Chapter 32

Time drifts on and hours crawl by at a snail's pace for a restless and impatient space pirate. Her tail flicks side to side, her arms hang off either side of the support beam she rests on and she yawns in boredom. The cabbit upon her head echoes her yawn. Ryo-ohki starts to rise and stretches out on Ryoko's head before hopping down in front of her mistress' face which she nuzzles against and meows at. Ryoko rolls over onto her back and props herself up with her elbows, her spaceship bounds over her head and lands on her lap looking at her expectantly. The brown and fluffy destroyer is hungry and wants to be fed, as does Ryoko. Rich smells are wafting up to their perch from the kitchen but none of that is for them. Both of their stomachs grumble and the animal bounds down off of the beam in search of any vegetables left unattended or scraps she can beg for. Ryoko lounges back down and awaits for her prince to come out and stop training so that she get some of his cooking in her belly.

More minutes while away until Sasami calls out from the kitchen that dinner is ready and the front room empties, leaving Ryoko alone as she continues to wait. Hearing and heeding the call of the young Juraian, a Saiyan emerges from the training room. Heavily panting and dripping in sweat, he staggers out, starving and exhausted after pushing himself especially hard to make up for all the time he lost. Before he has a chance to shut the door behind him he feels a disturbance in the air besides him and turns to see the grinning face of Ryoko. He looks away from her predatory gaze and upstairs, listening to see what he can hear from Ayeka's room.

"Ahem, Vegey, I'm right here. Time to get your ass in the kitchen, lover boy, and start cooking me up some food." Ryoko brings his attention back down to her and points towards the kitchen. The Saiyan's heavy breathing begins to slow down as he stands still looking at the pirate, remembering that he said he would cook her meal for her. Being ordered around like a servant to her bidding grates against his pride yet he sees little option if he is to get her to cooperate in clearing things up with Ayeka. She smiles as he ambles towards the smell of cooking and hot meals, Vegeta moving to feed himself before dealing with the needy woman.

"First things first though, you've gotta wipe yourself down, Vegey. I don't want my first meal lovingly cooked by you to be served in a sauce of your own fluids. If you want you can use my dress, I won't mind." A hand grabs onto the back of his damp, white vest and a chin rests on his shoulder, Vegeta stops walking and shrugs so Ryoko has to lift her head from him. She grins to herself and floats around in front of him, his stern face showing her that he has no intent on using her clothing as a makeshift towel. With the back of his forearm he wipes his brow. He looks to her to see if she will push the issue of his hygiene any further for he shall do as he likes and she will get what food is given to her. Ryoko's golden eyes glance downwards momentarily.

"Your leg holding up or do you need me to kiss it better for you?"

"Ryoko, are you going to continue pestering me because if you are then you'll be lucky to get a slice of toast from me. The Saiyan prince is hungry, you will get your food afterwards." Ryoko shrugs off his stern warning and follows close behind him as he enters the kitchen. She knows that his threat of not giving her any food is a bluff, if he doesn't cook for her then Ayeka will not be told the truth about their night together. For now though she'll be quiet because she is quite hungry and doesn't want things to drag on too much now she's had a bit of fun.

As Vegeta walks through the ajar door to the kitchen both police women turn to look at him warily, he pays them no heed and takes a seat next to his son who is already heartily digging into the food set upon the table. Ryoko hovers behind Vegeta, watching him stuff his face as she waits her turn for food. A warning glance is shot her way from the lavender haired son, keeping an eye out on her and how close she's getting to his father. It makes her feel uneasy, Trunks' open hostility towards her. She will have to try and win him over sooner or later if she is to pursue a relationship with Vegeta, his son means a lot to him but also serves as a constant reminder of Bulma. A small wave of melancholy hits her at the thought that she will never have the opportunity to live that same happy family life with the Saiyan. Ryoko shakes her head to dispel such thoughts from her head, she doesn't care about children, nor has she ever had the slightest inclination to want to have one, but she can't shake the feeling that somewhere down the line it would have been nice if she had the chance. She discontentedly sighs to herself and aimlessly drifts about the kitchen as everyone else eats, Sasami feeling somewhat guilty at this sight.

" Mr. Vegeta sir?" Everyone's attention is drawn towards Mihoshi as she quietly and hesitantly speaks. Vegeta raises his eyes to the dark skinned cop whilst still stuffing his face as his Saiyan metabolism demands of him. Having been thinking for a while on something that was said to her earlier, Mihoshi has finally summed up enough courage to talk to the walking death machine. Her partner shakes her head at her, telling her to keep quiet. " … Mr. Vegeta, are... a-are you going to kill me?"

Ryoko harshly cackles at such a stupid question, lifting her from the sour mood she was in. Anxiously looking at the Saiyan with more than just a hint of fear in her eyes, Mihoshi watches Vegeta and flinches as he snorts. He is not going to acknowledge that with an answer. Mihoshi does not look too relieved at the lack of a response to her question, instead it seems to make her more nervous and fuels her worries. She nervously messes with her food and cutlery and Kiyone quietly nudges her worried partner's arm and reassures her that she won't die. Mihoshi argues back that she was the one who said that he would.

" 2 hours." Vegeta calmly says after swallowing what was in his mouth. He then quickly goes back to finishing off every last morsel left as both Kiyone and Mihoshi freeze. Trunks smiles to himself looking at the abject fear on both of the women's faces as he and his dad stand up from the table, all food now down their gullets. The father and son do not exchange a single word as Trunks walks on past both Ryoko and Vegeta and into the training room alone. Vegeta smirks to himself and heads over to a work-surface when Sasami calls out from behind him and asks whether he is being a bully again. With his back turned to her he states that he said nothing of the sort and Ryoko quickly hovers up behind him. Silently, both policewomen leave the kitchen scared by the abstract threat and Sasami follows them.

" 'Bout time, Vegey. You really have a bad habit of keeping a girl waiting, don't you? So, what's on the menu today?" Ryoko is inquisitive as she watches the Saiyan rummage around the fridge and pantry for ingredients for her and floats close by. A small pile of a very meagre selection of foods appears on the counter and flames light up on the hob. Vegeta withdraws a knife from a drawer and begins to quickly slice the ingredients into bite size chunks that will cook quickly.

" Meat, potatoes, nothing fancy, not like you can tell the difference." He haphazardly dumps the slices of meat and potato into a frying pan and puts them over the blue flame, psychically tossing the rind and potato peel into a bin. Even though he has just eaten his fill the smell of cooking meats does tempt him dearly. Vegeta stirs the contents of the pan with the knife he has already used. Behind him the woman he is cooking for puts her hands on her hips and puffs her chest out at his offhand insult at her lack of taste-buds.

" Yes I can, I can and I will enjoy this meal, whether you want to cook for me or not. The couple that cooks together stays together, right?" Ryoko seats herself at the table and kicks her feet up onto the wood, swinging back on her chair as she watches the prince cook just for her.

" That doesn't rhyme, and no, not to my knowledge anyway. But you would know with all your experience in long term relationships." Without taking his eyes from the pan he throws another insult back at Ryoko to bring down her overly confident demeanour. He seasons the meat and turns the heat down to a low flame. A tail curls about and a very indignant woman crosses her arms across her chest and shoots an evil look at the back of Vegeta's head.

" Yeah, yeah, ha ha, let's all laugh at the woman who's only ever loved one man and right know he's being a complete dick" Ryoko bitterly remarks. She stops swinging on her chair and wraps her tail around her waist.

"Hmm, funny that, must have had a bad night's sleep." As he goes to get a plate out for the fried meal, Vegeta says one last quip and immediately he senses a rising ki behind his back, he smirks to himself and continues dishing up the food. Crimson flames lick over the flesh of an insulted woman. Her eyes glint wickedly as she snarls.

" Well sorry for falling in love with the world's most egotistical megalomaniac with an inferiority complex, but you seem to like using force so why the hell shouldn't I do the same when I can? I could have fucked you but I didn't, I could have killed you, killed Ayeka but no I just laid beside you and … and it was so good. Don't be a prick to me just because Mr. Wounded pride over here was retarded enough to give me that opportunity, because if it ever comes around again I am so going to seal the deal with you while you're still awake." Ryoko shouts aloud her feelings, growling in anger as she does so. Her aura burning with passion around her, she stands up and teleports directly behind the Saiyan and looks down on him as he turns around to face her. With a deep scowl upon her face, she begrudgingly takes the plate offered to her but stays stood up staring into the Saiyan's emotionless eyes.

"Go for it." Vegeta turns back around and begins to clear away the used utensils and leaves a stunned Ryoko frowning in confusion behind him. She doesn't understand, she just said to his face that given the chance she would force him to have sex with her against his will and he, the man who has been pushing her away time and time again, just calmly tells her to do it. It makes no sense to her why he would say that given how angered he was and still is by her possible attempt last night. She is not dumb enough to believe that suddenly with a snap of her fingers he is willing her to come on to him after all that bickering but the question of why seems to have no other answer. "Keep trying and fighting. You will never again find me so despicably weak whilst I still draw breath, but you can try and bed and seduce me to your heart's content. Of course you won't accomplish anything, but try all the same. Eat up."

Having cleaned up, Vegeta is now sat down at the table and setting a place for Ryoko next to him. He waves her over to come and sit down instead of standing in the middle of the kitchen with her food getting cold. Ryoko sighs to herself and teleports into the seat next to her cook and begins tucking into the meal prepared for her. She was thinking all that time about what he could have meant and all his words turned out to be was a gauntlet thrown down at her feet and his belief of never surrendering or giving up. Ryoko quickly wolfs down the first meal she has eaten today and it fills her up, Vegeta's cooking isn't half bad, but she is still thinking on the leading words of that challenge. The challenge of trying to bed him and get him to love her. Not knowing what to do with it even though she knows that he means nothing by it, she throws an under the belt punch at him for all of the previous insults.

" Like you and Kakarot?" Ryoko pushes her cleared plate away as she snidely serves him a nice rebuttal. She rocks back in her chair and looks over at the unimpressed warrior. He shakes his head with a confident look in his eyes.

"Hardly. I have plans. I have ways to breach that gap. Unless fate conspires against me again then I will be number one, the strongest in the universe."

" What happens then? You said you wanted to do this now in memory of your wife, if you defeat him do I stop waiting?" Quickly interjecting before he goes on to prattle about his revenge and power, she asks a very pertinent question brought to mind by his boast. She sees him pause in thought and she cocks her head to the side out of curiosity. This has just gotten interesting for her. No more playing around and games, but instead an answer, a definite answer.

" … It would make sense. Fine, that shall be my deadline." Vegeta concedes to that logic and Ryoko smiles in response. He nods his head, still thinking on the matter. Agreeing to that was not an easy thing for him yet he can think of no better time for him to finally move on, with Kakarot defeated he will have no ties from the past holding him back any longer and he can move on into the future. Ryoko's smile is short-lived though. As happy as she is that she has got him to pass such an important milestone in moving on, she realises that this deadline has no set date whatsoever and the event her love is riding on is something that has long eluded Vegeta.

" Sorry for not jumping for joy here but how long exactly have you been trying to do this?"

"My training, all my life. Trying to defeat Kakarot, 16 years."

"Right … so let's make that an absolute final deadline, I want something a bit closer to home. Think you can do that for me Vegey, or am I seriously gonna have to wait till even Sasami could be a rival." Ryoko is pretty sure now that him conceding to her deadline has not improved her situation. He has been trying to reclaim his spot as strongest Saiyan nearly for as long as her rival has been alive and still a very obvious gap can be seen between the two.

Vegeta stands up and puts her dirty dish in the sink for Sasami to clean up whenever. He leans against the counter and looks at Ryoko who smiles back at him, waiting to see whether or not he will agree to a more concrete time for her. Her lack of confidence in his power and his ability offends the prince. Her words clearly state how little faith she has in his ability to attain his life's sole goal. Though he can't say he blames her, for he does not underestimate his foe's power in the slightest, but saying she love's him a little faith in him would not be too much to ask for.

" I shall face Kakarot again before this year is out, if everything goes to plan." Vegeta states with a calm collectedness. He has no intention of waiting years or decades for another shot at victory, he is fighting for more than himself now. Ryoko lets out a pleased noise for she likes what she is hearing. Her eternal wait has now been cut down significantly. She is not aware of the time it takes for Earth to complete a solar orbit but if she were then the knowledge that a maximum of only a few months stand between her and Vegeta's warm embrace she would be purely ecstatic.

"I like the sound of that, but, Vegey, you really think you can-"

"The longer I take to reach his level only means that he will have ascended that much further ahead of me, I have to close the gap quickly or not at all. You finished?" He quickly silences her voiced doubts about his power, a stern edge holding to his voice.

"Yep, my compliments to the chef, it smelt real good. … I 'spose now I have to hold up my end of the bargain?" Ryoko stands up and lazily stretches, a disappointed tone to her words knowing what she has to go and do now. She entered the kitchen thinking she would only be receiving his reluctant cooking but it turns out she gained quite a bit more. Him agreeing to move on and choose a woman before the year is out means a lot more to her than that meal or even the ear stroking. With this she now has something to aim for, she will not be waiting around indefinitely but until she can sense Vegeta's power reaching that of his rival's. However, it also gives her less time to deal with her own rival and ultimately win over the prince.

Noise can be heard coming from the other room of Kiyone trying to pry Mihoshi's attention away from Ryo-Ohki and Sasami childishly giggling in the background. Ryoko holds out one of her hands for Vegeta to take. The Saiyan is busy formulating plans. Hindsight has caused him to realise that sparing Washu's laboratory would have made his job a lot easier, recordings of the night would show Ryoko's chastity. That is all gone now, or maybe not, but it is still not evidence he can use. Ryoko is unreliable, on a whim she could ruin it all but also forfeit any goodwill from him. He truly does not like relying on others. Solving the matter by himself though would take far too long and involve a lot of shouting and effort, with his 'accomplice' however and a pinch of luck the whole sordid affair should be dealt with within a few minutes. Then he can check Ayeka's health and satisfy that part of his mind and then he can heal her faster and eventually get onto more training. Vegeta walks over to Ryoko.

"Best behaviour, got it?" He holds his hand out before hers, a serious expression on his face. Ryoko groans to herself. It does not sit well with her to go and do this, she would much prefer to twist the knife than bandage the wound. Reluctantly she makes her hand meet his and grabs a hold.

"I know, I know. … Hell, I'm gonna need a drink after this." Mumbling to herself, she waits as he nods at her before teleporting them both.

They appear upstairs, a blustery breeze gusting in through the smashed window blows Ryoko's hair into her face and makes the curtains dance violently. She scowls and turns so that the wind now clears her face and her vision. Both of them look at Ayeka's bed and to the huddled form concealed under a cocoon of blankets. Vegeta clears his throat to announce their arrival however their intrusion had not gone unnoticed. The blankets twitch in response. This is not the first time Vegeta has seen Ayeka in such a state, and now he has to work with not the warmth and love of a mother but the animosity and hostility of Ryoko. The cyan haired woman seems thoroughly bored and displeased and spies something on the floor. Bending down she picks up the princess's dropped diary and smirks to herself. Then the book is gone from her hands and firmly placed down on the bedside cabinet, Ryoko's hands close on empty air and she tuts to herself. At this sound Ayeka is made aware of the fact that Vegeta did not come to her room alone and that she is here. She fidgets restlessly underneath the covers.

" Leave my room at once and take that harlot with you." Ayeka's voice is quiet and frail, her words losing nearly all of their intended coldness. The Saiyan calmly declines. Blankets rustle. A staggered exhale bursts out, the Juraian princess tries to curl up into a tighter ball and keep her eyes firmly shut. Her head shakes side to side and a flaking cerulean shield half materialises around her bed. With a small chuckle, Ryoko wafts away the failed defence and turns to look at Vegeta for any cues on what she should be doing since he brought her here.

" Please leave my room Vegeta." Again Ayeka tells him to go, her feeble voice cracking on his name. She feels moisture run down her cheeks. Vegeta does not leave, neither does Ryoko.

" Ayeka, what-"

"No. Leave. … Please." Though still speaking softly and delicately, the hurting princess interrupts the prince before he gets a chance to explain things. Hearing his voice causes her pain, and the knowledge of what he will be talking about only goes to wound her further. Not one cell inside her body wants him within her room. Her fingers clutch at the blankets veiling her. She wants to be gone, she wants to curl up and disappear but they are not letting her, wallowing in heartache she mutely sobs. The Saiyan's ears can clearly pick up on her sorrow and he so presses on to end this quickly.

" Last night-"

" Go, go, go ,go ,go, go." Pitifully moaning out the same word repeatedly in the vain hope that it will stop his words and be-quiet the suffering in her breast. The very sound of this second woman brazenly stood by her bed just simply breathing is assaulting her ears terribly and causing her no end of emotional distress. She wipes away the moisture on her face with the back of her hand before quickly grabbing at the covers shielding her.

" Listen to me." Vegeta's voice rings out loudly in the otherwise quiet bedroom. The sobbing of the Juraian is silenced as she visibly flinches away from his stern words. A hard gust of wind blows between daggers of glass.

" Get out. Get out of my room and leave me alone. I don't want to hear it, I don't." A similar stern and authoritative tone replies back to Vegeta, though still muffled by the blankets now flapping from the wind. Another blue shield crackles into existence around the maiden's bed. It is very faint and as soon as it appears it begins to gradually fade and dissipate, Ayeka coughs once. Not before a few seconds are up the barrier has all but vanished. Illness has taken a great toll on her reserves of ki and they fail her now.

" Ryoko, tell her." The pirate looks about and sighs disinterestedly at this request of her, the eyes of the Saiyan give her no quarter in backing down now. Ryoko plops herself down on Sasami's bed before holding up her end of the deal.

" Fine then Vegey, if I must. I spent the night with Lord Vegeta here." Stating that fact with a large amount of pride and puffing her chest out as she says it, Ryoko smiles widely at the warrior royal. Feeling the eyes of Vegeta upon her, she exhales loudly and groans to herself about having to do this. She follows up her statement with something she doesn't want to admit to the princess but has to. "But, I ain't had sex with him, yet."

With a playful smirk and a wink, Ryoko says that last hopeful word before laying down backwards on the bed. In an discourteous manner she kicks her legs up onto the mattress and chuckles softly as she makes herself comfortable, trying to hide away the faint feeling of defeat from uttering those words. Vegeta ignores her, being marginally satisfied that he did not have to force that admission from her throat. His attention is now thoroughly fixed on the pulses of purest blue trying their damnedest to form around the bed, and the violently quivering mass of blankets the shields are failing to protect. Aggravated sobs are stifled as Ayeka bites down on the blankets to try and silence herself so her pain will not be heard. She uncontrollably trembles all over, out of fury, out of hate and out of sheer grief. In a fit of rage the blankets enshrouding her are ripped aside. The hurting princess of Jurai sits bolt upright with a look of hellish wrath upon her face and shoots a very weak ki blast at the woman on the opposing bed. Ryoko does not even pay attention to the thing, but, wanting to avoid damage to his house and furniture, Vegeta swats it out the already broken window.

" Liar! Whore! Thief! I know your games, slut! I won't be fooled by this shameless charade, you will not make a mockery of me, you won't. Stop playing around with my heart and just – and – and just sod off!" Exploding with unbridled and violent anger, Ayeka screeches in outrage at these two in her room, even going as far as to curse. She glares at the both of them with bloodshot eyes, her body quivering all over and her face a twisted mess of emotions. Her dainty hands clutch at the front of her night gown, clawing ever so slightly at her pained chest. Ayeka does not believe a word being said to her, she cannot believe anything they say after what has been revealed to her. With the knife of complete and utter betrayal still buried in her heart she lashes out at these two murderers with tears staining her beautiful face.

" I fell asleep in Ryoko's room. That is all. She did not take advantage of my sleeping body for pleasure, not in that way at least." Vegeta states the facts of what occurred and draws the focus of Ayeka solely onto himself. He can see that his partner in crime will not be aiding him much, if at all, and so to avoid her causing things to escalate further he shall try and divert the princess's focus from her. Ryoko meanwhile relaxes comfortably on the bed seemingly enjoying this whole show of emotion for what it is. The cheeky grin on her face cuts all the more deeper into Ayeka and riles her up, she barely listens to his excuses and immediately shouts back at him.

" And what is that supposed to mean? You really do think so little of me to believe I would be deceived by such apparent lies. I will not believe that it did not … You're both lying to me!"

"Unfortunately we ain't." Ryoko pipes in whilst examining her nails and fingers. Crimson eyes like blades lock onto her, this insufferable reprobate who doesn't even care enough to pay proper attention to the conversation or to her. Ayeka screams internally and then lets it out, her own hands and fingers whipping about viciously and her long purple hair thrashing about before her face in the wind.

" You filthy, sagging harpy! You would engage in any depraved debauchery. You're twisted mind games won't work on me, at least have the decency to stop lying to me. Are you not satisfied enough already? Aren't you going to gloat? What do you want from me?" Screaming at the top of her lungs through the pain direly tormenting her so, the princess breaks into a nasty coughing fit as the last shout tears out of her lungs. She doubles over covering her mouth with her hand. Vegeta tenses. Imperceptible to both women, his hair flashes gold for a nanosecond. Ayeka soon stops coughing and rubs at her bleary eyes instead. She doesn't want any of this but she is powerless to stop either of them, and she doesn't even know the reason why they are here harassing her. The damage has been done, they can just leave her be now, it has been made painfully clear to her how unwanted she is.

" What I want is for you to quit being angry with me for simply falling asleep so that I can nurse you back to health." Vegeta takes a step towards Ayeka. She bristles at his words and recoils back away from his proximity, trying to push herself further and further back into a corner. Her hands grab back at the blankets. His words are confusing her so much. In her eyes she has been forsaken and stabbed in the back by this man she loved and he is trying to pass it off as if nothing happened, that she will forgive and forget it. She just wants to know why. Why they are in her room. Why they are lying to her. But most of all, why he did it, why he misled and abandoned her. She wipes again at her tears.

" Are you really that thick-headed that you honestly think that she did not – did not … use you for her own sick desires. Maybe to a brainless monkey such base things mean little when he fathers children out of wedlock, caring as much about it as he does for the lives he destroys, but to some it … it …"

"Ayeka, it is true that I think less of sexual activities than you do and do not stigmatise it as your status demands. So, if I care so little about doing the deed then why would I care enough to lie to you about it?" Only because of the emotional state she is in does Vegeta choose to overlook the slander against his wife. His logic shuts Ayeka up and she just blankly stares back at him, sobbing. He can tell that despite her words she does not think that he is an innocent who merely just fell asleep after several days of non stop training and he does not blame her for thinking such things about Ryoko for he did also. Ayeka opens her mouth to argue back but her mind fails her and she can't think of anything to say. She pulls the blankets closer to her with her eyes staring back at the Saiyan like a cornered animal.

"Shut up! You're doing this for your own sick amusement, playing with my emotions and making me cry so you can feel big and powerful. Please, just leave my room." She finds her tongue again and yells at the sadist to end his games. Ryoko props herself up on her elbows, looking quite bored with all of her love's attention being on the woman she broke with a simple exaggerated truth. The breeze coming through the window is annoying her and messing up her already untidy hair, she looks up to Vegeta to voice her boredom but thinks better of it when she sees his face. The face of a killer who is losing his patience.

" My house, my room. I will not leave till you listen to reason."

"Reason? Reason?! Give me one reason why I should listen to anything you have to say. Go on and try and get me to believe that she would not seize any chance she could get." Ayeka is unmoved by the intimidating behaviour of Vegeta, being driven nearly hysterical from the monumental heartache and rage of the situation she fails to see his waning fuse. The fear she already feels towards this man who broke her heart cannot increase no matter how physically imposing he makes himself. In her shouting and yelling she calls on him to provide evidence for all the unbelievable claims both he and Ryoko are making. She has no intention of listening to what they have to say, or to accept any evidence they do bring forward, for she is sure whatever they tell her to be a mere fabrication, a further ruse to trick her.

Crimson red eyes burning with tears blaze with anguish at Vegeta, daring him to lie to her again. Thankfully for her the blankets covering her lower body conceals how much she is trembling from his mere presence. Vegeta stands silently for a few seconds. Just breathing in and out calmly and deeply, he watches and observes the stressed and distressed royal. His next move is going to be a gamble. Turning his head, Vegeta looks down at the bored woman lounging about. He brought her here for a purpose so he might as well trust her to try and fulfil it. She sees him nod at her and blinks at him, Ryoko doesn't know what he really expects her to say and so slowly sits back up and stretches, buying herself time to think. She hasn't even told Vegeta the true reason why she didn't have him in his sleep but Ryoko can easily judge that now is not the time to make up a half hearted lie as an excuse.

" All give and no take makes for a real boring night, princess. Sleeping Vegey just wasn't doing it for me. Besides, I don't even know if he's active till his time comes 'round." Ryoko says her piece and look across to Vegeta with a sly look in her eye. He does not acknowledge that last probing sentence from her. Vegeta takes note of her reason though for he has a feeling he might need that information sometime. She stands up and takes her place next to Vegeta, sorting out the creases in her red dress as she stands there.

" As if such a thing would stop the likes of you. I don't ..." Halfway through her dismissing of Ryoko's excuse, the Juraian's words peter out. She seemingly completely stops in thought. Part of her fringe falls before her eyes and she makes no move to clear her vision. Ayeka lets out a low wail at the awfulness of what her mind has conjured up on its own, a horrendous speculation that hits her hard in the gut. Left to its own devices, her brain has become her own worst enemy now. Gipping, her body violently reacts to such a terrible possibility. "... No, it wouldn't. … I know what your plan is, Ryoko. … You're trying to recreate the same event that led to his first marriage!"

" Ayeka, do not go there. Nothing sexual happened, so drop that train of thought right now." Vegeta is quick to speak, terse in manner, almost as if her were overriding her speech with his own. He solemnly shakes his head at the princess. Things have taken a bad turn for him. Ayeka has a very misguided idea about what went on and he is trying to stop her so that Ryoko does not realise what Ayeka is on about. He knows precisely what she is thinking, but even though the theory itself is not too far-fetched given the context, for the woman in question it is unreasonable. Ryoko looks at Vegeta, confused as to his brusque speech and what they both are talking about. The Saiyan grits his teeth. Physically stopping Ayeka from speaking and descending this whole thing into madness is just something he cannot do, letting her say it and forcefully stopping her would both be as counterproductive as the other. Ayeka's whole body is quivering intensely, her fingers clawing at the sides of her face and her temples.

"I will not! You and her, a night … a c-c-conception! She didn't think it was enough for her to just steal you away but … but she also wanted to have that unbreakable bond of a ch -child as well. It is sure to be a savage monster just like its parents are!" Vomiting out these putrid words that befoul and sour her mouth, Ayeka finally breaks down completely. She collapses over onto her side pulling her blankets with her and lets it all out. Loudly weeping at such an unthinkable thought, the princess in all her agony has another bout of coughing. The world has crumbled around her and all that is left is a dark oblivion of despair. The crushing depths of her heart being mercilessly trampled upon by this cruellest of fates has utterly destroyed her. She loved a man who has impregnated another woman in secrecy and blatantly lied to her face, a ruthless murderer who has been leading her on for nothing but petty amusement and she danced like a marionette to his tune. Crying and crying does nothing to express what she feels, her wails echo out long and hard as the Saiyan watches and clenches his fists. It has all gone to pot.

Beside the man, knees have buckled and a woman's breathing has become sharp and agitated. He is not the only one who has clenched his fists. Ryoko is trembling next to him. She was caught completely off guard by that and having her own biological limitations thrust back in her face like that has wounded her, and enraged her. That cut is far too fresh for careless words like that to be ignored, especially coming from Ayeka of all people. Sobbing, Ayeka fails to hear the low growls of the offended pirate. A hand rests itself on her shoulder. Ryoko whips her head around to look at Vegeta, the danger in her eyes clear for him to see. He simply shakes his head at her with a stern look on his face, she knows he will not allow her to attack Ayeka and growls in infuriation at not being able to vent her anger. Patiently Vegeta waits, and impatiently beside him Ryoko stays with a sullen scowl on her face.

" What's the matter? Not having fun anymore now that the game is up? You of all people would be stupid enough to pull a stunt like this, you're going to be a terrible mother." Muffled words comes from the princess, her shrill voice indignantly insulting Ryoko yet again and goading her on. The Juraian royal spied the discontent and even vulnerable expression on the face of her bane and with nothing left to lose and knowing she is on a plummeting free-fall though the wilderness of sorrow she chooses to go down in flames. Dark maroon builds up around Ryoko.

" Shut your fucking face, Ayeka!" Roaring back at the sobbing, sick royal on her bed, Ryoko's aura flares threateningly. Vegeta squeezes hard on Ryoko's shoulder, reminding her that he is there and to watch her behaviour. She gnashes her teeth at him, growling, and goes to shrug off his hand yet is unable to do so. The ki built up around her body remains, she does not diminish it in the slightest and continues to glare menacingly down at the purple haired maiden.

"Why should I? You both come barging into my room spouting nonsense so why can't I have my say on the frankly ludicrous idea of you ever being a pare-"

An ear splitting roar thunders from Ryoko, stopping the princess from mercilessly yammering on about the one thing she cannot give to the man she loves. Red light envelops the room. Ayeka raises her hands to shield her eyes from the blinding aura. The light dies down suddenly, Ryoko is no longer in the room. Vegeta stands alone, having not moved an inch during Ryoko's outburst. Ayeka's eyes fall onto the callous prince and his never left hers. He seats himself on Sasami's bed.

"... And people wonder why I choose solitude."

The stoic prince mumbles to himself, sighing to himself about what just occurred. That could have gone a lot better. He can sense Ryoko a couple of miles away, no doubt letting out her anger on whatever was unlucky enough to be there. Vegeta sits there silently, looking across to the opposite bed and the confused and still weeping princess laying down upon it. Ayeka has no clue why her rival took off in such a loud and bright fashion, it perturbs her for Ryoko is not one to react as such to just words alone. Though partially relieved that the face of the brazen woman is no longer smirking at her, it doesn't lessen the pain of a broken heart. She cannot face the penetrating stare of this apathetic traitor and rolls over, turning her back to him and pulling the covers back over herself. Locks of purple are all that remain within the Saiyan's sight.

" You still don't believe me do you?" Vegeta's voice is quiet and low, he needs no answer to his question and does not expect one. The only response he receives from Ayeka is some minuscule movement from beneath her blankets of her trying to conceal herself further and cover her ears to block out his words which hurt her. All he can hear is the noise of the wind circulating through the room. The window will need fixing before the day is out, for now he simply uses Ayeka's technique and summons a small barrier of ki to block out the elements. Whether she hates him or not, she is still sick and being in a room with no window will not be helping her at all to stay warm, keeping wrapped up tight will but she is doing that for a different reason entirely.

"What do I have to do to get you to see that Ryoko did not sleep- did not have sex with me, she is not pregnant with my child and she and I do not have a relationship anywhere close to being of that sort? Do you want to go and see her bed and check it for stains? Shall I command Washu to build a time machine so you can see me sleeping for yourself, or do you want me to take the time to teach you how to read minds? I will say it one last time; I have not had any sexual activity in well over a year now."

"Liar."

Ayeka stone cold denies all of what he is saying and offering, leaving Vegeta with little left to do but keep on persisting till she actually listens to what he is saying. He stands up and walks over next to her bedside, watching as she visibly shrinks from his closeness to her. Purple ambient light emitting faintly from the makeshift window perfectly complements the maiden's loose hair peeking out from her veil. Though his thick skin stops him from accurately feeling the temperature, Vegeta is sure that with missing a window for so long the princess in pain could do with some warming up. He awakens the legendary state and lets his golden light and warmth engulf the room. Ayeka mewls slightly, for if he is doing this then he is not about to leave anytime soon. She feels his emanating heat seep through her flesh and into her bones, all the while wishing for its invasive radiance to leave her be.

"Ayeka, I am not lying to you. After I rescued you from that blizzard I was overpowered, Ryoko was desperate to talk to me. I did not give her the answers she wanted and I fell asleep, on her bed, where she then fell asleep beside me. … Do you distrust my side of the story or the one that I was not awake for?" Vegeta tells her this shortened version of what transpired in hope that she will believe him. She does not even answer his question though. Golden flames lick about the room and try to warm up the frozen soul of Ayeka. The pulsing radiance of Vegeta dims as he reaches out an arm over the princess's bed and grabs the blanket. He feels resistance but easily removes the covers from the cowering woman without even so much as ripping them. Looking down at the Juraian in her nightie, her hair a mess and her face stained with tears, his piercing blue eyes lock onto her red and bloodshot eyes as she warily glances at him. She knows it is useless to try and hide from such an overbearing man, anything he wants to do he does. Ayeka helplessly watches the blazing warrior leaning over her in her bed, feeling extremely exposed and frightened.

" My feelings for my wife remain, Ayeka. I am still not ready for another woman to become my life partner, I did not willingly sleep in Ryoko's bed." The golden warrior calmly speaks down to the maiden on her bed before stepping back and giving her room for he could clearly see how cornered she felt by his presence. That is all he can say on the matter about him sleeping in her room, he will just repeat himself otherwise, and if he can get her to agree that he did nothing willingly then he is halfway there and just has to move onto getting her to believe that Ryoko, in all her sinful glory, did not do what was expected of her. He knows precisely what card he shall play for that, and Ryoko will hate him for it. Ayeka finds her voice again and without the false protection of the bed's blankets she argues back to the Saiyan, seemingly giving in partially to what he is saying.

" … So what? … Even if you did not mean for anything to happen she still-"

" Lady Ayeka, your theory about Ryoko is greatly flawed. Not for a second am I doubting her carnal desires, or her want to do as she pleases with my body yet, I know she is not lying to me. Whether she's all bark and no bite when it comes down to the nitty gritty I don't know, but for whatever reason she did not copulate with me. Ayeka, this is not something she would want me to tell you, your idea of what Ryoko was trying to accomplish is simply impossible." He plays his ace. Crossing his arms, he waits a few seconds as his words burrow their way into Ayeka's skull and drag out her natural curiosity. Her thin eyebrows frown. Ayeka does not understand what he means. Not being one with too much knowledge on the whole subject of procreation and the anatomical details, it confuses her as to why he would call it impossible. Though finding the mere thought repulsive she sees no reason for it to be so improbable given the cyan haired rogue's nature. She does not turn to face him and answers him with a question.

"What do you mean?" Her quiet words are harsh and snappy, her want to not be talking to the Saiyan is perfectly clear in her tone. However he has baited her out of her unresponsiveness. Vegeta has piqued her curiosity about him holding secret and personal information on the brash pirate and it pertaining to this situation.

"You can recall yesterday Ryoko accused you of something, the reason she left you in the blizzard. She said you had told Washu to experiment on her. When Washu did whatever tests she did on Ryoko, she found something out and told Ryoko. She found out that Ryoko is too different, biologically speaking, from me to ever bear me a child. For a Saiyan, she is infertile."

That simple explanation of Ryoko's physiology does the trick and greatly shocks Ayeka who was unprepared for news of such magnitude. Her eyes open wide as she processes that information, replaying the facts over in her head. She might not understand exactly but if what Vegeta is telling her to be true then she has an advantage over Ryoko. It makes sense now as to why she teleported from the room when she was yelling at her about parenthood, Ayeka's stomach rolls. That makes her feel really low. Despite all her unmitigated hate for that woman, she kicked her when she was down in a severely cruel manner and she feels guilty for it. Ayeka gradually sits up and faces Vegeta, brushing her hair and tears from her face and hurriedly adjusting her conservative nightwear.

" … She … what? You mean that – and I said to her ..." It is hard for her to deal with this revelation or know what to do with this so she tries to question him about it but fails.

"Yes, as you can see she is still dealing with the news, so if you want an easy way to insult her then you now have one. Last night she was greatly upset by this news, hence her actions. She fears you now. If I, for some reason, decide I would like to have a second child, Ryoko cannot compete and will lose to you." His words hit home how big of an impact this discovery has had on Ryoko. Vegeta has elicited sympathy from this princess for her rival, a task akin to drawing blood from a stone, and he has done it easily. He will use this as a crucial stepping stone, from this trunk of sympathetic feelings a small branch of trust will not be hard to grow. The Saiyan predicts that it won't be long until Ryoko finds out about this disclosure of personal information from Ayeka whenever they get into their next argument, and he shall cross that bridge when he gets to it. For now though the part of his mind that had been fretting over the illness inside this woman is calming down now that he can observe her condition and alleviate the chill from her bones.

Ayeka sits there on her bed, her hands messing with her violet hair as she thinks. That final sentence he said really got to her. A victory by default. It does not sound right to her, nor does it feel right. If it really came down to it could she accept her love being reciprocated only because of that one reason. In time she knows that their love would grow and blossom beyond that, but still she would have that bitter knowledge that she won because of her womb, because she can bear his children. Ayeka's cheeks flush, her hands fiddling with her hair move on to messing with her fringe to hide her embarrassment. Her imagination has seized that image, her and Vegeta and her own family. She shakes her head to dispel it as her eyes glance up to the waiting Saiyan. Only a few days ago did she manage to wrestle free some independence from her own parents, she cannot even begin to think about becoming a parent of her own. It would be nice, but not now. She still has not fully matured as a woman and there is no reason for her to be rushing such things. Ayeka realises her mind has wandered and stops messing with her hair to respond to Vegeta.

"I am not so callous as to do that. I have no love for that witch, but even so that … that is unfortunate news for her to hear. … Vegeta, do you truly believe her?" She looks him deep in the eyes, her voice serious, as she asks this one last deciding question. She is not too sure herself when she got to a point that she believed him to not be guilty of betraying her but she feels that he has not done the unspeakable. The shock of hearing that Ryoko is infertile having acted like a splash of water to rid her of most of her negative emotions. His words have finally breached her defences and she hears his arguments. He is not a man who would do such a thing, and considering that he was on death's door collapsing from exhaustion his side of the story does make sense to her now. The only person she does not really trust is Ryoko, though after hearing what happened to her yesterday it is far more believable now that the pirate would prefer company than the literally fruitless act. Ayeka dislikes the idea of the two sharing a bed but considering what her mind thought they had or might have done it is considerably better. If Vegeta says that Ryoko is trustworthy in this regard then she will believe him, or try to.

" Ryoko is not the type of woman to hide something like that. She did not have sex with me. You can calm down now and concentrate on getting better, all this commotion and stress can't have done you any good." Vegeta drapes the covers back over the princess. His job has been completed as he spies a very faint smile birth on the young Juraian face, a face now free from tears. Ayeka nods to herself, accepting his words. She can see no reason why Ryoko would want to lie about a deed like that, if it were true not even Vegeta's strength would stop her from shouting it aloud from the rooftops.

Laying back down in her bed her eyes travel to the super Saiyan stood dutifully by her bedside. Her very own doting prince has returned to her, and it greatly pleases her. Not as much as the knowledge that she did not lose her first love to some horny woman, but him choosing to spend time with her of his own accord means a lot to her. She is ashamed and embarrassed for her poor behaviour, her outbursts and for not trusting this man. Part of her wants to apologise to him for not believing him when he first tried to deny it, yet she won't, she has her own pride. Too many times has this man seen her hurting and crying, and half the time he has been responsible, yet he has always been there to console her and set things right. She knows why she was alone in her bed weeping for hours today wasn't due to him persuading Ryoko, waiting for the right moment or dealing with another situation but simply due to his addiction to training. Vegeta is by no means her perfect man. However, he is here now, and trying to do what he thinks is the right thing. He could have left immediately to go and train, he could have gone to find Ryoko or quite possibly he could have never come here in the first place to clear up the lies of Ryoko, but he did come and he is still by her side.

Ayeka begins to feel a bit on display with Vegeta just stood there and so her eyes begin to wander and go to the lilac barrier. She likes the colour and the odd hue its translucency puts on the scenery behind it. A small pang of guilt hits her concerning the vandalisation of Vegeta's home she caused in her anger. She rolls over and faces the wall, trying not to think of the heartache and pain she went through or those torturous images that haunted her so. Nothing happened and it has all been sorted now, she will put it from her mind and not think on it. It is easier this way. Try as she might though her mind insidiously wanders back to Vegeta's revelation about Ryoko. She feels terrible that such awful news makes her glad but it honestly does. Knowing that she holds the edge over her rival so fundamentally makes her smile, and then the thoughts of raising a family spawn in her mind again. Giving herself the excuse that they are engaged after-all she allows her mind to fantasise and wander, and her cheeks redden and blush. She does want to have her own children. Not now, but in a couple of years time or more, and her mother and Sasami would be so overjoyed as would she. Her children would not be pure Juraian and so would not have to face any of the complexities and problems of being heir to the throne like the ones she had to endure. That future is her ideal, her dream and her own personal slice of heaven.

The silence within the room is deafening. Neither is saying anything to the other. Vegeta has no need for conversation and just stands there generating heat and light and checking up on the princess's health via her ki signature. He stands there with his arms crossed, thinking and planning. The urge within him to train is strong, as it ever is. Merely being in this form no longer strains his body, having achieved what Goku did a year after the Cell games, and Ayeka's condition shows no sign of significantly improving in a short enough time to satisfy him. The fair lady restlessly rests, still trying to distract her mind from what occurred but moments ago. She has been laying in her bed all day because of her illness, it is boring for her to be cooped up in a single room unable to do anything for so long, not like there is much to do around this house anyway. Fidgeting to get more comfortable, she glances through her amaranth fringe to see whether her fiancée is looking at her. He is. Ayeka looks away, the feeling of being alone with a man in her room is still alien and foreign to her, but that is not to say it is entirely unpleasant for her. Maybe awkward and a bit shameful yet getting to spend time with Vegeta is always a rarity with his harsh lifestyle.

"Your mother spoke of a tournament on Jurai, when is it?" Vegeta shatters the silence with an out of the blue question, his musings on when and where to challenge his hated foe have inevitably led him to the previously mentioned tournament. He needs a time and a place, something not too soon and since Juraians are beings of power then he assumes that there will be greater protection there for the audience than the stands he blasted through when he went Majin. Ayeka frowns in confusion at this random query and sits herself up to answer him, she flicks her flowing hair over her shoulder and neatens her night dress.

" … It shall be held in just over two months time, why? I thought you had no interest in it." She questions him and his stray question for she recalls perfectly that he declined his mother's invitation to it as soon as he heard about it. Being mindful of her appearance, Ayeka pulls on the blankets so that none of her chest or nightie is revealed to the Saiyan prince. Vegeta nods, agreeing that he did say that when Misaki asked him.

" The tournament itself I have no interest in, all I need is a location."

" A location for what, Vegeta, for Goku?" Ayeka has caught on to what Vegeta is thinking. His mind never deviates from his sole objective so it was not all too difficult for her to fit the pieces together. He nods again.

"Yes. For Kakarot and I. This prince will not wait to be outclassed again, I will challenge the low class fool to fight me at this tournament." He feels two months will definitely be severely pushing it yet a tournament is the best way he can hope to get Goku's interest in fighting him again. The peace loving Saiyan will not accept his challenge if he just throws the gauntlet down at his feet, he will decline, and if he starts trying to blast the cowardice out of him then others will interfere. Goku is more than enough of a challenge at the minute for him, he cannot beat him and he knows that, and even if he does manage to attain such strength his foe will not be felled easily. Blasting and threatening Goku and his family will only lead to him getting ganged up on by Goku, Gohan and possibly Gotenks, and there is no way he could take all 3 on at once. A tournament is his best shot, and if it is on Jurai then all the better for it will please Ayeka and Sasami and piss off Azusa.

"Lord Vegeta, I forbid you from using my planet as a battleground to be sacrificed for your fight. Tournament or not, I forbid it." Ayeka shoots a stern look at Vegeta. Billions of people live on the garden planet of Jurai, her family, her people, and she will not have that all put on the razor's edge by entrusting it all to a pair of super Saiyans so they can duke it out and destroy it in the process. The ease at which either of them could demolish the whole planet with one stray blast, fell a forest with one blow or raze a city does not fill her with any trust towards letting this man loose on her home soil. Besides all that there is one thing she does not have a say in, Saiyans are not allowed on her planet, by decree of her father no less. The war with Frieza and Cold's forces cost too many lives, this Saiyan guilty of so many horrendous and despicable war crimes would not be able to set one foot on her planet before a riot started, a mob broke out or some unlucky fool tries to take him down. Under other circumstances she would absolutely love to show Vegeta around her planet, but she will not allow him to wreck it for the sake of his pride.

" Your planet will survive, as shall its people. Washu can deal with the technicalities of constructing our arena, all you need to know is that afterwards I shall make my decision." Vegeta hears her concerns about his destructive nature and his immense power yet he pays it little to no attention. If Washu can build him a training room that can contain his power then she can also build an arena for his fight which will safely protect the audience. Ayeka no longer cares though about that. He has said something that has set her mind whirring, her hands restlessly messing with strands of her hair, her eyes nervously lowering and her cheeks reddening. At first she thinks she must have misheard him. He was just talking about his eternal feud, that was all, and so he can't have said what she thought she heard him say. She has to know, she questions him.

" … Decision? What decision? Do you mean-"

" You can thank Ryoko for making me agree to this, after I fight the clown I will choose either you or Ryoko to become mine. You have a date for your diary now, Lady Ayeka. Whether or not I can surpass Kakarot and defeat him, I will be making the choice about whether to accept or reject this engagement of ours." His words stun the fair maiden and leave her in an astonished silence. One of her dainty hands raises and covers her mouth. Crimson eyes dance from his lightning blue irises to her lap. Her mind has gone blank, such words she never thought would be uttered from his lips. She begins to smile, her mouth curling in absolute joyous mirth.

" … Thank you ..." She barely manages to get this whisper out, her heart still caught in her throat. This means so much to her. He has actually been thinking about moving on from his wife and to think it would be so soon as well. The stoic man of gold stands there as she absorbs this news. It is a good thing his plan to gain strength close to Goku's will also allow him the ability to fully move on, for he knows that just two months will not suffice. His plan is very simple. If some stone lookout floating in the upper atmosphere can have it then he sees no reason why the same feature cannot be implemented into his gravity training room; time dilation. One shot and one chance is all he needs, a single year to be gifted to him and he is sure that both things can be accomplished. There is also one other thing within that year he wants to achieve but that is nothing for the women to care about.

For a long time the two just stay like that. Vegeta observing the princess and Ayeka sitting down on her bed thinking on what he said with a womanly and rosy glow to her. As her mind had previously seized the idea of a family, now it has got its sights firmly set on that glorious day. Honestly there is nothing better she can think of, Ayeka is utterly captivated by the mere thought of him accepting her proposal to her on her home planet, with her family and by the grand tree temples to Tsunami. Of course there is Ryoko to consider in this equation but for now, just like the night she and Vegeta shared, she will purposefully choose not to think on that. They will be on her planet, and it will be her time.

After a long while Ayeka looks up and warmly smiles at her prince. She kindly gives him her permission to go back to his training and when he starts to argue she promises him that she will be alright and that if she can survive Ryoko then she can survive being a bit under the weather. Vegeta seems very reluctant despite being told to go and do what every fibre of his muscular body wants to. He points to the lilac barrier replacing her broken window as an excuse for him to remain in her presence and keep an eye on her. Ayeka thinks on this and then asks if he can keep it on whilst training. The Saiyan sees the bait laid before him and the trap awaiting him yet his very blood makes him take up her challenge. He tells her to take care and that he will be sending Sasami in to look after her in his stead. She smiles and nods at him, reassuring him again that her illness will be gone soon and will not claim her. Without a word he leaves her room still in super Saiyan form and less than a minute later Sasami hurries in to see her sister and see if she is Ok or not.

Walking into the training room, Vegeta is greeted by a very modest amount of gravity already pressing down on him and his transformed son with his back turned to him. Together they exercise in silence. With his leg still on the road to recovery the weak amount of gravity that is his son's limit will do Vegeta for the time being, even though he would prefer to push it higher so he can transform further than his son can. He will leave Ryoko to be on her own. She will have to come to terms with her own biology and he has to train. The father looks across to his son, quietly assessing his fatigue and levels of strength before he walks across to the central console. Tiles fade away and are replaced by sparse grass growing on a sandy shoreline. Waves lap onto the beach and tree boughs gently sway in the sea breeze. Trunks looks across to his father as he wonders what he is doing and what combat simulation he is starting. Vegeta steps back from the console and beckons his son to come and spar against him and Trunks accepts, powers up and charges.

Hours later, father and son emerge from the training room and step out into a moonlit front room. Trunks weakly hobbles a few metres into the room and sinks into an empty sofa to rest. With aches and pains all over, he pants in exhaustion. Vegeta looks down at his son, a few scuffs on his outfit is all he has to show for his sparring session. He compliments Trunks on his improving abilities, the lad groans back. The father walks over and pats his son's head, ruffling his lavender hair, says that he will get him to the next level of super Saiyan and then tells him to go off to his bed if he is tired. Trunks gets up and they both go up the stairs. The half Saiyan continues on his way to his room as his father stops to address the woman in the corridor.

" You are a dutiful woman but you have no need to spend your nights on guard duty. It'd do you more good to sleep so you can be awake when Lady Ayeka is and serve her then, I am more aware of my surroundings than you could ever be. Go and sleep, the night will be my shift." Vegeta stands before the sat down Kiyone leaning against the door to the princess's room. The police woman wearily rubs at her eyes and stands up. She isn't exactly convinced by his words to leave both Juraians unguarded yet she is also too tired to put up much of an argument and knows the whole futility of carrying out her job.

"Aren't you going to sleep too? And Mihoshi can cover the times I sleep, we work in shifts." Kiyone stretches her arms as the Saiyan crosses his and snorts at her feeble excuses.

"Please, you can lie for your friend's sake but I know that even you aren't stupid enough to rely on that fool. Unlike you she can't even guard herself. Your actions are pointless in my presence, go enjoy your paid holiday or do something actually productive. I can guard her whilst I sleep, you can not. Go." Vegeta points down the corridor towards the shared room of the coppers and Kiyone reluctantly makes her way slowly down to where her bed is. She dislikes the murderer but what he says makes sense, Mihoshi is rubbish at guard duty and as one woman she cannot protect both princess's at once day and night. Kiyone is one woman and against Vegeta she knows that he is far better suited to protecting Ayeka, though she would never say it. He is vile, dangerous and violent but also has the power to stop anything short of the end of the universe from harming a hair on either slumbering princess's heads. This feeling of resigning herself over to Vegeta does not sit well with her but she is sleepy and would only be falling asleep at her post if she stayed there.

Vegeta watches her go into the shadows then closes his eyes and senses into the room. He can sense both Ayeka and Sasami sleeping within their bedroom and his wall of ki keeping their room warm and protected. Sniffing the air he confirms that sickness has passed from his house, and he smiles to himself. Never again does he ever want to be forced to remember his wife's death like that again, or for that matter have to deal with those two women making each other sob like infants. Today definitely was not a good day, he let himself get far too distracted from training and his leg is still slowly healing. He vows to get up before the sun rises tomorrow to get in supplementary training in the early dawn. Turning his head he spies something that takes the smile from his face. As there is faint lilac light glowing from underneath the door he is stood next to, so is there a stronger yellow light emanating from his own room, and he never uses his own light.

Vegeta calmly enters his lit room and leaves the door open behind him, his steely eyes spy someone within his bed. Her cyan hair pokes out from his thin blankets and her amber eyes peep out at him, a sheepish and weak smile is on her face for she knows what he is going to do. The Saiyan points towards his open door. Ryoko looks away and rolls over.

"So are you here for me or for my working light-bulb? I will be sleeping alone tonight, Ryoko, so as long as you are dressed under those covers I would like you to leave." His stern words cause no motion from the woman in his bed. Vegeta waits a few seconds to see whether she will do as she is told or not, giving her this time due to what happened the last time he was with her. He moves his hand across from pointing into a dark and empty corridor and hovers it over the light switch to his own room. It would be cruel to her but if that is what it takes for him to empty his bed then he will resort to shutting off the light, but for now he will see if he can get her to leave of her own accord. One very obvious route lays before him. She left him earlier due to a very personal problem, hurting, feeling vulnerable, probably hating herself, so perking her up will be a piece of cake and if he is to make her face her fears then raising her confidence is a necessity.

"I am not going to have a repeat of last night, I have no inclination towards sharing a bed with you. … As pleasurable as it was, you have to leave." Vegeta takes his hand back from the light switch and crosses his arms, leaning against the wall. He hears a slight rustling from his covers and a quiet giggle. His eyes watch as she rolls back over to face him, her small, tentative smile having grown into a grin. She draws back the covers to reveal herself and to Vegeta's relief she is somewhat dressed, however if Ayeka were to see this she would not be relieved in the slightest. Wearing another one of her private and special lingerie selections, her eyes greedily lap up Vegeta's eyes being upon her.

" … Pleasurable? So you liked it then Vegey?" Sultry tones creep into her words as she pats at the space on the mattress next to her. She is quite eager to hear his response, her elfin ears twitching. Vegeta smirks back at her.

" Sharing a bed with a beautiful woman is not the worst way to sleep, brings back good memories."

"You called me beautiful! Love you, Vegey." Ryoko hurtles headlong out of his bed and tightly embraces the Saiyan prince, widely smiling and rubbing her face against his still unshaven cheeks. That compliment has made her very happy, as it was supposed to, she was feeling down due to an issue with her body and so by flattering her beauty Vegeta has negated most of her self hate. She nuzzles against him, making sure to get as much skin on skin contact as possible as she purrs in his ear. An arm wraps around her slender back and Ryoko gasps in surprise. Vegeta's rough hand slides over her back and over the jagged scar running diagonally down her shoulder and Ryoko's smiles widens. Then strength enters Vegeta's arm.

Ryoko groans and moans in dismay as she realises the trap for what it is. Her kicking feet get lifted a few inches from the floor as Vegeta turns about and places her in the doorway with his body blocking her access to his room. The scantily clad woman does not let go of Vegeta. His arm pulls back from her and he waits for her release him. Signalling to her by slowly moving that he is about to push her off, Ryoko tightens her grip and nibbles on the prince's earlobe. She gets a hard shove off him for that, he does not look amused.

" You try that again and I will bite your ear. Go back to your room and sleep, if you attempt to disturb my rest I will find a blindfold and make it dark for you during the day as well." Vegeta is being stern and strict with the nyctophobic temptress, making sure to show that she has no say in this and absolutely has to confront her fear of the dark. She stands there glowering at him in her revealing nightwear not moving an inch. A flash of terror lights in her golden eyes as she sees Vegeta reach towards the light switch. She cries out for him to stop and to let her in, the stoic man shakes his head obstinately.

"Vegey, I don't want to do this, I don't like it. Just let me stay with you, not even in your bed, I'll be quiet and sleep in the corner." Ryoko tries to bargain her way into at least having some company as she faces her fears but Vegeta is having none of it. He stays blocking her way with a frown of disapproval on his face.

" This pitiful begging is pathetic, I thought you were a fighter not some infant weakling. Any fear you have makes you weak. You cannot stay with me, you cannot be in my room, I will not hold your hand through the night nor will I transform to emit light for you. Face the darkness and start acting like a true warrior."

He flicks his finger against the electronic switch and the light goes off. Ryoko's cat like eyes glow in the dark as she looks about nervously and steps closer towards the bulk of the Saiyan. She tries to get close to him but he puts out an arm to stop her from reaching him, Ryoko weds her fingers with his and her glistening eyes stare at the man. Pushing slightly against him arm she tries again to get past him. Ryoko quietly says his name. Hating and fearing the dark, the cyan haired woman attempts to teleport but as soon as she does she finds herself back where she started with the Saiyan looking at her.

" You have keen eyes and your sense of ki negates the obscurity of darkness. Conjure up a ball of ki if you will but you are not coming in my room. This is not a prison cell, you are not bound. My son, Ayeka and that police woman are all asleep, all that wish you ill are inactive during the hours of darkness. You are safe now." That is about all he can say to her to ease her worries and all he will say to this woman suffering from a fear that even his son never had in infancy. He can smell the unfounded fear rolling off this woman. Not letting go of his arm, Ryoko lifts her other arm and does as he suggested, summoning her own light to her in the form of a small crimson flare pulsating in her palm. With the red light flowing over her near naked body, she summons up her courage and lets go of his hand. Her fear of the dark is a strong and powerful feeling, yet it is having trouble competing against her feelings for this man. Being seen as weak and lowly, even childish, in his eyes because of this phobia shames her and she wants to not suffer from it anymore.

" Fine then, be cruel to this poor delicate flower that loves you. I'll sleep in the dark then but I ain't letting you close this door." Ryoko states firmly, the ki in her hand growing marginally so that it produces more light. The Saiyan non-committally shrugs and turns his back to her, walking back into his room. If that is as far as she will compromise without him having to argue for hours and wake everyone up then he shall settle it there, she is not in his room and in the dark so it ticks both of the boxes he cares about. He opens up a cupboard and throw across a spare blanket and pillow to Ryoko who thanks him for the bedding. Vegeta removes his sweaty vest and trousers and drops them down on the floor, unconcerned about the woman bathed in red watching him. He climbs into his bed and Ryoko begins to make herself comfortable in the hallway and doorway. She keeps the light close to her and watches the broad Saiyan's back rise and fall as he breathes until eventually the darkness claims her.