belongs to, makes me contractually obliged to do what she asks of me. I take it I'll have to regrow her cut hair as well, simple work like this won't take me very long. If you'll step this way princess it'll all be done in a jiffy." Ayeka takes a step forward towards the scientist gesturing off to a side room. With a click of her fingers, Washu's floating cushion materialises in the air. She takes a seat on it as it slowly glides through the air towards the room she previously indicated at. Ayeka stops and leaves the scientist to continue on her way.

"I thank you Lord Vegeta. This means a lot to me, I – I don't think I could ever live with those things marring me. You don't trust Washu but I have known her most of my life, I will be safe in her capable hands …. Though, could you wait for me? I don't know the way out and would hate to get lost in this weird place by myself." He simply nods in response. It is good to see her back to her merry self and pleasantly smiling, one less thing to distract him from training when the time comes that he can again.

"Umm … Vegeta?" A rather anxious look has grown in her eyes as she stares at the floor, fiddling with her hands and biting her lower lip. " I was wondering … about w-what you did … what you did yesterday, when you a-a-and I - " Vegeta cuts her off by raising the same hand he used to threaten Washu with, no aggression in his motions this time. His slow and calm movement stops the already hesitant lady. Normally when people interrupt like that it is because they themselves want to have their say so she waits to hear his answer, the answer to the thing that has been troubling her mind since that fateful sunrise on that faraway windy plateau. His hand lowers as he takes a deep breath. She holds her breath, waiting in anticipation.

"Lady Ayeka, a lot happened yesterday. You are in this very room because of those events, but for he time being go and get patched up. I promise I will explain later, you have my word. When this is over and we are outside of this hellhole then we shall talk as Ryoko will also want to hear it." He has said his piece, he will say nothing more on the matter. Ayeka looks at him and into those unreadable eyes of his, she will have to hold on just a tad longer before her uncertainties and doubts are cleared. Slowly, she nods her head and turns and walks off to where Washu is hovering in her chair. The prince goes his own way, passing the time by exploring the laboratory and mapping out this ever-changing realm in his mind.

Washu dismounts from her seat as they enter this cramped room, a large proportion of it taken up by various apparatus and electronics. A vat containing a murky, reddish liquid, screens and monitors decorating the walls in the place of wallpaper, row upon row of computer banks and servers fitting snugly in-between the more obscure pieces of equipment that no one but Washu could identify. The princess stands in the doorway, half out of not wanting to get in the way of the scurrying scientist and half out of unease and uncertainty at what she might be doing. Scampering about to find where she last placed what she currently needs, Washu slams her elbow into a large red button on the wall. Neon writing illuminates the room, the virtual labels hanging in the air before their corresponding device.

"So Ayeka, is it just the scars and hair you want done? Give me your finger." Having found what she was searching for, Washu pricks the tip of Ayeka's held out index finger with the needle attachment to whatever she is holding. The insides of the handheld gizmo begin to whizz as it ejects a small memory card from the side.

"Washu, what do you mean by 'just' the scars and my hair? I'm not going to let you run those experiments of yours on my royal body."

"Oh I wouldn't dream of doing such a thing Ayeka." Washu honestly wouldn't, not with her being conscious and Vegeta in the nearby vicinity. " As a number one genius I thought maybe a bit of upgrading to your hardware might be something you so desire." She inserts the memory chip into the side of the machine connected to the vat, after a series of bleeps and bloops from the control panel the mixture within starts to froth and churn. Generating biologically identical skin graft cultures from scratch takes a few minutes so as the machine carries on its business they carry on with their conversation. The princess frowns at this unusual line of inquiry.

"What by the powers of Jurai are you talking about Washu? What has computer hardware got to do with me?" Washu sighs at the still so innocent mind of the princess being unable to grasp at what she was referring to. She drums her fingers on the top of the vat as she watches the green progress bar inch its way forwards towards its goal. A watched pot never boils and so too does cloning not speed up when under observation, she turns to face Ayeka again and with a sly grin relays what she really meant.

"I was referring to your physical being. I can perform miracles here, enhancing your beauty so a certain someone notices you more is a piece of cake for me. How 'bout it?" The millennia old woman in a child's body innocently smiles up at the regal lady. Washu already has a very good idea at what the Juraian's response will be, this should go against those mannerisms and codes of conduct taught to her back on her home planet. Such an uptight personality for someone who is still so much in her youth and should be enjoying it to the fullest instead of worrying about her impeccable behaviour and the way in which everyone views her. But what would Washu know about the ins and outs of life as royalty, a life of responsibility like that is one she would not want to have. Unhindered by petty titles and ranks in a hierarchical system she could not care less about she is free to pursue what she wants and embark on new scientific endeavours whenever she pleases. Freedom but for one string attaching her to those responsibilities she so dreads: her boyfriend Yamcha.

"Miss Washu are you implying that I need this upgrading to my already perfect body?" Right on cue the princess seems majorly annoyed at Washu, taking it as a profound and personal insult that such a thing should ever be offered to her. Washu's smile enlarges.

"Ain't saying you need it but a little extra help wouldn't do any harm would it. Those unfortunates with Y chromosomes always seem a lot more attracted to those with mammary glands of the larger persuasion so I could always aid your development - "

"NO! How dare you suggest that the crown princess of Jurai should have to rely on such base measures of allure to win the heart of Lord V – … someone."

"Someone, eh? Nearly got you to say it, didn't I? Anyway, on with the work. So where are these scars then?" With Ayeka now trying to back out of what she nearly blurted out, Washu would follow through with a quick riposte had the skin grafts not just been completed. A woman's work is never done. Rattling her fingers across the keyboard, Washu initiates the ending sequence for the hi-tech machine. A flushing sound comes from the reddish tank as it evacuates its biochemical mixture into the extensive plumbing for bio hazardous materials. Emerging from a thin but wide slot at the base of the tank is a thin A3 sized sheet. A sheet of Juraian skin, fully complete with enzymes ready to bond it to the patient. Ayeka looks at the skin Washu is holding and turns around, with one dainty finger she hesitantly points to her back.

"Umm, they are on my back Washu …. Just the general area is all I know, I d-didn't look too much at those horrid things. … Will it hurt Miss Washu?" Anxiously, Ayeka looks over her shoulder at the pink haired genius. The scientist's analytical mind measures a rough estimate of how much of the created tissue will need to be used.

"If it does then something's gone horribly wrong. Don't worry about it, applying this isn't exactly brain surgery … I could do some of that if -"

"Miss Washu, can we just get this over with. I wouldn't want to keep Lord Vegeta waiting for too long … especially in your lab where so many things are prone to breaking." Washu will have to give her that, she does have a valid point; having a destroyer of worlds just aimlessly wandering around her laboratory is something she would rather do without.

"Yes, well … ain't no time like the present. Now it would speed matters along your highness if I could actually see or get to the area I have to work with. There are some spare surgical gowns if you feel uncomfortable over there in that cupboard, but be careful not to touch the ion thrusters … they're a wee bit volatile." Weakly smiling at Washu, Ayeka moves off to change her clothes. Tapping her feet, the pink haired girl ponders over which method would be most fun to use to regrow the severed hair.

Far off shouts echo through the winding passageway Vegeta finds himself at: the shouts of an aggravated man demanding he has what was taken from him returned to him at once and a young girl refusing point blank to surrender her new plaything. He has had enough of this place. The very air feeling unnatural and synthesised, which it probably is, feeding his want to escape. More words from a distant argument reach him yet none from the woman he is waiting for, that must mean she is done with the operation and also helplessly lost inside this directionless realm – that or Washu has anesthetised her, gagged her or … well the list really does go on. Placing two digits against his forehead, his sixth sense worms its way back over the way he came and towards a ki level higher than that being output by the machines but lower than that of Yamcha himself. This far reaching ability indicates to him that she has not moved far from where his ears sense the commotion is starting to really kick off. Vegeta grumbles to himself over allowing Washu to stay here, and alive, as he instant transmissions.

Dark shadows loom all around, towering monstrosities and idols to the devious owner of this lair with malevolent lighting flickering sporadically along their entire length. Monoliths of science and technology soaring high and lofty above the lone princess wandering lost, searching for the way out back to reality and natural light. She only walked around the corner from where Washu fixed her up yet even backtracking and tracing her steps to that same doorway there is no sign of anyone or any recognisable landmark. It is as if the rooms themselves shift about like the sands of the desert, every time that you return to the same place it has altered beyond recognition. Doorways leading to corridors leading to hallways leading to halls leading to a way with no exits and back to a room she feels she has been in already. Nerves start to crack under fear, the fear of forever being lost in an inescapable world of mist and shades. Ayeka's eyes dart about in vain to pick out any small hint or clue as to the location of that single dimensional portal where her sister waits on the other side. Her small hands go to her purple hair. Running her fingers through the newly restored locks intermingling with the old does little to quell her growing apprehension, her hands keep messing with her hair though anyway. A hand not of her own lunges out from behind the hanging fossilised remains of some leviathan of an alien ocean.

" Lady Ayeka it looks as if you do require my assistance like you said." Before she recognises the face or the voice, she is whisked away in the blink of an eye. In Washu's laboratory one minute and out of it the next. Stumbling as she tries to get her bearings and find her sense of balance again, the princess stumbles and her arms instinctively latch onto the nearest solid object for support. In anyone's definition he is most definitely solid. Their eyes meet as Vegeta looks at the woman grabbing onto him and starting to turn a light shade of red around her cheeks. Unfortunately, this accidental hugging does not go unnoticed by the woman who has been sat floating in the air awaiting the Saiyan prince to tell her what he has been up to, by the looks of things it isn't anything she approves of in the slightest bit.

"I knew it! You were playing little miss hurt and depressed as a ruse to get my Vegeta to take pity on you so you could try and worm your rotten, stinky claws into him." Ryoko hovers back down to the ground as she stands before the two with a vein popping on her forehead from the aggravation of such a sight. The space pirate believes herself to be played for a fool by the conniving royal. Her hands dart out to try and separate the lady looking about confused but still holding onto Vegeta. Caught in the act, as it were, Ayeka is struggling to think of a defence against what Ryoko has said and is in two minds about whether to let go of prince Vegeta or to retain her grip out of spite. Vegeta decides for them. With one arm he blocks Ryoko's scything swipes with her nailed hands and the other he gently nudges Ayeka off of his person.

"Ryoko that sounds an awful lot more like something you would try and pull. You simply misunderstand the situation." His arm moves slightly, conceding a fraction of a millimetre to the pressure exerted by Ryoko. "If you think of me as someone who would be so easily fooled by tricks like that then you don't know me very well." Both women see the faintest of jitters in his arms but ignore it.

"Well? What have you been doing in there that I wasn't allowed to see, sounds fishy to me." She has a right to be suspicious of them after the way they appeared seemingly entwined with one another after he hurried off to be alone with her. Ryoko's stern gaze dances from between the prince and princess, if someone doesn't give her an answer right now chaos is going to erupt. Ayeka though is not too keen on the tone of voice that this space pirate is taking with her; having had Washu teasing her and trying to provoke her as she was doing what was asked of her has left the Juraian with little want for being talked to in this manner.

"Now look here Ryoko, I don't care much for what you are accusing me of so stop it right now. What happened in Washu's lab is private and none of your business, so butt your warty witch's nose out of it you old harpy."

"What did you just say! Apparently one beating within an inch of your life wasn't good enough and you want some more, I'll be happy to give you what you Juraians all deserve. C'mon, bring it!" Ryoko bares her teeth as she snarls and raises a fist to the princess. Vegeta thinks to himself that he seriously needs to find a way to stop these two women working each other up or at least something so they pose no serious threat to the other's life. Ayeka is standing her ground against Ryoko, despite what happened yesterday she will not let Ryoko have her nefarious way and just walk on over her. Feet land and perch themselves on Vegeta's outstretched arm.

"You may have bested me once but I will not allow that to happen again you hear me. If you choose to start a fight with the crown princess of Jurai you best be prepared for the consequences." The princess allows herself to take one step back away now that Ryoko has the high ground, whilst the person supporting someone on his arm simply waits for the whole thing to either blow over or escalate to the point he has to stop it. Readying herself for what is to come, Ayeka brushes her loose hair behind her shoulders. Having only just got her head of hair back to the way she prefers it she has not had any time to tie it back in her usual long ponytails. Feline eyes watch this motion as she observes her prey from her vantage point.

"… So, … your hair?" Ryoko has noticed, she starts to smile. "… Washu was patching you up in there, wasn't she? I did such a number on you that you had to go and get extra help after that bean thing, hahaha. Oh, does this mean you didn't want my autograph Ayeka? Hmmm? … Vegeta? What's the matter?" Her jeering comes to a stop when she feels a slight wobbling originating from the arm she is stood on, she has seen many times his strength so she assumed holding her weight on his arm should be no problem to him. He moves his arm slightly, indicating for her to dismount him, and brings his arms back down to his sides as he sees the two women looking at him not each other.

"Nothing. Nothing's the matter. I'm just … a bit weary, that's all." He was weary before the events of yesterday, after 48 hours without sleep he is thoroughly exhausted and his strength when not powered up is faltering marginally.

"Lord Vegeta haven't you slept since … s-since - "

"No, not since the eternal sleep I was in. I need to make up for lost time, I cannot afford to indulge in such silly things as sleep." Not since Goku could ascend to super Saiyan and he could not has he striven this hard to train. His inner drive refuelled after the solace of death is pushing him ever onwards, as well as one extremely crucial piece of information.

"Is this why you didn't accept my nice, kind offer last night, if you wanted a real workout I can give you one." Ryoko is quick on the scene, teleporting by his side and putting her arms around Vegeta this time. Seemingly always with those carnal thoughts on her mind, she curiously puts her cheek against his to feel the rough as sandpaper stubble scratch her skin.

"You know the answer to that Ryoko." He steps out of her embrace and towards the training room, stopping before the door with his hands resting on its cold, metal frame.

" I have to train. I cannot let him do this to me again!" A fist dents the metal, caving the whole door into a concave mess of warped scrap. Just thinking about such a thing happening all over again to him has put him in an extremely foul and dangerous mood. For so long he has worked to get out from under the shadow cast down by a certain somebody and to him it looks as though he is back to square one. Rage doesn't help matters, he has lost a few battles down to losing his cool like this, yet every fibre in his being burns with wrath towards this person. The women wait for him to take a few deep breaths and alleviate himself of this sudden burst of anger before questioning what brought on this outburst. There is but one word, one name, he needs to utter for it all to become clear. A name that is painful for him to say, that sticks in his throat and refuses to come out.

"Kakarot."

" H-he has done it. Again. After that last battle that defeated both of us, and with this extra month, he has thrown away all of my efforts. Two years of closing the chasm between our power levels for nothing." The door slowly atomises before him, white hot molecules falling into a charred heap at his feet. Washu was going to fix the training room anyway so he has merely added one small additional thing to her to-do list. Having to constantly live as second best has haunted him for too long, he will not yield his rightful place, his destiny, of being the strongest Saiyan. He needs to train but cannot, there is nowhere on this planet now where he can hone his skills and body, so he stays to fully answer the women's questions. "Kakarot was defeated and lived to tell the tale, I, on the other hand, was not so fortunate. This simple fact has allowed him to harness the Saiyan race's secret weapon. The Saiyan power of Zenkai. It is our most important tool. It alone is the reason we were … are still feared. 'When you defeat a Saiyan be sure to cut off his head lest you want yours to roll', that is what they said of us and it is true. Whenever a Saiyan experiences near death and is able to successfully recover from it their power will skyrocket to all new reaches, allowing them to take down whatever was first able to harm them. This was how we overcame Frieza and had the necessary power for every opponent since then. But … he survived and I did not. … He got Zenkai and I did not. I –I have been surpassed by him yet again! For just a while I was sure that I had gotten the upper hand, just in those few hours of fighting I knew that he couldn't match me in battle … I WILL NOT WAIT ANOTHER DECADE TO FINALLY DEFEAT HIM!"

Vegeta hangs his head as he admits to his failure. Shame has befallen his shoulders again. His empty stare barely sees the room with which he has spent so much of his life within, so many of his waking hours expended in solitude training rather than savouring what little time he had with his wife. Without the training room working, his physical condition will deteriorate slightly, just to rub salt on his wounded pride. The doorway begins to offer up a creaking noise from his amplified weight (he might not be under artificial gravity conditions but he does not go anywhere without wearing some form of weighted clothing). Standing back up and taking his weight off of the side of his house before it gives in, his ki sensing abilities detect that his son is still fast asleep, he did not bring him up to be a lazy stop-in bed. He faces now the boredom that these women have to deal with most days, only with no training possible does he realise how little there is to do out in his wilderness retreat.

"Are you sure? I couldn't sense any difference between you two when you secretly powered up." Vegeta turns to face the one who is speaking to him, Ryoko has changed positions and is now sat down on the sofa with her legs kicked up on the table. He forgot that she would be able to notice ki surges and spikes. That single handshake has kept him awake for two days. The calm confidence of his rival after his humbling defeat only serves to show Goku also knows that Vegeta is no longer capable of exacting his long sought revenge.

"When an insect looks up at mountains it cannot tell which be the largest, but when stood on top of the adjacent peak and looking across it is all too plain for me to see." He means little offense calling her an insect but truthfully that is the only apt comparison he can think of. His eyes move past Ryoko and to the sunny outside world experiencing a marvellous late summer's day.

"Lord Vegeta, I realise how important this is for you but it appears it is out of your hands, at least for the time being. I am sure the more important thing is to be well rested. Just a quick nap and I'm sure you'll feel right as rain. Not meaning to be rude, but can you expect to beat him if you are struggling to stay awake?" Vegeta acknowledges Ayeka's care for his health but he does not need to be reminded of his mortality. His whole line of work revolves around putting his life on the line and balancing on the razor's edge. Bulma always worried about him whenever he went for these extended training periods but what these women ask of him, to quit and surrender, is something his pride will not allow him to ever do.

" I slept for long enough. The only way I can ever hope of gaining on his ludicrous natural talent and abilities is to spend more time training and less on things that will not help me achieve my life's goal."

"Lord Vegeta, your body still has needs. Try as you might to persuade yourself but you still require to sleep. Please, I implore you to see sense and stop this madness, for my sake."

"Madness? No, Lady Ayeka this is the only path that gives me a glimmer of hope of annihilating that filthy wretch! You may want me to decease but if there is no risk then there will be no reward. I will train … and then I will finally kill him." Vegeta faces her as he says these words to her. No anger or hate expressed when he speaks, just the cold demeanour of a sociopath. A shiver runs down her spine as she listens to his declaration of murder. The man he wishes to put down is an incredibly nice and polite gentleman in Ayeka's eyes and killing such a pleasant person would be a terrible and awful thing indeed. She understands why the prince detests Goku so much, she herself has someone she is not particularly fond of, but she cannot condone premeditated, cold blooded murder or the attempt at it. She voices her opinion on the matter and the Saiyan listens to what she has to say, albeit whilst his mind drifts off to plan the perfect way in which he will slay the only other of his race. He does not get persuaded by her words, he states again that he will end Goku's life and will train so that he can.

"If you want training Vegeta then we could spar. I know it might not be much but it's something, right? Not too rough though or you might injure me, the delicate flower that I am." Breaking the ice that had formed from Vegeta's statement, Ryoko sees whether she can help Vegeta out of his little not being able to train predicament. Vegeta doesn't get a word in though before someone else takes it upon themselves to correct what Ryoko has said to something she thinks is a lot more applicable.

" Flower? No Ryoko, I believe what you meant to say was poisonous ivy that destroys every poor thing it latches onto. Yes, ivy suits you a lot better than flower. I, on the other hand, -"

"Ladies, what I need now is some peace and quiet. Not you two bickering, so save your insults. Though thoughtful, your offer is of no benefit to me Ryoko. Unless any of you know how to image train then I shall be meditating outside." With that Vegeta's form disappears and reappears on the opposite side of the glass. He sits down and crosses his legs as he tries to do something productive.

"There he goes again." Ryoko sighs as she peers out the window to the never resting prince. If only he would just stand still for a minute and stop with his relentless training then she could finally get somewhere. The way he behaves that kiss seems more like a faint and fading dream than something that will occur again. Although his inability to relax is not the only problem facing her.

"Why don't you just go and scoot along back to Jurai, princess, he's making this tough as it is without you making my job harder." Without Ayeka in the picture her job at seducing Vegeta would definitely become less complicated, as they say too many cooks spoil the soup. Asking won't do anything she knows but aggravating the princess has become a favourite little hobby of hers lately.

"Of course it's tough for some petty criminal like you, what would you know about matters like this at all … probably as much as you do about making yourself look presentable and personal hygiene." Being raised as a diplomat, her quick wit is making Ayeka a lot better at these conversations she has with Ryoko.

"Now, now princess, don't go making a scene and misbehave. You heard the man, he wants some peace and quiet and my, you are not being very mindful about his wants." Ayeka frowns, puzzled by the space pirate not replying with something offensive or another petty taunt. It is not like Ryoko to just stop and change the subject like that and Ayeka is suspicious of what she is trying to do, and rightfully so.

"You should just admit it now. You haven't the foggiest how to fulfil a man's wants, do you?" Ayeka now sees what Ryoko's ruse was all in aid of, to embarrass her. It has done its job effectively, at the mere mention of this Ayeka starts blushing. Ryoko grins as she sits up straight. "Thought not. Vegeta is way too much man for a small girl like you to handle. Leave him to someone who knows what they're doing. At least you have someone to fall back on and can always marry that brother of yours. See ya."

Infuriated, Ayeka is about to stop Ryoko right there and give her a piece of her mind as the space pirate stands with a cheeky smile on her face. With a slight whoosh, Ryoko teleports off somewhere before she can get her comeuppance, leaving a miffed off princess standing there. Seeing that Ryoko hasn't darted off to go to Vegeta, Ayeka forgets about the vagabond and searches where her sister might have gone off to. Walking about the house and into the kitchen yields nothing, not even a sign of Ryo-ohki. Pulling out a chair she sits down by herself in the kitchen just resting her head in her hands; thinking, pondering. He might be a man of his word but something completely slipped Vegeta's mind, much to Ayeka's disappointment. In all the hubbub of the argument he did not talk to both her and Ryoko about what happened yesterday and what he did, she'll just have to wait till a later point to remind him of this when he isn't preoccupied – and finding a time like that is not an easy matter. Vegeta doesn't appear to be in the best of moods, grouchy and irritable from a lack of sleep in most probability, so a few minutes waiting can't do any harm.

Solitude, no disruptions or disturbances. Just him and nothing else. The perfect environment for meditation. Meditation for battle, not for enlightenment nor inner peace. He knows that there is a pair of amber eyes upon him, watching him surreptitiously from the roof of his house. As long as Ryoko is up there basking on the slates heated by the Sun's rays and not down here causing a commotion then Vegeta doesn't care. With his eyes closed, his mind slowly works its way down into a lower and deeper form of consciousness, ceasing all unnecessary motions and thoughts. His mind focuses inwards and not on his exterior being - ironically akin to his time spent in the afterlife minus the acute suffering – and slows down his breathing and heart rate to a point at which they barely seem to exist at all. Focusing his mind on nothing and everything all at once all the built up tension flows out of his aching muscles, and clear as day in his mind's eye he can 'see' the flow of ki within him and in his surroundings.

The dancing natural energies of the planet mingling with the simple animal and plant life, the more powerful ki of the star falling gently from the sky and finally his own. Each cell radiating ki brightly, dwarfing that of his surroundings, smoothly flowing about his body as he keeps track of the rivers of spiritual energy within him. Learning to control his energy is as important as building up the enormous reservoirs of it he can generate at will, always sure he is in control of his power and not the other way around. With but a thought he channels his ki about to random places of his anatomy and notes how it responds, in which places it builds the fastest and how surges of ki build-up affect his body at a cellular level. Being able to have 100% control of his energy at a subconscious level is essential, when it comes down to the harsh, gritty realities of war, instinct and gut reactions are what keep a man alive not his brain or fancy techniques.

Grass is getting crushed under foot. Someone of small size and stature who is very light on their feet approaches his position. These external stimuli picked up by his heightened sense of hearing break him out of his meditative trance which he proceeds to try and dive back down into. He cannot. His brain is too distracted by these noises getting closer in proximity to him, his warrior instincts getting the better of him when someone walks up behind him making little to no sound. Vegeta lists the possibilities of who it can be: neither Ayeka or Ryoko have feet that small ( plus Ryoko would be flying or teleporting rather than walking casually about), same goes for Yamcha, that leaves the two young females Sasami and Washu. A soft meow solves the mystery for him, as do the quiet sounds of her long robes of Juraian make and style swishing with every step. The small, little blue haired girl who has finished a nice relaxing trek around the circumference of the lake enjoying the scenery and natural wonder of Earth stands next to the perfectly still form of Vegeta, looking down at him curiously.

"Mr. Vegeta what are you doing sat on the floor? You'll get a muddy bum if you stay there." His eyes remain shut as he ignores the young princess peering over his shoulder at his face. Ryo-ohki adds her say into the one way conversation with another meow as she wriggles about to get comfortable in Sasami's hands.

"Do you think he's sleeping Ryo-ohki? I've never seen someone sleep sat upright like that. Maybe that's how Saiyan's sleep … but if it is then why does he have a bed and not a chair in his room?"

"Sasami … what is it? What do you want?" Childish inquisitiveness will not be dissuaded by simply pretending she isn't there, as long as she doesn't take up too much of his time then he will indulge her questions. His eyes snap to her smiling face. She does not appear to be intimidated by the Saiyan near her in the slightest. That tells Vegeta a lot about himself, how he now doesn't even strike absolute terror into the heart of a young girl he could kill in an instant. Problem is that Sasami knows that he would never threaten her or raise his hand against her, in her confidence about his ability to control his temper and rage she feels perfectly safe next to him.

"Oh, hi Mr. Vegeta sir. I was just wondering what you were doing sat here all on your own outside."

" I was meditating." Vegeta puts his head in his hands as he sees the blank look elicited on Sasami's face by the word meditation. Apparently it is not in the vocabulary of the average Juraian girl. His mind is back fully functioning and wide awake, there will be no more meditating for him for a good long while. Resigning himself to this, he lays back on the grass and lets out an exasperated sigh. "Focusing my mind to gain a greater control over my ki, it requires absolute silence and no distractions."

"Mind if I keep you company then? No one should be on their own." She obviously did not pick up on his not so subtle hint for her to go on her way and leave him be as she sits herself down beside him. She is still sweetly smiling at him, although he appears unamused at best when Ryo-ohki leaps out of Sasami's arms and lands on his stomach. The cabbit circles around the same spot in that curious way all animals do before it curls up into a little ball of fur for a snooze.

" You have no idea what loneliness is child. I am perfectly capable of surviving on my own with no help from others … but company has come to be more preferable. Do as you will." Her smile widens at this acceptance of her company, but just because he has allowed her to stay near him does not mean he is going to be social to her. There are far too many things on his mind to concern himself with making small talk to the little Juraian princess. Not being able to train is grinding his gears and his inability to do anything to solve the matter serves only to irk him further. He thinks to himself why the training room couldn't have broken yesterday when he was away from his house and not going to use it instead of on a day he wanted to devote entirely to training, training is his life and without it there is an emptiness about what to do with himself.

Sasami does not mind Vegeta's silence. If she were looking for proper company and a conversation then she would have gone off in search of her sister or Trunks but she feels that it would be a nice thing for her to spend some time with Vegeta. After all, she has hardly spent any amount of time alone with the Saiyan prince who's house he is kindly letting her and her sister live in, the only time she really sees him is during meal times when he is so eager to eat her cooking and praise her for its scrumptiousness. Whilst he broods over matters Sasami would not understand, she takes this peaceful, tranquil time to just enjoy being outside. The wind whistling through the trees and stirring the high boughs, pond skaters skimming across the surface of the lake and electric blue dragonflies darting and whizzing around her, all these things Sasami finds enrichment in. The great difference between the wildlife she grew up with seeing on her home planet of Jurai and that of Earth never ceases to amaze her, even those terrifying, bipedal theropods that threatened her life.

Snoring from Ryo-ohki does little to disturb the mutual silence of the two polar opposites. Ryoko has long since stopped observing them from up high on the rooftop and is now just lazily dozing. Sasami looks across to Vegeta who is just staring up at the sky, his eyes looking as if they are challenging the heavens themselves to see if they dare take him on. There is something about the sternness of his face and jaw that evokes an emotion she would rather do without: homesickness. Ayeka is a good sister but she can never replicate a mother's warmth and tender, loving touch that this young girl is sorely missing. Vegeta's head slowly turns to face her. Those same no nonsense eyes of a stoic man she has seen many times in her life; from her father. Trying to rid herself of this longing for the sight of her parents and the grand palaces of Jurai, she asks Vegeta something that she was concerned about earlier this morning.

" Mr. Vegeta, what happened to my sister yesterday? When I woke up this morning she seemed really sad and wouldn't talk to me about it, did something bad happen to her in the city?" She is bothered by the unusual crestfallen attitude that her sister had, it worries her to see her older sister regressing back to a form of behaviour that she only saw when the man she is asking had departed the mortal coil. Vegeta's brow creases in a thoughtful frown, it would be unwise to cause unnecessary worry in the girl.

"If she hasn't said then it isn't my place to say for her …. Quite a lot did happen yesterday. Some of which I don't know whether it was the right or wrong thing to do. Lady Ayeka should be all smiles again though now, what was causing her to be sad was sorted out before I came to meditate." The anxious face on the girl disappears hearing Ayeka is no longer in a state of semi depression. He closes his eyes as his sixth sense wanders to locate who they are talking about, he will relay this news to Sasami so she can go bother someone else and let him get along with more important issues.

"Thank you then for making Ayeka happy. Here, have this." As his eyes open, Vegeta is greeted to a poppy held inches from his face. Vivid red petals around a black centre pure as the darkest fathoms of space. He hasn't seen this particular species blooming around these parts, but then again he doesn't pay that much attention to things botanic in nature.

"A … a-a flower?" She nods at him, still holding out the poppy and waiting for him to take it from him.

"Yeah, isn't it pretty? I found it over there growing between those rocks. Since you've been such a nice person you can have it." Her kind, warm smile and happy eyes nibble away at his resolve to deny this gift. A feared Saiyan warrior with a flower, the humiliation would kill him.

"No, no, no. I –I - I insist, you keep it – you found it after all. Besides, 'nice' isn't a word I'd use to describe myself. It's not even close." He sits up and shakes his head. Steadily, her hand retracts the kind offer and holds it close to her chest. She can't understand why he doesn't want such a lovely flower, the colour complements his Saiyan training gear perfectly and in her mind everyone likes flowers – she remembers even her dad seemed pleased when she gave him the chains of flowers she made for him. An annoyed meow catches her attention as the forgotten about cabbit hops aboard her lap after her sleeping spot is no longer there now Vegeta is not laying down anymore.

"Are you talking about the naughty things you did before I was born?" At this a sardonic smirk crosses his mouth, how little she truly knows about the man before her and the deeds he has done.

"If by naughty things you mean why I'm the single reason that 12 humanoid species no longer exist, then yes. If you want to give the flower to someone kind then give it to your sister, I'm positive she'd enjoy that plant more than I would."

"Were you really that bad?" He expected, or was hoping for, a reaction with greater tinges of fear and fright than her concerned question. This girl might give his arch enemy a run for his money at being the most kind hearted person Vegeta knows. His senses detect rapid movement towards his position from the West, in a few minutes HE will be here. How risky, to voluntarily approach the lion's den when it is not in the mood for more visitors … today just keeps on getting better and better for Vegeta.

"You better believe it. Killing can be surprisingly fun and addictive when it is all you have known. Why else do you think I spent my little holiday in Hell? Not through choice, I assure you." He doesn't face her when talking, instead his eyes remain locked on the horizon where the only ki reading greater than his can be sensed. Vegeta is trying to detach himself from this conversation he cares little for and wonders why on earth Goku is seeking him out, Goku was never one to challenge him nor train with him – mainly for the fact Vegeta would never let a simple sparring match go without a few attempts on his life.

"Hell? But no one said … I-I thought you …" Vegeta's words stun Sasami, taking her aback by their blunt, implied ruthlessness. She honestly was under the impression he had been absolved of his misdemeanours and would go to that wondrous place after death she has vaguely been told about. To learn instead that he spent close to a full month going through the highest forms of possible agony and torture – both 'physical' and psychological – is news to her. Her silence and shocked expression amuses Vegeta.

"You deserve this then." She reaches out with the flower and puts it in-between his crossed arms. "It must have been really bad there and all we cared about was you coming back not what happened to you when … when you weren't here. You might have been a bad boy but you're different now: a nice, kind man who deserves a small token for all you have done for us." He tears his eyes from the unseen thing approaching him to the faintest of weights nestled between his arms. Unfolding his arms he lifts the flower in front of his face, Sasami is correct about it being aesthetically pleasing but he notices something else. His gloves are completely tattered: eroded to but a few resilient strands on his palms and worn away entirely on the knuckles. As they have no use to him now he takes them off, swapping the flower over to his other hand when necessary.

"This flower is one that humans use to commemorate and remember fallen soldiers. Rather ironic that you chose this of all things." Vegeta slips the flower into the finger of one of his gloves. The nearing presence is stealing away his attention from the girl, his abrupt standing up and the flower in the glove on the floor she takes as him rejecting her gift because of what he says it symbolises.

" Oh sorry, I just thought it looked nice. I didn't mean to remind you about your death. Do you want me to find you a different flower?" She picks up the tattered glove containing the poppy, careful for it not to fall out one of the many holes, as she takes to her feet as well. Lucky for her the glove is a minimal collection of threads now as otherwise she would have to contend with an article of clothing she would never dream of being able to lift. Once again Ryo-ohki has no choice but to move or fall to the ground. The cabbit nimbly scales the front of Sasami's robes before hopping onto the top of her head. One bolt of lightning jumps from Vegeta and arcs into the lake, Sasami leaps back in fright from this sudden shock. The closer each Saiyan gets to the other the more they subconsciously start to raise their power levels.

"No, that won't be necessary. I'll be fine without - "

"Ok then, here you go. Be sure to put it in water later on … do you have any vases in your house for it?" Her decision on keeping him company is starting to change as grass beneath his feet begins to wilt and crisp. Handing the flower back over to him probably will only lead to the bloom acting to the Saiyan's presence as all the other surrounding foliage is but Sasami has herself to think about as she takes several steps back away from him and the tingling sensation in the air. Vegeta idly spins the flower in-between his fingers, deftly unsheathing it from the glove which thuds onto the floor, as his expressionless face turns into a dark smirk. A blip has come into view.

"No, I do not. Never mind that though …we better roll out the red carpet, Kakarot is here." A breeze blows out, disturbing the water's surface as ungloved hands clench into fists. A single puff of steam escapes from his hand as the sap and moisture inside the xylem of the flower begins to boil and evaporate, the head of the poppy droops. His rival has got into a range at which his ears can pick up the sound of him flying through the air, a secondary sound accompanies this though, one which he is unfamiliar with. Sasami flicks one of her ponytails out of her face, having been blown in the way from the Saiyan's raising power, as she watches Vegeta almost entirely revert into the cold blooded murder he was for most of his life.

"G-guests are coming? Oh no, I didn't have any prior warning to start preparing more food. Now I'll have to rethink today's menu …. Will you please tell me next time you are expecting someone." Sasami tries to hide her growing apprehension with such a domestic request towards someone who's tired eyes show his increasing intent to kill. His sturdy back remains turned to her, even though she is addressing him he will not allow himself to be distracted from the bane of his existence. Maybe if his mind were rested or his training room not broken his mood would not be so ill, so foul and so unpredictably dangerous. Goku has risked a lot choosing to visit the prince of his near extinct race on this day unbeknown to him.

" I will when I expect someone Sasami, but Kakarot did not say that he wished to meet with me today, and he has brought that kid of his along. It'd be safer for you if you stood further back from me or go back in the house." Vegeta's words subliminally crescendo into a half shout. Blonde streaks uncontrollably break into his hair. Pulses of light begin to emanate and dissipate randomly as he battles with his rage, the undying anger of a life of mediocrity and having his place usurped blossoming past his mental restraints and rational reasoning.

Pap, pap, pap, pap, pap. Floating down so it is only hovering a few feet above the windswept grass is a yellow hued cloud no bigger than the man sat cross legged upon it. As a pair of Saiyan feet touch the floor after dismounting a shuddering growl breaks the silence, cracks begin to show on the earth hardened by radiated energy. Vegeta's eyes stare straight as an arrow at Goku, a stare that is met by eyes that are not flickering between their normal iris colour and angelic blue. Goten remains sat on the nimbus cloud as his father takes a few confident steps towards the man he has come to visit. Vegeta's muscles naturally tense as the warrior of a lower class gets closer to him, he makes the first move.

"Come to die have you Kakarot? Finally decided we should settle the score? If not then you better get the hell away because I will not hold myself responsible for what I might do …. Wouldn't want to deprive that son of yours of a father he has only just got to know." Light blooms in one of his hands as ki flows in rivulets through his arms and to his palms beneath clenched fingers. The temptation grows. If it were not for Sasami being well within the blast radius, as well as his house, Vegeta could not have said whether he would have not fired this fatal charge of ki. For the time being he makes no further outward signs of aggression, the ki blast mostly discharges but a small proportion seeps into the dying poppy and refuels its life essence.

"Now what way is that to greet a mate? I'm not here to pick a fight Vegeta, we both know what would happen if I did." Mantra after mantra Vegeta repeats through his head. Trying not to make an attempt on someone's life has never been so difficult for him, with Goku irking him on with his inane babbling and that blatant mockery of his own lesser strength. Somewhere in the back of his mind the whispers to kill Goku die down but the embers of rage have been already stoked by the bellows that are this other Saiyan's lungs.

"Mate? Are you under the illusion that at some time we were ever friends? At best I tolerated your existence, if you thought I saw you as anything other than a thorn in my side then that just goes to prove your own idiocy, you clown."

"I'm the closest thing you've got to a friend Vegeta. Now the reason I came here -" Before Goku can go on to explain the reason behind aggravating someone notorious for acts of violence he is interrupted from an unexpected source. The girl Sasami joins this conversation between the two most powerful beings alive.

" You don't have any friends Mr. Vegeta? I'll be your friend if you want." Both Saiyans look at the young Juraian, one greeting her in a friendly manner and the other with a semi confused look on his face. This is a predicament the Saiyan prince was not expecting. Friendship with someone younger than his own son is not something he was particularly looking for and neither does he know what to do with it. Sasami though quickly realises her unintended faux pas of intruding in their private conversation and quickly starts to apologise. "Oh, sorry Kaka – Go ….Umm sir, what should I call you?"

"It's Ok, uh Sasami? Just call me Goku, everyone else does except for the grouch over there. See Vegeta, its not hard to make friends if you put some effort in." Another low, rumbling snarl escapes from Vegeta's clenched teeth, lips curling back to reveal his set of pearly whites.

"I wouldn't mock me if I were you. You know what I might just go and do if you really start to piss me off. If you just fancied to pop round for a chat or to taunt in my face about your power then you can put your sorry arse back on that cloud and sod off to that mud hut of yours." Vegeta's voice bleeds anger as the great muscles within his arms become more and more pronounced, Goku still stands there nonplussed by this over aggressiveness. The lack of a reaction just serves to goad Vegeta on, wiping away that calm and jovial smile from his nemesis' face seems like the only thing in the world that would slightly improve Vegeta's horrid temper. Voices raise as threats are shouted at the younger Saiyan and trembles begin to oscillate the lakeside. Bulma's gradual humanisation and mellowing of the Saiyan prince from their long years of marriage is the single frayed strand of calming reason stopping the whole planet Earth becoming a warzone.

Sasami can easily see Vegeta's strong emotions towards the only other of his race but she hasn't said hello to the other who has come to this place she has come to call home over the past month. Her footsteps are muffled behind the roaring of a Saiyan trying and failing to not fall into a berserk state. Vegeta may be struggling to curb his violent tendencies but she takes the cue from the still alive flower in his grasp that he will not succumb to them, or if he does not at this minute in time. Skirting around the area she has determined to be hazardous due to Vegeta's output energy, she walks up to the yellow nimbus and bows her head at the second child of Goku. Ryo-ohki bounds across from one child to another and cuddles into Goten, waiting for and expecting to be petted.

"Hiya Goten, whatcha doing here with your dad?" A demanding cabbit nuzzles the lad's hand impatiently and begins to purr as he scratches her behind her floppy ears. Goten looks on with concern at his dad, he might believe his father to be more or less invincible but Vegeta was always the one man who could take him on. The kid is glad that none of that unbridled rage is directed towards him but if any fight were to start he would be a hindrance to his father not a help.

"Hi Sasami, well my dad thought it'd be nice if he brought me to those lessons Miss Washu is giving us so here I am. There wasn't any homework set was there?"

"No, silly. Well your friend Trunks isn't even awake yet and I haven't seen Washu today either." Goten hands Ryo-ohki back over to Sasami as he jumps the short distance down from the cloud back down to the ground. Sasami pats the small animal on the head but she is intrigued by something, she cocks her head to the side in befuddlement. "Goten, how does that yellow cloud fly?"

"Uhh … I dunno. Same way other clouds do, I guess. Or it flies like I do, I suppose." Washu's 'education' should have kicked in there but due to the fact she has never come across or had the opportunity to study this mythical nimbus cloud no subconscious knowledge could be activated by Sasami's questioning. Someone who has the answer though hears Sasami's question. Goku has had enough of the insults from Vegeta and the death threats flying at him, he sees clearly that it would be pointless to say anything to the irate prince as it would only serve to aggravate matters. However, Goku is not too sure whether answering Sasami's query and in doing so ignoring Vegeta would be a very wise move. He does it anyway.

"So Sasami, you're interested in my flying nimbus? I've had this cloud since I was a kid like you, Master Roshi gave it to me as … well he couldn't use it anymore. It took me on many amazing adventures and allowed me to get around fast before I learnt to fly myself. You want a go?" Sasami nods enthusiastically at this proposal and passes Ryo-ohki back to Goten – the small animal is not too keen on being handed about in such a flippant manner. Vegeta eventually manages to stifle his fury, closing his eyes he counts backwards from a high three digit number and exhales deeply. Coinciding with his decreasing rage, his power level drops back down to its base level – in actual fact it stays slightly higher so that it is greater than Goku's but he doesn't need else anyone to know that.

"Well you should know that this flying nimbus will only allow you to fly on it if you are pure of heart, perfectly innocent, that's why Vegeta can't ride it. It's perfectly safe, only time I ever fell off was when Chichi pushed me." Goku bends his knees as he crouches to pick up Sasami. Gently he places her down on his trusty flying nimbus, Goku is pretty confident the nimbus will accept her as a pure hearted rider but it's better to be safe than sorry. Her mouth forms a small 'o' as he lets her go and the floating cloud holds her up, within a few seconds though a cheery smile has broken out on her face. Goku teaches her the ropes of how she can control the flying nimbus with her will and as he gives her the thumbs up the cloud starts to move.

Giddy laughter comes from Sasami as she takes to the air freely. Goten smiles and begins to levitate under his own power and catches up to his new friend, flying alongside her as they stay at a relatively low altitude due to this being Sasami's first proper time flying. Ryo-ohki would like to be flying in her space-ship form, not in the arms of some boy she hardly knows, but the cabbit was given orders by her mistress shortly after arriving on Earth to refrain from doing so.

As the children mess about in the air enjoying themselves, Goku turns back to face the prince who has simmered down to a more placated state. Vegeta looks down at the flower in his hand, apart from being a bit crisp around the edges it seems no worse for wear. With his other hand he wipes at his eyes, trying to rid himself of some of the excess weariness plaguing him by rubbing the bags under his heavy eyes. With his voice at a level acceptable for an ordinary conversation he asks the one he hates above all others about his financial situation. Goku and his family were never ones rolling in the dough like Bulma was, mainly as Goku never got a job much like Vegeta, but the Saiyan prince would hate his chance of defeating Goku being lost due to him starving from abject poverty. In the past Goku always refused Bulma's charitable gifts of money, which his wife then offered to Goku's wife who did the sensible thing and accepted it. It was always enough for them to live off, nothing too much but Saiyans have a large upkeep bill concerning their dietary requirements. Goku smiles as he walks up towards Vegeta explaining that ever since his son Gohan got engaged with Videl they have had no worries concerning a lack of money – Videl's father being the world renowned billionaire world champion Mr. Hercule Satan.

Ryoko phases down off of the roof to appear beside Vegeta. The rooftop slates in the bright sunlight have begun to get too hot for her as they superheat and start burning her through her clothing. Also, she was waiting until Vegeta's mood had reached a level where he is not liable of deciding to nuke the planet into oblivion from orbit before going near him. It was interesting for her to watch, him squirming uncomfortably by the sweet actions of a little girl and then exploding like a volcano when Goku got within sight – the more she knows about him and his reactions to things the more she can use to her advantage.

Vegeta glances at her as she appears smiling at him. With the only thought in his mind being to get rid of the thing, he holds out one of his arms and drops something into her awaiting open hands. He meant nothing much by passing on Sasami's gift to Ryoko but to the space pirate she interprets this act differently. Vegeta gave her a flower. No matter where you go in the wide reaches of the Milky Way galaxy it keeps the same meaning and romantic connotations, the symbolism of the giving of a flower from someone she holds deep feelings for means a lot to her. He should have realised this, he would have perhaps if he was thinking about what he was doing and not focusing more on Goku, and realised what Ryoko would do if he gifted her a flower.

The Saiyan prince's eyes remain fixed on Goku as thoughts of ripping him apart ebb and flow ceaselessly like the tide, until Ryoko repays him for the poppy. One step of her brown shoes on the grass is all the warning he gets before she pecks him lightly on his cheek with her puckered lips. Vegeta's attention is diverted from his rival to the woman who has just kissed him, a slight blush on both of their cheeks as she smiles fondly at him. Goku looks away awkwardly, giving them some privacy by pretending to be engrossed in watching the children flying about and around the lake. Another confused look spreads over Vegeta's face, then he sees her holding the flower close to her heart and it hits him. He curses how he was so preoccupied to overlook something so obvious but in all fairness she could have done something far more … extravagant would be a kind way of phrasing it.

"Not interrupting anything are we?" Washu is out of her lab and his house, walking hand in hand with Yamcha towards them. Despite her being back in her adult form, Yamcha doesn't seem that happy, who can blame a guy for being a bit miffed off at someone for disintegrating his appendix instead of returning it to its rightful owner. Her excuses of it being a defunct organ more likely to cause him harm than aid his body functioning didn't do much to sway his opinion on what she did. Washu however did see the sense of his view on her being in a younger body after she skimmed over the laws and social stigmas of this planet seeing his words do have the support of millennia of cultural development and evolution behind them. Now the scientist's mission is to make him do the same for her, with a little persuasion from her of course.

Ryoko and Vegeta look at the couple approaching and glower, although for entirely different reasons. They spoilt the mood Ryoko had created and so she has lost her opportunity to follow that kiss up with anything, whereas Vegeta doesn't appreciate these sly comments directed at him. The Saiyan will let it slide for now, he has no capacity to hate anyone else except for the one who has bested him. Speak of the devil, Goku strides up to his pal and gives him a firm handshake.

"Hey Yamcha, good to see you again. This is just a quick visit, Chichi thinks she misplaced her purse when we came over the day before yesterday. So, as Goten is being taught by you Washu, I thought it'd be a good opportunity to spend some time with my son as I brought him over and looked for my wife's purse."

"Lessons are done. There is nothing more required of me to teach your son." Washu is quick to make clear she has no more interest or need of debasing herself to a child's level of intelligence. This is news to both Saiyans. As Vegeta wonders how she managed to claw her way out of the hole he dug for her his mind quickly proceeds to disregard the how but that it will free up a lot more time to train with his son. Vegeta does not want his son to suffer the same fate of being bettered as he has, Gohan got to Super Saiyan 2 when he was still young and the Saiyan prince wants to see if Trunks can get there at an earlier age. His son sure has the potential to do it, however he has never shown those moments of intense surges in power level as Goku's firstborn did.

"They are? Wow, you must be one good teacher to teach him everything in one day … If only we had you when Gohan was a child then I could have spent more time training him than waiting for him to deal with his studies." Seems both Saiyans, despite their inherent differences, think alike. Although it might seem as if they have a one track mind concerning training and their martial abilities they cannot help what their very blood demands them to do. The two warriors exchange a swift glance at each other. Goku might have come with the intention of not fighting but Vegeta will not let him leave without some form of contest in which he can try and regain the pride and dignity stripped from him.

"Thank you Mr. Goku. I had so much fun, thank you. Oops, sorry." A yellow cloud bumps into the back of Goku's head. Sasami is back from her little jaunt in the wide, blue yonder. As Goten swoops down from up high he nimbly picks Sasami from the cloud and places her down on terra firma as he lands next to his father. The kind hearted Saiyan accepts her apology and smiles back down at the child.

Blackness and shade. Thunder and roaring rips the tranquil scene apart. 7 humanoid eyes and Ryo-ohki's immediately go to the monstrous behemoth hanging ominously in the air. Gushing gales rip and lash their way through the forests as the mighty sound of its gradual descent echoes off the far off mountains, doubling its already loud noise to a near ear splitting booming.

Ryoko grips tightly to Vegeta's arm. She yells at him to destroy it. He does not. He knows from whence this giant came from, it has truly tremendous power - greater than the two like this he has already seen. Only one person seems neither worried nor shocked by this sudden arrival. With her blue ponytails whipping about the back of her head, she runs up to the edge of the lake to be closer to it. Jumping up and down, giddy with glee, only Saiyan ears can pick up what she shouts merrily through the storm of noise resonating from the second unexpected arrival of the day.

"My mummy and daddy are here!"