Chapter 60

Sitting on the grass and enjoying the pleasantly warm weather a group of women enjoy each other's company. Mihoshi and Kiyone have amply apologised to the queen for their tardiness upon the shock of seeing her and now they begin to get to know each other as the youngest child of Misaki shows her mother the flowers of Earth that grow nearby. There is a stiffness in Kiyone's attitude towards the kind hearted mother borne from her high respect for authority figures, something she is now getting teased about by her best friend and Washu. Together the four women and girl laugh and chat in the sunlight of a planet alien to all of them. For a short while Ayeka was with them but upon excusing herself to powder her nose she has not reappeared, the book she is reading has hooked her and it provides her a good excuse to dutifully wait for Vegeta to pause his training. Neither son nor father has left as of yet.

" … What's with the weird new style?" Ryoko lazily hovers her way down the stairs and remarks on Ayeka's drastically different hairstyle and the glasses she is wearing.

She herself looks tired, her ears hang limply at the side of her head. Ryoko wears her long sleeved blue and yellow striped dress, or her dress that was once long sleeved. One sleeve is missing from her dress. She has partially neatened up the burnt edges and underneath she wears a black tank top for the front of the dress is split. Ayeka pauses in shock for a good while seeing Ryoko defiantly wearing the same ruined outfit from the incident and then she gives her answer.

The rogue lets her eyes wander to the party outside and to the Queen of the empire she hates and the mother of her rival and she sighs heavily to herself, a sigh which follows through into a cavernous yawn. Ryoko grumbles to herself in dissatisfaction for Misaki is not the sudden arrival she wants when in a bad mood. She floats towards the porthole in the training room and peers through. Sneering as she turns back she loudly complains about Vegeta. For over an hour she sat waiting in Vegeta's bed drenched in sweat from the terrible night she had and the service she wanted never came. She knows Vegeta can always sense her and he knew she was awake. Ryoko wanted her breakfast in bed to be carried to her by a subservient Saiyan, she is now quite hungry and annoyed. No reply comes from the training room.

"D'ya think he would bring you breakfast in bed if you asked?" Ryoko's booted feet touch down on the floor, her hands on her hips and she questions Ayeka. She wants to know if inequality still exists between them, whether Vegeta's treatment of the princess is still favourable to his rougher way of handling herself. Her cyan mane gets ruffled as she scratches her head and Ayeka lowers her book.

As a rival in love the princess appreciates that Vegeta is not giving into every single whim of the wronged rogue. It would be a gesture she herself would like but with her standing and status it cannot be. Ayeka shakes her head in response to the pirate. In this she will have to be careful. Hearing of Ryoko's sleepless night she plans to be careful around the pirate and tread carefully and respectfully so she does not get needlessly angered. If Ryoko gets angry then she gets loud and with her mother so close by that noise could become a very dangerous thing. Ayeka goes to give her answer but finds that words will not come. The dress is stealing her mind. Every shadow and crease she sees her imagination transfigures into stains of blood. She does not know how Ryoko can wear such a thing. Ryoko taps one foot to signify her growing impatience, well aware of what she is wearing and the powerful effect it has.

"The point is moot since I would never ask for him to enter my chambers whilst in an improper state. Vegeta said that-"

"I asked him for my special day, princess. Guess that makes me the copycat now. You better get your dates outta the way quick 'cos this is real important for me." Silencing the royal's question, Ryoko informs Ayeka that she will be getting her wedding dress. Even with her small joke the mood stays deadly serious. Ryoko glances outside and voices the question that immediately springs into her mind."Little Ayeka didn't tell mummy about frisky Vegeta did she?"

"No, and neither shall Sasami. It is a private matter that requires your permission before it can be discussed - if it has to be. Though, you are not hiding much wearing th-that." Ayeka chooses to ignore the insults of Ryoko. She questions how much Ryoko wants to keep the rape attempt secret when parading about in the ruins of an outfit with its front shamelessly ripped open. Ayeka wants that outfit off and gone, out of sight and forgotten about. Ryoko grins and looks down at what once was one of her favourite dresses.

"This? But I just want to show off this special outfit that Vegeta modified for me with his own hands. These are the scars his idiotic warrior mindset ever-so respect. This is to tell the prick that I ain't messing around, you might not be aware but his bedside manners are royally awful. … Is he acting different, towards you not just me? Some of yesterday he was … weird."

Mocking the princess' discomfort, growling out her threats to the Saiyan who disobeyed her in the night, Ryoko restlessly begins to jig her leg as she stares at the training room. After exiting the training room there were times he infuriated her with his disrespectful and blasé attitude. He made jokes at her cost, made her jealous on purpose and throughout the night it got worse. Vegeta mocked her for her fear of the dark as she kicked him to wake up and break the blackness with his light. Two great fears brought on by two horrific events in her life she was trying to face at once and he belittled them before he began to shine. Ryoko did not see or hear anything like that directed towards Ayeka. She is the one who the lion's share of his debt is owed to and that attitude aggravates her.

"Ryoko, he's – You did not notice? Lord Vegeta, he was mostly different with his behaviour towards you, purposefully so. I think he's-he's being playful, in his own little way – and it was quite cute." Ayeka states what to her was blatantly obvious and watches as Ryoko's mouth opens and a confused expression crosses her face. From what she saw Vegeta was trying to make a lighter and more jovial mood. This is not something that was being hidden from Ryoko at all.

Ryoko frowns. What Ayeka says does make some sense. Vegeta has always liked to strike up arguments for fun, the man thrives from conflict, it does not mean she liked it any more however. She haughtily flicks her hair and pretends she already knew that as she sits down next to Ayeka. The princess looks across to the scowling rogue and decides to leave things be as she picks up her book. Golden eyes start to bore away at the metal door. Acting playful with her; she is playful towards him so much of the time for nothing and the time he decides to play back she is not in the mood. Ryoko fidgets. Ayeka ignores the distraction beside her and focuses on her book. The stillness in the room is disturbed as Sasami comes skipping and smiling into the house. She saw Ryoko from outside and now that everyone is awake her time in the kitchen doing what she loves can begin anew. Breakfast has already been had by half the household yet the other half were not awake then and she knows Vegeta would never say no to her cooking and so she prepares the second breakfast of the day.

Metal swings open with a loud thud and two pairs of eyes dart expectantly towards the training room. Trunks waves at them as he casually strolls out. He is hungry for breakfast. Powering down, his hair falls and turns lavender and he goes into the kitchen following Sasami. The door to the training room is left ajar. Unlike his son, Vegeta powers up further so that his blonde hair falls down to his waist and his blue eyes look out to the two women. He steps up towards the door. Ryoko stands and glares at him. Vegeta returns the stare and looks down at her outfit. He smirks before the metal door closes and Ryoko sits down with a confident smirk upon her own face. She messes with the open front of her dress so that it conceals more and yawns. Her eyes close and she begins to nap next to Ayeka until her long awaited breakfast finally comes.

The kitchen in Vegeta's house was never designed to easily seat 10 people. Thankfully not all of them are dining, Washu, Ayeka, Sasami and Misaki have no need to eat for a second time before lunch. Ryoko comfortably lounges at the head of the table, stealing Vegeta's seat from him since he has not ceased training yet and ignores the eyes upon her apparel. Only one person asks about her weird manner of dress and that one person is the one ignorant to the surrounding events. Misaki is curious and seats herself next to the head of the table, as is her usual place, and smiles at Ryoko. The pirate is greedily filling her face and pauses. She offhandedly tells her that it is one of Earth's strange fashions that she is trying out. Misaki has no reason to not believe her and accepts that answer. Washu senses the frayed nerves of Ryoko and creates her own little distraction with a display of affection towards her fiancé. She feeds Yamcha and is not shy about how she does so in front of everyone else. Misaki laps up all this lovey-dovey behaviour and wishes the pair all the best.

His hair is back to its natural hue as Vegeta walks into the room. His seat is taken by a woman in a dress he shredded. Vegeta walks over to the table and stands next to the unseated Ayeka as he picks up food from the table and eats stood up. Sasami scolds him on not eating properly and the prince ignores her, feline eyes are locked onto him and their presence keeps his attention. At his side Ayeka moves to face him, he knows what is coming next and she knows that he is aware. She compliments him on his hard work training and how she is proud of him with a faint blush seeping into her cheeks. He nods, reaches out to her and removes the translating glasses. Vegeta tells her he prefers her without them as he can see her face better, he does not say the truth that he dislikes them as normally they are used to overcome someone's physical incapacity to see.

' Do not force yourself into this. Saying those words out of some sense of duty is meaningless to the both of us. Remember what you said about me and my calculated actions.' Words telepathically enter Ayeka's head, Vegeta privately communicates to her on the matter of her following her mother's advice. She understands. She did tell him how she disliked seeing the cunning and thought behind his acts towards her, how it seemed all planned out and not due to emotion, and here she is doing the same thing.

Plates clear quickly, as is the norm concerning Sasami's scrumptious delicacies. Before anyone else can think about moving Trunks vanishes and has zipped off to have a fly about for fun. Mihoshi makes a joke that she had a fashionably torn outfit when she was a teenager and the joke falls flat as no-one dares to laugh at Ryoko. The Saiyan finishes off all the remaining scraps of food and as he motions to leave the Queen of Jurai calls to him.

" It is not advisable or wise to train on a full stomach."

"I am a Saiyan, my stomach is never full."

Misaki's attempt to hold back Vegeta from his obsessions fails, she can see how much trouble her daughter has in dealing with a man with so many quick retorts. Ryoko makes a disparaging scoffing sound as Vegeta exits the room and she kicks her feet up onto the table. Today she will make sure that her simple ability to taste does not appease her mood enough to let Vegeta easily off the hook. Ayeka helps Sasami clear up and Ryoko sees the elder member of Juraian royalty observing her, Misaki then warmly smiles.

"Congratulations are in order. A little birdie has told me the good news that like my daughter you are also engaged to Vegeta." She congratulates Ryoko despite being told how the pirate's and her daughter's future with Vegeta are mutually exclusive. Ayeka stiffens in the background. Slit-like pupils narrow on the mother and Ryoko stares for a few seconds, flaring her nostrils with each breath.

"What of it?" In a standoffish manner, Ryoko responds. The nosy woman who last time engaged Ayeka to Vegeta is not someone Ryoko feels like casually chatting to about her own personal issues. She looks away, disinterested, and rocks back on her chair.

"I'm sorry, have I done something to offend you? Do you not like me being here, for I am sensing some hostility from you." Misaki does not let the conversation drop. She is being treated in a rude manner which she does not deserve and the whole air around Ryoko put quite a dampener on this entire second breakfast that only out of politeness did she not address. Feline eyes flash back to her, Misaki holds her glare.

"Maybe."

" … Or maybe it was not me who has upset you. Silly men doing stupid things can always make for a foul mood."

Perceptiveness is not a trait necessary to see who Ryoko's grumpiness was directed mostly towards, Misaki could read the room. The other women, and Yamcha, still seated at the dining table shift about uneasily. Misaki is unknowingly playing a dangerous game. One final look of derision is the penalty to her question. Ryoko has teleported from the room. She will not have that conversation, she will not indulge the queen's curiosity. Ayeka lets out a breath she had been holding in and continues with the dishes. The Queen is puzzled by this behaviour. There is something going on that she is not being made aware of. This elephant in the room she will uncover. Misaki looks towards her friend and Washu simply shakes her head in response with a knowing look on her face.

An annoyed sigh is released from the broad back facing her. Vegeta stands by the console to his training room in the middle of some warm up stretches when an invasive ki enters his room. His finger hovering over the dial for the artificial gravity retracts and he turns to face the intruder. Ryoko has flown right up close to him, those golden orbs of hers scanning every inch of his face, she cocks her head to the side and thinks to herself.

"If you're having trouble seeing then I'm sure Ayeka will lend you those glasses she's been wearing."

"You're toying with me, aren't you?" Straight and to the point she asks him about what Ayeka said concerning his change in behaviour, ignoring the jest he made towards her stern observation of him. Ryoko looms over him with her flight and levitation. She bares her fangs.

"And why would I be doing such a thing?" Vegeta innocently shrugs with his usual poker face letting nothing escape.

"Stop. Stop it. You are messing with me, don't. I. Don't. Like. It."

A hand grabs the front of his vest and a fiery hot sword firmly thuds against his large forehead. Ryoko is getting sick and tired of having to threaten a man who she cannot harm. Her breath catches as she feels a hand gripping the open front of her own outfit. His hand has been there before. She loosens her hold as she looks down at Vegeta's hand on the tank-top she is only wearing for modesty's sake. Ryoko's sword vanishes, she closes her eyes and calmly tells Vegeta to let go of her. They both detach from the other, the pirate lands and after a few deep breaths she reopens her eyes.

"I'm beginning to think it might be this dress that gets you riled up and all handsy. So, what d'ya think of it? It was too dark for you to see your handiwork so have a good gander."

Ryoko sardonically jests about him responding to her own threat and touching her and twirls about in her ripped dress. It felt incredibly unpleasant to have him touch her like he did. She wants him to comment on her choice of outfit, praise and compliments would not go amiss neither would a heartfelt apology. Ryoko is wearing this to make a statement for him to hear and it is taking a lot out of her to make that statement as loud as possible.

Her bare arm crosses over her chest. His eyes are upon her and she cannot help but defensively cover this tear in her striped dress. Vegeta looks her up and down, from her wild shock of hair to her brown boots. She keeps her focus on his face. What she wants is not appearing on his expression, not that she held much hope that it would. Vegeta sees the only physical scars remaining of his failure, bar those on his corresponding outfit, and he sees the posture of this woman trying to appear so very brave and confident. He has no verbal response to her attire. Vegeta simply nods. Ryoko wants more than a single nod. Wearing this is taking a lot of effort and it must be acknowledged. She clears her throat, Vegeta glances behind him at the training console and his one chance from her is gone.

"Say something. Or what, too horrified, too guilt-shamed or too dumbstruck by my beauty to speak, monkey boy!" She stomps her feet and throws a racist slur at him. Ryoko is not going to be ignored or leave him to train in peace till she is acknowledged. She is here before him and not backing down.

"I can smell it again. Your fear." Vegeta's keen senses are overwhelmingly picking up the main side-effect of Ryoko wearing that dress for him. He states as such. Her bravado and aggression do not hide it. His muscular arms cross and he looks down to the bottom of her dress to confirm he did indeed never touch the lower half of Ryoko.

A harsh and half-snarl of an exhalation breaks Ryoko's lips and one of her legs tentatively starts edging away from the Saiyan speaking the truth. Gold battles against unmoving and cold black. She is indeed fearful of him as she forces herself to display the ruins, baring the skin that he exposed and showing off the arm she had to regrow. Ryoko smiles. Her retreating leg comes back and she takes a step forward. This fear will not control her. Those piercing pupils of Vegeta are not scorning her or aggressively trying to destroy her. Staring deep she can see the underlying challenge and she accepts it for Vegeta will not win against her. He is getting good at calling out her feelings. She reaches out with her bare arm and holds his chin with her thumb, her touch is light and she uses no force.

"Congratulations. You want an award? You want suck-up Ayeka to give you a standing ovation? Yeah, I am scared wearing this. So what?" He knows more than anybody how she is facing her fears head on and suffering for it, she continues to read his eyes. Vegeta is daring her to stand up against him and what he did for her. She will dare him back to walk the line of this conversation, to successfully navigate it without purposefully enraging her and to not back down from her. Her fingers brush against his neck. Ryoko could grip his throat and throttle him like he did her. She tells herself that she is the one in control now, the one with the advantage.

"You stank of it throughout the whole night. The reek was sickening."

"And you'll smell it again tonight. … Breathe in the fresh air of what you did to me." Ryoko opens her mouth wide and lets out a long breath straight into Vegeta's face and chuckles to herself. Her crippling phobia shone through strong throughout the night and she cannot deny that, she was a mess and she let Vegeta see that as she lent on his unbuckling self as a crutch. She smiles with him as he hears her resolute words on not surrendering to the darkness or the man who maimed her. Ryoko flutters her eyelashes and feigns a delicate and timid demeanour and speaks mockingly in a girlish voice. "Take responsibility for your oh-so cruel actions towards me, Lord Vegeta."

"You're not going to be getting breakfast in bed tomorrow either." He pushes away the hand touching him. Vegeta responds to her teasing with teasing of his own. This is more akin to a woman he can perceive as an equal for a relationship and not the fear-stricken child which bawled at the night. He respects the great courage she can find to continually rise up against him and challenge him after what he did to her. The testing push he gave is met with a shove of her own. A hard glint shines in her predatory eyes.

"I will if I ask nicely. And, Vegey, don't throw a hissy-fit when I tell you to shine. You dare to do that again to me … Why the fuck would you say that? You know how much I hate you and how scared I was. Why'd you mock me? I will never take any more of your sadistic shit. Treat me as kind and as gentle as you would pretty princess; unless I specifically say otherwise."

" … Fine. You are not the only one who has troubled sleep."

The pirate shrugs. He has confessed a secret to her that she did not expect yet it is not going to be earning him any free passes, she cannot be bought out by learning they both have nightmares. She was insulted at a time she was reaching out to him for support and this is no excuse to her. Ryoko shakes her head in dismissal and disapprovingly looks at the Saiyan. He shall not mistreat her or demean her. The only amount of forgiveness she can find to charitably give to him is the fact that she was excessively waking him up throughout the night and he barely gets enough sleep to begin with. This night it will have to be different.

" You don't dream about me, so I don't care whether it was Kakarot, Frieza or Bulma. That isn't good enough. Go on and say it: ' Saiyans hate weakness'. You snapped at me because of that smell of my fear, because you cannot stand the sight of me being so weak next to you – because of you. I ain't weak, Vegeta. I'm just an idiot stuck with you." Ryoko turns about and starts walking towards the exit. She has voiced her displeasure with him now and heard what he will say on the matter, now she wants something more enjoyable to do than talk about her phobias. There is no fun to be had here and her want to talk to Vegeta has waned.

" You're not demanding some exorbitant price or even an apology?"

He calls out to her back. A silent exit with no loud demands from her is aberrant behaviour on her part, he doubts she has matured that suddenly. It might be welcome to him not having to barter with her on every whim and wish she wants in recompense but Vegeta knows that this will come back to bite him if not addressed. Ryoko stops. She does not bother glancing back at him to give her answer.

"Why should I? Your best is seemingly quite meaningless like it always is and I don't even listen now when you say you're sorry." Resignation and not maturation is the reason she is walking away from him now. He has yielded much to her but still she wants more, she is unsatisfied and her forgiveness is still not won. Most of the time she has asked of him for something she has hurt herself on some double edged blade whilst blind from emotion and rage. She begins walking again and goes to open the metal door. He has not said anything she wants to hear.

" What colour?"

Metal warps from an involuntary tensing. Vegeta confidently smirks. Enough context exists for Ryoko to perfectly understand what his two word question refers to and it has sunk its hooks in her. This mood of hers will be cured before she leaves and potentially does something ill-advised. Vegeta senses a large amount of ill will being sent his way. The pirate slowly releases the partially crushed door handle and quietly cackles to herself. There exists one thing she has asked for that he can wield to devastating effect. Ryoko sees he is not through toying with her yet. Malicious ideas of revenge flirt through the back of her mind. She does not turn around still.

"You are such a funny, little man. Make Ryoko dance by poking and prodding at her hopes and dreams. It's not original any-more, you need new material – or new techniques if you wanna call it that."

"What kind of wedding dress do you want to wear?"

"I said no to your teasing."

"Well it's just that the traditional white doesn't suit a character such as yourself."

Hackles have risen and teeth bare themselves. That is a bold insult hurled at her. She shakes her head to herself and teleports backwards to see the smirk of a man very amused with himself. This is not a joke she appreciates. She is purposefully wearing the torn rags of his sexual assault on her and he is making a jest about her purity. Five seconds are given to him to retract his words. Vegeta raises a smug eyebrow during that time. She shakes her head again. That same challenge is burning within his black pupils and she will not back down from it. Ryoko lets a dark grin split her face.

"The rapist is calling me a slut, how precious. Ayeka was right. You're a real piece of work wanting to do this for fun. … I can wear white if I want to, I can do anything if I want to do it and if you feel like repeating what you just said then, well … I'll be wearing your damn balls as earrings. We can do away with them. Good thing Washu healed you or my outfit would turn out unfashionably asymmetric." Purring out her threats and grinning from ear to ear, Ryoko stands over Vegeta as indignant fires burn in her eyes. She moves no muscle to touch him. She keeps both her distance and her temper.

Vegeta still smirks despite angering Ryoko. For disguised beneath her scowling eyes he can spy a glow to her cheeks, upon her lips he sees the nuances of happiness tainting her evil grin and her elfin ears are not raised but in a relaxed position against the side of her head. He has angered her by openly insulting her sexual history but he has also got her mind dichotomously working on the other subject. Ryoko is happy that he wants to discuss her wedding dress with her. She is happy that he, even though in a teasing manner, is opting to keep a conversation with her going rather than letting her leave so that he can train. They have talked previously about her past so she knows his insult is meaningless and not something he believes, he just wanted to get her attention – and he has got it. However, she will keep the pressure on him for he is still trying to toy with her.

" Why did you complain when you're already enjoying yourself so much?" The Saiyan states her true feelings again. They are both playing games with the other. He has got Ryoko to stand in a confident manner. He has got her to focus on his words and this verbal game and she has forgotten about her outfit. She is not giving off a smell of fear any more. Vegeta haughtily looks at her.

" Two small and insignificant payments and your debt goes bye-bye. But wait, I haven't charged you for interest yet. Your interest in Ayeka, that is. That does not come cheap. Praise me, say I'm your favourite, that I'm the most beautiful. That or it's time Frieza's runaway pet gets the snip." The idea of disarming him of the weapon that threatened and hurt her is amusing for her to play with and dangle in his face. She was mutilated and lost part of her body and so she sees karma in this. Ryoko watches him bristle at her last insult about his time as a slave and sniggers. His bestial side was the one that attacked her so she shall attack it and treat him like the monkey that has no control over.

"Castration is not for this prince."

"Why not? With Washu about it's hardly like it's a permanent thing. Now here comes the test, Vegey: they ain't gonna do me any good, I've got no use for them." Her tone sobers and her posture becomes rigid and tight. She can joke about the usefulness of Washu and her machines but she brings it back down to one matter concerning one machine. The coup-de-grace he used to finish her with. He always has a plan and in this talk so did she, her threats about his genitalia were designed to lead back to this issue that he has reassured her about many times.

Her infertility is set as the opponent for Vegeta to not only defeat but do so effortlessly and with great care. The Juraian princess will never be called the 'Fertile One' to her face again. She will challenge him to see how good he can be with his forked tongue. Her vanity and great pride she takes in her appearance and beauty will not let any physical issue about her be ignored, and this is a big one. Misaki might be about but she has no want to ever end up like that. Ryoko has no maternal goals or desires and she believes Vegeta to be too selfish to care that much about future children. She wants to hear him say it, to speak kind words to her, words intended to soothe her that he did not say during the night. He shall console her as he failed to do during the night.

" I still haven't heard any thanks from you for destroying that machine."

The Saiyan stands there with his arms crossed and nonchalant. There is no test for him. Her challenge has been swatted aside with his own attack on the issue. It means nothing to him and so he treats it as thus, showing clearly to her he pays no mind to their differences in genetics. No fanfare and no delicacy. That was effortless like she wanted. Ryoko would have preferred showers of compliments and flattery but this she accepts. She nods her head and begins to think. This is not something she has thought about - the what-if of if she had gone through with changing her species – and she has little information to work with. Ryoko cocks her head to the side. It is curious to her how he never speaks positively about what could have happened then, she offered him the chance of a female Saiyan and he turned it down. The reasons she knows; Vegeta prioritises her own safety far above any desire of his for her to join him as a Saiyan. This she also likes, even if his want was ultimately in vain.

" … Why? … Would it've been worse? I know it could've been so don't spout your little excuses but if- if I had done that would it have been worse for me?" She questions what his predictions for this hypothetical are. It is weird for her to think on this. To think what he could have unwittingly saved her from. It does not sound right to her.

" Your season would have hindered you fleeing me, or possibly another."

Vegeta is no expert on the subject of Saiyan women but he can safely assume Ryoko's life would have been in an even more precarious situation had she been turned. Knowing how Washu thinks there is no doubt that she would have planned to synchronise their mating periods. Ryoko would have had to go into exile and with her having no control over her mind and being able to sense his great power from any distance she could teleport they would have met sooner rather than later. Her body and his would have wanted the same and his sadism would have still broken her. That or the possibility that she sensed Goku or Gohan and with no rational mind sought them out. Vegeta does not sugar coat these predictions. He was correct in destroying that machine. Ryoko dismissively waves her hand. That piece of morbid curiosity can leave now.

"Why didn't you give me breakfast in bed today? I expect it tomorrow, I'd settle for a humble maid of Ayeka serving me to cover your failings. … Ayeka hasn't told you when hers are yet has she? I want to know when you're paying for my dress." Smiling, Ryoko heard what Vegeta said but reverts back to talking about her wishes and wants rather than that dark time. This she can have fun with, this is nice and normal. He got her to stay by talking about her wedding dress and she desires to hear more, for him to discuss this with her like a couple. She lifts her feet and begins to hover.

The room gets hotter as Vegeta ascends to Super Saiyan 3 for the sake of some minimal training whilst humouring Ryoko. He yields as little as he can as they thrust and parry in a joking conversation. She tries to learn about Earth's dresses and fashions and what is on offer, this is something he knows nothing on and deflects with the fact that he can pay for any tailored made outfit she can think of. Ryoko is not fond of such a lazy answer and attacks him by asking on the one wedding dress he does know of. The Saiyan is swift in responding that she asked to never be compared to Bulma and so would not want that kind of bridal gown. They go on trading backhanded compliments and sarcastic jests for a good few minutes until Vegeta's apparent impatience becomes something Ryoko cannot ignore any longer. She feels better now, much better after such a horrid night that she has managed a normal talk with her fiancé and that her deepest want is going to be fulfilled by him. No goodbyes are said as she vanishes from the room.

Weight increases and mass stays constant. Brow-less eyes close and concentrate on perfectly channelling ki. He speaks a command and the computer obeys him. Ryoko should be no problem until Misaki begins to intervene, his part is played. 100G is not much to him, especially not when he is transformed, but going higher would be extremely reckless as tiles become dark green grass and a pink form beats on its chest. Vegeta smirks. He has learnt this opponents moves well when training with his son, as he has the many other simulations, yet Buu is still incredibly dangerous. A blast disintegrates the top half of the howling Majin. Vegeta's roars are joined by Kid Buu's as the insane monstrosity regenerates itself. Being able to control this form the battle is less of a race, he can pace himself and the energy he uses. It feels like striking gloopy and viscous clay each time he lands a successful blow. Buu never stops. No physical injury deters the mindless destroyer. Clouds of steam rise off the amorphous foe's back and Vegeta's breaths become heavy. The prince cannot block all the attacks aimed at him, Buu simply morphs and forms around and through his defences and it costs too much ki to repulse it every time.

Blue eyes widen in horror. Vegeta raises two fingers to his forehead and instant-transmissions towards the main console. His hand stays where it is, his teeth grit, he does not have the time to deactivate the simulation and gravity. A form is materialising in the air and Buu is heading straight for it with several ki blasts racing off ahead of it and towards this fresh target. The Saiyan barks a command to the console as he reappears in Buu's path and raises a barrier to block the charges of ki. He reaches a hand out behind him and firmly wraps it around the intruder and then uses his other to support their spine. His hastily thrown up barrier cracks but holds fast, in this supersonic battle he has to stall for his voice to reach and register with the training console. Vegeta secures his grip and uses their contact with his body to infuse them with his radiated ki so that the effects of the gravity should be lessened. A foot bursts out from the ground, Buu has stomped and stretched his burrowing leg to attack underneath the barrier. Instant-transmissioning again he distances himself and kicks out at a small offshoot blob of Buu skulking on the floor.

Teleporting about with his ward occupying both his hands and handicapping his motions, the Saiyan prince finds himself outpaced and a thick tendril wraps itself around his neck. Vegeta smirks. He can hold his breath for the split second remaining. He reaches his target and the many dangers of the training room evaporate. Vegeta takes a deep breath and relaxes his hold on the woman in his arms. She slumps heavily onto his chest and shoulder and lets out a loud pained groan. Her joints and tendons burn, her head aches terribly and her ears are ringing. Vegeta removes his hand bracing her spine and raises her head, looks into her eyes and checks for any signs of a concussion. The feline pupils of hers narrow in response to the light shining from him and she tries to move away but her muscles are not cooperating properly. Her feet find their footing and she slouches against him as a puzzled expression crosses her face.

Ryoko does not move. She frowns but this is not due to her body suffering from a split-second of high gravity and being moved about by Vegeta at great speed. She coughs and things begin to click. It is bitter, it has a quality akin to what she now associates with red meats, and it is hot, and … 'well, not all that different from normal blood'. Retches follow. A horrified sound comes from her open mouth as she tries to rid herself of the fluid in her mouth. Ryoko is freaking out realising that she is tasting her own blood for the first time. Strong hands grasp her shoulders to steady her and she defensively tries to phase her body as the touch of a Saiyan already has a strong association for her with blood. She is wearing a torn outfit, her body in pain, a Saiyan before her and she can taste her own blood dripping in her mouth. Stumbling, she begins to hover and continues coughing. Then, as quickly as she came, Ryoko teleports out and far away. Vegeta hopes that Ryoko has some portion of the same white knight fantasy that Ayeka enjoys as he has no idea what caused her bizarre reaction or why she appeared in the first place.

The training room door swings open and Vegeta's son stands there slowly clapping. Trunks looks at the few wounds dotting his father and confidently states that his fusion of Gotenks could have taken Buu down before Ryoko made her mistake. The father makes a derisive snort and asks Trunks about his own strength, and Trunks shrugs and transforms and challenges his father to test it for himself once he has caught his breath. They smile at each other. Vegeta descends down to Super Saiyan 2 so that he can spar properly with his training partner, with his child. An open palm shoots a testing blast at the prodigal child and Trunks catches it in both of his hands. It pushes him back but with a blast of his own he fires it back to its sender where Vegeta cancels it out. A sparring match begins betwixt the two. The training is nowhere near as intense as what they went through within the year they spent together. Father and son are having fun. They are enjoying each other's company and spending more time together than they usually do. Vegeta then spies a set of eyes looking at him with disapproval. Apparently today his training room is open to everyone as Misaki stands in the still open doorway as father and son engage in another bout; she does not like to see any child be in harms way or hurt. She does however manage to catch the glimpses of smiles on their faces as they dart about at incredible speeds and so will not speak out against how someone else parents their child. A strong punch floors Trunks and he winces on the ground. Now Misaki will speak out.

"Would his mother be happy with your aggressive conduct towards her sweet darling?"

Her strong feelings on this matter of hitting children allows her to stoop to this low level of emotional blackmail. Misaki watches as Trunks re-engages with his father whilst she condemns this activity. Neither appear to be listening to her. She is a queen and her audience shall pay her heed, she counts them as family and so they should also respect her opinion. She clears her throat. The son attempts to lock his father's arm but a pulse of ki detaches his grip and then Vegeta repays his efforts. Misaki scowls at them from the doorway.

If she tried a different approach she may have gotten somewhere but neither Vegeta nor Trunks will talk to someone who dares to use Bulma against them like that. They are purposefully ignoring her for her comment and brawl in front of her. Misaki is not happy with this and her want to intervene and stop Vegeta is rising. A foot catches the shin of Vegeta only for Trunks to be pinned to the floor under the full weight of his father. Pressing down on a pressure point, a Saiyan prince immobilises his child and his smile grows as his son in spite of this never yields to him or attempts to end the match. Trunks struggles for freedom against his far superior and far stronger father. The Queen of Jurai takes a long stride into the room and towers over the Saiyans sprawled on the tiles.

"Look, dad, it's the weirdo who tried touching me like Ryoko tries with you. I think I'll spar with her instead. She needs the training." Trunks cranes his neck as best as he can in his restrained position and sees whether a conversation will provide him any distraction he can utilise to escape his father. He grins impishly and more strength pins him down.

"No. Give me a hug, not a fight. I won't raise my hand to an innocent child. Why won't you be nice to your Nana?" Misaki is pouting now. Making the same face her youngest daughter would when sulking she bemoans her rebellious potential grandchild. She can see the physical pain he is in and her extreme maternal feelings have become unchained.

She bends down over the Super Saiyan 2 pair and looks Vegeta in the eye. He looks straight back. Misaki places a hand on his shoulder. His skin is hot to the touch but this does not dissuade her. Through their blazing and sparking auras her pony-tailed hair wafts wildly about and her loose trousers billow. She pushes. The Saiyan prince is not moved by her strength. He watches with cold eyes as she tries to intervene. There is no fear in her as she contends with his might to remove him from his son so that Trunks is no longer being hurt. She does not notice one free hand on the floor make its way towards her. She pays no thought to her own danger, she is purely focused on saving Trunks and stopping this bout. Trunks lightly prods her ankle and Misaki falls to the floor, he does not want her to rescue him or stop him having fun with his dad.

"You ain't my anything, not till dad makes up his mind on her behind you."

The Queen rises into a seated position and pouts some more at the hybrid Saiyan before scolding him for his misbehaviour and violent misconduct towards her. Her ankle is sore now and she rubs at it. She is upset at him rejecting her as family again. Vegeta stands to release his son so that their match can begin anew. He blocks all incoming attacks as his son hovers at eye level with him and hails a constant barrage of blows down on him. His bright blue eyes do not need to keep track of his son's relentless strikes, instead he is looking towards the doorway and the next invader that his son noticed but Misaki has not. This intruder at least has common courtesy and so does not enter. Misaki rises to her feet and impatiently taps them. She grumbles to herself about her dissatisfaction. Vegeta takes a sudden step forward and his head rams into his son's, stunning the boy, and with a gentle toss the father silences Misaki's complaints as her arms tighten in a death grip around her grandchild. She smothers and cuddles the dazed Trunks and coos as she rubs her face against his. A small chuckle comes from the doorway. Vegeta has already transformed back to Super Saiyan 3 and trains by channelling his ki.

"Is my mother bothering you Lord Vegeta? I'll find Ryo-Ohki to distract her if you want and ... how did you get injured?"

Ayeka watched her mother trying to interfere with Trunks and Vegeta's training and how she is making herself a nuisance to the Saiyans; she jokes about how easy it is to pacify the queen of Jurai and at this her mother somewhat looks but her attention is still on the child she will not let go of. The princess sees wounds marring Vegeta, they are fresh and not something that his son could cause. One light in the room extinguishes itself. Trunks cannot stay Super Saiyan 2 in Misaki's clutches for too long without hurting her. He has reluctantly relinquished himself to her warm and loving embrace, telling himself that this appeasement should stop her pestering him but in truth he is a child who has missed such affection since the death of his mother.

"I was fighting a simulation of Buu, however Ryoko intervened." The prince states this and solemnly nods at the pirate's rival as Ayeka's eyes widen at this bad news. Misaki is far too distracted with her gift of a grandchild to notice the tone with which Vegeta says something about Ryoko which she pays no attention to.

Her red eyes glance in an anxious fashion behind her to check for any signs of Ryoko. Ayeka saw how confrontational Ryoko's attitude was this morning and if she got involved in some dangerous training and something happened to her then all bets are off as to how she is coping. Her mother is joking about, laughing at how there are not many who she can unleash her full strength hug on as she delights in bonding with Trunks. Ayeka makes a small motion with one hand and taps at her temple with one slender finger. A communication link opens and Vegeta telepathically relays how Ryoko teleported in, he protected her and then she freaked out and teleported far away. This is not going to make keeping the secret of Vegeta's season any easier.

"What is a Buu?" Misaki fills the small silence that had settled with a basic question. From what she has heard there is something strong enough that it damaged Vegeta and as Queen of Jurai learning of such a potent threat is her sworn duty. Her arms are then pushed aside as Trunks escapes her. Having had enough of her suffocating smothering he floats away and stands next to his dad. Misaki makes a sad and dejected sound and motions for him to return to her, he declines her invitation.

"An ancient creation that can regenerate from every attack and according to a particularly idiotic Kai was at least 1,000 times stronger than Frieza, not that it matters."

"You should heal yourself, Lord Vegeta. It would be better to keep yourself healthier so that you can train harder." She still has not entered his demesne, the princess hears his great confidence and yet the physical evidence of his wounds remain. Ayeka sees no reason why he always has to carry his injuries about until they accumulate to something serious. His body would not be so scarred if he treated it with some respect. She does not like him getting hurt, him parading around with his fresh battle scars makes it all the worse and he has no excuse for not seeking some quick treatment from their resident scientist.

"I won't become overly reliant on Washu for every scratch and scrape." Time spent healing is time wasted as far as Vegeta's pride and obsession is concerned. She could not persuade him over a broken leg and so some minor and shallow damage to his skin is not going to move him. Next to him his son makes a loud and obviously fake cough and says the name of the Namekian guardian of the Earth for Washu is not the only option. The Saiyan looks down at his son, his son is choosing the wrong subject to play games with. "Dende is not overly fond of me, and I do not need healing for minor wounds."

"Son, listen. Your training regime is upsetting my daughter. She worries for you and hates seeing you in pain." The mother stands by her daughter's correct opinion on Vegeta's recklessness. If this is making her Ayeka unhappy then she shall confront him about it. She looked after herself when she was training for there is no point she sees to strengthening something whilst at the same time breaking it. Behind her Ayeka nods, though is embarrassed by her mother so loudly voicing her feelings.

"I know where this is going, training is important and so is resting, injuring myself impedes my efforts and I should take it easier in the manner of Kakarot and train with my son more to help improve myself. I've seen the data my wife compiled on the issue. I acknowledge that my training might not be as efficient as it can be and the reason for this is psychological. I have to train, I cannot rest. I am a Saiyan. I have to beat Kakarot. There will be no rest until I am content with my power as the strongest being in the universe."

The easier path is not one a Saiyan will choose. Unlike most beings it is not as detrimental for him to get wounded whilst training, the more wounds he has the more challenging it becomes and pushing through that is what he deems as being a Saiyan. It is ultimately detrimental to his end goal. Exhaustion and fatigue constantly drain his ki reserves and without his body being given the least amount of time to recover his gains from his training lessen. Vegeta made his choice about his method of training long ago. Ayeka has tried to minimise his training before and she will fail just the same. He will pursue his life's work how he deems fit, how he as a Saiyan should – the hardest possible route that taxes his body immensely.

"Vegeta, if you know this already then surely it is in your interest to train smarter and not harder. I don't want you to fail your goal due to you making this foolish mistake."

Ayeka is not happy with his stubbornness. He has just plainly admitted that she is right and is refusing to accept her sensible guidance of not continually destroying his own body. This is not a battle she feels she can win. She wants to support him but she will not support idiocy done purely in the name of his unequivocal pride. Vegeta steps towards her and she watches. Her fountains of purple hair start to rustle as he nears her. She does not appreciate this obvious tactic of his, this physical intimidation by proximity that seems to be second nature to her prince.

"Smarter, huh? The most efficient way for me to gain power is through the abuse of a Saiyan's Zenkai ability. I could let my son train by beating me repeatedly to death's door and then I heal and my power would rise. Is this the smarter alternative you want? My training has changed. My son is my training partner, and I his, but resting about like that buffoon is not a change I can make prior to the tournament."

"How much sleep did you get last night?" Not letting his hyperbole get to her as he tries to make her request seem ludicrous, she quickly fires off a question to further emphasise her point. She can feel his warm heat washing over her and her fingers tingle from the energy in the surrounding air. He shall not be budged on his training, she will still speak and if he wants to use extremes then she can use the extreme of last night; her mother's early arrival and Ryoko's nightmares devastated what little time he usually sets aside to actually resting.

"Maybe 3 hours at most and to answer your next question I intend for 18 hours of training. Though this lack of sleep is not down to my own choice, 5 to 6 hours is my norm." Those are the rough ratios he has lived his life by for a decade: three quarters devoted to training and the other quarter to sleep. He and his wife have spent hours reciting the same points and counter points to each other over this. Every ounce of strength that he can put into training he will. He sees that Ayeka knew of her loss before this talk began. She is saying what she feels to him, she is not hiding her opinions away behind courtesy or apologising for attempting to intrude into how he lives his own life. One planned motion has him delicately remove a loose eyelash from her face whilst in his most dangerous form. This power and control he has is due to his ceaseless training. "I will do everything within my power to grow stronger and destroy what limits I currently have. My training will not be altered because of your feelings."

"... That is unsatisfactory." She reaches out and gently touches the hand that touched her, not so much that she is holding his hand but a light presence on a few of his worn and callused knuckles. Her eyes and his stay fixed on the other for several seconds. Ayeka breaks it off, taking her hand back and averting her eyes. Her fully revealed un-fringed face makes her feel the Saiyan's intense stare to a greater degree than her naturally self conscious self already does. Then she sees her mother in the background and her self consciousness begins to show on her face.

Misaki smiles for her daughter is growing into quite the woman, and a woman in love at that. Her own husband is springing into her mind seeing Vegeta not give a fraction of an inch, uncompromising and stern and she shall tease her own beloved with this when she has the chance. Uncompromising men can be swayed, first, however, she needs to know Vegeta better and his views on his training. Her daughter will always have her as her steadfast ally.

" Goku did not appear to have the same strict training regime as yourself, if he is your rival you wish to surpass then why not take a leaf out of his book and adopt some of his methods?"

"He trains with others, with Kais in other-world, without my training room or its abilities. All he is is a naturally blessed fool with the mind of a genius when it comes to battle. My power shall only come from myself, all my techniques I created on my own unlike him who had to be taught them. And do not be fooled, his training is rigorous and extensive, and also highly detrimental to his family life." Vegeta is curt in his response to the queen, asking him to be more like the man who stole his destiny and honour is not something he shall even contemplate. That option does not exist for him and he believes that if he were to do the same as Goku the gap between their powers would increase.

"You have mentioned these Kais before, who are they for you seem to dislike them?"

Choosing to ignore his rudeness to her for she senses that Goku is not someone she should bring up, Misaki asks her second question for clarification. She can deduct that these Kais have to be powerful for Goku to seek them out for training and Vegeta's dislike of them has to stem from more than the simple fact that they have helped to strengthen his rival.

"At best they are stewards governing the universe from Other-World, at worst they are perverted old men and pathetic imbeciles that only intervene when their own lives are in danger." He gives a rough enough answer as he turns about to half-face Misaki. Being able to give phenomenal power to someone who has not worked for it and accepting his wife as a price is unforgivable to the Saiyan prince, off the top off his head he can poke dozens of holes in the plan they had to stop Buu. Misaki's mouth is hanging open. Shock is written across her face. Vegeta now recalls the highly religious nature of Juraians and what subject matter the queen has accidentally diverted them onto.

" Are you talking about gods? You personally know of gods?"

"Mortal, weak, idiots. They are prone to making severe errors in judgement. I would never give them the satisfaction of calling them deities for they are failures. The only enemy they interfered with was Buu since it could kill them. They allowed Frieza unopposed, they allowed me, they are no beings worthy of worship."

No Tsunami is mentioned, neither did he speak of her during her last visit, Misaki is taking a hard inspection of her faith in the Juraian religion. Mortality does not sit well with her images of the divine, neither does Vegeta's apt points that the galaxy was optionally left to fend off Frieza with no aid. She is confused. Her mother is the smartest person she knows except for Washu and even Lady Seto never doubted in Tsunami but this sinner speaks from experience. There is an uncharacteristic look of consternation on her face as she tries to deal with the pillars of her faith being undermined. Her daughter then speaks to her conflicted and troubled mother. The weakening pillars become reinforced and stable. She tells of the divided realms and subsections of the afterlife, of how irrefutable evidence of an afterlife should not cause strife and that the Saiyans do not know everything of the realm beyond life. Ayeka reminds her mother that Jurai built its empire on the power bestowed upon them by Tsunami in her forests and trees and that power is still strong and very real.

" Goku passes freely into the afterlife to train, does he not?"

The royal princess is trying to be as diplomatic in this as she possibly can with each side of the coin being one she cares deeply for. Her mother is having a crisis in her belief that she has kept for a very long time and Vegeta is a damned soul who has lost his wife to the afterlife. Misaki is silent and listening. Free passage to see what exists beyond is a reality. She sees both Vegeta and Trunks noticeably stiffen, her prince's aura flares and highlights of blonde race through the roots of his son's lavender hair. Ayeka knows of her mistake before Vegeta begins to answer her ill-thought out question and she curses herself for it.

"Yes, he did. I have not sensed his movement from this planet to there for a very long time but with Instant-Transmission it is easy enough to reach, if you know where to focus on. The living can exist and visit there. … That thought has tormented me for far, far too long. I am damned to hell. I cannot visit Bulma." Out of all the people he knows he exists as the sole individual who is barred the haunting possibility of seeing Bulma one last time. Passage to Other-World is not free and unrestricted for him. A half snarl cuts through Ayeka and Vegeta quickly turns and approaches the one he loves above all others.

" I could. I can go and see mom." Trunks looks up at his father, a coldness to his naturally blue eyes. This statement is highly dangerous.

He has murdered no-one, he can enter Other-World no problem. Vegeta kneels down so he is level with his son. His powerful hands are placed on Trunks' shoulders. He cannot lose his son to this. He will not allow his son to join his wife chasing shadows and to have his mind stolen by a wishful dream. They have been over this together however it is a terribly powerful temptation. The goodbye he never got could be had, to sense her presence, to tell his mother that he loves her, Trunks could do all these things if he removed the barrier of his father. Woes over religion are forgotten and strewn aside as Misaki's blood runs chill and dread becomes embroidered upon her veins. As a mother she cannot stand to see this heart wrenching sight. Her eyes are quickly misting up. A father is having to tell his son that he cannot see his deceased mother. Misaki's tender and loving heart weeps over this scene and she reigns in tight her maternal instincts to not unnecessarily involve herself where she will only make things worse. Vegeta reassuringly squeezes his son and lowers his voice.

"I'm sorry, my son. -"

"I know, you told me, and beat it into me. There's nothing to see, mom doesn't have a body. I'll go there one day though, when I get stronger than you so you can't stop me." Cockily he smirks at his father and stands there until Vegeta's grip lessens. A muffled sniffle comes from Misaki and with that Vegeta ruffles his son's hair and lightly brushes his knuckles against his son's face in a mock punch. The challenge stands. Trunks puts his fist against his father's cheek and jabs, knowing it will not hurt his fully transformed father.

"If … if you need someone to accompany you, for a familiar face to be there with you, I – I could go with you, if you would be comfortable having me with you, for support."

Finally entering the training room, Ayeka hesitantly speaks. If Vegeta cannot be there for his child when Trunks eventually does go through with this then she will make the offer of her company in his stead. She raised this issue so it is her responsibility to see it through. It is something she has to do. Ayeka realises that her love for Vegeta means more than becoming his wife, she wants to join his family and for him to join hers: she is by no means ready for motherhood but she has to be there for Trunks.

His parentage shines through as Trunks does not respond to the kind gesture, like his father he is reluctant to accept help and certainly not around this. He would prefer to go alone. Vegeta rises from his knees and turns about. Whether it was planned or not this Juraian princess has ticked a box that was previously empty. One of the women courting him is actively caring for his child. Ayeka was a fool to bring up passage to Other-World but those words have absolved her in his eyes. She sees his gaze upon herself and wonders whether she did the right thing in speaking during the intimate father-son moment. Vegeta smiles at her, she has done good and he lets her know it. Ayeka hazards a nervous smile back. A proud mother looks on.

"You lot stay inside, Trunks wants to play with the Queen of Jurai." Vegeta is alert and barks this command as he immediately starts to leave his crowded training room.

Misaki jumps at this chance to spend time with her grandson and pounces on this invitation to comfort him following that moving conversation. She assumes that her son-in-law has listened to reason and her daughter's goodwill has got him to take a break from his training. Ayeka does not assume this. Outside the Saiyan can sense two fast approaching ki signatures.

As he expected the one not mentioned by name in his order has disobeyed him and follows him as he exits his house. The younger sibling greets her sister and Washu and the policewomen look to the man striding past them and keeping his stare on the horizon. Another creature senses the arrival. Ryo-Ohki bounces and clambers up the Saiyan prince, perching on his shoulders and calls out to her returning owner who is nothing more than a speck in the distance. Ayeka sensed trouble when her prince voluntarily left his training room and now that she can see who is fast approaching she begins to usher her sister inside under the guise of joining Trunks and their mother in some game.

Boots the same as what Vegeta usually wears touch down and Kiyone knowingly nudges her partner. There is a crack in the tinted visor of his helmet and as soon as he can he releases the criminal. The Great Saiyaman blocks a farewell punch from Ryoko as he looks at Vegeta. Gohan removes his helmet, his cape billows out at his back and Vegeta gets hit by a pang of heartache for this superhero costume was made by his late wife. Vegeta descends down to his base form so that his hair matches that of this other with Saiyan blood. Not saying a word or paying any mind to the small audience, Ryoko has stormed off towards the front of the house and has sullenly sat down on the grass with her head in her knees. The cabbit hops off Vegeta's shoulders and meows at her mistress.

"I caught her after she broke into 3 banks, had to leave Videl behind for her own safety. She didn't take anything, did cause some damage though but thankfully she didn't use her power to hurt someone. And Vegeta, my dad has a few questions for you about the tournament." Not exactly able to hand over a teleporting woman who can fly through walls to the local authorities, Gohan has returned the trouble maker for Vegeta to keep a closer eye on. He was not expecting such levels of ferocity and strength from her as she showcased after he restrained her. Gohan can see she has issues and remembers her embellished story of her past. Every second he flew holding her against her will she bucked and fought tooth and nail to escape from him, screaming for her release and damaging his visor.

"Then he can ask himself. You should fight with us, it'd be nice to have a warm-up before the final." As warm and welcoming as he ever is to people from his rival's family, Vegeta ignores Gohan's message and goads him about betraying his Saiyan blood. There are more important matters at hand than polite conversation with the first Saiyan-Human hybrid.

"That's not my life, can't abandon my patrol as well. Give dad a good match, he's been itching for one for a long time and it's annoying mom." Gohan won't rise to the bait about turning his back on fighting. He is who he is, and he is not a Saiyan, he has his own life to lead and it is not one that revolves solely around fighting. His dad has tried to encourage him into more training but he does not have the time to spare to get a good training regime going. Vegeta cares not for Gohan's words, he will make sure his son does not turn out the same way.

Done with Gohan, he turns his back and the Saiyan prince approaches his fiancée. Ryo-Ohki has not been welcomed and is pawing for attention. Ryoko is not moving from her spot or interacting with anyone. Her mood has plummeted following her impromptu teleportation into his training room. Kiyone is looking in a disapproving manner at this criminal, from this vigilante's description the best she can be labelled as is a vandal since she stole nothing. Her partner has stepped up to Gohan. The half Saiyan has not met this innocent blonde before and so greets her, he puts out a hand for a handshake and then he sees the child-like giddiness of this woman. She is a fan of his. Living with Vegeta this cop probably already knew his secret identity but even so this is not the best for him having unmasked so freely. Mihoshi enthusiastically takes his hand with a beaming smile and tells him how she saw him on the television fighting crime and that as a policewoman she is happy there is someone strong like him out there to protect people. Her partner coughs loudly, an officer of the law should not be supporting vigilantism. Gohan becomes uneasy as an eager Mihoshi asks him for an autograph. A woman takes his broken helmet from him and with a wag of her finger Washu invites the fellow follower of academia to aid her in some research whilst she fixes his visor.