Chapter 59
Neither the Sun nor any of the other residents have risen after the Juraians have indulged themselves in a lengthy bathing session where they could talk and be together as a family. Their voices are lowered in respect of those women still sleeping. Vegeta can hear them nonetheless. Sasami skips down the stairs wearing a fresh and clean outfit of Juraian fashion that her mother has brought especially for her, dull oranges highlighting the vibrant sea blues and pastel greens. The youngest of the Juraians has always been an early bird, she is always the second to rise following Vegeta and her daily schedule is changing little. Breakfast is next on her list. Navigating the stairs was easy for her with Vegeta's grand radiance and now inside the kitchen she turns the light on. Not far behind the girl follows her mother, a smile beaming ear to ear across her face. A cabbit perches on Misaki's shoulder and as the two blue haired royals busy themselves she gets rewarded with a carrot. Vegeta chooses to ignore what happens outside until it is time for him to eat.
Minutes is all it takes for him to find the worthless limit of Misaki's style of using shields. He has the power to cast full and effective barriers and her weak ones can serve him no purpose in a battle. Goku accepted his challenge. Every fibre of Vegeta is burning with the flames of war, his Saiyan nature alight at the prospect of his greatest fight. He trains under the maximum amount of gravity with his transformation's power raised to its limit. He can win the marathon, but he needs the explosive might to survive the sprint. No mistake is allowed, none of his motions can be anything less than perfect, even his breaths have to come at precisely the right time. The smell of food invades his nostrils for several minutes before his basic survival instincts override his drive to better himself.
He swings open the bulkhead and steps out still shining in his Super Saiyan 3 state, his mute glow appearing harsh in the gloom, already his red vest sticks to his torso. Ayeka sits on her own in the front room with a tablet in one hand and a book in the other. She looks his way and then shyly her gaze averts. Misaki has had some fun. Insisting that it was a new and popular style among younger Juraians, the mother has fashioned her daughter's dark purple hair in a way that is making her self conscious. The main factor for this is that her petrified wooden tiara is being used as a headband and is lifting her fringe entirely from her face. She feels exposed with her forehead showing, and it does not help that the last time her face was fully revealed was when she was on her date at the beach. Her side locks are plaited and bejewelled and the main body of her hair is tied up high with her bob cut splaying out in a short fountain before the rest of her longer hair spills out into two streams falling down in front of her shoulders. The ends of her two long tails of hair are tied to keep them neat, with her hair being forwards the nape of her neck is also revealed. Her robes are a deep and luscious colour the same as her hair, with specks and details of red embroided as decoration. A slight hint of eyeliner accentuates the top of her eyes, a painted hollow triangle of green sits between her brows.
Vegeta compliments her on her appearance and Ayeka smiles, he asks her if the tablet she holds does what he assumes it does and she nods. A book is a strange thing for the princess to be holding since Earth's language is unknown to her and so taking a small logical step he has deduced that Washu must have given Ayeka some thing that can translate for her. Reading is a hobby that Ayeka enjoys, indulging in some of Earth's literature is fascinating and she has been taking an odd satisfaction in reading from the light that her prince emanates. Ayeka plans to repay his kind words to her and so responds saying that Ryoko is indeed wrong about his current form's aesthetics. Hesitantly, she then queries how stable his transformation's power is. Vegeta confidently smirks, curls a fist and lets a ball of ki shimmer in his hand, lightening orbiting in concentric rings around his blast. He nods, reassuring Ayeka that no matter his form control over his power is the facet he puts the utmost priority upon. He tells her that he will never accidentally hurt someone through negligence on his part. She nods and goes to say something else. Ayeka silences herself as Vegeta let's out a tired sigh and wipes sweat from his heavy, pronounced brow, she moves a hand to her breast and feels the hard shape of a seashell underneath her regal outfit.
A call comes from the kitchen, both mother and child summoning those that are awake to breakfast, Vegeta is quick to heed their call. Misaki stands over her daughter and helps her, although her actions seem to be hindering and getting in the way of Sasami more than anything – Sasami does not mind and enjoys her mother's company. At his dining table is an already seated Washu, having been conversing with her friend and delivering her final piece of news. Washu's plan to start a family is known, and to nip an issue in the bud the scientist also, in no unclear terms, warned Misaki to not mention the subject of children around Ryoko when she wakes up. No details were given but Misaki understands and will happily comply. Washu would prefer to be dining with her lover, however Yamcha decided to get a decent night's rest instead, so Washu twiddles her thumbs and watches as the food is served. Vegeta holds the door open for Ayeka as she puts her book and tablet down and he pulls a chair out for her. Out of habit another Juraian is sat besides the head of the table, next to Vegeta.
Seeing a Saiyan eat for the first time perturbs the Queen, as does this golden form of his which is a mystery to her. For the most part she lets her curiosity simmer away whilst fussing over Sasami, complimenting her exquisite cooking skill which she has missed, discussing Earth's foodstuffs and chatting with Washu about the plans surrounding her engagement. When she and her daughters have finished she asks the still feasting Saiyan about his glowing body and blonde hair. Vegeta descends to base form and then says the words Super Saiyan and transforms to his first form, he holds up one finger. A second finger rises and his hair becomes rigid and sparks arc across the air. A third finger is raised and his hair lengthens and his eyebrows vanish. Misaki has names but does not understand, she looks to Washu who fills her in on the details – which astonish Misaki at the mention of the strength he can tap into. Washu then pre-empts the next question and informs Misaki that Vegeta lost his tail when he first landed on Earth and can no longer transform into an Oozaru, Misaki smiles and says that it would be fun to have a fluffy tail. Vegeta is not impressed, he comments that he would prefer to have all his body parts and not be an amputee.
A cabbit sits before Vegeta for he is the only one with food left and Sasami starts moving the cleared plates into the sink to soak. The Saiyan prince rises immediately after finishing his breakfast. Misaki speaks out and says that she wishes to speak to both him and Ayeka, the daughter nods and Vegeta multi-forms. The Queen blinks for a second believing her eyes having tricked her into briefly seeing two Vegetas with black hair and then looks behind her and apologetically tells her youngest that she will have to occupy herself for a few minutes. Sasami pouts and says that she wants to be with her mother, yet acquiesces and leaves with Ryo-Ohki scampering after her. Washu remains sat where she is and confidently smirks to herself. Ayeka does not have a good feeling about this and nervously glances behind her to her raven haired prince. The smile on Misaki's face lessens, she takes a deep breath.
"You have a most pleasant home, Lord Vegeta, and I do believe you to be an honest and good man. I trust my daughters' judgement of you – she knows you far better than I do – however, I have taken the time to re-familiarise myself with your past. I will not tread the same ground that my husband did. Tell me how you two are addressing the issue of your crimes." Misaki puts her hands together and faces her daughter with this, her voice that of a rightfully concerned parent. She does not want to question her daughter's choice, she wants to make sure that her child is facing matters as she should be. Ayeka has chosen a hard path, as a mother she will give whatever support she can.
There is silence for half a minute. The princess glances behind her to the stood up Vegeta. Addressing his past is something that has become increasingly difficult following his mating season, her loyalty towards him is so very strained. Her hands go to the seashell under her robes and she struggles to think of any way to articulate herself. Misaki gives her daughter this time to come up with an answer, she would actually hold it against Ayeka if she just emotionally blurted out some ill thought out response. Vegeta takes a step closer towards the table so that Ayeka does not have to turn as far to look at him. A comforting hand would most probably be a physical intimacy that Ayeka does not want at this moment with her mother here and so Vegeta leaves her to face this by herself.
" … He isn't like that any-more, he promised. He – he is a penitent man. He already pays the ultimate price for his sins. Who he has chosen to be now is more important than who he was forced into being back then. … I am not blind. I have- I – I often reflect on things. There was a month, I had time to find forgiveness. … I can- I am helping him. I am continuing his wife's work." She quietly replies to her mother in a hushed tone with her head bowed. Ayeka nods to herself with that answer, raises her head and looks to her fiancé. Vegeta folds his arms. Slowly, he nods as well and a weak smile forms on Ayeka's face. Misaki would smile as well, if she were not perturbed and intrigued by some fact that has spilled.
"This ultimate price? I take these to be your deaths, Lord Vegeta? I apologise if it is a sensitive subject but I do not understand your resurrections. There are no scriptures concerning multiple blessings from Tsunami, and Washu has not been forthcoming on any details." Her daughter has grieved over one of this man's deaths, she was not aware that such a tragedy had transpired. Last time there were more pressing issues, but hopping between the planes of death and life is a massive thing. She will not press questions into what danger took his life, her worries into her daughters' safety bores into her if there is or was something that can kill a Super Saiyan. Resurrection is not a feat even Washu could accomplish and every male she has met on this planet has done this as if it were nothing special.
"You're wrong. My sacrifices would only be an ultimate price if I could not come back, Ayeka speaks of something far worse. … My crimes prohibit me from ever meeting my wife again. The afterlife for me holds nothing. I will not disclose how we cheat death, it is better for this planet if that information remains confidential."
Vegeta glosses over the dragonballs, their power shall remain within Saiyan hands. There is a unique wistfulness partially glazing over the dark eyes of Vegeta. Even after his year of training the fact of eternal separation wounds him, it always will. The talk of death and his skill at it has awoken the worst thought within his head. All he had to do to stay with Bulma was to murder her. His fists clench and his brow creases. Using his own hands would have meant Shenron could bring her back. Ayeka keeps a solemn expression as she watches her prince in pain over what she brought up, she feels a strong ache in her chest when his ebony eyes transition to blue for a few seconds. Vegeta shakes this intoxicating bit of hindsight from his mind. In the background a scientist observes, she chose correctly in not revealing the power of the dragonballs. Misaki looks to her friend in search of any clarification, sharp emerald eyes look back and give nothing. The queen glances to her daughter and bites her lip, then she faces the Saiyan with resolute eyes. If her daughter has forgiven him then she too will have to go through the process of fully forgiving him; accepting him into her family is easy enough since it will make her daughter happy but this hurdle must be crossed for she wants to have a good relationship with Vegeta for the sake of her children.
"My son, tell me yourself how many deaths you are responsible for. I will listen as a queen, confess your sins."
" 17,034,576,929,043, though that number is off by a significant margin. Planet terminations and sterilisations are hard to count. 2 suicides as well, if you want to get technical on kills." Vegeta speaks with no hesitation, answering a request that sounds identical to one Ayeka asked of him not too long ago. His grim presence grows. The number means little to him – bar the suicides – and he has no interest in finding out how correct it is. Washu makes a motion to show that the number attributed to his criminal record is higher than what it should be. She wonders how many species on each planet is credited towards his count.
"You killed children. Didn't you?" That is all Misaki can reply with to such a horrible statistic. There is a hardening in her expression. As a mother this is one thing she doubts she will ever be able to look past, she cannot abide violence towards children.
"I was indiscriminate in my work. My role was the mass killings, neither Nappa nor Raditz had the power to destroy a whole planet. They dealt with the grunts and the populace, if we landed, I took the best pickings of whatever dared to challenge me." The vast majority of his murders were not face to face but done from orbit, few met the requirements for him to bother dirtying his hands with in a fight. Between the Saibamen and the two other Saiyans he only had to act when the strongest fighters appeared and no full moon was present. Vegeta sits and waits, uncaring for the judgement.
Both Juraians shuffle, uncomfortable at how easily he can say these things. Washu nods to herself. Misaki holds her head in her hands for several seconds, she secretly hoped that he would refute at least some of these horrors. The princess wants her fringe back down to hide behind, her hands nervously fiddle with her tails of hair, wrapping an end around her ring finger. Ayeka can so clearly see the ill ease of her mother and the judgement and she does not like this one bit. The brutal truths of her fiancé are not helping anyone. Misaki raises her eyes for she has one pivotal question concerning Vegeta's attitude towards murder.
" … Sources claim you took pleasure-"
"This source is Washu, and she has seen the truth to it. I do not hide what-"
"Stop! Don't goad him, his pride will not let him stop. You said you had faith in me, was that another lie, mother? He promised his wife he would never kill again. I believe and trust his promise and all the promises he has made to me! That is that."
Ayeka shakes. She exclaims her want to put a quick lid on this subject with her words directed at her mother whilst her red eyes are fixed on the man sat at her side. His sadism she will not hear of, it is too horrific for her to think on – thoughts of being powerless with him above and the sand below and Ryoko being broken beyond tears. A male voice sounds within her skull and tells her that he will not lie. Ayeka grimaces. Very slowly a hesitant nod is sent to her prince. She faces her mother again, Misaki looking shocked at her daughter raising her voice so against her and this hint of fear within her child's reaction. The mother tries to smile in a comforting manner. There is a long and hard road for her daughter.
"That is that? … You are so brave and trusting, my daughter. Please do not think of me as an attacker, I am your mother, Ayeka dear. I am just trying to do what is best, and for that I need to know. My husband, your father, is also a man changed by the horrors of that war. I am no stranger to this."
"Vegeta did not kill me when I was stupidly begging him for death. He has saved my life, and me and him don't get along. Morally speaking though he simply does not value a life - unless someone is important to him, the rest hold the same place as an animal or a plant. Sanctity of life does not exist with Saiyans. He will always have the psychological ability to kill with ease, and will only act on it against a threat. Ask the damn question already, Miss, I'll vouch for your girl's pet project in completing Vegeta's domestication."
Washu plays her part in aiding Ayeka. Speaking up for Vegeta is something she feels she owes him. She enjoys the satisfaction of being the one with full knowledge of both sides, and being a major supplier of said information as her job dictates. Many times she has poked and kicked the hornets' nest and she still has her life. Decades of indoctrination and beating and killing will not quickly leave the stubborn Vegeta. Washu can empathise with him; if Vegeta surrenders his violence then at that moment the Saiyan culture perishes, though his major concern is more self centred. Her want to distance herself from him is not under fear of death but to protect her child from his threats or potential acts of violence. Misaki's eyes are upon her. Cold green returns the gaze and nothing more. The Queen is trying to keep on track but finds it hard when being bombarded with so much new information such as Washu's life having been in danger or some force driving her friend to near suicidal tendencies.
There is silence but for the agitated breathing of Ayeka. Misaki kneads at her temples with her fingers, her friend impishly sticks out her tongue and rocks back in her chair. There is too much for her to take in. Vegeta uncrosses his toned arms and silently lays one hand face up on the table. A smaller hand seeks strength and assurance and meets his. Ayeka grips tight. It is warm. The mother looks on and nods to herself. She says a quiet apology to her daughter and Vegeta and takes a while to gather her thoughts. Misaki bows her head by a slight amount.
"I oversaw something and for this I deeply apologise to you, Ayeka. There is a major technicality that daddy brought up. Lord Vegeta, you cannot marry my daughter until you properly end the war. The Planet Trade Organisation scattered and crumbled, your race is sadly gone. You remain as the highest ranking official from both parties that declared war on Jurai. A peace must be signed or agreed prior to or as terms of the wedding; this is not me standing in the way, this is a rule that cannot be bent. This is a treaty our people need."
" A victory."
Not a second's hesitation as Vegeta offers the sole terms a Saiyan ever should. He extends his free hand for the deal to be taken as a hard glint seizes his eyes. Misaki makes no move at all to accept Vegeta's terms. A tremble passes through the Juraian currently holding his other hand, her hair moves side to side as she shakes her head. She quietly reaches across, covers his offered hand and gets him to retract it.
"No. Vegeta, please, don't. I-I won't be some term you won off a false con-conquest. You … you could do this for me if that path is the one chosen?" Ayeka solemnly continues to shake her head.
Facing her prince she tells him how her own pride and emotions will not allow her to be regelated into a political prize. His Saiyan nature will have to take a back-seat to what is right. She did not realise that technically the borders of a war still separate them though Vegeta played a strong part in destroying Frieza's army – the army he is/was a part of. She will not let this new looming pressure sway her, her love will be the only reason and not some agenda for a war that ended shortly after she was born. Asking peace from a man of war is a tall order. She removes her second hand from him, Misaki watches her daughter and Washu ponders whether or not she will be requested to make some forgeries.
"Would you want a Saiyan, who's father cowed to Frieza, who now freely signs peace to a strength so weak compared to his own? That is not how Saiyans work. My son and Kakarot have their pride as well, I am the Prince of all Saiyans. … I do not know if I could lose the only war I ever fought, not even signing for the Planet Trade Organisation I destroyed."
30 years of his life, his people, his planet and more are the prices that he had to pay during his service under Frieza. The Saiyans won the war. He is stronger by himself than the combined forces of both sides during the war. The strongest are the victors, the strongest survive and the Saiyans are the strongest – not Jurai. As a prince he cannot simply destroy the pride of his diminished populace, his family and Goku's, by conceding to a side that inevitably would have lost had he not died trying to kill Frieza. Jurai deserves no victory to be handed to it on a silver platter to gather dust with the many other trophies it has collected from wars ages past. Vegeta bowed to Ayeka, he shall not make a habit of it by bowing to Jurai's demands now. No surrender will come from him. With all the tumultuous happenings recently he predicts that a demand from Ayeka will emerge for this, one he shall refuse. Misaki sees his stubborn reluctance, yet she has trillions of lives to consider in her empire and not even the force of Vegeta could hold Jurai together if they announced a defeat to two Saiyans. She warmly smiles and puts forth her counteroffer.
"Jurai will also not accept a loss. A ceasefire of equal terms, there is no need for a victor, or terms or reparations on your part for the damages. The war has long been over. All we need is a diplomatic end to tick some boxes and get the paperwork in order. Think of it as a symbol for leaving that dark patch of history behind. Son, you are allowed to make my life easier every once in a while. … My mother has been working night and day on this with Washu's aid, as have I."
"What are you planning and doing whilst I am absent from Jurai? What is Grandmother Seto doing, what rumours and secrets does she spread?" A trigger has been pulled, Ayeka is up and alert in her seat and Vegeta can feel her nails digging down into his hand.
Her grandmother is not sitting idle. The same woman who wed her daughter Misaki to Azusa and proposed the idea of Ayeka becoming Yosho's bride is making actions regarding her relationship with Vegeta. Seto earnt her title as the Devil Princess and is known to detest Saiyans. Wary of any actions taken from the fiercest and most cunning woman she knows of, Ayeka is tense and anxious whilst Vegeta is still blanking out all notion of conceding a war.
"Now, now Ayeka, calm down. I do not like that implied tone when you are talking about your Nana Seto. She is helping. We all are helping you. Funaho is giving her all in her position even though we also have our son Yosho to care for. … The questions I have asked will need stronger and better answers for the public will want them. We have to stop the people from seeing him as they currently do, as he was."
A gleam shines in Washu's eyes as she glances across to Vegeta, she sends him a knowing wink and he disapprovingly clicks his tongue. He knows what Misaki is speaking of. The Queen wants the war to end and for hostilities to die down, she is enlisting all help she can to remove the difficulties Ayeka will face if her relationship to a Saiyan becomes publicly known. Washu provides all the data, reams and reams of information and records and video footage, and both Seto and Funaho are working their own magic behind the scenes. Jurai is producing pro-Saiyan propaganda. Whispered stories spread behind bars, mysterious articles hidden within the nether regions of the web and the majority of these focus on some Saiyans being responsible for killing Frieza. Despite Washu's wants for the facts to remain factual and untarnished, time travel and mentions of it and Trunks' future self are not being circulated.
Misaki herself spent a day in council with her feared and revered mother, debating possible paths and the delicate situation that their family is in. Not much had to be said to get Lady Seto to side with the haphazard arrangements of her grandchild marrying the last Saiyan royal. Her child could see through her facade, for all her positive words and calculated smiles the Devil Princess was livid and loathes the thought of her family becoming joined to the Vegetas. A list of more respectable suitors for Yosho was raised by Seto and discarded by Misaki. The two husbands of these formidable Juraians made scant appearances when their schedules allowed and ultimately they had to bring the mother-daughter chat to an end. A closing remark fraught with concern from Lady Seto warned her only child to never enter the tournament if Vegeta is. The blue haired mother smiles across the table at her future son-in-law that she hopes to meet in the ring.
"H-he-he is no monster! He's not. He's …- Rehabilitation takes time." This re-emergent subject is distressing the fair maiden. Sand underneath her body, a sleeve containing no limb, these phantom images claw at her psyche. She does not require countless reminders of the shadow forever following her prince for its darkness has already left its mark on her. Ayeka swears to herself that she will get him to shine all the more brighter until this shadow has all but vanished. She does not trust her maternal grandmother, she wants to solve this very personal issue by herself, she wants to be the one to save the one she loves. Ayeka looks off to the side and bites her lip to stop any more words escaping her, she got dangerously close to doing the unthinkable and making excuses for Vegeta.
"My plan for the tournament involves me only appearing in my transformed state so as to be unrecognisable and prevent any riots. Converting the plebeians need not have the deadline of my match with Kakarot, not unless they all have as forgiving a heart as Ayeka." Vegeta takes control to put down the inquiry troubling Ayeka and to end mention of his public image being tarnished behind his back by people in ivory towers. He would transform to illustrate his strategy but as a weak multi-form he cannot. His identity need not be publicly revealed for some time, he has no issue with waiting though Ayeka's impatience surrounding that area would probably prevail. Ayeka weakly smiles at his compliment. She releases his hand and grabs at the concealed seashell about her neck.
At this point Misaki frowns in major bemusement over a matter that she has not been told of and Washu stands up. The greatest scientific mind in the universe sees that there will be no more use for her in this conversation and so says a quick goodbye. She shakes her head at the confused Queen, reading the question written on her face. Washu has important matters to attend to now breakfast is over and an invention she requires awaits testing. Misaki looks earnestly at her daughter, for she did not react to what Vegeta said and so must know of this but it makes no sense to her.
"And what about before the tournament? You are engaged so-"
"It won't happen then. My feud will be settled after his. That is the deadline he has set for his choice." Ayeka calmly and quietly answers her mother, looking down at the table with her fingers messing with the thin silver chain as she does so. There is no before the tournament for Ayeka. What her mother expects, and what she herself wants, is not something that will happen. Her engagement will not be fulfilled for a while yet.
"So … that is what your relationship is like? I don't understand." The concerned mother hears the forlornness in her daughter, and the resignation and acceptance of this waiting period, but it does not feel right. 'Deadline' is a word she feels should hold no place when discussing relationships. Misaki cannot see the why. Vegeta shifts in his seat and in his dark eyes she sees disapproval and disappointment, emotions she does not think that she deserves from a man seemingly keeping her daughter's love on hold.
" And I don't understand how you and Mother Funaho can share father. I- This is complex. Lord Vegeta is not Juraian, neither is Ryoko, nor does Trunks want for that. None of us condone polygamy and I am respecting his rights as a widower to take all the time he needs."
It all falls into place now for Misaki as that last sentence is said. Scolded by her own child for her insensitivity and thoughtlessness. A humble queen apologises to Vegeta for fully neglecting his deceased wife and his child. She feels a fool. The time is a grace period to deal with grief, both for the father and the son, not some callous act towards her daughter. Vegeta already stated his declination of bigamy though it pains her to hear Ayeka speak of not being able to understand or empathise with the relationship of her parents. This is a matter for some other time, Sasami has a right to be present there as well. She sighs and makes an awkward laugh. Vegeta wants to go back to training.
" … What is that you're holding, dear?" Misaki tries to find some kindling to resurrect this conversation. Her daughter has been messing with some item around her neck and the mother recognises the motion as the same her child did when clutching for her stuffed toy. Ayeka does not own much in the way of large or gaudy jewellery bar ceremonial dress for special occasions so Misaki runs with this natural curiosity.
The purple haired princess stops her fiddling and her red eyes glance across to her prince. She did not realise her motions were so obvious. A silver chain running through a brown and cream conch shell is pulled out from under her violet robes. There is nothing special or eye-catching about such a plain item. Ayeka looks across to her fiancé again. Her mother looks at the shell inquisitively. A Saiyan prince has a rudimentary plan of how to escape, he yawns.
" It's – It is a present, a joint gift from Sasami and Vegeta. She has a twin to it." She explains whilst holding it out, letting it twirl on its chain as her mother examines it for anything noteworthy. Misaki smiles. Ayeka looks across again to her prince. This shell holds a special meaning; she picked it up at a pivotal moment and was gifted it as jewellery as reparations and a sign of goodwill between Vegeta and Sasami.
" It's lovely. You seem really attached to it. Did you make it or buy it for her, son?"
Vegeta smirks and consciously looks away from the princess cradling her special necklace. This is what he has been waiting for to make his smokescreen.
" Ayeka gathered the shells herself when I took her to the sea for our-"
" First date?! Oh you spoil her rotten taking her to the coast and making a keepsake for her first date. My baby's growing up so fast. It was the first, right?" The queen squeals with giddiness as Vegeta throws Ayeka under a train. Wood clatters as she immediately stands and her chair falls backwards. Her eyes have lit up, her hands are clasped together and she jigs like an excited child. Just like Ayeka has been wanting he has turned the focus away from his past and onto their future and how he treats her, it is better for her to deal with this than his killings. Misaki gleams expectantly. Ayeka has gone very quiet very quickly and her cheeks are blossoming a strong red as are her ears.
"Technically, and she was the one to ask." Vegeta answers. Red eyes dart about wildly as if she were a cornered animal, Ayeka's mind is melting from the embarrassment of her mother being told of her brashness. The Saiyan rocks back in his chair. Ayeka begins to shake her head in denial but it is too little too late. The Queen hides her own slight blush with her hands, a wide, impish grin splitting her face.
" Mummy doesn't want to hear any more, oh and here I was worrying. Azusa would be having a heart attack had I brought him, ha. To be so young and in love. It must have meant so much, so much carefree fun and the sea of all places- … So that's where you became accustomed to seeing a man's body? Naughty, naughty Ayeka, on a first date and- what was my daughter wearing? As your mother, tell me, did you hold hands, did you swim together, ha-ha, have you ki-kissed?"
The connection has been made. An excited woman's curious probing has become the focused interrogation of a protective mother. She cannot help herself as a parent who has not seen her daughter in so long, the daughter she engaged and has been living under the same roof as a man. The questions fly as the queen's blush grows and Ayeka recoils and fruitlessly tries to hide herself and cower up into her chair. There is a danger here, Vegeta accounted for this risk, Ayeka remembers all too well the kiss she did have. She vehemently shakes her head. She cannot ever let her mother know of her feelings of dread and fear as she lay powerless beneath Vegeta. Misaki takes her actions as embarrassment and is too blinded by this enquiry to sense the other underlying emotions. Feeble pleads of innocence come from the maiden trying to hide behind her two forward tails of hair. Misaki pushes for she wants to hear the juicy gossip of how her daughter is blooming into adulthood and of the steps in her child's life that she is missing.
" A gentleman does not tell. I have training, you schoolgirls can continue your gossiping, have fun Ayeka." Vegeta up and leaves with no hesitation, bidding the princess luck in dealing with her mother after he raised the subject of dating. He wasted enough time talking as a multi-form, his battle with Goku waits on the horizon and he has a long awaited victory to claim.
Ayeka turns after him yet is too late. He has abandoned her in an extremely uncomfortable and awkward chat with her mother. Misaki stands over her, smiling and wanting to hear of her daughter's adventures into romance. She is not concerned over what Ayeka might have done as she knows and trusts her, she wants to relish in her child's happiness and share in it with her. Ayeka averts her eyes and keeps them staring away from her looming mother. This can of worms cannot be opened, and she has the secret of the primate enclosure also to keep. It was magical whilst it lasted. Ayeka was spoilt; the zoo, botanical gardens, the beach and then a mouth filled with a coppery taste. Her red eyes lock onto the door behind her.
"I-I-I would l-like to go and continue reading now, excuse me, m-mother." She goes to stand up, her shoulders tucked in and her posture defensive, escape is what Ayeka seeks for she cannot handle talking about this to her parent. This has been an exhausting talk. As Ayeka stands her mother takes a small step back, giving her space and allowing her to leave if she wishes to. The young woman nods her head at her mother and pushes her chair in. Misaki picks up her own chair that she knocked over, a large and warm smile still on her face.
"Ayeka. I don't mean to be pushy and rude, it's … it's your life so you don't have to answer all my silly questions. But, I am still your mummy, and if you ever need anyone to talk to about anything then I will always be here for you. … Do you want me to talk to you about my marriage first?" Misaki lowers her volume. In a motherly and friendly tone she calms herself and apologises to Ayeka for pressuring her to discuss personal matters. She will always stand by her daughter and be her strongest ally and friend. There is a hint of seriousness in her eyes as she asks this final question, this is a matter she strongly wants to clear up. Ayeka, still red in the face, declines. The princess raises her head and quietly tells her mother that she loves her. Jurai's queen radiantly beams back and replies with her own great love for her child. Then Ayeka silently shuffles out to where Sasami is and picks back up the book she found and the tablet Washu gave her.
Impatience rears its head after the Sun has cleanly risen over the horizon and the day is close to an hour into its life. 3 swishing tails of blue creep their way about. They snicker in conspiracy as they gently push open the door. Both sidle their way into position and the parent starts counting down. Upon the end of the countdown Sasami leaps onto the bed and Misaki flings open the curtains, allowing bright sunlight to stream into the room. The young Juraian and her mother in chorus chime 'good morning'. Sasami's incessant bouncing on his bed is annoying. Without much effort the freckle-faced girl is shoved off of him and he retreats under the covers away from the invading morning. The chirpy and wide awake girl does not stop and begins tugging on Trunks' blankets to get him out of bed. She does not have the strength to make him yield his blanket. A woman who does have the strength steps forward and casually tips the whole bed onto its side so that the half-Saiyan unceremoniously spills out.
Confused as there is no way that Sasami could physically have removed him from his bed, Trunks drowsily picks himself up off the floor. He stands up, stretches and sorts out his pyjama bottoms. Arms appear on either side of him and go to embrace him. Trunks appears on the opposite side of the room as Misaki grabs nothing but air. He yawns and she turns and makes a second attempt. Trunks holds both her arms and stops her from hugging her as he looks puzzled. He looks from Sasami to this other blue haired woman and is drawing a blank, she looks like a taller and older Sasami but he does not recognise her or know why she is trying to accost him like she is. Trunks asks her who she is and at that the tall Juraian mother freezes. More strength enters her arms, determination enters her face and Trunks continues to keep the stranger at bay as Sasami watches. The floorboards beneath their feet creak and groan, Trunks wonders why his life now involves so many weird woman and why this one in particular wants to touch him when he is half dressed.
"I … am … your … Grandmother. Now, let me hug you!" Pushing with all her might is getting her nowhere fast. She grunts out her brief introduction to the bemused and freshly awoken son of Vegeta, demanding for him to immediately love her and let her love him. All her maternal instincts are burning at this prospect of holding her own grandchild for the first time and his lack of cooperation is frustrating her on-top of her hurt that he cannot remember her. She needs to embrace him. Trunks is having none of it.
"No, you're a stranger molesting a child, my grandma ain't nothing like you. Quick, run Sasami whilst I apprehend this weirdo, I'll get Mihoshi and Kiyone to arrest her."
"I'm Pretty Sammy's mummy, and don't be naughty saying weird things. I just want to hug my first grandchild, you've grown up so much."
Sasami giggles to herself in the background as her mother wrestles in vain to hug Trunks and at his playful jokes. The Queen of Jurai so desperately wants to cuddle and she does not care how she appears. She gets to say a cliché grandparent line which pleases her but the stark truth of the statement is confusing her more. The lad has grown a fair bit since she last saw him, Misaki assumes it to be how Saiyans or Humans are. Her fingers claw at empty air and she lets out a frustrated groan as Trunks pushes her advances further back. She lifts a foot to utilise her massive advantage in reach. Her leg grinds to a halt in the air, ki constricting it, and as Trunks releases her she finds that all of her body is immobilised by some unseen force. Her lips quiver and her wide eyes are like those of a begging puppy. Trunks stretches now that he has the freedom to do so and steps within Misaki's impotent reach.
"And this is like the first conversation we've ever had so, yeah, you're a stranger. Get outta my room. How many greats would I have to put before you since my actual gran's only like 80?" The sharp tongue of the father is present in the son as he insults the clingy monarch's relatively large age. Being called her grandson is not something he cares for. Trunks announced his allegiance lies with Ayeka but even so this is several steps too far. He does not recognise this overly affectionate woman as a family member. Both blue haired Juraians bristle at his curt words.
"You're just being a grouchy baby after being woken up from his nap. I am a beautiful and young queen and I am not leaving till I get a nice morning hug from you." She sticks her tongue out at the boy rebelling against her maternal wants. For a Juraian she is young and an insinuation of elderly age is something even her small amount of vanity dislikes. She struggles against her invisible bindings.
" My mom's dead, my grandma's not you and Sasami is having way too much fun watching all this. Adios, I got me some training to do."
Arms grab for a third time at nought but air; Trunks has vanished from the room and his absence has released Misaki's body. She grumbles to herself and grumpily bites at the hem of her sleeve at his escape from her love. Sasami warns her mother that if he is training then the rules are that they cannot interrupt or else the Saiyans get very angry and so she will have to wait. Misaki grumbles to herself and pouts, she has a large want to see what it is like to be a grandparent. She is half tempted to barge in the training room and pursue her wants until they are met – as a Queen she is not to used to people declining her and least of all so actively avoiding her affection. The mother tidies up the room, picks up the blanket and makes the bed with her youngest helping her. Three people remain asleep but none of them she will go and awaken. Sasami hugs her mother in an attempt to make up for the failed attempt on Trunks and Misaki's warm heart so easily melts and gives in to this kind gesture: they have both missed each other a great deal.
Back downstairs they meet up with the other, more subdued, Juraian. Ayeka quietly sits on her own close to the training room door with her translation device in one hand and book in the other, it is awkward to handle and she senses she was cheated somewhat by Washu with such unwieldy tech. She looks up at her family as they join her and sit down next to her, two large smiles are sent her way. Sasami seats herself upon her mother's lap and together they natter about nothing in particular until Ryo-Ohki makes an entrance and becomes the focus of attention. Eventually even the cabbit has enough and bounds off away from all the petting and stroking so that she can settle and nap somewhere, upstairs she hops and into the den of her still sleeping mistress. Misaki curiously begins to peer about and at the metal door barring her from her grandson. Sounds of impacts and high speed movement are muted but not silenced as are the roars and grunts of father and son. She disagrees with violence towards children even if it is for the sake of martial training that the child wants, it is a cultural barrier with Saiyan blood she does not see herself ever being able to get past.
After spending close to a minute trying to deduce the meaning of one word that has no equivalent counter part in the Juraian language from context alone Ayeka goes to turn the page and fumbles. A hasty panic later she barely manages to retain her position in the book whilst handling both it and the tablet. Mumbling a few complaints, her mother overhears and chuckles. Misaki asks if she wants her to go and fetch a proper translator from Washu and to replace that ancient prototype. Ayeka puts the device down and shakes her head. She can do things herself now, she does not need her mother doing everything for her. The mother then follows up by querying whether Ayeka can navigate Washu's lab to find its resident scientist if she does not answer the door, to this Ayeka replies with a negative and sees what her mother is getting at. That was a failure at independence. Sasami stands up first to let her mother get up and the blue haired queen strolls towards the laboratory. Mumbling to herself, Ayeka's annoyance at needlessly struggling with an ill designed device gets the better of her, she questions why Washu felt the need to play with her and not properly fulfil her request. Misaki smiles back at her child for she has the answer.
"Little Washu simply adores being needed, she says she can solve everything but she never does because then no-one would need her and she wouldn't be the centre of attention she loves to be." Speaking from her knowledge of her long term friend, the mother underlines a pivotal personal trait of the eccentric genius. She knocks on the door and waltzes in when she fails to get a reply. It is far better for her to be the one in Washu's laboratory than her children, safety concerns aside she would like to prevent them from possibly walking in on whatever activity a newly engaged couple might be getting up to. Truth be told she does not know her way about this den of intrigue any more than her daughter does. Misaki wanders about sure that some sensors or proximity alert has made Washu aware of her presence.
Several minutes later Sasami is occupying herself flicking through the many video games that Trunks owns and using the now discarded translator of Ayeka to read the manuals and boxes. The elder princess longingly looks at the metal bulkhead. She winces when she hears a particularly loud grunt. Her mother calls Vegeta her son and it pleases her to no end hearing that, however she has also heard the term grandson and her stomach tosses violently in protest at that. Becoming a step-mother to a near teenaged boy is no trivial ordeal. Ayeka is not ready. It is not a responsibility she can handle. She will have to talk to Vegeta about parenthood as this issue will only become more apparent as time goes on. With a start she is brought out of her moment of thought when a pair of tinted glasses are placed on her face and her mother's smiling face appears before her own.
" There we go, now you can read whenever you want and you get the extra bonus of looking so mature and stylish, I'm sure Vegeta will like this look."
Ayeka hazards an embarrassed smile at her mother as she sorts out the new translating device she is wearing: glasses are not a common item of apparel on Jurai and she is not used to having something on her face apart from her royal tiara. Whilst she is adjusting these reading glasses, Misaki goes over to Sasami and presents her a smaller pair in case she wanted to use them as well. The girl does not want them right now and so they get set down on the table. Sasami then eagerly asks her mother if she would like to play some games with her whilst they wait for the others to get up or Trunks to finish training. Misaki beams and nods – she cannot play video games to save her life but she cares not as long as her children are involved. Already knowing what each game is, the freckled lass has no need of translators as she rummages for something fun to play with her mum, she pauses having had a thought and turns around to question whether Ayeka would like to join in as well. The demure princess declines the offer and says she will stick with her reading.
"How long will you wait?" An astute question is asked by the mother as she looks at her daughter and how her gaze is not on literature but on a room where her fiancé resides. Sasami is busying herself setting up the game console and the television and Ayeka looks down into her empty lap. More grunts and sounds of exertion and pain come from within the training room and then suddenly a raucous bout of laughter from both father and son. Ayeka faces her mother and gives an answer to both questions being posed.
"Until he is ready. You taught me to be patient." The daughter nods at the mother. This is the path she has chosen for herself. Waiting, but not idly, is her course. She wants to spend time with the man she loves and her mother can clearly see this longing in her yet a very real and very large barrier bars her. He is working, striving towards his own passion. However, Ayeka does not enjoy watching him voluntarily subject himself to so much pain and harm. She maintains eye contact with her mother and decides to voice her disquiet surrounding Vegeta's training methodology. She will confide in her mother. "He is a man with an awful lot of conviction. The only time he does not train is when he absolutely has to or he lets himself be persuaded otherwise."
" There aren't many out there with that level of determination; training for hours on end takes more than just physical strength."
"Not hours, nor days. Years. … Mother, this is his life – his obsession. It's not healthy. He's in pain." Quick to negate the positive spin on things that her mother's optimism tried to weave, Ayeka spells it out in basic terms. There is no end to Vegeta's addiction and there never will be; he is a Saiyan and he trains to better himself. He uses the crutches of his massive reserve of ki and his phenomenal power to support a body he otherwise would irreversibly cripple in a very short amount of time.
"I agree. A body requires rest, it is as important as the training itself. Maybe his irritable mood is just exhaustion." Misaki nods in agreement with her daughter's words. Having only been on Earth a couple of hours she has no knowledge of the ludicrous levels that Vegeta continually trains to; she will not abide an activity that upsets her child. Vegeta has a right to live his own life and make his own choices, Misaki deems this a silly choice though. Training is about routine and Vegeta has a flawed routine that will not help him achieve his goal. She tries to lighten the mood with a joke and to that her youngest giggles and replies that Vegeta is always grouchy but she tells him off when he misbehaves.
The mother loosely wraps her arms around Sasami. She is proud of both of her daughters. To think that even her youngest child can easily stand up to the might of the Prince of all Saiyans and boss him around, Misaki rests her head between Sasami's twin tails and kisses the top of her head. She looks to her eldest and sees that she has not finished. Ayeka fiddles with the translating glasses. This opened can of worms will not be closed.
" … On your prior visit- When you first arrived, it had been days since he last slept. Only because he broke his training room through overuse was he not torturing himself any-more, and then- then he carried on for days training in secret with a broken leg. … He wouldn't tell me he was hurt, he won't let any weakness show so he keeps pushing. I don't like it, mother, and I know he can hear us and it won't stop him, nothing is allowed to be strong enough to stop him."
"We have a word for silly men like that – stubborn – and it is a trait he shares with your father, for better and for worse." The mother rolls her eyes for that kind of personality is definitely reminding her of her own husband. She then chuckles to herself thinking on what Azusa will be doing after her unannounced departure to see their children. He will be worried about her, and gravely concerned since she is now in the lair of the Saiyan, but he would have tried to stop her or accompany her with a whole fleet. For this delicate situation it is better for her children if it is just her. Misaki hears the fretting of her own daughter for the one she loves. Motherly advice is ready to be dispensed. "I might not understand his reasoning but I do know of the training mindset, I myself once trained almost religiously – though nowhere near theses levels of zealotry. It's a lifestyle. Of course when you came along I had to stop, for both your health and mine. Ayeka, if you find it impossible to push to get your results then it only makes sense to pull instead, and if that fails push suddenly and his defences will be in the wrong place."
"It's just … having a rest every now and again wouldn't be so bad a thing."
"Question is, does he know what to do if he is not training? That is your job to make him look forward to his breaks and, dear, it would not go amiss to congratulate him on his efforts."
Misaki smiles warmly at her daughter as Ayeka thinks and Sasami chips in saying she cooks nice food for him to do what her mother says. A controller is then in both blue haired Juraian's hands as Sasami has readied the game and urges her mother to play. They keep the volume on the T.V low as people are still sleeping and Misaki gets a quick and unthorough run through of the controls. Ayeka sits and ponders. Never has she congratulated Vegeta on his efforts in the training room. Rightfully she dislikes his idiocy of spending every waking moment torturing his body and how she becomes second place to some machine yet her mother has made her realise that perhaps her respect towards Vegeta was lacking. No thanks and no recognition, all Vegeta ever has is scoldings about his work and his life. This is something she should be doing, and she can still press for him to limit his training time. At the end of a hard day she would want someone there to tell her she did good. She quietly thanks her mother and picks up her book.
Knuckles scrape past the bridge of a boy's nose, Trunks narrowly escapes his father punching him straight in the face. One year as father and son has brought them close and rebuilt and strengthened the connection between them that Bulma's death loosened. Trunks now enjoys spending time training with his dad. He likes bonding with his dad and the Saiyan side of him likes getting stronger. Both Super Saiyan 2s spar against the other, the harsh lessons of Vegeta pounding into his child with no remittance or hesitation. Vegeta is holding back enough so that his son's life is not in danger when they cross blows and the two have been listening to the conversation outside. Misaki is proving herself to be exceedingly smart and insightful for Bulma was always there to talk to her husband and give him kind words when he ended his training for the day – on the occasions they were not arguing. Trunks questions his dad when his training routine will lessen to that when his mother was still alive. Vegeta kicks the back of Trunks' fist, hurting his wrist so he can no longer throw a proper punch, and flares his ki to send his son sprawling backwards.
"I will honour your mother's final gift to me before I will seek any rest." Vegeta states with great resolution. His training is not a selfish affair, his wife deserves this little that he can do for her memory by besting Goku with the transformation that only her passing could gift him. Trunks nods at his father in agreement.
Tearing through the air are many bolts of thunder encircling the Super Saiyan 2s. They edge closer to each other ready to re-engage and the lightening sparks arc across, meeting and clashing in vicious displays as do fists and feet. Having practised for so long as sparring partners they are both well aware of each other's movements and styles; Trunks' growing not too dissimilar from that of his father's. After minutes of intense duelling the son breaks off and takes to the air and catches his breath.
"She's awake, you know." Calling down to his dad, he informs Vegeta of a ki he can sense. No name needs be spoken. They have discussed the sleeping arrangements and Trunks' disliking of it. Trunks also has his father's amplified senses, he hears many things.
"I am aware. Why, do you want to take over shining every time she wakes up?"
"And what about all the times you wake up from your own nightmares?"
Not every disturbance of the night was brought on from a trauma that Vegeta caused. Ryoko's nightmares coupled with her crippling fear of the dark made for a restless night, and for a heated argument to be had in whispers. Her terror only abates when she can see his luminescence - turning from one cause of her fears to another. Vegeta did not wake the pirate when his mind became troubled and sleep escaped him, it did however cause him to be less inclined to aid her which in turn earnt him a sharp kick as a frantic and terrified woman tried to switch her night light on. Trunks knows of his father's issues from their shared time in the hyperbolic time chamber and how loath he is to discuss them. A blast is dodged and the sparring continues.