Chapter 63
The restroom calls after the debacle of that interesting lunchtime and Misaki is heeding it after consoling her daughters as best she can after the mistake they made. She wipes at her face as she makes her way upstairs, Misaki pondering what everyday life is like here under the same roof as Vegeta and how common an occurrence his temper might be. He had a right to be angry and he was not in the best of moods before hand, his cruel nature shone through and now due to her ill-thought out words her daughter will witness his second death – whenever that is in the recordings. It was her mention of crying that pushed him over the edge of reason, his pride is too strong, she was retaliating in a juvenile manner against his treatment of Trunks. She stops half way down the corridor. Noise is coming from her children's chambers and they are still downstairs. Misaki calls out the name of who she suspects it might be and pushes the ajar door open.
Wearing the translation glasses she pilfered unseen, a bespectacled pirate lounges on one of the beds flicking through a book. She raises a finger to tell Misaki to wait for she has not found the correct page yet. Misaki still questions why Ryoko is in her daughters' room. Ryoko does not bother with an answer as she starts reading, she smiles and chuckles to herself. Her guess was correct. Monkeys were the occurrence at the zoo and Ayeka seems a bit hypocritical now calling her a racist. Tossing the book aside and removing the glasses, Ryoko flies through the wall without a word and Misaki is still without an answer. The Queen walks into the room and picks up the strewn open book and looks about for where it should be properly placed: there is no bookshelf and the bedside cabinet has little free space left on it. She looks down at the open page it landed on and sees a rough sketch of a rolling and forested landscape. Ryoko would not have needed translation for pictures and so she turns another page.
This handwriting she recognises. Ryoko should not have been reading this private book, and neither should she. The only sentence she read talks about the revelation that Vegeta took his late wife's surname – which does interest Misaki – but this is not hers to read. She looks about again for a place Ayeka would put it. The pages flick as she closes it. Something catches her eye. She should not pry but that was something she should not have seen contained in these pages. Misaki mumbles a quick prayer of forgiveness as she intrudes into her daughter's diary. A brief exclamation of shock comes from her and she nearly drops the book. Her child has drawn more than just the scenery. Her baby has grown up. She slams the book shut on the anatomically correct drawings of Vegeta and slides the book under Ayeka's bed for lack of a better place to secret it.
Misaki sits down on the bed. This has thrown her for a loop. She has no clue what to do with this information, it is a delicate subject matter but as a mother she knows she will have to address this and soon. It is hard for her to admit it, Ayeka will forever be her baby. Her breath catches. Misaki is partially to blame for the conservative and sheltered upbringing of both princesses. She knows that there is no way that Washu would have had a hand to play in this. She stands up with a blush on her worried face. Ayeka should not know how to draw that. This is a much larger issue. Misaki's thoughts go to the date her daughter told her of on the beach, she says they shared a kiss, more has to have happened at some point in time for that part of Vegeta to have been what she assumes to be accurately depicted. She does not want to doubt her daughter yet this proof exists. Misaki shakes her head. There might be a recording she inadvertently witnessed or many other possibilities. Ryoko's head pops back into view.
"Naughty, naughty, you were snooping as well, thought you'd be gone but … what'd ya read?" Teasing the mother she caught in the act when she has returned to do basically the same thing herself, Ryoko's grin lessens as she realises how much is included in Ayeka's writing. The third death of Vegeta, their duel, the assassin, Vegeta's mating season, all detailed in those pages. Misaki is taken aback and at first tries to proclaim innocence and then she hangs her shoulders. She cannot lie her way out of this.
" … Miss Ryoko, those drawings. Wh- How?"
"You mean she didn't tell you about our shared nights of passion with Vegey?" Ryoko queries with a serious and perplexed look. Misaki crumbles and gasps in alarm and her knees violently wobble. She shakes her head in denial but that face holds no lie. Misaki is scared for her child. The lie then appears on Ryoko's face as she cracks into a loud guffaw of laughter. That was too good an opportunity to miss and getting to mess like this with the Queen of Jurai is a great reward for the pirate. "Ha, just pulling your leg, as if Vegeta would touch mummy's baby like that when he has a woman like me to keep him company. Your Ayeka's safe, untouched – for the most part. What d'ya think I am, Queenie? I wouldn't be here if what your dirty mind was thinking had happened. Ayeka's still a nice little virgin and she's gonna stay that way for a long, long time. Happy?"
Gloating and floating as she freely insults her rival, confident in the words of Vegeta where he proclaimed her the more beautiful, Ryoko hovers up to Misaki and impishly sticks her tongue out after her successful jape. The Queen is not best amused by the mocking of her daughter, but at the same time is greatly relieved to know that her child has not taken that step into adulthood yet. Her argument is sound, this woman before her shares none of the Juraian views on polygamy and so the faithfulness of Vegeta would be in question if her Ayeka had done something most questionable. She lets out a sigh of relief. However, the image was still drawn.
"What does 'for the most part' mean?" Those words the Queen does not like the sound of. Her Ayeka is not one to be idly touched by men and even if this is a further joke she needs absolute confirmation. Ryoko sneers. The rival does not want to think on Vegeta's actions towards another woman, his intimacy only brings fear and discomfort for her.
" Bastard's held hands with her, held her mostly undressed form, he stupidly kissed her as well … not nearly as deeply as he kissed yours truly." Getting ever closer to the Juraian woman as she makes sure to inject her dislike of this thought into every word she speaks, Ryoko sticks her tongue out again and then licks her lips. Her golden eyes avert. Ryoko starts humming tunelessly, very bad images are in her head. She has been kissed quite a few times and not all them she wanted. The pirate says a quick farewell and flies off out of the room. Misaki stays for a moment and then makes her way to the bathroom.
A miniature puppet version of Washu hops a few spaces on a board, its eyes start glowing red and the basic animatronic mouth claps open and shut as the genius' voice plays out commending her own brilliance. The real life Washu lets out a deep groan of horror and frustration. Dumbfounded at what just happened she moans out the word 'No' as her ego shatters. In front of her is an enlarged 13 square by 13 square modified chess board she manufactured to make the game challenging. For the white pieces there are shrunken down puppets of herself in a much younger body and, for Washu, the black pieces are a conglomeration of several of the pieces of merchandise she found featuring her lover. Her little toy Yamchas found as much victory here as the real life counter part usually does on the battlefield. She continually bemoans this unreasonable and out of the blue loss. Across from her Mihoshi is smiling and celebrating her win. This is her first time playing a game that Washu made a large chunk of the rules on. The policewoman reaches a hand across to shake after their game and Yamcha prods at a sullen Washu so she takes it, grumbling under her breath that some foul play had to have been afoot.
" I'll try and teach Kiyone this so we can all play, it was really fun. Got to dash or she'll be worried about where I've wandered off to. Don't forget the message." Relishing her victory and beaming all the while, Mihoshi stands and excuses herself. Her reason for coming here was simple and completed a while ago so duty now calls. She exits back through the same door she entered and immediately leaves Washu's lair instead of becoming eternally lost. Washu huddles over the board and sulks, petting one of the figurines of Yamcha.
Fingers kneed her shoulders and a muffled complaint comes from the scientist. He reaches a little lower and the sound from the woman becomes pleasanter. Complaints come from Washu: how she was only baiting Mihoshi to fall into a cunning trap and her avoidance of it compromised her position, how it was only dumb luck she lost to and that she does not have time to practise playing silly games so was not at her best. Yamcha chuckles at her misfortune and the hilarity of her fall from grace as he massages her. He feeds her damaged ego a morsel by reminding her that anyone else on the planet she could beat with ease. A disgruntled sound comes from Washu as she turns to look at Yamcha and points in an accusatory manner at him.
"You could beat me. I am the smartest but you lot of fighters have a massive psychological card you can play that will affect the game. You're too damn fast, computational processing power I cannot physically reach without ridiculous levels of ki. You can analyse every move in the game and make a solid, well thought out play in less time than it will take me to register that it's my turn. Cheats."
"I still can't play chess, Washu. Don't matter how long I stare if I don't know the rules. C'mon or I'll start calling you Vegeta if you throw such a hissy-fit after every loss."
"Love you. So when you showing me more of good ol' Sol 3 then?" Washu sinks into the massage and starts pairing up the pieces on the board so that each Washu has a Yamcha by its side. The few with points of articulation she has fun with.
"When you can behave, and you have a free hour or two in your hectic schedule." He runs his hands right down her spine and then gives her a little poke in the side which she flinches and giggles at. Her holo-top spawns and Washu presses a few buttons to start following the request of Juraian royalty given to her.
For now she is sat mostly alone, the Queen of Jurai takes in the fighting on screen, though as this shows purely the battles she is missing some context and is relying on the one other in the room to fill in the blanks. Vegeta leans heavily on the back of the sofa drenched in sweat. The mottled green Cell takes a bit of explaining as with time travel being involved it quickly becomes complicated. Misaki is generous in her compliments, both to Vegeta and the future version of his son. He becomes a subject of a conversation comparing the present to the future and Vegeta's emergent parental skills.
They all fight at levels she never knew existed. The long haired form that has drained Vegeta and forced him out of his training room still has yet to appear and so she knows more is yet to come. It has gone beyond her ability to comprehend, the power levels get larger but ultimately become meaninglessly absurd numbers she cannot fathom. Without thinking her hand goes and grabs onto Vegeta as Cell returns and fatally wounds the future version of Trunks. With a horrified expression she mumbles that Vegeta had to watch his child die before him. The screen lights up with monstrous explosions. Vegeta is exhausted and still exits the room to leave Misaki, he reminds her to call Ayeka in soon for it is almost time.
Not long after, the princess of Jurai enters the house. Everyone else is outside playing in the Sun but she knows what is coming now. She sits beside her mother and they hold each others hands. This is a cruel punishment from Vegeta. Misaki tries to strike up a conversation to distract them both but it fails, the mother's mind is thinking on the diary and trying not to bring it up at this inopportune moment. On screen Vegeta kills several hundred people in two swift attacks as he stands in the middle of an arena, a wide grin on his face and an 'M' tattooed on his forehead. This is the reason he cannot participate in tournaments on Earth. He rants and raves at his hated nemesis and Misaki tries to pay attention to this but there is a Kai on screen. She is seeing what she can only describe as a god cowering before Vegeta's anger and Goku threatening to kill the Kai. Already her daughter is not faring well. The cold hearted murderer has been showcased. As the fighting begins Misaki's brows furrow.
"It's … a midlife crisis. That's what this fight is." She sounds incredulous as she mutters this, finding it hard to believe that all this is due to Vegeta having an issue with his identity. He is trying to act like his younger self to show nothing has changed, his pride unwavering and not accepting the family man he has become. Though she can see that Goku is the spark that lit his fuse.
Ayeka merely nods. Years of rage and inferiority boiled up into a noxious mix to set Vegeta on that dark path. She quietly comments that he managed to fight off the possession which was something the King of the Demon Realm failed at. Misaki thinks on this as there are no demons or devils in Juraian religion. Heads clash and lightning disintegrates all around. Neither Saiyan is backing down. Both are enjoying themselves far too much in the fated battle. Misaki has to admit that Goku's fighting style is something she cannot find fault with and Vegeta's pure aggression and his own genius is allowing him to contend.
All too quickly time passes. Vegeta announces his detachment from his domestic life and has his lie thrown back at him, he tricks Goku and succeeds with his brain where his power failed, a pink thing becomes the new foe and then Trunks is on the scene. The Queen has the surprise ruined for her, Ayeka is already weeping. Misaki tightens her grip and hugs her. Minutes ago he was fighting to show his selfish and ruthless Saiyan nature and it is all forgotten. This attack on his child Misaki does not complain to. She begins shaking her head, it is all too sad a scene. A Namekian states to him that only Hell awaits. Just like her daughter said Vegeta is there with a smirk on his face, that fate means nothing compared to the lives of his loved ones. Then a newly born star engulfs the screen. Misaki gives in to her emotions as the noble sacrifice is witnessed and his screams echo within the explosion. His love for his family is without a doubt. The screaming and the fire does not quench. Much to their dismay he keeps burning and the explosion keeps growing. Ayeka takes her comeuppance for overstepping her mark and sees the petrified remains of Vegeta drift down and shatter into ashes. A cold wind scatters him around the crater he made to be his grave.
Ayeka throws herself off of the sofa and away from the comforting arms of her mother and pounds on the training room door. Tears freely stream down her face, she needs this and continues knocking. Golden light streams out through a crack as the metal door is pushed open and Vegeta stands there in Super Saiyan 3. The princess latches onto his arm. Her bare forehead rests onto one of his shoulders. For now her mother is forgotten, Ayeka needs to feel the living presence of her prince. He is hot. He is alive. His breath warms the top of her head as he wearily pants. She tells him to never die again. Vegeta tells her that he trains so that he cannot be killed. He puts an arm around her. Ayeka squeezes tighter. Again she gives her request for him to not die.
"Where is your faith in my power? What could kill me?" Bravado and confidence work in the princess' favour. Vegeta can see that the punishment has been met and her price paid and she is openly distraught by what she had to see. He tries to shush her and sees that Ayeka is not the only crying Juraian.
The recording has been paused on the desolate landscape Vegeta dashed himself upon. Misaki wants to join in the hug yet a niggle in her brain will not allow her. It was so awfully sad to watch. She is grateful to have been allowed to see those true colours of Vegeta, murder and everything. The rest can wait until she has calmed down. Ayeka still wails. Energy dries her tears from her face. She looks at her shining knight brimming with power. A blush enters her face as she is becoming more aware of her actions. He reassures her that nothing will ever be able to threaten his life again. She nods but tears start welling again. Pointing behind her not exactly at the screen but close enough she incoherently stammers something about the crater. It clicks in Vegeta's head now. He told her how the beach they visited was one he found near the place he committed suicide, and that is hitting full force into Ayeka now. It is hard to do yet he manages to carefully pull out and hold up the seashell on the necklace she is wearing. She lets go of him with one arm and also grabs onto it.
Neither speak. Ayeka is in no right state to be able to. In the background a darkness is clouding Misaki's perception of such a sweet scene. Her daughter is holding a man in a none too befitting manner and she seems to have no issue doing so. She knows it is not right but this intimacy she is viewing is only directing her thoughts towards doubting the innocence of Ayeka. Her tears end faster than they have any right to. The mystery is still unanswered as to how Ayeka gained knowledge she should not hold, and the main culprit is holding her. Misaki gnaws on her sleeve. This is a horrible bitterness she finds herself intensely disliking. She stands up and steps closer to her daughter, opening her arms in a gesture showing that she is there as well to comfort her child if need be. Ayeka does not leave Vegeta. The Saiyan's blue eyes fix onto the blue haired woman.
Misaki does not know what to do. Emotions are at a high for both women and Vegeta is being his stoic self. Only through comparison with her daughter can the Queen now tell that Vegeta is taller when transformed. She is at a loss, part of her wanting to break up the hugging and ask some direct questions yet she cannot do it with her daughter looking so vulnerable and finding such solace in holding the man she watched die.
"Did either of you keep an eye on where Trunks is? This is what it did to your child, and you wouldn't want to see me hitting my son for dishonourably shedding tears." When committing the act he protected his son from having to witness by knocking him out and Vegeta does not want to deal with the hassle of Trunks having caught glimpses of his death. Ayeka goes stiff in his arms and a mute apology comes from her as this is another thing she overlooked.
"... I did not see him. Has your son not seen this? He would be proud of you if he did." Misaki answers whilst taking this chance to look away as if scanning for her grandchild. She is trying for pleasant small talk to gloss over the unpleasantness of it all and to show her appreciation for him allowing her to view this – even at the cost it took on her child.
"And have my son see his older self as well? Or his mother? There is little honour in the total of my losses there, and he views me enough as a villain sometimes as it is. I know how hard watching it is." The Saiyan father shakes his head and brings a hand up to wipe the residual tears from Ayeka's face. She is blushing now having somewhat calmed down and she releases him. Her mind is reassured that her fiancé is alive and well.
"Y-you watched th-that with … with Bulma?" She picked up on the weird intonation of his last sentence. Ayeka hesitantly asks as her mother gets closer to her and gives a reassuring rub on her shoulder.
Vegeta pauses and takes a deep breath and nods. It was his wife's gift to him after-all. The final birthday he shared with her. Most of it she already knew as having been married a decade they had discussed all of their pasts and adventures. Bulma however was not as easily consolable as Ayeka was upon viewing it. The princess has seen them before. For his wife it was the first time she saw them and the first time it was possible for her to see the fighting with her untrained eyes. Trunks getting nearly killed by Cell was hard for her as a mother. The Majin incident is a wound he inflicted on her that always remained sensitive. Together they watched it all. She leaned against him, cuddling up and even in the horrific moments of his killings she was still there. He can recall the praise she gave him from her heart to his whenever he triumphed or did the right thing. Months later he buried her.
The Saiyan points and says there is still more for Misaki to occupy herself with as he trains, he goes back into his lair. Ayeka's smell is on him. The aromatic particles are shed from him as gravity tears them from his transcendent body. He has training to do. No longer repressing things these women are bringing painful reminders to the forefront. His body falls into an acrobatics routine under infeasible gravity, He shall keep his promise of never being able to be killed with all his might. The threat of Kagato he is aware of, as threatening as it can be when there was such a gap between both assailants sent and how no large ki can be sensed by himself.
Ayeka leaves her mother and goes outside with the others to clear her head and relax in the sunshine. The mother lets her go, this is not the right moment to target her for the contents of her diary. She does not know if she truly wants to watch any-more of this recording, Vegeta did offer it to her and following his sacrifice she can predict that the rest will continue showing him in a favourable light. Thanking him will also have to happen now she knows the foes he helped rid from the galaxy. Jurai could not defeat the Ginyu force and Vegeta slaughtered them all, save a frog, and this Buu creature had regenerative properties even greater than Cell. Misaki inhales and exhales a few times and consigns herself to finishing what she started. As she correctly assumed death did not stick long for Vegeta in this film.
The foe is the same and yet its appearance greatly altered – seemingly mimicking Goku's attire – and the power level listed beside it is monstrous compared to its obese and playful counterpart. Needless to say Vegeta does not fare too well against a foe he already failed to kill, neither does Goku. Then something happens that Misaki was not counting on. She sees Vegito. His godly power aside she was not aware of fusion techniques beforehand. Later when Vegeta is buying time against Kid Buu she learns of a more interesting thing. Earth has counterparts to Namek's wish orbs. Tsunami's blessing comes in the form of a dragon. This wish was given to only good souls and Vegeta's halo disappeared. At the end of it all with Kid Buu gone, Misaki sits in silence thinking. Dragon balls that can grant any wish within the dragon's power and can resurrect the dead: but not Bulma. Halos, Kais, demon realms and Other-World are doing more than testing her faith, they prove against it in some aspects. Washu will be consulted at some point, she must have more answers on this.
Enough is enough though, Misaki does not need to immediately worry about any of that, she has seen the deeds of Vegeta now and her children are outside having fun without her. She will rectify that. Misaki is warmly greeted as she steps outside. Her eldest appears in much better shape after this break from Vegeta's pasts and her youngest child seems to be having a whale of a time. Trunks is flying in the air carrying and launching Sasami about with no effort, getting her dangerously close to the lake's water time and time again. The women are idly conversing, except Kiyone who is keeping half an eye on the antics to make sure nothing bad happens in this risky play. Her airborne child calls out to her and the mother waves back. To her other daughter she gives a quick comment that she has finished the long film starring Vegeta, Ayeka simply nods and leaves that topic to die. There is another sound coming from above them, Misaki turns to investigate.
"Isn't it a little early to be drinking? Why don't you come down and join us?" It is only polite to invite her, their last secret meeting was not on the best terms. Ryoko half opens one eyelid from the hot slates of the roof, takes a sip of sake and stretches out into a more comfortable and less ladylike position. The pirate is comfortable, she will not be moving.
Ayeka tells her mother to forget it and let Ryoko do as she will, it is not hurting anybody and she abhors her behaviour being lectured by Juraians. Misaki questions back why Juraians in particular and Ryoko shouts down to stop being such a nosy person poking into everyone's business. The queen hears loud and clear the reminder of breaking her daughter's trust by reading her diary and ends the line of enquiry like Ryoko wishes. On an offhand remark to try and take the conversation back from Ryoko, Mihoshi asks whether the film Misaki was watching had a happy ending or not – she got part way through and there was not much happiness she could see. The Queen nods, in a way it was.
Minutes later the game in the sky ceases and a blustered girl tired from all the excitement and laughter gets plopped down as Trunks takes off to go back and see Goten again after Chichi interrupted their game. Misaki begins tiding up her girl's pigtails and sorting out her ruffled clothes as Sasami says how much fun it was and that she should join in. The Juraian mother cannot fly and gives this excuse. Sasami looks past her mother and asks Ayeka why she did not join in as that excuse is not true for her.
"Flying in this outfit is inadvisable, I'm not that good anyway."
This demure response interests the mother greatly. Misaki slowly turns around and looks at Ayeka with surprise on her face. The daughter never intended to keep this a secret yet she finds herself on the spot now with her mother facing her. Misaki's face is lighting up, this is wondrous news. She is very proud of her daughter and amazed, none in their family have had such a marvellous and fun skill mastered.
"You – you can fly? Since when?"
"Lord Vegeta taught me. Over a month ago when I first got here, it is still foreign to me though." Ayeka answers the question and gives an excuse to the question she feels will come next. She has not really flown at all recently, her basic skill in it is degrading and with her modesty and outfit choice it is not something she can find herself commonly doing as Ryoko does.
"Seems it is time I stop teaching my children and they start teaching me. You can fly, this is marvellous." The mother is proud. However with her statement a pang grips her heart. Her child has grown to a point of surpassing her, growing on her own without her, to spread her wings after fledging the nest and actually flying. A bitter happiness for the extremely maternal Misaki. She is being left behind. Vegeta did this for her daughter and not herself.
"I am no expert, I am not being modest here, mother. You would do best to find someone else willing to tell you the ways, control of Juraian powers was never your forte." An apology nearly follows directly on from Ayeka's dismissal of teaching her mother flying. She did not mean for that to sound as sneering as it did. It could easily be construed as her holding a grudge that her mother never taught her how to form shields and she did not mean it in that spiteful way. Misaki does not take it to mean that anyway, she knows her daughter – or at this moment she believes she mostly does with all these surprises cropping up.
Flying does sound like fun, bonding with her children in this cruelly limited time she has to spend with them after they went off-world even more-so. Sasami wanted her to play but she is unable to. There are a few she can ask to teach her to fly. Misaki weighs up the options and turns around and waves at the person sunning themselves on the slates.
"Yoohoo, Ryoko, you're a skilled flier? Want to help?" Calling out to the napping woman, she tries to bridge this gap that seems to have formed between Ryoko and everyone else. Everywhere she goes she flies more-or-less and so instead of having to disturb Vegeta or wrestle Yamcha from Washu this is as good an option as any.
"How much?" Ryoko does not bother to sit up, she just asks what her services are worth to a Queen.
"I could eradicate your criminal history and re-instate your status as a citizen of Jurai, but I won't. I'm sure you can do this out of the goodness of your heart, a little charitable favour to help alleviate your boredom?"
"Make it worth my while or stop wasting my time. Go ask Yamcha if you want charity." With no payment coming her way Ryoko is done again talking to Misaki. Even what she offered she does not want. Her citizenship would technically place her beneath Ayeka, her last allegiance was the Planet Trade Organisation and that sides her with Vegeta instead. She begins to regret teasing the Queen now that she is latching on in some lame bid to make friends, Ryoko wants Vegeta and not the woman who promised another to her Saiyan. Her sake has become warm in the bright Sun, now she has a tongue her drinking habits are changing.
Ayeka pulls on her mother's sleeve to get her attention away from the basking pirate before any issues can arise. Asking Ryoko is going the wrong way about things, she did say to get someone else but she did not mean an easily upset Ryoko. One wrong move with her and the Queen of Jurai learns of Vegeta's mating season. She can see that her mother is quite set on this. Flight is a dream to many and Ayeka can also perceive some competitiveness from her own mother that she wants to learn this to be on equal footing with the others around her. Not for the children to know but Misaki also has plans to give Azusa a fright by taking him soaring through the skies in her arms, that and to annoy her own mother who is being reasonable in a sense but very adamant in her stance towards Vegeta.
"Mother, stop bothering her now. We … we could try asking Lord Vegeta for some time, he taught me." It is not the best idea, yet Ayeka can actually plan for this occurrence. She has lost favour with her prince and asking him this will only serve to make him annoyed at her again, he did hold her though as she wept. A warmth enters her cheeks.
Eyes snap open and a disapproving hum comes from pursed lips. The roof is vacated and a freshly teleported Ryoko yawns as she looks at her rival, her feline pupils scanning up and down the maiden. She shakes her head. Asking Vegeta for this is a big no in her books. Ayeka should know that he will only decline and get mad. She wants to know why Ayeka would propose such a thing to her mother. This is not like her usual self, she is not doing this to impress her parent either. Something is not right and she does not like it, so much so she will stop relaxing.
"You're pushing it a lot today. Got your try-hard pants on or something? He's wasted enough time today on mummy-dearest, why would you even suggest that? … I saw writing of a promise. Is that it?" Ryoko is snappy as she talks. Realising now she could have found more answers when skimming through those pages, she questions this purple haired royal. She did not read it but there were some words about some promise. Ryoko does not know what it is but she does not like it. She wants it for herself. If this is a secret between the couple she will bring light to it like she did the monkeys, only hopefully taking a lot less time.
"What writing are you talking of?" An immediate standoffish and defensive attitude is assumed by Ayeka as mention of her diary is carelessly raised by the pirate. Her secrets are her own to keep, her privacy is not some flimsy curtain to be pulled aside every time Ryoko fancies. The pot does think of the kettle though as she has invaded Vegeta's in a very similar manner today. This is hers to keep, her special time with Vegeta guaranteed each day. He promised her this, not Ryoko.
"When I was flicking through your diary reading up on you being racist to Vegeta calling him a monkey-"
"You just happened across my diary, again?" The kindness between friends is swiftly vanishing as their possessive jealousy over the Prince of Saiyans grows. Ayeka interjects to cut Ryoko off. That is not a story for her mother to be hearing, nor her sister nor the policewomen. This is a bad situation she is in, Ryoko is holding the a lethal weight above her head talking of her diary when in the presence of her loved ones.
Misaki wants to intervene but just like Ayeka the threat of the diary and the secret is blackmailing her into inaction. If she steps forward Ryoko can reveal that she was a bad mother and snooped. The fear of her child's hate and distrust is too powerful for her, she hopes Ayeka can handle herself. At times like this she remembers who and what Ryoko is. She, like Vegeta, has enjoyed the thrill of murder and is bullying her daughter for private and personal information. A non direct approach might be the best. Misaki reaches out a hand to place on Ryoko's shoulders in a friendly manner. Her hand finds no purchase and goes straight through the woman. Golden irises flicker at the queen. Ryoko knows there is great strength hidden in the Queen and is keeping herself safe from being interrupted. She shakes her head at Misaki, that will not work and has now only served to speed up her blackmail. Vegeta has never told her of some secret he shares with Ayeka and she needs to know what this promise is that makes Ayeka think he will stop training to teach Misaki to fly.
" Tell me or I will read, aloud if necessary. … Not as if I'm the only one who's seen it, right kiddo?" Ryoko flashes a wicked smile at both Juraians as both recoil at her words. Her eyes land on the single other Juraian and she beckons at the young girl with a hand.
" Ayeka's book with the bad pictures in it?" Sasami replies in the exact manner that Ryoko intends, with an innocent question about a none too innocent subject. The younger sister is wondering if Ryoko found something else naughty in the book and hence is choosing to discuss it, if so it is a good thing that her mother is here.
Utter defeat is written across both adult Juraians' faces and Ayeka feels as if something within her dies at those ruinous words. Damage limitation is all she can think of and so she tries to reach out to Sasami to shush her but an amiable hug from a contented Ryoko prevents her from moving. Her heart pumping dread around her as her flesh turns pale and cold, Ayeka sees the message in Ryoko's eyes – tell her the secret or Sasami will blurt out a different one even more. In the background of it all Kiyone and Mihoshi are feeling quite uncomfortable with this turn of conversation, this is not their territory to step in. Ayeka hesitates. For a few seconds she goes to weigh up her options before confessing to Ryoko. However, Sasami does not hesitate as her childlike sense of right has kicked in and with her mother here now she knows what she has to do. Ayeka is condemned.
"Mummy I was going to tell you but you weren't here so I told Mr. Vegeta and he told Ayeka off for being naughty with her drawings." Pleased that she has done the correct thing and told an adult about the whole situation and wrongdoings of her sister, Sasami shares her happiness in this only with Ryoko.
"Ayeka, a word please." Misaki looks to her child and speaks. Their cheeks are flushed red. She was not going to push the issue for a while yet there is no avoiding the matter now. Misaki looks to her petrified child and motions with her head for them to move off to speak in private.
The policewomen usher off Sasami away from what is to be a delicate talk on an adult matter that young ears should not hear. Sasami still believes she has done the correct thing in telling her mother and allows herself to be escorted for a walk around the lake and woods with her friends as she presumes her mother will also tell Ayeka off for misbehaving. A pat on the back is what the stock still Ayeka receives from Ryoko before she teleports off back onto the roof for her grandstand seat of the play she has set in action. Ayeka will have to tell her what she and Vegeta share after this.
The mother and daughter stand together in what limited privacy they are granted with Ryoko watching from a safe distance. The air is thick with silence as neither know how to broach this subject matter with the other. Awkwardness stays Misaki, she has not gone over the birds and the bees with Ayeka to any degree and having a talk like this will only cement Ayeka's position as an adult and further from the baby she wants to eternally nurture. Hands tremble, Ayeka is petrified and shamed beyond belief. Her mother has been told, the only silver lining she can see is that her father is not here. She does not want her mother to think of her as some lowly strumpet in heat drawing obscene things of that nature in her diary. On the rooftop Ryoko rolls over and knocks onto the top of the training room, a loud thud echoes back in response and she grins: this has reminded the child and parent of Vegeta's presence as he is the topic they are discussing.
"... Be- … Before we begin, as it were, I must apologise, dear Ayeka. This- um- I saw your diary when Miss Ryoko was in your room. I failed as a mother by looking inside. I hope you will forgive me for this transgression, but please, please answer this question. It – it- I don't know what to think. When? … When did- for you to draw- when?" There is one place to start and she trips and stumbles her way over the starting blocks. Misaki begins a talk she should have held with her daughter a few years ago. She apologises off the bat to get the guilt off her chest and to somewhat lower herself so as to make it easier for Ayeka to converse: they can both be in the wrong together. Misaki fears what answer may follow, her fear is not in the same league as Ayeka's.
Last time Jurai came she almost faced excommunication from her family. Now some of what her father said is solidifying with this evidence. Her mother is her strongest ally, she does not want to lose her over this. The fact her mother looked inside only makes it worse for her, she cares not at this point for the invasion of privacy and only that her handiwork has been observed and seen. Her hands have gone to the seashell necklace about her throat and her eyes stay well clear of her mother's face which she is sure is looking at her in disapproval and disappointment. She closes her eyes and wishes for it to go away. The scene is still there as she re-opens them. Her mother quietly asks again.
Upon the third time the question of when and where is asked the silence of Ayeka shatters. Apology after excuse after plead vomit out of her mouth as she tries her hardest to stammer out some sort of reason for her mother not to turn against her. Her body and mind are pure and she proclaims as much as she can that she is still innocent and is still acting as a princess should. Misaki nods and accepts this. The question is still unanswered. Ayeka gives the reason of curiosity for the drawing, that there was nothing else purely curiosity driving her hand. She holds no impure or dirty thoughts and stutters it out as her face is crimson mess.
"Darling, I understand. I- I do not doubt you, how could I? … I'm here for you Ayeka, always will be. So, please, tell me how you got this knowledge."
"Th-th-the-the fir … it wasn't my fault, when I arrived – he wasn't expecting us – L-Lord Vegeta..." Ayeka takes a deep breath and tries to control herself. "His son awoke him suddenly a-and he was not sleeping clothed. … It was just a glimpse. And-"
"There's more?" Misaki's shock gets the better of her as she voices her surprise and horror. Her daughter does not react well to her words.
Impatiently a pirate watches. For her this is all a big deal about nothing. Ayeka is choosing to obey some silly rules and they are hurting her, Ryoko sees no sense in any of it. Sex is sex. That is all there has to be and as fun as it is to be cruel to Ayeka this will help her in the long run. She can hide this deed behind her amusement. Ayeka needs to be taught these things sooner or later and stewing in a bed of guilt as she sexually awakens will do her no good. She will show Jurai that her viewpoint is superior and their restrictive way has failed them.
The warm and strong arms of Misaki encircle her daughter as she brings her into a tight hug and tries to shush the distraught Ayeka. Shame is staining her and the princess is nigh inconsolable as she apologises again and again to her mother. Cradling and gently rocking the young woman that her child has grown into Misaki tries to think what she can say. As far as she has heard everything sounds safe. A mistake of a lonely bachelor who was awoken suddenly by an alien visitor. This 'and' hanging in the air she prays is of a similar nature. She could really do with Funaho's support. The mother tries to prompt for Ayeka to continue whilst consoling her that it is all fine and she has done nothing wrong.
"Bath. He wasn't aware. Me and Ryoko were- … I told him to-to take responsibility. They were accidents, he meant no harm. I asked him and … it didn't work mother. He didn't take responsibility like all the stories say. … Vegeta said that – he said for his first marriage- pregnancy, so he wouldn't." Mumbling out the answer her mother needs to hear, the whole story of how Ayeka learnt of a man's body is told in a near illegible manner. The princess backs herself up with her demand of Vegeta that was swiftly shot down to prove she tried to do what her customs dictate even if unsuccessful towards a Saiyan.
A brief freeze grips Misaki's comforting movements. That truth hurt her. The second part is not as safe as she wanted it to be. A bath. Her daughter was not only doing the viewing but became a view as well. Azusa cannot be told. She tells herself and her daughter that accidents happen and as there was no intent on either side then all is safe. If this news escaped into circulation around the empire it would damage their reputation badly, not nearly as destructive though as relations with a Saiyan would however.
Some of Ayeka's words Ryoko does not particularly like. Taking responsibility for his actions is something only she deserves after all she has been through – not Ayeka. Her feet leave the roof. She hops down onto the grass and walks up to the pair. She instigated and now she will join in. The doting mother will be her first target.
"D'ya want me to jump in now and take over? Or is my being here helping since your view on sex involves there being a third wheel knocking about. She's gotta be told how love making works sometime." Going straight for Misaki's jugular by bringing up her own love life, Ryoko brazenly enters the fray without a care for all the tender mother-daughter bonding or how sensitive they view they issue. She stands proud and uncaring. There is a job to be done and being delicate will not speed things up. Ryoko points at Ayeka. She is the subject and the uneducated one that as someone who has passed their coming of age is severely lacking in basic biological knowledge.
"There is no need to insult me so. You shall not bully my daughter nor myself."
It almost comes out as a growl as Misaki's hug around her daughter turns protective. Her marriage and her ability as a mother are both being insulted and jeered. Luckily for Ryoko she does not get angry easily, reeling from the sucker punch that the insults were. Ayeka is her main concern her. Some pirate trying to flaunt her worldly experience is not welcome to intervene in this matter.
A detour will have to be taken. Something has arisen that Ryoko is very keen to tackle. The problem is present at the top of the serpent as well as at the base where she combatted it daily in her youth. She will crush this. The oppressiveness of Juraian culture will not follow her here to her retreat on Earth, far from its empire. Her golden eyes harden. Misaki has to loosen her grip on Ayeka as the princess' breathing was not faring too well. The mother has to deal with her daughter, she has no wish for a disruptive conversation with Ryoko. Her child needs her. Ryoko declares an open challenge to the Queen.
"Ooh, I saw that look in your eye. Yes, Misaki, I have had sex with a fair few different men and I have not been married nor in a committed relationship before my Vegey came along. What of it? I know the names you're thinking. Ayeka's called me a few choice ones. Say it." Ryoko hisses. She has been judged by those red eyes of the mother and she hates it.
"Your way of life is yours, now please, leave us be." The gauntlet is ignored as Misaki almost pleads for Ryoko to cease and desist.
"And your way has made little Ayeka afraid of an emotion she has: lust. You raised her into feeling bad about something natural. … Vegey wears some very nice outfits when training. Very snug, all skin tight with his muscles showing, sweat glistening, sometimes baring his chest, heaving as he pants. It is something we both want equally."
"Th-th-that's not true-" Ayeka goes to defend her innocence.
It is pure instinct this far into her life, a knee jerk reaction to deny all words to that effect, and Ryoko knows it. Ayeka is feeling so shamed. The princess shakes her head. Lust is not what she feels, only love. For her it can only be love for that is pure and right. She wants to curl up into a ball and hide from all this most grandiose of embarrassments. Someone telling her mother that she has sexual desire for a man has burnt her ears to a crisp and her body is violently trembling and flushed with blush.
"Liar. Your way of handling this, prissy princess, is selfish. You can be selfish, fine, I won't care if it ever comes to matter, but you don't see it. How's your wilful ignorance and stupid, stupid innocence going to ever help you? Think how dangerous it is! You could be taken advantage of and not even know it. And you're doing nothing to protect her from this. … Think of Vegey. You are forcing it all onto him, make him do all the work 'cos someone is too scared to hear the word 'sex'. You get to be clean and leave him to suffer. Somehow he knows less about how Juraians work than you do. Selfish. ...And dangerous. Do your job as a mother, Queenie, and stop judging me with your damn eyes. I'll start you off, probably an important thing that neither of you has the guts to say: Ayeka, you're normal and fine, your body is all OK, all of it, and it is all how it should be. That's probably only been something you needed to hear for several years now."
She crosses her arms and raises an eyebrow at the two Juraians. Ryoko watches them as her words sink in. She knows she is right. On the streets she has seen the consequences and she was lucky herself that she knew how to fight and defend herself. Ryoko shakes her head at the two. The anger simmering in Misaki is not too well hidden. It amuses the pirate to see this. The Queen of Jurai has just been lectured by her on motherhood, Misaki hates this and Ryoko is feeling pretty proud with herself. Considering what she talked to Vegeta about this is quite promising for herself. She has made Misaki feel like she has failed. Clearing any lingering self esteem issues that had to have arisen at some point during puberty for Ayeka is not an easy thing for Ryoko to say to her rival. The princess however seems more taken with the whole 'danger' aspect. With Vegeta's mating season always fresh in their mind, Ryoko's words reverberate loudly.
"I'm gonna chat with my fiancé now. You two get on with it. I'll know if you don't, and, Misaki, would you rather you get to say or let Ayeka hear my teachings on this subject. … Vegeta's a sadist, don't leave her undefended. Wilfully being ignorant about sex with him really fucking hurts." Ryoko walks off, leaving them with those parting words as her part is played.
Misaki feels Ayeka stiffen and her temperature drop. That sounded ominous to the queen. Far too ominous to be ignored. Misaki switches to an ancient Juraian language and quietly asks her daughter what happened between Ryoko and Vegeta. No inference is needed. Something had to have happened for the pirate to stress so strongly the danger ignorance could lead Ayeka into. The princess murmurs that it is not her place to say.