Chapter 17
Kirito. A grand first generation Juraian tree. Just on size alone it dwarfs that of both Funaho and Ryuoh. Its massive bulk is heavier and thicker set around its prominent bow, cresting high into the atmosphere is a black tipped dorsal fin riding high and proud aloft on top of the biosphere – a biosphere that could contain a good sized village with plenty of room to spare. The oaken hue of its underside hangs in the air ominously as the roar of its engines die down to a more tolerable hum. Descending as gracefully as a whale diving for food at the bottomless depths of the ocean, the royal flagship of the Juraian fleet majestically makes its way down through layers of clouds and closer still to the planet.
The quaking and sudden, inexplicable deafening sound has brought out the last female member of the household in a panicked rush. With her hair billowing out behind her still having not had the time to tie it back yet, Ayeka walks as fast as is deemed ladylike to the front door and stops. She stands still, hands resting against the doorframe for support as her mouth gapes open in shock. Slowly her head shakes side to side in denial of what she can see looming down above her, Sasami was indeed right in stating that the Juraian royal family has arrived. With the great commotion of yesterday and before that Vegeta's miraculous return from the dead, Yosho's earlier visit to this planet she is seeking refuge on slipped her mind entirely. Apparently this was as much time as he could buy for her before the inevitable happened and they catch up with her.
"Ayeka, Ayeka, look our mum and dad are here! Isn't this great?" The enthusiasm and excitement from the younger of the two siblings fails to seep through the surmounting wall of dreading knitting itself around Ayeka. Seeing Sasami looking so happy she tries to not let her inner fear show. This inexplicable terror at knowing that the one she fears above all others is closing in on her and she has no escape grows with each passing moment. Her mother she wouldn't mind seeing again but she did not leave on particularly good terms with her father last time she spoke to him, some harsh words she regrets were exchanged just before she fled her home planet to get out of her betrothal to her half-brother. For the Emperor of Jurai to come in person does not bode well for her, but a few times before has she seen her father lose his composure and it is not something she wishes to ever bear witness to again.
Ryoko's arms tighten around Vegeta as she continues to hiss at him to blast the spaceship out of the sky. He declines, much to her dissatisfaction. Her deep rooted prejudice against the Juraian race is plain for Vegeta to see, the upbringing she was subjected to at the hands of this imperial race will not allow her to drop the animosity she holds towards all Juraians. As Vegeta keeps her under observation to make sure she doesn't do anything hasty and irrational, he sends out a telepathic command to his only family member.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm up. What was it you wanted dad? … Woah! Look at that spaceship, it's ginormous!" The father decided it is long past the time at which his son should have risen for the day and that there is something he might definitely want to see. The two Saiyan parents watch as their sons join Sasami by the lakeside in anticipation for the landing of the colossus. Simple pleasures for simple minds, how easy it is to entice and enthral young boys with massive alien spacecraft. At his age Vegeta had already been on numerous voyages of his own through space. Thinking about it, the time they went to take on that monstrosity must have been the first time his son has gone off planet, he still has so much to teach and show him.
A discussion breaks out between the children. Sasami being questioned by the eager lads as to the nature of the spaceship she seems to know about and every tiny, little, obscure fact they can think of asking her about. Vegeta has some questions of his own but turning to look at the high princess of the visiting dignitaries he is not too sure she is feeling the same emotions as her sister is concerning the fast approaching ship. Ryoko is still latched onto his sturdy arm as he turns to walk towards Ayeka. His movement unimpeded as the space pirate floats by his side, he arrives at the threshold to his house and in front of the unsettled maiden.
"Hey Ayeka, look what Vegeta gave me. Too bad for you that your ride home is already here, guess we'll be seeing you … never again. Bye." Flaunting off the poppy she was gifted, Ryoko has placed the flower in her hair by her ear in an oddly girlish fashion for this tomboy. Passing off her enmity onto Ayeka, who she believes she has a very justified reason for disliking, Ryoko impishly sticks her tongue out and wraps her arms possessively around Vegeta's chest. For once Ayeka doesn't seem to care about what Ryoko is saying or her displays to try and raise a reaction from her, with Kirito coming to a stop half a kilometre in the sky she is preparing to brace herself for what she expects to happen.
"Lady Ayeka, is your sister correct in stating that this vessel is carrying your parents on board?" The princess tentatively nods as she looks at Vegeta. The Saiyan prince looks back to the spaceship then down to Washu grinning to herself alongside the awestruck human and Earth-raised Saiyan. With the spaceship's descent complete it won't be long until the first landing party places its feet on the third rock from the Sun. Vegeta's senses are having a hard time deciphering the amount of the crew on the ship and whether any are of notable power due to the beacon of ki that is the first generation tree.
"Shall I give this spaceship permission to land, Lady Ayeka? It is well within my power to refuse your parents access to my planet if need be."
"Yes …. My father will not simply stop because he cannot reach me, I will have to tell him in person and persuade him to leave my fate in my own hands … and not his. Besides, look how happy Sasami is. It will be good for us to see mother again, she might not let on but she has been missing her terribly as I'm sure mother has as well." She takes a step out of the house. Ryoko squeezes Vegeta to try and get his attention but he is ignoring her and focusing on Ayeka and the Juraian ship. Vegeta and Ayeka walk back to the others and await for the new arrivals to disembark.
Silence falls upon the lakeside. A murder of crows raucously propel themselves into the sky, a great flapping of wings and harsh cawing from the flock fleeing in terror from this unknown shadow. Ebony feathers drift down on the breeze emanating from the spaceship. Vegeta's stern gaze scans over the exterior of the ship, observing all outer ports, batteries of guns and the signs of moving shadows behind the darkly tinted portholes. Shallow breaths permeate the air originating from the anxiety of the princess, her smooth knuckles white as her hands clasp together timidly by her chin. A small, reassuring smile is sent her way from the Saiyan prince. She badly needs that boost to her crumbling confidence. Ayeka barely has time to fully appreciate this act of kindness and begin to smile back at him when her lips freeze. One lone voice can be heard, carried on the winds as it calls out one name. A mother calling for her little girl.
"Sasami!"
The daughter jumps up in the air frantically waving her arms and calling back to her mother. Dissipating into nothing is the green teleportation beam that has sent down this woman sprinting full pelt across the lakeside in full Juraian regalia, her careless footfalls spraying dirt and water onto her fine clothes. Sasami runs as fast as her petite legs can carry her to the mother she has pined for. A massive sigh of relief from the pent up breath she had been holding in is released from Ayeka realising it is only her mother and not someone else who emerged from the Juraian ship. The cries of mother and daughter calling for each other ring out across the wilderness as they close the gap between each other.
"Sasami! Oh my poor, little Sasami! Mummy's coming Sasami, mummy's coming for you, baby!" Finally the two reach each other. Wide smiles beam gaily between the pair as the mother sinks to her knees and smothers her cherished daughter in her loving embrace. Both are on the verge of tears of joy at being reunited once again. After several minutes of them hugging they stand up and hand in hand they walk towards the group, the daughter leading the mother.
"I-I would like to warn you, Lord Vegeta …" Ayeka's hesitant words pique the Saiyan's interest, he looks at her intrigued. " … my mother can be … umm, let's just say she is a rather loving and affectionate person. So please keep that in mind." Vegeta raises an eyebrow. It doesn't sound much like a warning to him. He just accepts that Ayeka must have her reasons for telling him this and he shall find out soon enough.
"You're sure she's your mother then?" Ryoko has to slide in a quick insult. With all the attention being focused on Ayeka she is feeling very left out, even when she is clinging to Vegeta like a limpet. The princess' head snaps towards the space pirate with fury in her eyes.
"Now is not the time Ryoko! Pester me some other time if you must but please not now!" Ayeka's strong words shut Ryoko up. Ryoko acquiesces and warily watches the woman merrily laughing with Sasami.
Before anyone has time to prepare, Ryoko is forcefully shunted from her spot and Vegeta is taken unaware. Such speed he was not prepared for, even Goku looks on incredulously at such a display from out of nowhere. She stands a good couple of inches taller than the Saiyan, her long blue hair tied in one high ponytail by some luxurious purple fabric nearly reaches the ground and is evident as to where her youngest daughter inherited her own head of hair. Behind her long azure fringe, two small emerald circles are painted between her thin eyebrows. She wears a flowing green royal cape adorned with yellow bows and a golden and blue collar over her much more simplistic burgundy top tucked into her pure white split hakama. Kind salmon eyes are staring at Vegeta as he freezes in confusion at this woman hugging him tightly.
"You must be the kind and nice and lovely gentleman who took care of my baby darlings whilst they were here. Thank you, thank you, thank you." In his totally powered down state suited for everyday life, Vegeta can feel a few of his ribs starting to go. Without anyone but those who can detect ki noticing, his power level jumps several hundred thousand to leave him in a state at which this woman's surprising strength is of no threat to crushing the very life from him. Whilst the mother of two of the girls staying with him continues her embrace and thanks, Vegeta turns his head to look at Ayeka. The confusion and discomfort he feels in this situation is clear to the elder daughter embarrassed by her mother's rash actions. Ayeka turns her head to look back at the Juraian ship, and leaves Vegeta with no aid or assistance. Vegeta stands still with his arms pinned to his side whilst pondering whether the Juraian princess is doing this out of spite from yesterday when he did not aid her or simply because of the fear he can sense in her towards someone on that vessel.
One woman though is quite prepared to help Vegeta. As Ryoko catches her breath and staggers back up to her feet, she stares with daggers in her eyes at this stranger who dares to throw her to the side and take her place hugging Vegeta. Wiping some mud from her face and at the grass stains on her clothing, she marches back towards the Saiyan prince and Juraian with her hands curling into fists.
"Who do you think you are coming over here and touching my Ve -"
"Oh no need to be jealous. There are plenty of hugs to go around, so come here you pretty, young woman." Ryoko quickly becomes part of the group hug with Ayeka's mother's arm darting out as soon as she was close enough to reach. The space pirate's struggles quickly die down realising this woman is a lot more than meets the eye, even if she tried her hardest she is not too sure whether she could break free of the grip of this Juraian. The flattery as well from the Juraian mother does also help Ryoko to stop fidgeting, albeit it just cancels out her initial mistrust against anyone of her race.
"Excuse me, Miss … Lady …" Vegeta quickly realises in his bid to escape without having to resort to possible violence that neither Ayeka or Sasami has ever truly spoken about their mother before, he does not have the faintest about what her name could be. He improvises and just uses the family surname. " … Miss Jurai?"
"Miss? We've only just met and you're calling me by my nickname, how precious. Please just call me Misaki, and your name?" Vegeta has opened up communications with the one keeping him hostage, it's a step in the right direction even if there was some initial confusion. Misaki's bone crushing strength appears to have left the hug as Ryoko gasps for air and the Juraian smiles at Vegeta.
"I am Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans."
"Come on Vegeta, you mean prince of me and our sons."
"Shut it ,Kakarot!" One hand wriggles free of Misaki's hug and instantly aims and fires at where the other Saiyan was stood. Vegeta growls seeing the lack of entrails in the furrow cut through the Earth leading off through the scorched forest. Instant transmission makes anything but a surprise attack a sure miss. His smouldering eyes bore into where Goku is now stood before turning his attention back to Misaki. Ryoko has now had enough of this hug and phases out of it. Vegeta does the same, remembering that he can also perform that technique.
"Wow, I haven't seen someone do that in a long time. So Ayeka finally found her own prince did she, I knew she'd do it one day but … oh, I thought I had more time with her. It's so cruel. They grow up so fast and soon she won't need me at all. You better treat her well, Prince Vegeta, be gentle though, she's still got a lot to learn before she'll be a good wife." Tears start to well in Misaki's eyes, her lips begin to quiver and Ayeka has no time to get out of the way before she is gifted with one of her mother's hugs as well. Misaki can't bear the thought of her daughter finally growing up and having to leave the nest as it were. Quietly, she sobs into her daughter's shoulder. Meanwhile her daughter's face starts to flush. Vegeta merely sighs as Ryoko attaches herself to him again, his cold eye's continue to stay on Goku.
"M-mother! No, it's not … Please don't … Mother -" As Ayeka tries to break free, her mother's hug only becomes tighter and her wails louder to mask her daughter's voice.
"Yeah, like Ayeka's trying to say, you've got it all wrong. I'm Vegeta's lover, not her!" Ryoko seems pretty pleased at the position Ayeka has found herself in. Whatever the princess says or does can be turned against her. If Ayeka continues to keep up her modest denial then it gives Ryoko ample opportunity to taunt and try and cement her position with Vegeta in her stead. However, if Ayeka somehow plucks up the courage to publically declare her feelings then she will still have to contend with her mother embarrassing her. The space pirate cheekily grins at Ayeka as she rests her head on Vegeta's shoulder.
"What did you say, Ryoko?! Filthily lying to royalty such as my mother and myself is considered treason on most planets so take that back at once!"
"Ayeka..." A chill rushes down Ayeka's spine from the calm tone of her mother. Putting on a forced smile, she turns to look at her mother who now appears quite serious all of a sudden. "Ayeka, what's with all this 'mother' business? Hmm?"
"W-whatever do you mean, mother dearest ? …" Misaki begins to frown. All the previous warmth has left her face. Sasami knows where this is going and what her sister will be forced to do in front of everyone but to the rest of the group they are left baffled by this change in the bipolar Juraian, as if a switch had been turned and she is no longer the same loving person. "… My loving, beautiful mum …" Misaki's scowl deepens. Her eyes hard set stones piercing into her daughter and her grip getting ever so slightly painful. Ayeka wishes it did not have to come to this but there are some things that even a princess must be forced to do. " M-m-m …My mummy."
"My little Ayeka!" Ryoko tries to contain her sniggers but fails. Hearing the princess adopting a higher pitched tone and addressing Misaki as her 'mummy' is just too much for the pirate to handle. As Misaki affectionately holds her daughter, her eyes dart to the one mocking her daughter and Ryoko quickly shuts up. Ryoko thought only Vegeta could hold a look of such masterful intimidation like that. Apparently Misaki has both the strength and the power to break the will of both women. Vegeta finds this slightly humorous as Ryoko nervously peeks over his shoulder at the tall, blue haired Juraian distrustfully.
"How have you been? Have you been taking good care of Sasami and yourself for me? Why did you have to go away without telling me? Why? Did you forget about your mummy?" Misaki's voice quietens and lowers, her mouth hovering close to Ayeka's ear. This she wants to say to her daughter in private, though she does not know about the prying ears of Saiyans that can hear nearly as well as those of Namekians. "You know I would have supported whatever decision you decide to make with my whole heart and do not fret, I might have accidentally tripped some fuses when I beamed down."
"I'm perfectly fine moth – mummy, all the more so for seeing you again. Both me and Sasami have missed you so, so much. I'm so terribly, deeply sorry for abandoning you mummy, please forgive me." Ayeka carries along playing the act her mother loves so much, keeping up the charade despite the embarrassment it causers her for the love of her doting mum. Her mother was always the one she could trust above all others, always reliable and dependable despite her eccentricities. Her own voice drops to a whisper to continue the covert conversation. "Thank you. I-is he here?"
"Your father is the Emperor of Jurai, you think I could stop him? It is as you suspect, he is a tad angry and not in the best of moods. Least of all after finding Yosho covering for you when he was the one ordered to retrieve you. Just hold your head up high and it'll be over soon. Me and sis will help you." Misaki's hug becomes less of an overly dramatic one to a more simple and affectionate one. She can sense the tension and apprehension within her daughter. She might love Azusa but in this her heart is on her daughter's side. She will protect her two children and allow them to live their life however they see fit, even if that goes against the wishes of the leader of the Juraian empire. The hug ends and Misaki stops whispering.
"It's Ok, Ayeka, I'm here now. I'm glad you both are safe and sound, I was worried sick some ill might befall you. But, thank Tsunami, my fears seem to be all unfounded. You have found yourself a nice set of friends who all seem so nice. Won't you introduce me?" Ayeka nods at this request and regains her ladylike composure and manner of talk before turning around to face the others as she presents her mother to them.
"This is Queen Misaki Masaki Jurai of the Juraian Empire. As you already know, he is Lord Vegeta and he is the one letting us reside in his house." Ayeka begins to point out each individual one by one for her mother's sake and introduce them to her in turn. Misaki bows formally to the Saiyan prince, he only bows his head in reply. Vegeta is a man who will only show respect to someone once they have earned it from him, his life of subservience to Frieza was more than enough boot licking than he would ever have liked to have done. Misaki might be a queen and Ayeka and Sasami's mum but to him she is still an unusually strong stranger who gets a bit too close for comfort.
" … That - that lowly strumpet next to him is just some common criminal called Ryoko, no need to waste your time on formalities or niceties with her. Better off just forgetting about her altogether, it's what I try and do." Ryoko takes the bait. Goaded by Ayeka's insults and full of confidence from last night's victory, she phases. On the offensive and utilising her speed much greater than that of the princess, she appears behind Ayeka and goes in for the attack. Vegeta would have stopped her but people have to learn from their own mistakes. Ryoko is welcomed into the warm bosom of Misaki for a second hug, her attack foiled by the protective mother. Misaki scolds them like naughty schoolchildren for misbehaving and being mean to each other, all the while nearly squeezing the life from Ryoko. She would make them apologise to each other there and then but there is more fun to be had later on anyway and it would just drag down the mood of this meeting.
" Miss Washu is here also with the man courting her who is a warrior by the name of Yamcha." Ryoko gets flung away and discarded as soon as Misaki's attention is turned to the scientist she has known her whole life. Recovering herself in mid-air, the cyan haired rogue teleports back next to Vegeta and away from this new woman she is not too fond of. Misaki leisurely strolls up to Washu with a happy, knowing smile on her face. She stands in front of the two and Washu simply just says hi. Yamcha glances about to try and decipher whether he should be bowing or what to this member of royalty, Washu has seemingly known her for a while so he is sure she can get off with such an informal greeting but he is not too confident that the same rules will apply to him. Under pressure and not with a lot of time, he makes a random snap decision and genuflects.
"It's good to see you again, Washu. I trust that you …" The Queen of Jurai stops mid sentence and with a puzzled expression on her face looks down at the man on one knee. She merrily giggles at this over the top sign of respect to her stature. He looks up at her through the hair that has fallen in front of his eyes realising he might have gone a bit too far.
"My, Washu has you trained well hasn't she. You can stand up now if you want, Yamcha is it? There is no need for you to do that." Misaki lets out a few more chuckles as Washu offers her hand down to Yamcha, he takes it and stands back up looking sheepish. The desert bandit attempts to apologise for his mistake but Washu shushes him so she can catch up with the Juraian.
"So Misaki, trying to pave the way with flowers and rainbows before his majesty, your husband, comes in all his grumpiness?" Washu is eye to eye with Misaki, both with wry smirks on their faces. Yamcha looks on unsure as to what exactly is going on.
"And you're still up to your old mischief, both science related and romantically. Have you told Yamcha yet the secret behind why all of them are called your 'guinea pigs'?"
"Who who's called Washu?" Yamcha seems concerned, Washu does call him a guinea pig quite often. If there is a story behind it then he most certainly wants to know, any background knowledge on the mystery that is Washu would be most appreciated. Washu, on the other hand, is not too keen on her secrets being revealed to her lover and is prepared to stop Misaki telling them.
"It's only fair to warn you." Misaki's arms wrap around Washu and force her head into her chest, stopping Washu's ability to talk and breathe temporarily. The scientist's muffled protests don't stop Misaki spilling the beans. "Her guinea pigs are otherwise known as the poor men who had the misfortune to be in a relationship with her. She uses the term for test subjects as they are disposable, cheap and don't last long, it perfectly suits those like you she chooses to mess around with for a time until she eventually gets bored. For someone as old as her you'd have thought she'd have gone and given up antics like that, some people just never change I guess."
" I preferred you when you were small and didn't have the support of the whole Juraian fleet behind you!" Washu pops up for air and immediately starts shouting at Misaki, enraged and blushing as she is not at all happy. Her emerald eyes dance across to Yamcha to see his reaction but are torn back to Misaki as she begins to speak again.
"But I can't get younger again, unlike someone. I always prefer you when you are a child. Little Washu is such a cutie pie!" Washu lets out an exasperated sigh and turns to see what damage Misaki has caused in her relationship with Yamcha. He is holding his head in his hands and shaking his head side to side. Washu's heart drops and she gets a terrible sinking feeling in her stomach. "So Yamcha, how long has Little Washu been 'experimenting' with you?"
"So far it's been a couple weeks o' heaven." He lets his hand slip down so it stops concealing his mouth, enabling him to talk properly. Underneath is a genuinely happy smile. Washu whispers his name under her breath as she too begins to smile. He honestly doesn't care or mind. If she disposed of her exes by murdering them then he might start to get worried but he kind of guessed she probably has fooled around given the extraordinary length of time she has been alive for.
"Weeks? The longest relationship Washu ever had in my centuries of knowing her was 4 and a half days." Misaki looks at the couple smiling at each other. She feels bad now for inadvertently trying to ruin what they have together, in all honesty she believed Washu to just be manipulating some poor man again – usually such a safe assumption. It has been a long time indeed since she saw such a completely, helplessly love struck expression on anyone's face. "Could it possibly be? Has Little Washu finally fallen head over heels in love? Oh please forgive me for misunderstanding."
"It's ok Lady Misaki, you were just doing what you thought was right. No harm done, well except for when this minx took out one of my organs earlier today. So Washu, is what Misaki says true?" This is a hug that Misaki excuses herself from as Yamcha gently pulls Washu closer to him. The genius' face has gone a darker shade of red than her hair as she feels the stares of everyone else upon her. Ryoko and Ayeka can't help but feel a slight twinge of jealousy at how easily this woman has gotten together with a man whilst they still have quite a way to go yet.
" … I-I …. I could ask you the same thing. I'm still waiting for that engagement ring, Yamcha. " Washu stops tripping over her tongue as her universally acclaimed brain kicks back into gear.
"That ain't a yes or no answer, number one scientific genius in the universe." Yamcha wasn't expecting anything less from her. Nothing is easy with Washu, but where's the fun if there is no challenge. She lightly hugs back for a couple of seconds before they break apart from each other.
"Neither is that." Yamcha holds her hand. This little talk has come to remind him what he likes about Washu and for now he'll drop his ill feelings about his long lost appendix. Ayeka clears her throat to get her mother's attention back to her as she directs her to the last remaining adult that the Juraian queen does not know the name of.
"He is Goku, a Saiyan like Lord Vegeta who, coincidentally, is also visiting today." The man in the orange training gi with blue sweatbands and undershirt waves in an amicable manner. Seven shots are then deflected by that same waving hand. Ki blasts shoot and deflect far off over the horizon and away from their intended target. Vegeta's hand points straight and true at the other of his race.
"Like hell that soft hearted and soft headed buffoon is anything like me! We are similar in species and power alone." Vegeta slowly lowers his hand back down to his side. Misaki looks both ways to make sure she isn't going to get caught in any crossfire before continuing to Goku. Standing in the way of the other Saiyan, the Juraian addresses Vegeta in a calming, motherly tone.
"Now, now. Let's not fight amongst friends. I'm sure we can - "
"I'd rather be cast into the abyss again than ever let myself become Kakarot's friend!"
Vegeta's teeth clench and his fists raise. Static build up flows through the air, erecting hairs on the back of people's necks and arms. An attack from behind would be expected but with Misaki covering the front he has either that path left open to him or to go for Goku from above. On the brink of instant transmissioning and engaging in close combat, Vegeta stops. A feminine hand on either of his tensed arms. The flames of war die down within his eyes and the great booming kettledrum that is his heart quietens as he looks first at Ayeka and then Ryoko.
"Ummm, who's Kakarot?" Misaki watches as her daughter kindly touches this man on the verge of destruction with such caring concern for him. It might not be what she imagined Ayeka's future to be like when she was just a little tyke but there is no doubt in this mother's mind about why Ayeka has chosen to stay on this planet. She'll have her work cut out for her with him nearly as much as she did with Azusa, if only she could remember why the name of the species Saiyan is bothering her then her heart would be fully at ease.
"That would be me, Misaki. He calls me by my birth name, but I prefer Goku. Please just excuse Vegeta over there, I'm the reason he's like this. He died recently and- "
" Died?! W-what? You must be joking, he's -" Misaki takes a step back, she was not expecting this in the least. She thinks that he surely cannot be serious and is simply just teasing her about her lack of knowledge concerning them. She looks to her daughters to see if they are in on the joke but neither of them is laughing.
"Death is no joke. I found honour in a warrior's death and was once again resurrected." Vegeta is the one who partially clears away her confusion. It was news of his death after all that was sprung upon her. The apparent death and revival of someone is something only a few rare Juraian myths have ever talked about but Misaki was always too busy playing and climbing trees to study the ancient lore of far off planets.
"Resurrected? Can Saiyans do that? … If you died, did you see her? Tsunami?" With clear confusion on the queen's face, Vegeta tries to think of the most tactful way to break it to her about the Juraian deity. Having learnt from Ayeka that simply rejecting the possibility of any higher being existing in the nether realms he has frequented is neither the smartest or most thoughtful way of dealing with such a highly volatile religious matter, he simply states the facts.
"Neither I nor Kakarot have met anyone named such when deceased."
"You've been dead too?" Despite Vegeta's careful wording and omittance of any words that might lead to the Juraian empire finding out about the dragonballs, he appears to have raised as many questions as he has answered. Ayeka thinks to herself how she would have been in this same exact situation if Ryoko hadn't gotten curious concerning that disc containing most of Vegeta's current past on it. Most offworlders would find it hard to believe the lives these two Saiyan's have lived, had ended and lived again and Misaki is finding it no easier than when Washu starts discussing high level quantum entanglement theory to her.
"Yeah, twice. Vegeta's crossed over three times. Yamcha also twice." Goku's jovial smile does little to put her mind at rest over such a heady matter. Not only have they died but so has the one Washu has become attached to, and all of them multiple times. She can no longer hold in the emotions welling inside her.
"That's so sad, so utterly tragic. Brave warriors laying down their own lives time after time after time without a second thought as they fight the good fight for us all. Putting the wellbeing of others far beyond that of their own. Fearlessly sacrificing themselves in the face of danger. So adorable!" With fresh tears in her eyes and spouting her romanticised version of what she thinks they do, Misaki latches her arms around the trio. Vegeta was in good mind to dodge but he was not too sure how kindly the woman would take his avoidance of her, she does not look like someone you would want to ever get on the bad side of. Then again, he thinks why bother moving. A woman's face directly in front of his and one on the right and one on the left being pressed into his own, Vegeta waits this hug out.
Sudden mood swing over, Misaki's firm hug ends. The Saiyan prince gives thanks that neither of this woman's daughters have her trait for extreme emotional outbursts. With Misaki smiling again and Ayeka stood a few feet away and blushing over how she was a bit too close than she deems proper with Vegeta, the Saiyan finds he is not free from Ryoko. She remains as close as she was and it doesn't appear she is likely to move anytime soon. He rubs at his tired eyes and heavy eyelids again. It's still taking him a good portion of his conscious mind to keep himself from charging Goku but unless there is a spark his fiery rage will not start roaring back into the forefront again.
"Darling Ayeka."
"Yes, mummy?" The princess turns to her mother, still wishing she would not have to continue using such a childlike pronoun to address her. A slightly wry smirk begins on Misaki's face, unnerving her eldest child.
"Ayeka dear, I never thought that when you ran away from your dear, young mother you would go off and surround yourself with such powerful, good looking, rugged and muscle bound fighters. You certainly have your mummy's eye when it comes to men." Ayeka's face continues to uncontrollably blush, especially over that last sentence which was a bit more information than Ayeka bargained on receiving.
" N-no, y-y-you've got it wrong … it's not – it's not like that at all, mother-mummy! P-please don't … I was just trying to… I-I would never do that, Lord Vegeta is …" Ayeka's mind fails for words. She doesn't want her mother to think of her like that. It might be true that Vegeta is a well built man but it was not her intention at all when she fled Jurai to end up here or to fall for this Saiyan. Preferring someone due to their physical being is such a shallow reason that maybe some princesses have but not her, atleast not that much. Her mother always teased her about her shyness around the few males she was allowed to see whilst living in the palace. She cannot think of anything to turn this around, any good counter argument, so she does the only thing she knows to do: distract her. "… And finally those two are Goten and Trunks, the children of Vegeta and Goku."
"They are both so cuuuute!" Misaki is a sucker for children, her extremely strong maternal instincts instantly kick in at the sight of these two hybrid Saiyans. Ayeka exhales a deep sigh of relief as she passes her mother's attention onto some innocent children, time to recuperate and regain her composure before Misaki puts her under the spotlight again. Her mother's intense mollycoddling is perhaps the only feature of her that annoys both her and Sasami, and now it can annoy Trunks and Goten.
Knelt down on the grass, the Juraian queen begins to smother the children. In her opinion all children should be cherished and showered with love, just like she does with her own whenever she gets the chance. Goku's son is mostly used to behaviour like this, Chichi is maybe a bit more protective than overtly affectionate but a hug is a hug to him. Trunks though is not at all comfortable. His mum is dead and the last proper hug he had like this is nearly beyond his recollection, he knows of no good reason why he should allow this stranger to be touching him. Never mind a year with just his father has hardened his heart against such loving embraces.
"Dad, should I have stayed in bed?" Trunks voices his mind. The impetuous youth knows that Misaki can hear him but to him that just means there's an additional chance of him being released. Misaki though interprets his words to mean something only she could think of.
"Poor baby's still sleepy from his nap. Aww."
"In hindsight it probably would have been safer and wiser, my son." Misaki finds herself one lad down in her hug. One second he was there and the next he is gone. He isn't interested by this woman, he wants to find out about that spaceship and he severely doubts his questions will be answered by Misaki. Goten follows his friend's lead and vanishes before Misaki's eyes. He does leave someone behind though to keep her company, it'd be rude to leave her on her own. The one he had been holding in his hands is now meowing in Misaki's.
"Awwww, and who is this ickle, fluffy, wuffy, snuggle muffins? Aren't you just the cutest thing. Look at those floppy ears, sooo soft." Ryo-ohki seems to be the only one among them who does not mind in the slightest being fussed over to such a degree, contently purring its little heart out as she gets cuddled and petted by the blue haired woman. Sasami goes up to her mother and tells her who the cabbit is as she pulls a carrot from her pocket and gives it to Ryo-ohki who greedily devours it. Sasami also seems to have inherited her mother's good nature towards animals as well as her sunny disposition on life.
Trunks gives a thumbs up to his friend over his good thinking of ditching the animal with Misaki to allow them to escape. The lads begin discussing what their wild imaginations think is on the Juraian tree ship. Goku is trying to keep away from Vegeta and not do anything to grab his attention lest he provokes another violent response from the prince.
"Ayeka honey, I just remembered something." Misaki leaps to her feet with Ryo-ohki safely evacuating to the top of Sasami's head. As her mother approaches her rummaging in one of her cape's inner pockets, Ayeka feels that this does not bode well for her – or more precisely for her image.
"Ah, here it is. When you were rushing off you forgot to pack your favourite stuffed animal, so I brought him for you." Ayeka freezes upon seeing this tattered and worn remnant from her childhood. Another sputter of giggles comes from Ryoko, of course from her safe position behind Vegeta. Redness creeps into Ayeka's face. She could never tell whether her mother does things like this on purpose to embarrass her or whether she is actually that oblivious or in denial about her actual age. Misaki is waving the toy in her hands, waiting for Ayeka to take it from her and thank her for her kindness.
"No! Mother, not in front of Vegeta! I don't want that stupid thing." Her embarrassment has gotten too much for her as she yells out in protest. Out of the corner of her eye she spied the Saiyan's lips begin to twitch into a snigger. There is only so far her patience can be pushed before even she has to say no … and then quickly apologise when her mother's glare turns on her.
"Mummy, I left that on purpose. You see I'm too … generous to keep it as my own, I decided to gift it to a charity for … the war orphans. It's not mine any longer mother." She was going to say the word old then realised that would never have dissuaded her mother. Her mother still sees her as someone who should be treated as if they were the same age as Sasami. Ayeka hopes these words have gotten through to her mother that she does not want what she is offering.
The Juraian queen looks down at the faded and patched up toy. She can still remember so vividly the day when her young daughter came running up to her in tears over this, her favourite toy she would never be separated from, getting a rip breaking the stitching attaching one of its limbs. Sasami hadn't even been born at that time, still just another twinkle in Misaki's eyes. Now it is evident she wants rid of it, this bearer of so many precious memories and magical times. Not even her youngest appears to have an interest in what she is holding. She is no idiot, just a woman who doesn't want to be without her children. Her job as a mother is starting to come to its natural end, whether she wants it to or not.
Forlornly, she makes the stuffed animal mimic a waving action to Ayeka. She doesn't want to admit to her baby having grown up and become independent from her, she just wants things to stay as they were. Her child that ran away from home, her firstborn, is a little girl no longer. Misaki's salmon eyes quickly begin to mist over as she looks upon her daughter as a woman. A woman able to start her own family and have her own adventures and her own tales to tell, all without her. What is worse for her is because of her intimate knowledge of her children she knows about the inseparable bond between both of her daughters, a bond she believed was as inseparable as the one she held with them. If Ayeka decides not to stay with her then she will also lose her youngest from her side. The loss of both her daughters from her life hurts her like a physical blow, she knew this day would come but she never thought it would be so painful. A woman steps forward. Her hands close over Misaki's, the queen looks up at her face through vision clouded by moisture. This is not the face of her Ayeka.
"Misaki?" Ryoko stands before the queen. Her feline eyes normally so sharp now dulled by sympathy.
"Misaki, I'm an orphan. All my parents died or abandoned me when I was really small and I can't remember them at all, not one bit. W-would it be OK if I looked after the toy for Ayeka? I grew up on my own without anyone ever buying me toys as nice as this, I'll take good care of it I promise. If I have it then it'll be here for Ayeka whenever she wants it back."
"Yes. Y-y-yes, of course you can. Come to Mummy Misaki you sweet child." Ryoko willingly goes into her hug as the toy is handed over, an embrace mutually comforting for both parties. The tears of the parent fall freely into the pirate's shoulder and Ryoko's sad past is but a small fraction of the reason they flow. Even a queen needs a consoling shoulder every now and again. Not before long the hug grows, two more people wrap their arms around this woman full of love. The two siblings born from this woman ease her tears, not drying them completely but helping all the same.
Misaki is the one to end the hug, letting go of Ryoko and signalling to her children that she wishes for them to stop now. Sasami stays clung on the longest, not wanting to see her mother upset as it then makes her sad, until Misaki picks her up and holds her close before placing her back down on the ground. Ryoko phases to sit down on top of the roof with the soft toy clutched to her chest, her crocodile tears ceasing immediately as her toothy grin appears on her face. Such an easy stunt to pull off, now she has something of Ayeka's that is of great personal value to her. The heist went without a hitch. Swinging her legs off the edge of the roof, Ryoko watches Ayeka glance at her before turning her attention back towards her mother approaching Vegeta.
" Prince Vegeta? Here is something for you." He is not too sure what he just witnessed, he knew Ryoko was up to some scheme during it but he's beginning to question this woman's emotional stability. Her eyes are still bloodshot from the salty tears and some of her makeup has been smudged, Vegeta meets her half way. In the palm of her left hand is a flat card no bigger than a fingernail composed of some carbon composites. Without touching it, Vegeta lifts it with telekinesis so it hovers before his face, allowing him a better look at whatever this is. It's too small for Ryoko to make out from where she is so she teleports back down to the ground still holding the fake animal. The rasping sound of Vegeta scratching his stubble can be heard as he rotates the thing in mid air.
Washu half listens to the conversation Yamcha is having with Goku and half collecting more primary data on the Juraian royal family. As much fun as it is to hear about the time Yamcha crashed the night at Goku's and got kicked out by Chichi for exposing Gohan to probably a bit more alcohol than was good for the young man, her mind deduces the possibilities of what is stored within that memory shard. It takes her but a second and she feels she has it pinpointed before beginning to playfully tease Yamcha again … at the back of her mind though she wonders how difficult it would be to get Goku or one of his son's to 'volunteer' to aid her research. Gohan is her best bet, a fellow scholar would not impede the furthering of science.
"What is it?" In unison all four stood by Misaki ask this question. Ayeka and Sasami are still concerned about their mother, especially after the way she cried, but this random gift to Vegeta has raised their curiosity. Their mother does love surprises and surprising people. Misaki smiles at the question, though her smile doesn't seem as full of merriment as it was minutes ago.
"Nothing much or of value to many people. However, given these circumstances and how my daughters are living with you, it is probably to your interest. It contains that most precious to my heart, irreplaceable moments frozen in time of those most dear to me. Within this you shall find a full and complete pictorial and home film collection of my girls from the moments when I – w-when I first held them in m-my arms to … to a few weeks before they l-left, A-a-Ayeka's coming of a-age celebration. … A family album, if you will. Please Prince Vegeta, treasure my beautiful angels and the time you have with them as much as I have and still do."
"So all mother's are indeed like she was … I shall try to do what you ask of me, being a parent also I somewhat understand. You have my word as a Saiyan." The first sentence he quietly mutters to himself as he nods at this mother and takes the storage device within his hand. Such a delicate thing he will have to be careful with and keep out of reach of a certain someone since it was trusted to him. That certain person is hovering over his shoulder right now with her eyes on the prize. Ayeka's cheeks blush fully at the prospect of Vegeta having access to such private images of her but she will not speak up about it, it is clear to see from the look in her mother's eyes that she needs for someone to have this. Finally her mother has accepted her as a young adult which she always wanted but not to cause her such abject pain as it obviously is. It had to be done sooner or later, for her mother's sake she will try and not make this anymore difficult than it already is.
"Family photos? This is priceless. Since your training whatchamacallit is broken we could spend all day watching this together, Vegeta, I'm sure we'll find it so thoroughly entertaining. I do hope we get to see baby Ayeka in her dirty nappy, wetting her bed and being even more flat chested than she is now." Her tail swishes side to side excitedly as she orbits around Vegeta. That single device will give her so much ammunition to use in humiliating the princess she detests and it is being freely offered to them, Ryoko is beginning to warm towards this Misaki woman. The Saiyan prince's eyes follow the pirate floating past him and her deft hands inching ever closer to the data chip. He has to admit he is curious about what he might find out within this, though he still has a low interest in seeing images of children.
"Ryoko, if Vegeta chooses to see what is recorded on that then it is his decision and I shall respect it. This was my mother's gift to him, not mine, so I have no say over whether you may also watch. Just remember that it isn't yours and it is one of a kind, mother would be most displeased with you if any ill came to it and I'm sure you wouldn't want that."
"That's incorrect." The pink haired scientist chips in, interrupting Ayeka from where she is stood arm in arm with Yamcha. She doesn't bother moving to them to join in the conversation, they can hear her just fine from where she is. Ayeka looks across at her with a look similar to one her mother would give anyone insulting her daughters.
"Miss Washu I am trying to get this dog to behave, what, by Jurai, was wrong with what I said?" As the princess of Jurai says this, Ryoko puts her arms back around Vegeta and messes with the flower in her hair, making sure her rival notices it again. Misaki compliments her on how pretty the flower is. Washu simply points to the thing in Vegeta's hands and continues talking.
"Easy now princess, just trying to make your statements accurate. It's just that those files are not one of a kind as you said. I have multiple backup copies of them stored in secure, isolated servers, by Misaki's orders no less. It'd be silly to only have one, what if it got damaged or corrupted? Then there's the backups for Misaki and Funaho when they were young, for Azusa, their parents and so on and so forth. I have 'em all nice and safe in my lab."
Washu smirks having explained the situation and how she has a complete collection of the whole Juraian royal family tracing all the way back to when the Tuffle race first made contact with the Juraians. Her emerald eyes witness the green transporter beam beneath the ship activate again. She wonders to herself how it took them so long to fix such a simple fault, unless they had someone incredibly clumsy trip and break several of the replacements the problem should have been rectified within two minutes maximum. Ayeka looks to her mother in confusion, she doesn't understand why someone not of Jurai should be freely given such confidential records. Misaki smiles at her confused daughter and nods reassuringly at her, she also saw the reactivation of the transporter.
"Then have this back Misaki." Vegeta carefully places the memory card back into the Juraian's hands and closes her second hand over it. Misaki looks into the cold eyes of his, he might have an exterior of ice but she can just make out his soul of fire in the depths of those pupils. That faint and distant warmth must be what her daughter sees every time she looks into those eyes. He crosses his arms back in front of his chest and his eyes go to the mother's elder child for a second.
"You'll need it more than I. If Washu has copies then I will use them, since you cannot access them you require the original. You are a good mother Misaki, you did the best job possible in raising both Ayeka and Sasami into ladies of Jurai." The Saiyan smiles at her, he is not so removed from emotions he doesn't understand Misaki is actually in quite a precarious and delicate emotional state. As Misaki goes to give him another hug he vanishes.
"Thank you Vegeta, you are - " Misaki sees the empty space before her and turns around slowly. The time she bought for her daughters is up. The short prince of the near extinct race stands metres away from them with a fist pressing into the bridge of his nose. From beneath the flowing and well groomed violet beard, snarls utter forth from in-between the royal's gritted teeth. Ayeka and Sasami's breath catch in their throat seeing their father like this, the cold chill from before spreads back into the older princess.
"So you are Emperor Azusa … this is going to be fun." With a smirk Vegeta pushes the fist away with his head.