Chapter 57
Clement weather has given way to overcast skies and the high noon Sun struggles to penetrate the blanketing layer of thick clouds. Mihoshi and Kiyone entertain Sasami with funny adventures and mishaps they had during their time at the GP academy, though the young girl's attention is distracted by the presence of her sister. Greedy paws claw their way through the air with little chuckles coming from curled lips at the annoyed sounds of one Juraian princess. Hovering in the air she encircles her prey. Ayeka holds her diary tight to her chest and tries her best to shun away Ryoko's playful advances towards it. After spending a few hours together as Ryoko offered up suggestions for her date and enduring a fair bit of teasing and a handful or probing questions the princess is now having to defend her secrets from the prying eyes of a very curious pirate. Ayeka can see this is as much a game as Vegeta's toying with Ryoko but still this is her diary and not some library book to be checked out and read by anyone. The younger sister watches on wondering why her sister and Ryoko are playing when they never seemed to be friends before. Occasionally hot gusts of wind bellow out from the wide open bulkhead door as do random flashes of brilliance reminding everyone of Vegeta's presence. Ayeka stays in view of the training room doorway to see if her co-conspirator will aid her in her defence.
"C'mon let me see, I wanna see. Tell me Vegey's secret you're hiding. It can be a sign of our budding friendship. Sharing is caring."
" We are sharing too much as it is ..." Ayeka mumbles to herself as she pivots around away from Ryoko's roving hands.
She lets out a squeal as a hand materialises straight through her chest and her diary and wiggles its fingers about, defensive ki then shuts Ryoko's phased limb out of Ayeka. She promised Vegeta this and there are other private writings she absolutely must keep from the cat-like eyes of Ryoko. This is annoying her yet not to an extent where she will call for it to end and it is a welcome sight to see Ryoko so happy and for her to be acting less like her enemy. Ryoko's elfin ears catch Ayeka's remark and sniggers at what she is referring to.
"What was that, princess? Hear that Vegey, sounds like she's against our engagement. Whatever shall I do? My best friend has betrayed me." Feigning hurt at Ayeka's jealous comment, Ryoko calls out to the training Saiyan as she extends a hand for Ayeka to give the diary over. Several meows bark out as a brown blur dashes across the room, scampers up Ayeka's white robe and leaps into Ryoko's open hand. Ryo-Ohki circles about in her mistress' hand and noisily makes herself known, demanding attention and affection. The humanoid women are not the only females who can get jealous, the cabbit perceives herself as Ryoko's best friend and is reacting to the treacherous words of her being replaced. Ryoko smiles, pampers and pets her cabbit and whispers reassuring words to the space-ship that she is still her favourite. "If you don't tell me then I will just use my imagination."
"I appreciate that unlike usual you are being considerate enough to ask for permission first but it still seems as a thief you have a lot to learn about a person's privacy and respecting their possessions. Ryoko, please, leave it be. Truthfully it is not worth all this fuss."
" … A gentlemen's club."
" Why would a club for – No. It's something distasteful, you won't fool me. I will not betray Lord Vegeta's trust in me." Not falling for a trap where her innocence is used against her, the crown princess of Jurai stands adamantly against Ryoko's playing. She might not understand the euphemism for a strip club that Ryoko used but Ayeka is getting wise to these traps that embarrass her when she walks right into them. Ryoko puts her other hand out and Ryo-Ohki bounces across to that one. Ayeka cheekily sticks her tongue out at Ryoko and takes a step away, Ryoko replies with her own tongue and a wink.
Mihoshi giggles in the background, the bronze skinned cop remembering a hilarious case that she and Kiyone worked where they had to stake out a seedy establishment on some asteroid. She looks at her friend and partner who is also smiling at the same memory. The story that Sasami is being told of has suddenly changed to one in which Ayeka is paying some attention to due to its questionable nature. Luckily they make excessive use of Ryoko's euphemism and thus Sasami is safe in her shroud of innocence from understanding what they are truly talking about and believes it to be just some bar sort of place with a discriminatory entrance policy based off gender. The younger princess is enjoying herself. Ryoko is enjoying herself. Ryoko hovers closer to Ayeka and her predatory eyes lock onto the swirling motion within the tiled training room.
"But nasty Vegeta broke your trust in him, Biter." She whispers.
Ayeka visibly winces at Ryoko's low voice and frowns at the return of this insult. The red eyes of the maiden dance across to the training room and then fall downwards, her posture shrinks in on itself. Ryoko has swung a testing blow that has deflated the mood between the pair. They were acting friendlier with each other yet their status as rivals remains.
"And thus he shall be treating me to t-t-two d-dates to build back that trust." Ayeka's voice is equally quiet as she fires back a retaliation and her face turns the same shade as her eyes. That was a low blow from her rival. Ryoko raises an eyebrow at this. The princess shuffles awkwardly and freezes as she sees a male form. She bites her lip and averts her gaze, her blush deepens and spreads to all corners of her fair face.
"Lady Ayeka, … are you including the shopping trip … with ... your family in that … or have you just brazenly asked me out … again?" Explosive pants break his question.
Lightning traces throughout the air around him. Vegeta is always listening and will not let Ayeka's hesitant words slide past without comment. Basic arithmetic he can do. For once he managed to train without having to interfere in the antics between royal and rogue, that time has ended now. Sweat steams from his face and back, his body can handle the power of Super Saiyan 3 for long periods of time however the phenomenal stress on his body impedes his ability to recover from exhaustion.
The purple bangs that frame Ayeka's reddened face bounce as she nods, her eyes shut tight in embarrassment. Her knuckles whiten as she grips her diary. Ryoko pushed her and she attacked back. She shuffles nervously about feeling sets of blue and gold upon her, she did want more and she has now blurted it out in a non-too-polite way for Vegeta. One date is not enough, his penance must be paid but beyond that he should still be fulfilling his duties towards her as her fiancée on top of that. She desires more time with Vegeta, more opportunities to have fun with him and more chances to win her personal war. Ayeka opens her eyes and awkwardly looks over to her prince. He nods at her. Multi-forms are cheap. She begins to smile, the warmth on her cheeks burgeoning into a burning flame as he accepts this demand of hers. The confidence she has in herself is growing with this third date she has successfully achieved. Her attack has become a lot more potent as it strikes Ryoko, who lets out a hiss. Ayeka's mirth is not what she was after, a Saiyan joining in their conversation she can make do with, Ryoko lands and steps towards the doorway and away from the blushing princess. As of yet what she has received from him is not in the same league as the less deserving Ayeka and she wishes to rectify this by any means necessary.
"Hey now, what 'bout me? It's lunch time so stop hiding in there and start bartering for my love. First off, before you list off all the marvellous things you surely thought of during that year, I'm gonna accept most of what you already offered me. Just none of that 'Lady' business, makes me sound old, instead come up with a cute pet name of your own for me." Every word he has said to her she remembers and is ready to use. Ryoko stands confidently before the tired Vegeta. She hungers for what she deserves, for Vegeta's offerings. His physical fatigue she hopes will dull the sharp wit of his and make him more responsive to her wants. Behind her the flushed princess pays attention to the mention of something Vegeta has already promised Ryoko and assuredly was rejected in the pirate's rage – she ignores the comment about her title.
"Pumpkin." Offhand and with little thought, Vegeta throws this scrap she asked for her way. He does not do cute pet names, he never had one for Bulma and so she will not be indulged in this fashion. Ryoko frowns at this weird name. Darling or dear or honey she would accept, not this strange word. She makes a derisive snort and would motion with her hands if a certain cabbit weren't occupying them.
"The hell's a pumpkin? I ain't being called it anyhow."
"I know, I know what a pumpkin is. Miss Ryoko, it's a big, round orange vegetable and it tastes good and you've eaten some." Sasami energetically springs up for she has knowledge to bestow and she enjoys being helpful. With a smile on her face she informs Ryoko as to what the Earth vegetable known as a pumpkin is and then awaits to be thanked. The thanks does not come. Only Ryo-Ohki reacts positively to her words for 'orange' and 'vegetable' describe her favourite food of all. Ryoko closes her eyes and lets out a dark chuckle. If Sasami omitted just one word from that description it would have been ignorable. She does not need this to become another thing Ayeka can mock her with and neutralise the new moniker of 'Biter'.
"Big and round? What's that supposed to mean?" She snaps. Eyes flash open, thin brows furrowed. Not being from Earth she does not know that pumpkin can be a proper affectionate term for someone, all she knows is its unfavourable description that apparently Vegeta is linking to her.
"Ryoko, you are, on occasion, the heaviest woman in this household – when Washu is in her child form. Mihoshi is a very close second saved only by the fact that muscle weighs more than her blubber and empty skull. Excluding Sasami, Ayeka is easily the lightest. And could you remind me what those things you accepted were?"
Once again Vegeta reels in his catch after Sasami inadvertently cast too tempting a lure for Ryoko to pass up. He makes a point of looking down to the exposed midriff of Ryoko and then behind her to Ayeka, the princess is enjoying this and how he is making favourable comments about her body directly against Ryoko. A harsh breath is exhaled from Ryoko's nose. The inclusion of a conditional variable as to whether she is the heaviest woman or not is no saving grace, Ryoko is pissed off. Washu is easily the tallest woman, very well endowed and being a Tuffle leaves her with no counter to her weight. Vegeta and Washu share in this a similarity, both of their bodies have evolved and adapted to a planet with high gravity and thus have dense bones and increased muscle mass to support their frame – a trait that Washu has devolved with her diet, lack of exercise and ability to control her form's appearance. Sensing danger, Ryo-Ohki leaps to the closest person she can see and Vegeta rapidly reacts. He stretches an arm out of the training room as a perch for the cabbit to land on and to stop her jumping straight into the heightened gravity. Ryoko glares at him.
"I'm not fat. That's mean!" Mihoshi abruptly stands up in protest at the insult thrown her way when she was not even involved in the conversation. Her teal haired partner pinches at her thighs to take the natural blonde's attention away from the glowing blonde. This is not an argument she needs to get involved in. Sasami crosses her arms, to her that sounded like Vegeta is bullying people again.
"At least I'm not both the shortest and weakest of my whole species. You give me a very special and wonderful date that lasts a full day with that tempting promise of escalation drizzled all over it and … you and me sleep together." She gets even. Ryoko licks her canines. He was unkind and so she unleashes a plan of her own that she knows he will hate. Vegeta has said things that she will now use against him. A low cackle purrs out of her throat as silence envelops the room. The joy of Ayeka is frozen over at this most audacious request. Ryoko keeps her predatory eyes locked on the Saiyan as he takes in what she said, she sees a question written across his face for he does not recall offering that. Vegeta gently flicks one of Ryo-Ohki's ears so it flops inside out, Ryoko winces seeing that. "It wasn't serious but you did say it. I get to sleep with you – in your room that is, not sharing a bed. Of course you touch me or do anything weird and you are dead but now I can have my own Super Saiyan night light and we can talk to our heart's desire through the long hours of the night. And don't worry Ayeka, I won't put the moves on him, it'll be all nice and wholesome and innocent, I promise. Think of it like you and Sasami sharing a room or Mihoshi and Kiyone, and Ryo-Ohki will be there too to keep an eye on him."
Having explained where she is coming from and that her use of the phrase 'sleep together' was less a euphemism and more in terms of the literal sense, Ryoko reaches out a hand to right Ryo-Ohki's ear. There is no carnal desire here or lust. She is not trying to bed the man who nearly took her against her will, Ryoko is pushing him onto the back foot, pushing her position and gaining herself guaranteed hours where he has to be in the same room as her. The phobia she has exists in great strength and Ryoko can use this as an opportunity to restart her efforts to combat it. Vegeta glows, his presence before allowed her to sleep in the dark and she very much wants to see if she can find that comfort in his company again. There might also exist the potential unguarded moment where she can get a glimpse into his mind before he awakes and raises his defences. Ryoko sees a lot of positives to seizing this ground and claiming his bed chamber for herself, the negatives she has the confidence in herself to deal with. Though, if Vegeta does start playing his cards right and stops with the teasing and mocking then she might start to be more interested in becoming nocturnally active – it is a stepping stone that leaves her with options. Ryoko smiles. Her spine arches backwards, her feet leave the floor, cyan falls from her face and she grins at her rival. She has taken a beating but she is not out of this race and will not just plainly ignore the aggressive pushes of Ayeka to seize the lead.
The Saiyan prince has not spoken a word in response and a heated debate breaks out. Ayeka is not fond of the risqué tribute that Ryoko seeks and she is very vocal about it. She does not believe that a man and a woman should share a room; that it is immoral no matter what Ryoko claims and sets a terrible example to the children residing in this house. Questioning the morals of two people who have willingly ended people's lives does not get the princess far. In truth she trusts that for the moment Ryoko means what she says and will not pursue physical intimacy with her prince yet she can predict where it will lead, it will not take the pirate two months to get herself back in the saddle as it were. Laying down in the air as she beams a horribly pleased grin, Ryoko nonchalantly shrugs away her arguments. She floats about so she is beside Sasami, the girl is bemused by the ruckus and does not understand why her sister is raising her voice. The arguments from Ayeka cease as her tongue is bound by the sight of her sibling. She cannot speak the points in counter to Ryoko's wants when the innocent Sasami can overhear, it is foul play on Ryoko's part and so the Juraian acts in turn. A cabbit meows happily and hops into Ayeka's arms as she positions herself closer to a still panting Vegeta. Warmth tickles her neck and some crimson rebirths on her cheeks as a stray laboured breath from Vegeta finds its way onto the back of her neck.
"First your brother with his affair behind your back and now the second man betrothed to you as well. Must be tough for you, Ayeka. Sorry it has to be this way, truly, but I will be sharing a room with my fiancé and there ain't nothing wrong with that. Vegeta is already on my side, no arguing 'bout it, your new found ally is all the proof ya need. It is happening. … Or you could tell me that secret and I might consider backing down for a while." Though she taunts there is little play in her voice, Ryoko wants this ended and does not want to debate this. She wants to start getting things from Vegeta and Ayeka has no right to get in the way. There is a gentle tug on her hair that is falling onto Sasami's face, Ryoko rolls the right way up as she hovers, the freckled girl asks if Ryoko is talking about her brother Yosho and Haruna and what they have to do with anything. Ryoko simply replies that Ayeka is making a fuss over a matter that she did not when the one she was engaged to was Yosho and not Vegeta. She waits for her rival's response.
Leaves of paper bound in leather become heavy, and the proximity to the training room is not the cause. Ayeka desperately wants to keep Ryoko from invading Vegeta's room, it would shame both herself and her prince if whilst she were courting him he shared a room with another. She has faith that nothing of an illicit nature can occur with Vegeta's great perception and strength however the great intimacy of sleeping in the same room is not something he can hold with another woman. Bringing up her half brother was uncalled for and unnecessary. The situation here is completely different. She abandoned everything she knew to escape her betrothal to him, she wanted him to find another woman and it does shame her that it was technically an affair behind her back but both she and her brother are more than happy with how things turned out. Bulma shackles her though. Not too subtly Ryoko warned her to watch what she was saying and truthfully Ayeka was neglecting that side to her argument. Calling Ryoko's request and the act shameful and immoral indirectly slander and disrespect the deceased wife of Vegeta who engaged in such activities with him before marriage. She cannot purposefully insult the dead and Vegeta in vain hope of stopping Ryoko with her own selfish reason. Ayeka closes her eyes and shakes her head. This is horrible.
"I … I-I will not betray Lord Vegeta. I will not betray his trust, and neither will he betray mine." Fiery crimson orbs open and stay focused on Ryoko as Ayeka pools her faith and courage into declining Ryoko's counter offer. She hates this. She got her date but now Ryoko is sullying it all with this filth. Flames of green burn inside both women. Ryoko smiles and nods at her rival and compliments her on being able to make the right decision and her loyalty. Ayeka strongly shakes her head in hope of denying it.
The low twin ponytails of Ayeka get carefully draped over the front of her shoulder by a gnarled hand, her mouth opens to voice a question and colour enters her face. She has been touched again. Vegeta warns her to take care of her surroundings when stood close to the entrance of his training room. Her shaking her head moved her hair in such a way that he had to intervene otherwise she would have either been pulled backwards into the high gravity or painfully partially scalped. Ayeka nods and thanks him in a subdued manner. There is a lingering in her eyes, a silent plead for him to do wrong and go against his promise to her in which he has to give his best in gaining his forgiveness, a promise that has already cost her to share his hand in marriage with another. He looks past her and to the floating vagabond. Frankly he tells her he will hold her to her words and begrudgingly accepts, both the date and the new sleeping arrangements, and informs Ryoko that whilst asleep he cannot be transformed and hence does not emit light. She simply replies that he will glow whilst she is falling asleep, she looks at Ayeka and says to the defeated princess that she can have her dates before hers in a token gesture of no ill will. Through telepathy Vegeta secretly tells Ayeka that her trust in him will not be in vain and he appreciates how committed she is to the secret of the primate enclosure. She likewise appreciates the thoughts projected into her head yet all they can do is take the edge off of the stinging.
Lunch is made in a joint effort between Sasami, Kiyone and Vegeta. The policewoman helps to be helpful and to have something to do and teases her friend to stay out of the kitchen unless she wants to put on any-more weight, Mihoshi is now sulking in their room because of this. Vegeta cooks in a repetitive manner of appeasement and his physical abilities greatly aid Sasami to cook all the food that he needs to fill his stomach and possibly Trunks' if his son returns. Upstairs a hovering woman merrily whistles as she goes through walls carrying her bedding to its new position and carelessly throws Vegeta's onto the floor without a second thought. Ryoko's head next appears sticking out of the ceiling to Ayeka's room, the princess having just hidden her diary in a new location. Feline eyes flicker to this new hidey hole and note its position before the pirate fully lowers herself down into the room. The two women look at each other for a moment. Ryoko seats herself on Sasami's bed and Ayeka mumbles something about her trying to steal that bed as well.
"We either both get bugger all for way too long or stuff like this is gonna happen, and is. Highs and lows. It sucks, but he owes me, Ayeka, he owes me this." They cannot hide from or ignore their blatant dislike of Vegeta doing anything for their rival, or how this is the path he has chosen for them. Ryoko personally perceives this as being in her favour since she can ask Vegeta for what she wants, she can get him to treat her and is not restrained by the code of conduct restricting Ayeka. She lounges back onto Sasami's bed and blankly looks up at the ceiling. They so desperately want Vegeta to make his choice and for this bitter jealousy to be purged from them. His emotions are hard to enkindle, love is not something he can easily fall into and without it he will not make any decision. Ayeka shakes her head as she sits on her own bed. A pillow hits Ryoko in the face, Ayeka greatly detests the gift Ryoko got Vegeta to give her. Ryoko puts the pillow beneath her head. "Ignoring y'know whatever might happen down the line, why is being in a room with someone so bad when I won't have sex with him?"
"You are a man and a woman, there are rules."
"Gender shouldn't be the deciding factor, princess. Those two cops aren't but if they were then what? No rule there? I won't make a move, he won't either so it will be just like Mihoshi and Kiyone. I couldn't do anything if I wanted to and he has no want either. …. If you weren't all prissy princess then you could ask the same. It'd be cramped but fun. No touching or naughty stuff, just talking and being close. That's what we want, isn't it? To talk and spend time with him and laugh and have fun?"
"I am who I am, Ryoko, my principles are not ones I can easily bend, never-mind I could not just leave Sasami on her own for she would get terribly lonely."
"So why do you get to say stuff like that and it sticks but for Vegey it doesn't matter and he has to adapt? I'm changing. Not much but I'm no longer who I was when Vegey shot me out the sky, change even more once he helps me get rid of my fear. I can help you be free."
"Don't. … Positive, both of you are changing for the better, to fit into society and throw away the rags of killers. I – I have a family. Whatever I do is reflected upon all those I love, I cannot bring shame to the empire through my own whims. You can do as you please, that is not a luxury I have. Neither does Lord Vegeta, his wife and child factor into every decision he makes. When I- … Fleeing my home could have incited a civil war between the major houses. If I act – if I do – besmirching my family's name and that of the empire itself could cause great unrest, maybe even an insurrection. I cannot be free like you. I … I c-cannot misconduct myself as the maiden crown princess of Jurai."
The princess shakes her head. Liberation from the burden of her birth and bloodline is not something Ayeka seeks, there are rules she has to live by and they are not rules she particularly wants to go against. She has gone against enough as it is, involved too many people. There is no way she will voluntarily enter Vegeta's bedroom with intent to share it with him before entering into holy matrimony with him. Change will come with time for her, however becoming as free as Ryoko is simply beyond her, she cannot be that type of person, there are far too many others to consider who her actions will effect. Ryoko's arguments about the redundancy of rules surrounding genders when homosexuality is involved and how hypocritical it is of her to seek to alter someone when not altering herself are not moving her or her opinion. Ayeka runs a finger through the hair framing her face and sees golden eyes peering at her, inspecting her as they think on this viewpoint so alien to the pirate's own.
" Then take it from a thief, nothing can come back to bite you if people never find out ya did a naughty. No-one knows you are here, your family and Washu aren't gonna rat you out for enjoying your youth. I won't either, too much fun to be had if you let your hair down." Ryoko shrugs off most of Ayeka's concerns, in her view a crime is only a crime if you have been caught and so there is no need for her rival to be worrying herself about things no-one will know of. She loves Vegeta and personally she would not allow the rules of someone else interfere in her pursuit of him, her lack of a family denies her the ability to understand Ayeka's viewpoint. Sniffing the air, the smell of food gets her mouth watering.
"Wrong. That is simply wrong, Ryoko. Or had you forgotten? An assassin was sent here to kill Washu, to kill me and my sister. Someone knows, an enemy to Jurai knows. They will not get ammunition from me to attack and smear my family and our authority." Adamantly shaking her head at Ryoko's flawed loopholes, Ayeka reminds the rogue that such complacency is misplaced.
The actions of Vegeta might have stolen the spotlight yet a black misty figure still attacked them and was almost successful, someone has to know of their position and be observing them if they knew when to strike. Indirect attacks could follow, or be following for all she knows, if she were to do something untoward and compromise her purity. Ryoko sits there wondering why this is where Ayeka draws the line and how she apparently has not noticed that due to her feelings she is letting her dates with Vegeta not fall into that category, for Ayeka is not planning on having any chaperones accompany her. The lounging pirate would comment on this if she had not already thought of a different line of enquiry.
"So what about Yosho and his girl? That's as much a scandal as you and Vegey."
"I will not speak against my brother or his choices, I know little on his and Haruna's relationship to pass judgement and attacks against him would only be half as effective. Brother Yosho is the heir, a grand prince of Jurai and hero to many, but we share different mothers. I love Mother Funaho yet she is not from high birth, her family is small, unlike my own mother. Lady Seto is my grandmother, you know who she is. She is powerful, the political clout she wields is in line with the physical power of Lord Vegeta, and she has many who wish to see her downfall."
"The training room still makes a sealed dimension, as does Washu's lab. Retreats exist. Maybe one time little Ayeka can sneak into the bathroom, also its own dimension. Or- … hmm, does Vegeta like people with rigid and oppressive principles? Femininity, kindness, good nature, we both know what attribute our Vegey is attracted to – and your silly rules might help."
"You are far stronger than I am. …Looking back at my lineage, I am weak."
Motion is heard down the corridor as Mihoshi moves about and goes downstairs, after that the single sound is one unimpressed and mocking chuckle coming from Ryoko's throat as she props herself up. Here she is trying to show some kindness and be friendly to Ayeka after what she asked of Vegeta and the princess is putting herself down more than she normally would. She is not sympathetic enough to console Ayeka. The princess is looking across to her patched stuffed toy. Her mother is an incredible person, a heart of gold and a fist of steel who is rightly loved and adored by all across the empire, her father is the emperor who saw Jurai victorious through its long years of horrific war and Lady Seto has kept the empire successfully running from behind the scenes for millennia. Ayeka is a princess of Jurai and cannot compare her own bravery to that of Ryoko, a common pirate, she could not have done what she has concerning Vegeta and his actions. She remembers watching Ryoko crying and asking her for help, setting aside everything between them, a leap of faith she thinks is beyond her. She feels overshadowed by those around her. Ryoko has no time to babysit a hormonal girl feeling sorry for herself because a certain someone is now sharing her prince's room. A pillow hits Ayeka solidly in the face, a muffled sound coming from the impact as the royal is nearly knocked over. Ryoko stands up over her rival and looks down on her.
"Get a grip, you're just a spoilt and stupidly young tree-less tree-hugger. I wasn't this confident when I was some orphan street rat, grow up. No Juraian is strong at your age, they're idiots, all of 'em, and cowards." Disparaging remarks and insults are what Ryoko gives to Ayeka, she does not need to deal with a mopey princess worrying about things that Ryoko sees as inconsequential at best. Talk about prestige, bloodlines and the great Juraian empire are not topics Ryoko wants to keep discussing. She found out what she wanted concerning Yosho and that is that. Within her words is an obscured message to the royal to get over herself and stop having such high and lofty expectations for herself when she is barely an adult, Ryoko went through the hassle of saying some nice things for her and if she wanted to hear insults she would be the one saying even more to the maiden.
The pillow gets placed back where it belongs and red eyes stare with indignant anger at Ryoko. Ayeka sees no need to be verbally abused as she was. It is the first time she has been called tree-less. A grave slander like this against her name will not go unnoticed. In Juraian culture their trees are symbols of power, their Goddess Tsunami and of the utmost importance within their society. Ayeka lost her own tree through an accident on both Ryoko's and Vegeta's part when she landed and it is a shameful and blasphemous act for her to be so careless and cause the loss of one of Tsunami's children. Tree-less is an insult for her as a Juraian on par with Vegeta being called a tail-less monkey. Ayeka stands up herself and silently brushes down her robes.
"Neither myself nor Lord Vegeta approve of your abhorrent racist views and insults that you are frequent to use. How would you like it if either of us decided to insult you in the many personal ways we could? Do not call Prince Vegeta that 'M' word, do not call me- don't call me a lot of things. Never 'Biter', never 'Tree-Less' and never 'The Fertile One'. Your great age shows in your old and bigoted views towards my people. Why do you blame and hate Jurai so? I know the outer colonies are quite different and the war was occurring yet-"
"I spent decades chained to a wall in the darkness because one of you sold me out, because none of you cared for anyone without a special, prestigious family behind them, least of all some abandoned, big-eared freak. They had to replace my shackles because they were rusting. He sold me out and betrayed me, he slit my back open and gave me this scar, I trusted him. Two faced liars, all Juraians are. I had no-one else but him, since we were children. … He was my first time, … he made me kill and I didn't want to then I'm bleeding out in a pit for twice the time you've been alive. He set me up, traded my life for wealth. A tree-hugger as guilty as me, done all the crimes with me with plenty of evidence proving it, got to walk free in the Sun and I didn't get to see any daylight. Just the dark. Years and years and years of dark. That's why I hate Juraians. Your empire is a failure, your people are as bad as Saiyans." Ryoko twists her torso, lifts her jumper and shows off the tail-end of the jagged and ugly mark running down her back, her parting gift from the Juraian boy she grew up with and misguidedly trusted with her life. There are many reasons she holds for detesting the empire of Ayeka's and its people. She will not have her prejudice questioned, she has the freedom to say what she wants and use whatever language she cares for and if people do not like it then that is not her problem. Fangs are bared as Ryoko spills secrets from herself. Secrets that she feels only slightly uncomfortable in telling Ayeka, after so much her rival already knows enough to destroy her with and she has earnt her trust in this.
The entire first half of her century of existence suffered due to the failings of the civilisation that Jurai pushed upon all the planets it could reach. Institutes were overrun with children left behind in the remnants of the fighting between Jurai and Frieza, and Ryoko ended up as just some stray hardly knowing who or what she was being looked after as best she could by staff who were overworked and had lost all passion centuries ago. She grew her hair out to hide the features she was mocked for, and eventually to conceal her face from prying authorities. Trees did not thrive well on the planet she grew up on. Aristocrats looked down on her for her lack of a family name and her poverty, a poverty she ended by redistributing their wealth. Her aggression grew as she matured and her strikes became savage and violent to ward off her fellow low lives that made the foolhardy mistake of attempting the same that Vegeta almost did to her. She never took a life though, until her hand was forced by her best friend and occasional lover.
A simple break-in turned out to be a set-up planned to capture her. Ryoko did not have a wide arsenal of techniques in her youth. Her back was slashed open and she was kicked into a room full of awaiting guards; guards who had a score to settle with her. Fear and panic controlled her rabid motions as Juraian law enforcers subdued her bleeding body and one hit was all it took to seal her fate. She broke a skull in her frenzied lashing, after that there would be no reprieve for the thief turned cop-killer. Ryoko was made an example of to enforce peace and authority on a world that sat on the fringes of war. Blackness became her world and life. Years she spent hating the man who discarded their relationship for coin, Jurai was her enemy. The system had failed her, the people treated her like second rate trash and an opportunity to serve the opposing side was not something she even gave a second thought to. Ryoko stands by Ayeka, the opposite side of the coin.
"Did you love him?" Strong emotions are often born from other strong emotions and Ayeka has little in the way of responding to Ryoko's past. It is a simple question, the only one she can think of. The Juraian that Ryoko speaks of sounds as if he was very close to her, he was her lover, and so it is a natural assumption to make. Ayeka has not heard many tales such as these. She was sheltered, the inner colonies were safe and she was born close to the end of the war.
" No! No. … I was young, I was already a drinker – other substances too back then, I liked having fun. I was a damn idiot, not half as naïve as you but pretty dumb all the same. No rules bound me, I did what I wanted when I wanted. He- we were never committed, friends with benefits. Not like you'd understand. Why would I wait for marriage when no-one loved me and no one would ever marry me, better off taking the fun and company I could. No harm in it. By the time he stabbed me in the back I'd had another partner for a month or so, casual 'n all that. Vegey is my first love, same as you, I never loved that greasy, treeless traitor – not in that way." Ryoko stomps a foot firmly in denial at Ayeka's question before settling down and explaining in a quieter voice than she is apt to use. She never loved her childhood friend in a romantic sense. There were sparks but never a flame. The golden eyes of Ryoko keep a watch on Ayeka and her facial expressions. The princess is uncomfortable and awkward at this line of conversation regarding Ryoko's love life and casual sexual relations and Ryoko sees that clear as day, as well as the judgement that the high born will not speak.
"Ryoko, this … I don't want to cause offence or sound like I am judging you however, I- . Did he love you?"
"I rotted because of money and my bounty not because I slept with another. The world ain't that pretty and nice, princess. He wasn't quiet, he would have said, he always talked. He had others. This ain't someone trying to take your crown for most jealous Juraian. I told you: no-one's wanted me seriously before. With Vegeta I was at some fault, not here. Not here." No neat and tidy excuse will be made for why she lost decades of her life. They were not an exclusive couple in any sense and after all the time they spent together she would have found out if it were true. Ryoko was not worth that much to him, she was only worth a bounty.
Cyan hair whips about in a flurry as Ryoko groans loud and messes about her hair to clear her head and frustration at those memories. Telling someone about this is an ambivalent thing, she does not want her rival to have this to use against her or to pity her for her bad childhood but she wants someone to talk to. Ryo-Ohki is good company but poor at conversation. Ayeka is there for her, whether she wants to be or not and vice versa. To be honest, Ryoko would much prefer to tell these private matters to Vegeta. She cares not for talking to him about other men for they have already discussed such a topic and he always brings up his own baggage. Ryoko cannot confide this in Vegeta simply because there would be no sympathy to be found there. She can tell her sob story to him and he can trump it with his own, tell her she was not strong enough and her laziness caused her downfall, he will not pity her for it yet he will not ultimately care too much what happened to her before his own birth. Ryoko would much rather spend her time with him gaining more, learning more about him and enjoying the present not wallowing in the past. White robes rustle as Ayeka looks down at her hands.
"I can inform my father-"
"That planet's gone now. The bastard's most likely dead. You wanna fix your empire then you'll use all those thousands of years you've got struggling and accomplishing nothing. It's rotten. You might be able to change Vegey but you can't change everyone in the galaxy, not even with the Devil Princess on your side." The pirate snaps. Ayeka might have been meaning well by offering to attempt and fix the corruption that caused some of the injustice Ryoko faced but the rogue cares naught for it. It is too little too late and all it will do is prove her point that no Juraian will care until someone of suitable birth and status comes along. She has said her piece on that and is done discussing it, being harsher than she directly means to. Ryoko shakes her head at the princess. Jurai is no longer her business. She inhales and exhales and looks about the room before continuing. A high note is needed to end on. "Anyway, I didn't come here to chit chat about my happy, misspent youth, more of to give a warning. … Just gonna say this to you now so you know and there's no more copycat business in our dates. You won't like this but I need it, I really need this kinda thing from Vegey. For my date with him I'm gonna ask him to take me wedding dress shopping. It'll be – he needs to- you've got two before so make 'em count."
Dumbfounded, a confused sound leaves Ayeka's agape mouth as Ryoko vanishes from sight. She blinks and feels the wind drifting out of her as she deflates. That is not something she can match. Ayeka bites her lower lip and her hands mess with her sleeves as her brows frown, she speaks aloud to herself how unfair Ryoko's actions are and repeats phrases to that effect. Ayeka curses aloud and then bedamns herself for using foul language. To go and wear bridal gowns for Vegeta would be such a wondrous time, to showcase her beauty to the extreme whilst getting a premature feel of what it would be like when she does walk down the aisle. Ayeka wants this now that Ryoko has said it, and she is bound against having it. Ryoko is right in that they should not blatantly copy each other's ideas and plans. A voice to the contrary is trying to persuade her that she could try and make such an occurrence come to pass by accident when she gets taken clothes shopping with her family but she cannot heed those words. Frustrated at her gigantic jealousy, the maiden is crushed beneath the sleeping arrangements and Ryoko's plan for her date. She feels so unbelievably outplayed and out of her depth.
Lunch is a quiet affair on Ayeka's part. By the time she was called for food, Vegeta had already retreated back into his training room having been eating whilst cooking. Ryoko has a merry time with her still novel sense of taste and holds a brief conversation with Mihoshi and Kiyone about whether they have any current love interests or such. The policewomen both reply with a negative and Mihoshi comments that Kiyone is lying since she is already married to her job, and at that Ryoko drops out of the topic concerning law enforcement. Ayeka's despondent mood is picked up on by Sasami and Ayeka quietly tells her sister not to comment upon or ask about it before she does, the big sister receives a larger than average serving. A happy pirate is the first to finish her food – technically second behind Vegeta but he never was with them for the meal – and floats through the kitchen wall and looks in on Vegeta's training. She asks for money and Vegeta nonchalantly tells her to go ahead and take some. Ryoko's smiling face pops back into the kitchen as she asks whether anyone has any requests before she goes out to buy some more alcohol, none of the women are clued up on the alcoholic beverages of Earth and so Ryoko does not get much of an answer. Ryoko then departs, teleporting into the sky and flying in a southerly direction following a river she spies beneath her.
Having taken an earlier comment to heart and following the clearing away of the plates, Mihoshi asks Kiyone to come with her to jog a few more laps around the lake. Kiyone declines since she has just eaten and warns Mihoshi of the same but the blonde goes regardless to prove that she does not carry any excess weight. A bowl of carrots is set out by Sasami which an eager cabbit tucks into with great vigour. The younger sister watches her elder sibling, keeping an eye on her and trying to figure out how to stop her being upset. Mihoshi calls to her friend, trying to invite her again so she does not have to go alone, and a coarse male laugh cuts her off. Her feeble excuse of exercise is nothing but a joke to Vegeta. In as many words he tells her that she will fail to maintain her personal fitness if she relies upon others to motivate her. Dumbbells are grasped between each of his big toes and sparks of energy jolt from an upside down Super Saiyan 3. His blonde hair trails on the tiles, sparking blue eyes stare out of the open training room door and his aloft legs splay and then close rhythmically. Sweat pours from his face as he is forced to gasp for each breath of air. Performing fly curls with his legs in a horizontal split, Vegeta works on his leg muscles whilst keeping effort on his arms as they support his enhanced weight. His transformation has sapped most of his ki from him, he is reaching the limit to which he can maintain it. Expecting the natural blond to flee from him and his insults he is mildly surprised when she stands up for herself.
Arguing to the effect that trying is the important part and she will achieve more when having fun by being in her friend's company, Mihoshi does not back down from the exercising Saiyan. He takes a sharp sniff of the air and ascertains that she still holds great fear towards him. Her philosophies are not something he shares. They offend him, hearing her speak of effort as if she has any comprehension of the word compared to the work he puts in year after year after year after year. Vegeta commands her to run 40 laps around the lake and see how far her 'efforts' take her. He adds that if she wants she can borrow his weighted boots or gloves. Mihoshi turns and goes to prove him wrong. His toes ache gripping the metal. Blood is rushing towards his head at an accelerated level which he has to alter with ki, breathing is difficult. Several minutes pass and he figures from that that Mihoshi has at least some drive within her to have not immediately given up. At that time he finds Sasami stood looking at him, a look in her pink eyes more serious than someone her age should hold. Behind her stands her elder sister, not directly looking at him as he trains or as he does the splits. Vegeta is panting heavily, each breath he draws a struggle, his eyes are not focusing on the two Juraians properly.
A large shudder jolts through his right arm. Electricity shoots and zaps outside of the training room, close to Sasami's feet, gold pervades outwards into the front room. Vegeta barks a command and the artificial gravity ceases. The bright aura dissipates. Blonde turns to black as he descends back into his base form, his transformation's time limit complete, and he lowers himself down onto the ground. Dumbbells evaporate into nothingness – a new toy he found that Washu installed into his training room for his year. His body is numb and thrashed. Super Saiyan 3 mastery still eludes him. Closing his eyes and rubbing the sweat from his face he hears a noise close to him. He looks up to see Ayeka partially inside the training room sliding his boots across the floor to him as best as she can manage. A word of thanks comes from his mouth. The high pitched and girlish voice of Sasami tells him off for being mean to Mihoshi, Vegeta offhandedly remarks that the only reason that Mihoshi and Kiyone are stationed on Earth is to be the victims of his bullying, to be scapegoats to protect Azusa's children. Ayeka then speaks and says that anti-social behaviour like that greatly displeases her, and in this displeasure she might invoke her power of temporarily evicting him from his training room.
Audio blares out from a switched on television concerning the breaking news of a second, younger 'Golden Warrior' vigilante hero having been spotted around Satan city. Vegeta had not noticed Kiyone's presence at all as she walked past in the background and turned on the T.V, he curses under his breath. He could sense his son but he presumed he was at least being proactive with his ki and using it to intimidate Goten or Piccolo and not to play games, overpowering weak criminals is not why he trained his son to wield that power. Sasami is suitably distracted as she sees glimpses of Trunks on the screen, her curiosity getting the better of her. Vegeta gets his legs underneath him and goes to brace himself against something to stand when he sees a hand reaching down for him. His legs are fatigued and aching and his strength has faded. Accepting Ayeka's aid is a step too far, to stretch for that will snap all that he is. Instead of standing he starts putting his boots on and stalls for some of his power to recover. Ayeka's hand is still there.
"Lord Vegeta, I request that you fulfil your daily quota of the pledge you made to spend time with me. Please, … take my hand."
Vegeta rises, standing eye to eye with Ayeka, his white outfit stained and drenched from exercise appearing off and dull compared to her own pristine robes. Only now when he is stood up does he accept her offered hand. There is tension in her fingers and between their palms he can feel a cold sweat that is not his own. Her eyes close for a few seconds, she can hear and feel his strained breathing. She has now asked him to touch her and he feels so warm. Vegeta can taste fear for the second time. Hiding his motion as if he were wiping his brow, he raises a hand and places two fingers on his forehead. The two royals appear a mile away from his house upon a small hill. Ayeka is taken aback by the change of scenery and the lurch in her stomach. Their hands separate. Vegeta crosses his arms. He can guess the topic she will want to talk to him about.
Once Ayeka sees Vegeta's house in the near distance she gains her bearings and looks across to her prince. Nasty and vile emotions writhe below the surface. This level of privacy that he has given her she needs. What Ryoko has told her, both openly to Vegeta and in confidence when in her room, will not leave her. She has no clue what to do to quell her monstrous jealousy, or what she can do that will actually have an effect. Ayeka takes a calm and serene breath and slowly removes the wooden tiara from her forehead. She hands it to Vegeta. Ayeka inhales and then sets her emotions free. An unleashed rant torrents forth from her lips. She speaks how dissatisfied she is by Vegeta and his attitude, she calls him out on not being proactive enough in earning his forgiveness, she shouts how gravely insulted and offended she is by him accepting Ryoko's want to share a room with him. A small and infuriated scream is partially silenced by her as she finishes. Ayeka motions for her tiara to be returned to her and Vegeta places it on her head for her. She shakes her head.
"Simple tricks won't deceive me, Lord Vegeta. You do these actions without thought. They are calculated, and cold. … I need it to- to mean something. Please. … Help." Ayeka is not fooled by this kind motion of putting her tiara on for her or how the casual touching of her head toys with her emotions. Just as she grew wise to his using the word 'fiancée' she sees this as little more than a way to get to her. It is not something she wants. She cannot see warmth in the black pits of his eyes, just a cunning mind observing her and planning its next move. Her love for him requires some reciprocation of any kind, some morsel to be fed as the pangs of hunger test her. Ayeka wants to see him smile and be happy and to make her happy, she yearns for affection to aid her envy and heartache.
"To make a relationship last- how I kept my marriage alive was through the little things. Grand gestures and over the top gifts can only get you so far, and nowhere near as far as you'd expect. The small habits, the instinctual actions you take, the body language of you and your partner, those are what's required. Are my well practised tricks that wrong?" Exhaustion still runs through him and burns his muscles. He listened to what Ayeka had to yell at him. Vegeta cannot think of any easy way to ease the princess' heart over Ryoko's demand and so uses this tangent of his calculated actions as a diversionary topic. She is openly distraught and he needs to calm her down, these words will act to reassure her.
"It hurts."
"To achieve anything worthwhile many barriers of pain and hardship must be passed. If it were easy and effortless then there would be none of that meaning you seek."
"I- … I'm not like you. I cannot take what you can take, or Ryoko. There's too much."
Saiyan philosophy is only partially comforting to Ayeka as her violet hair trails in a cold breeze. Accomplishment through difficulty is Vegeta's strong belief. Ayeka understands it, she can see some of the meaning in his words but her feeling of weakness and vulnerability is not aided by them. She does not like any pain. Honest hard work she can abide but constant emotional fatigue and hurt she cannot stand. Her snapping point has already been reached a couple of times. Her limit is well before that of Vegeta. He has said nothing specific for her. None of his words are directed at her or just for her ears. Vegeta shakes his head at her. Weak words like that he does not tolerate.
" Become stronger then. Life will not offer any handicap for whether you feel it is hard or not. Hesitation incurs punishment, weakness is exploited, Lady Ayeka, you are not half as weak as you imagine yourself to be." For the second time Ayeka is told of her own strength, and from such an authority figure on the subject she listens more than she did with Ryoko. Vegeta talks in a factual manner as if what he says is easy to accomplish and not opinionated in any way. This is his wisdom that he will impart to her. He knows that simply saying that much will not mean much to her. Vegeta looks her in the eyes and tells her the honest truth she needs to hear and listen to. "It has been 14 months since I last was on Earth speaking with you. As much as I have to earn my forgiveness, you have to earn emotion from me."
Recoiling from the frankness that she already knew, Ayeka shivers as frost chills her. She knows this yet her great expectations do not want to let go. As one distance closed another equally large one opened up. That is the answer as to why he still acts as he did before, with forethought and not the warmth she desires. She has not come close to her victory. All that has transpired is that the starting blocks have been set up. There is nothing she can say to dispute this. Insecure and rattled she begs for more from her prince. She extends her arm towards Vegeta with a desperate look in her eyes. Ryoko is going to ask of him for a bridal gown, she despises and hates and loathes it and how it makes her feel. Her own engagement to the Saiyan seemingly insignificant and thrown to the wayside before the wronged rogue.
"I-... I- I need y-your hand." Meekly she demands of him for the furthest physical intimacy that she can allow and abide by. She needs reassurance and the comfort of his being.
Two rough and sweaty hands clasp over her single pale hand, a strong grip that she enjoys. A small noise reverberates in Ayeka's throats as she tightly closes her eyes. His hands are warm. She knows she should not be asking of him to touch her considering his crime but she so unequivocally needs to feel him right here and now. He cannot leave her if she can feel the heat of his body. Vegeta is with her and only her. There is a large knot of tension in her arm that stiffens solid when Vegeta begins to pervade her hand with his ki but over the course of a few minutes she relaxes and opens her eyes. Her smile is not confident nor is it strong but it is there on her face and she is happy for the moment. For half an hour they discuss the training he went through with his son in greater detail than before and with Ayeka putting the focus more so on how his son dealt with moving on from Bulma. She learns about him and his child and the emotions they share. Trunks' preference for Ayeka to be his choice crops up as do a few musings that Vegeta has had, his thoughts are to the long term. Ayeka hesitantly says again the few long term plans she has with an emergent blush gracing her cheeks: a family. All the while their hands stay connected.
When they return Ryoko is still away on her venture for drinks however the prodigal son is sat waiting for his father. Still with a depleted reservoir of ki, Vegeta goes with his son into the training room and together they spar in their base forms. After his time spent with his father, Trunks has a more rigid training schedule and a larger want to spend time like this with his dad. Later on in the afternoon following Ryoko's successful return, a small drink and a nap, the pirate rouses herself when her prey leaves its hidey-hole. With the aid of a chemical of her own design Washu is wide awake now and ready to finish the job she fell asleep doing and Vegeta is forced to socialise. The excuse of errand running gets him out of staying around for too many dangerous conversations and when questioned as to the nature of the errands he replies that Ryoko got drinks but neglected the issue of food. Even with capsule technology his house can run out of supplies every once in a while. Ryoko is not interested enough to tag along with him and Ayeka has her own thoughts to deal with.
Washu's skill at her job and the ease of the modification means she is finished fixing the training room only minutes after Vegeta starts impatiently pacing about. His hefty metal door slams shut and a Super Saiyan 3 begins practising martial arts, the scientist barely gets a word of thanks for her work. Sasami is thankful towards the householder when teatime comes about as the plethora of fresh and new ingredients stimulates her culinary mind and allows her to experiment and have fun. After a tea that Ryoko also thoroughly enjoyed she invites Ayeka to have a drink with her, her invitation is turned down. The energy of this day makes for a restless evening, except for one individual which is a tuckered out Mihoshi fast asleep before the Sun has begun to set. Ryoko makes an effort to sway a change of allegiance by messing outside with Trunk and letting him have a fencing match with her however neither find it that interesting - Trunks is far too strong and Ryoko's fresh hatred of a Saiyan overpowering her leaves a bitter taste in her mouth. Since Ayeka and Sasami were early to rise they are the next lot to head off to the land of nod within their bed chamber, sleep does not come easily to the elder princess but with her stuffed toy clutched close she eventually drifts off.
Following a late night shower to rid himself of the stench and grime of a day's worth of training, Vegeta finds light shining from his own room and a ki presence inhabiting it. A few cans of beer rest on his bedside cabinet. Ryoko sits propped up against the headboard wearing the most concealing nightie she owns of a light lilac colour. Upon her lap Ryo-Ohki is curled up and purring contently as she is petted. There is a stern determination emanating from the golden eyes of Ryoko as she sits in Vegeta's bed, her whole body is tense. All around her and outside the room is night. This is her second night since she was tortured in the dark by this Saiyan who's room she is in. Vegeta has to provide something, some courage or some comfort for her or else she simply will have to leave this room and abandon what she asked of him. She reaches across and drains the last dregs of the nearest beer can.
The Saiyan whose place of sleep has been usurped looks down to the heap of bedding strewn on the floor, he raises his gaze to the wary woman in his bed. She tries to appear unconcerned about this whole thing and her facade fails in hiding her underlying fear. Ryoko's phobia is not letting up, and the presence of the man who reignited such fear is going to be the deciding factor as to whether or not she can get over this relapse. Vegeta strips down to his boxers, folding his clothes neatly and separating the weighted from the none weighted clothes. Ryoko watches. Vegeta is still stood up, he reaches across and closes the door. A worried expression creeps over Ryoko's face as she tries to steel herself for the inevitable. Without her having to resort to saying it and asking it of him, Vegeta does what she needs him to. The light bulb is extinguished and a soft golden aura bathes the room in its gentle radiance. Even so Ryoko's breathing speeds up. The light is off, she is in darkness but for Vegeta's Super Saiyan transformation.
Blankets rustle about, a tired cabbit noisily yawns and then both warriors from the stars have their heads upon their own respective pillows. Ryoko cannot see the light clearly now. Vegeta is on the floor and below her, her light source is dim and muted with his body being covered by a blanket. Her breath catches in her throat. Ryo-Ohki mewls and cuddles in closer to her mistress sensing her fear. If Vegeta falls asleep before her then she will have no light. Ryoko cannot move. She has to stay facing the side of the light and Vegeta. This is nowhere near like the first time they spent a night together. She cannot close her eyes. A minute passes, and then another, Ryoko is restless under the covers. Terror is flowing through her blood and she feels shamed and embarrassed by her phobia being so openly presented to Vegeta.
"H-hey, Vegey, what- … Is it good to be back?" Ryoko's voice cracks with nerves and disturbs the still of the night. She needs a distraction, something to take her mind off of the crushing blackness surrounding her. The temptation to summon her own light is sorely testing her, yet she does not want to surrender to that.
"Exempting a few exceptions, yes."
"Never a straight answer from you, is it? … I'm going to ask something ..." She smiles and chuckles at this typical reply from him. Her fiancé is doing his part in soothing her with simple conversation. Ryoko wanted this time with him and she supposes that now is as good as any to bring up her second daring request for him. She does not know how to ask it though. Her smile grows as the room gets brighter. Vegeta does not like weakness or giving handicaps but he did come to his room for the reason of resting.
"And I shall say yes. No need to play coy or draw this out, we both could do with some sleep." Vegeta is curt, too tired to beat around the bush with Ryoko, and knowing he has to agree anyway gives his answer prematurely. He cannot even try to start falling asleep whilst transformed and so the quicker he gets Ryoko calm and comfortable the quicker he can recover for his next day of training. Ryoko laughs again. Coy is not something she normally gets called unless she is purposefully pretending to act that way. He has agreed and she appreciates that, he knows his place with her and she can get the special day she wants.
"Dick, that's- you need to listen, and then say yes. On our date you promised escalation, and I've thought of it, even told Ayeka and she got pissed off. Take me shopping-sh-shopping for wedding dresses. For my wedding dress."
" So that's what you want. Ryoko, the reason I was not offering much to you was for this reason. You wanted something specific, something very specific, and unless I guessed correct then you would still ask for more and more and get frustrated. I can only read your mind when I have physical contact."
"I wouldn't mind a few more things. A lot of a few more things. But, right now, just two."
"My light and my answer: yes, I shall do this for you, in both regards."
Vegeta's bedding is heating up from the radiated ki and energy of his Super Saiyan form. He already said yes and disagreeing would just cause too much hassle. This is not an activity he has done before and it is not as if he is going through with anything, just appeasing Ryoko by taking her shopping for a certain article of clothing. It was a long time in the past for him but he faintly recalls that Ryoko has a want for commitment, for long term relationships, and this will scratch that itch for her. His fiancée will be treated like a fiancée. Ryoko is merrily grinning. A good thing has happened in the dark now. She contently nuzzles her face into her napping cabbit companion and closes her reflective eyes. Things are going her way, she is on the upward now and she feels that it will get better, it will all get better. She cannot help but cheekily quip one last thing at the man she loves before trying to forget the dark and go to sleep.
"I'll make it three. Breakfast in bed sounds nice."