Chapter 72
Shooing away the pests at his door has left him most irritable. His tail has returned to him, though he does not deserve it since he lost it in battle he will not have himself cut to lose it a second time, and now the many intruders in his house want to gawk and stare as if he were some beast in a cage. A good deal of his training schedule will now have to be relegated to working on his tail to get it to the same level of toughness as the rest of his body. His son managed to avoid talks about why he visited Bulma's grave this morning by wanting instead to discuss the tail and whether his could grow back. Now Trunks wanders lost in Washu's laboratory with the mademoiselle of that lair making sure she does not get found. His foe can train as intensely as he can so he must push himself further. Vegeta's fury and drive is fuelled and stoked hot.
Within Washu's laboratory Trunks guides his way with ki only to run into another lost soul unable to find the scientist. Misaki wants to know what roots the name the Kais gave her has, and why the Elder Kai would fear her to such a degree. Neither are allowed by Washu to reach them and with Yamcha no longer in this realm Trunks has no easy way to track her. Together the two leave with a door to the exit swiftly appearing for them. The caring mother asks how the lad is faring since he skipped breakfast and the trip to Otherworld and gets as much a response as Vegeta did. Tomorrow he shall visit there again, as a family. Trunks shrugs off any further questions by enquiring as to her age. In terms of recorded history for Earth her date of birth would place her close to its start with the year being Age 776 now – she equally avoids answering this.
Vegeta is absent for lunch. Unmoving from his training room for hours whilst his Super Saiyan 3 form holds. No force is great enough to get him to let the metal door be opened and Ryoko is not going to fly in there anytime soon. The pirate still has her want unfulfilled with Vegeta locking himself away, and Ayeka very much needs to speak with him about today's events. Misaki wants to aid her daughter in every possible way but there is only so much she can do. She cannot let Azusa go ignorant of what she has learnt and she knows Ayeka fears it yet he is her father and as Emperor he has right to all knowledge no matter how secret. Due to her napping the lunch is a simple endeavour and Sasami tries to keep herself roused so that she can enjoy the shopping trip with her mother and sister as much as possible. Trunks jokes saying he will keep all receipts to bill back to Jurai as the money being used is his inheritance.
Intrigued, curious and bored, Mihoshi insists and Yamcha has relented as he has nothing better to do. Outside he lightly throws a ball and she comes nowhere near hitting it. The sport of baseball requires more than 2 people, and more than 1 competent one. Kiyone quickly gets roped in by her partner, Sasami is up for fun and so is her mother and Trunks wants to put Yamcha through the ringer by upping the ante as his dad will not let him in to train. They play a fair distance from the house for fear of someone inadvertently breaking a window with one batter, a pitcher, a catcher and someone on each base. Sasami's ability to throw a ball leaves much to be desired and even against people with no special powers or strength Mihoshi still manages to strike out.
"You say I don't understand his grief proper. So, is this right, is Vegey hurting because of Chichi?" Ryoko leans onto Ayeka as she reads and asks something that she has been thinking on. She wants to understand Vegeta and this theory seems to make sense to her.
The princess looks at this woman far too close for comfort to her, finishes her paragraph she was reading and sets the book down. Removing the translation glasses she rubs at the bridge of her nose. This theory does also make sense to her. Added with the words she heard Gohan say it holds some weight – Vegeta dislikes the wife of his hated rival that is still alive for the fact she exists for Goku's happiness whilst his wife no longer exists. She looks at the forlorn reminder sat on the table of what her prince had. Ayeka nods.
" … Goku holds more than just his strength that Vegeta desires. He was like this a bit yesterday when Gohan escorted you back. We are no longer the most jealous people in this house."
"I saw. When I went in his mind – it was a mess – when I saw his anger and hate it was Chichi, not Super Saiyan 3, that appeared first with Kakarot. … Well, if he hates not having a wife so much I'm happy to oblige." Ryoko expands on her musings. This gives her even more incentive to seize her victory before the home ground advantage is had by Ayeka on Jurai, Vegeta's concentration will not be on his decision with his fight and his bitterness brought to the front.
"I can hear your mutterings. Keep your musings to yourselves!" A harsh roar breaks from the sealed training room. The Saiyan can hear what goes on immediately outside his sanctum and he does not care for their gossip concerning himself. He growls whilst continuing to train. Their words are treacherous, instigating too close to a hidden truth he does not want known.
She jumps and stiffens as Ayeka realises she has been overheard and the anger of Vegeta is directed her way. No such reaction comes from Ryoko. Her ki sense does not allow her to easily forget where he is. She will not be hushed by him. He always gets to say the truths she does not want released and so she will do likewise. His ki has almost run out, Ryoko could stall him out until he needs to exit. Her feline eyes steal a quick glance outside before she lets her lips turn into a snarl.
" I ain't gonna say things behind your back. Take it we're bang on the money if you're gonna be Mr. Grumpy-pants with us. You want to tell me about one of your weddings? Must be a video of it somewhere, if not here I can steal it quite easily from some pensioners."
"Pensioners younger than yourself. Silence your queries! 'No' means 'No'."
"Not in Saiyan books it don't. Me and Ayeka want to know. I'm gonna get it, with or without your help. First or second. Which should I watch?" Ryoko stands and prowls over to the shelf housing the recordings of Vegeta's fights and browses to see if her treasure will be found here. The ki directed at her is so terribly full of wroth. The tail she is wearing retracts and coils around one of her legs.
"Neither. If it will keep you occupied go looking for you will never find them. If you want to take more of Bulma's things then you know where the rest of her clothes are for you to struggle into." Insubordination of this continual degree he will not abide. Vegeta will give no quarter to her. For every push she makes he shall push back. A pained roar ends his sentence as his training continues.
"Ryoko, stop antagonising matters further."
All this constant shouting and arguing going on between the two and herself is severely stressing her. Ayeka goes to Ryoko to pacify her actions. Her tactic is not working, the pirate will get no closer to her prize through this level of persistence. Baiting the anger of Vegeta is a problem she is going to have to deal with, not Ryoko, when she is the one getting her shopping trip. With Ryoko being the problem she cannot silence Vegeta with her power over his training room. Ryoko lets Ayeka try but continues regardless.
"You got to see all Vegey's past so it's my turn. I. Need. This. What's wrong with wanting to see him happy instead of moping around, to see the one he loves and I have to defeat? I just want to see it. I did it. I beat my fear. I'm claiming this as my reward." She reasons away her deep seated desire as she flicks through the covers and spies none pertinent to her search. A flash of light dazzles her eyes momentarily.
"Claim it all you want. Take it, if you can."
The law is laid down by the Saiyan Prince. He is not bluffing and her constant threats against his own want in this will not be allowed any purchase. Due to her nature and abilities he conceded something dear to her. Not this. Vegeta knows she will not find it, not the original copy at least – Washu could complicate things if her involvement occurs. His Super Saiyan 3 aura burns brightly through the porthole. He takes a limping step and slams a fist down in frustration.
"Ayeka, we're friends right? Help me out. You want to see it too and it ain't no skin off his nose, mummy can watch it with you too. All I want is to see what the hell happens on a wedding 'cos I don't really know. Best buds should help each other out." Ryoko turns about and goes to enlist help in her search, she smiles at the princess. Her smile begins to falter as nothing of the like is being reciprocated. Instead it is more a disdainful grimace returned to her by Ayeka before the princess looks back over at her book without responding. Ryoko tries again."Wow. That's damn cold. We're best mates now, right?"
Taking care of her long purple hair as she sits, Ayeka shakes her head as she picks her book back up along with the translation glasses. That is not a term she will associate with Ryoko. This pirate is a lost cause to any rational reason. With Vegeta in the mood he is in she will not encourage Ryoko. Ayeka will not aid Ryoko in this, she has already faced her punishment for breaching Vegeta's privacy.
"I, unlike yourself, have many other acquaintances more deserving of that childish title than you. After what you have put me through these past few days. Constantly having to save you. … Friends do not tend to torture each other nor leave them to die." Toxic strands of venom eke out with her denial of Ryoko's friendship. Being a good person and looking after the vulnerable is not becoming friends with her rival, friendlier maybe but seeing eye to eye will take more than that in this one way relationship. Merciless in her teasing and attacks on her, Ayeka hates Ryoko for the many troubles wrought on her and the constant uphill struggle she faces.
"What d'ya want then? What do you- No! Nu-uh. Sneaky slut. You ain't tricking me, Biter. That is not something you can take."
Fangs are readily bared as Ryoko goes to offer a token of peace between them and and retracts it as she sees the most prized thing she could be deprived of. Hisses come from her throat as she snarls at Ayeka, believing herself to have been almost led into a devious trap. She offered goodwill and her security blanket was nearly wrenched from her. Red ki flares about Ryoko as her rage burns.
"I have not said anything so cease your insults. Watch your tongue-"
"Or have it bitten? I'm not stupid. I see what you want. Hypocrite! You just want it for yourself, for me to not have one damn moment of happiness! Vegey said no. You don't get the practise wedding." Ryoko continues her defence over a thing she does not have, protective to the extreme and denying any possibility of Ayeka stealing this deserved gift from her. Her slew of insults continues as do her accusations. A sword far too readily ignites in her hand. Ayeka flinches at the threat but knows how close her prince is, as bad as that would be for Ryoko to tangle with him.
"Shut up about that, woman!"
The roar of Vegeta freezes Ryoko as his ki surges higher. This oppressive power restricts her still and denies her what she wants. He is siding with Ayeka in her eyes. She crushes her sword and dispels it. Two people outside have taken notice of her and she will not have them interfere so she tries to reign in her ki as best she can. A low growl comes from her throat.
"I asked for no such thing, Ryoko. Are paranoid delusions another thing we have to put up with?" Retaliation is served with a level voice. Words will not be put in her mouth, and Ayeka defends her innocence in this for she has said nothing justifying this outlet against her.
"You want it though, and that's the truth!"
"... Wanting something and asking are different matters. With no self discipline you would not know. E-e-even if I d-did want for such a thing Lord Vegeta has already made his stance on the matter very clear. He is a man, not some unlimited credit card for you to keep withdrawing whatever you want from."
"Not unlimited, but his debt is still not yet- … Are you thinking my thing of wearing that bunny costume has equalled it all out? You might not know sleeping in a different room but Vegey does not wake in terror with nightmares about me in some skimpy getup! He broke me. Now he buys me."
"Paying for a woman? A Prince-" Vegeta strikes, the connotation of a prostitute too easy a target against this pirate who is not silencing herself as she should.
"Out! Stop. Training. Now!" She screams loud enough that those outside hear. Intense flames lick all about her and her sword has returned. Ryoko levels her weapon with the bulkhead. She wildly shakes her head and lets out a keening breath. "You said! You said if you hurt me then bye bye training for fuck knows how long. Out, you bastard. You don't get to make those jokes, rapist."
She calls in the power that Ayeka bargained for. Ryoko slashes at the air in pent up fury. Her feet involuntarily take a step back. A loud thud comes from the training room door. The ki from beyond is pulsating an intent to kill. She screams again for him to cease his training. Inside the Saiyan's mind he searches for any fine print in the agreement he made. All he recalls is that jealousy cannot be used as a cause, nothing was stated about provocation. He growls. The door slams open and in a state of fatigue he gingerly steps out being careful in how he walks. Below his blonde hair tufts stick out from his tail's fur and it twitches several times as he binds it about his waist. Pants break through gritted teeth as he stares down the woman abusing her power over him.
Ryoko storms from the room, not speaking to the prince she evicted for slander. Her sword trails behind her stomping footsteps. A pained grimace wracks Vegeta and he clutches down at the former base of his spine. Energy surges around him before he cuts off his transformation and descends to stop his power being unleashed. An exhausted hand grabs back at his tail and growls of pain come from his throat. His training shall continue. Ayeka looks on in dissatisfaction at Vegeta purposefully hurting and injuring himself for the sake of training and her eyes are drawn to this new tail of his. Same way as his occupation has left his fingers with minimal feeling, he works on building a calloused layer around his tail to prevent its sensitivity being a weakness and also build its physical strength to be on par with the rest of himself. One unfocused squeeze of his hand leaves stars dancing before his vision. The princess looks outside to follow where Ryoko has gone as her prince's body is making her uncomfortable. Vegeta states that his son will be able to handle her and lumbers towards the kitchen to catch up on the meal he skipped.
Red flashes across the scene. Her sword burns into the forest in the background. Ryoko calls for Trunks after throwing her sword before his face. Having hit another easy home run the lad looks her way. He tosses the bat over to Misaki and strolls towards the pirate covered in a conflagration of her anger.
"Where is it? Video of your dad's wedding, you must know. Tell me!" Her roaring continues at the same volume as if she were still dealing with the father, Ryoko barks at the kid and his nonchalant approach to her.
"Probably back at our old house, why you wanna know?" Trunks will disclose this much to her. She can shout and rave and display her power as much as she wants and it effects him little. He shrugs at her and looks forward at the house, he can go in the training room now that his father has departed it.
Hands grab his shoulders with urgency and Ryoko asks again for him to tell her where it is, giving her only explanation as being that she wants to see it. Her efforts are not doing much to persuade him. Trunks brushes her hold from him and she puts her hands back on. He sighs, annoyed by all of this. Eyes turn blue, hair raises into gold, Trunks seizes one of her hands.
"Interesting, I want to see mom too. Scratch my back and I'll help ya out." Trunks smirks like his father as he captures the woman who can teleport and offers his deal. He has not forgotten about her and his dad is all tired and worn out now.
Ryoko struggles against his powerful grip in vain as she cannot gain any release even with phasing. Too wrapped up in anger she now remembers Vegeta's warning and the horror of what Trunks wants her to do. She does not like this touch, this feeling of a Super Saiyan. He stands impervious to the few attacks she tries in a bid for freedom. Ryoko is beginning to panic. She shouts that she cannot teleport somewhere she does not know or where she cannot sense a person. The Otherworld she could only go to when either Goku or Vegeta have already teleported. Trunks releases her, already knowing this, that is not the reason she should be saying to him. Messing with her like this he sees the same wreck he walked in on early this morning.
"You weren't there when Missy asked, Ayeka was taking baby for a stroll, so I'm curious to see what you say. Gogeta freaked the hell out. It was funny watching Goten's mom react. Would you and dad mean that I get a brother or sister?" Curious after that remark of Chichi possibly having a further child, Trunks tests Ryoko with this question to see how she will squirm and to enjoy if she gets as embarrassed as Chichi did. A sibling does sound like a fun proposition, even if he is still quite against Ryoko or having a step-mother.
Fires extinguish in pitiful embers. A wavering exhalation is all Ryoko says as she raises her free hand to cover her face and hide her pain. Trunks lets go of her other hand and descends as this was not the reaction he was after from her. That shot right through her. Such an innocent question laden with pure destructive power when aimed at her. All it would take would be for Trunks to ask his father for a brother or a sister and all her world would come crashing down, her chances reduced to zero and her dreams of being loved turning back into fiction. She wipes at her eyes to stop the dams from breaking. Trunks looks up at her and asks if she is OK, which she obviously is not as he knows her current state of mind.
"... I … I can't." There is little else she can say, or is able to. Ryoko moans out this weak response in a half whisper. It has come back to this. If this is what Trunks wants from a mothering figure than she has already failed in her promise to Vegeta. It hurts, this expectation he has put on her shoulders crushes her. She has but one option to avoid this. Flight stops her legs from failing her. "Do you want me to be Saiyan?"
Not many left overs or scraps were left after lunch for him, not enough for a Saiyan to satisfy himself on. Since the afternoon will involve a jaunt outside he will stock up on nourishment now to avoid too much of a debacle of sustaining his appetite when shopping. With the oven on he waits and snacks. The other royal in the kitchen has commented on his one item of clothing and at the moment he is too tired and too in pain to go through the hassle of putting holes in the rear of all his trousers and underwear to accommodate his long lost tail. He can sense how unnerved she is. He can also sense something worse. The hackles on his tail raise.
His son escorts Ryoko into the kitchen with him. Engulfing most of a wheel of cheese, Vegeta swallows and looks to the pirate who is no longer going to pester him. This is a silver lining only he sees as alarm bells trip in Ayeka's head at another drastic mood swing in Ryoko, something has hushed the rogue and it cannot have been pleasant. Ryoko quietly sits down at the table, mentally exhausted and stressed, and hides her head in her hands. Her rage has gotten her hurt again. Ayeka steps up to her but warily keeps her distance unless violence spontaneously comes her way. The son looks to his dad, guilty over what he has done.
"I'm sorry, dad, you never said though, whole year and … I didn't mean it. I was joking but, I hurt her. Why didn't you say she can't have children?" Trunks could have avoided grievously hurting a sensitive spot of Ryoko if his father had told him this whilst they trained together. Still young, it does not make too much sense to him but he is responsible enough to own up to his mistake here. This is not a small thing that should have been swept under the rug as it was. He looks to his lone parent for guidance and information.
The father looks to the silent woman. Being asked that by his son, he can understand how hard that hit her. She always says how little it means to her yet its impact is never lessened when it is brought up. Proof of his parenthood questioned her on her inability to become a natural mother. He has never asked his son about a want for siblings and truthfully would only minimally listen for that will be his and whomever he chooses' choice. Ayeka keeps silent, the moniker of 'Fertile one' keeping her lips sealed for Ryoko's sake. Vegeta sighs. This mess has escalated. He is not in the correct mood to deal with this as tactfully as it should be.
"Ah. That. … You're young, and this delicate issue is-"
"What does she mean about becoming a Saiyan, Dad?"
Softly Ryoko whimpers. Consumed with thoughts of defeat, of her fear, of his rejection of her wants whilst Ayeka so readily stands by him waiting for her date as a family – something she can never have. A hushed question breaks Ayeka's silence. Trunks' question is not something she has heard of. The son does not understand what is going on with this talk of Ryoko changing species and infertility. Red eyes look down at the distraught cyan maned woman and then to her semi-naked prince.
A pained roar erupts as Trunks exploits his father's masochistic training and current weakness. As a Super Saiyan he seizes the superior position and likewise seizes his father's tail. He hits his head on the table as he collapses onto his knees. His dwindled strength has been sapped. The pressure on his vertebrae is excruciating, he cannot move but to writhe and his ki is depleted. Trunks asks again, not wanting his father to try and escape or brush this matter off. He shall be held until the son is satisfied. Pants are what Vegeta gives. Two dresses he can see underneath the table legs. A similar question is posed from Ayeka.
"Washu is the one who offered her that – that choice. Immediately after having found out that as species, a Saiyan and herself, are incompatible her emotional state was taken advantage of. I rescued her from that lab before her mistake could be made. … Yes. She was given the choice to genetically become a Saiyan. And yes, she took it, to rid herself of this false inferiority she cannot let go of. … Trunks, she fears she will have to do this, just to stay in the race for myself. I have told her of the risks. I have told her I want for no more children. I told her I do not wish for her to forsake her identity. … Ryoko is not one who listens. If- … If I hadn't stopped Washu, she would be dead now. The dangers of myself were made apparent. She would have had a season, gone into heat. By my hand, Kakarot's or Gohan's, she would have sought her own death by the same lust that broke her. … I … Desperation is all that drives her for this. Washu speaks of her own children and flaunts her happiness. Misaki is a walking maternal instinct. Kakarot's broad shows her a mother to Saiyans, a thing she cannot be. And- and I used it as a weapon against her as I destroyed her. Even you, Trunks, serve as a reminder to this future denied to her. … My son, I have not pressured her into this. The opposite in fact is true. … However, if she loses her war against Ayeka, I have a strong suspicion she will take it as a last resort to prove herself as a thief and test what my natural instincts are towards a female Saiyan."
It takes effort to coherently speak and formulate that explanation as Vegeta is tortured through his tail. An answer for all three in the room. His concentration is too broken with his tail held to transform. His son seems to be accepting this recount of events and lessens his grip. The blow the father gives to his Super Saiyan son is not blocked, Trunks takes it for what it is as Vegeta rises to his feet. Hundreds of questions are written across the fair face of the princess. This is something he kept from her for in his mind it should not be part of the equation or worth thinking about. Elfin ears are low and pressed against her skull. He hits too deep with his observations. Spelling out her pain does not lessen it to her.
"But! … But, what if..." Ryoko's voice is muffled by her hands.
"... Ryoko, I cannot answer that hypothetical for you. If you decide maternity is something you desire then that is your choice. 1 year, 10, 50, whenever your mind sways to it, if it does, there will be and are other alternatives you can consider instead. … We fight enough as it is, I don't need you nipping at my heels as a Saiyan constantly trying to battle me, eating me out of house and home." He knows of this future roadblock she fears with the same intensity of her nyctophobia. Vegeta can not change a future what has not come to pass. He might sway her decision but it will not be intentional on his part, her possible want for children will be her own and he will never push this onto her. Vegeta twirls his tail back around his waist.
"You want me to be a mother though. For Trunks. You're gonna make me want it. I- I can't.-"
"And as I said, other options are available. We have dragonballs. It will be your choice ultimately. … Trunks, would you pressure Ryoko into birthing a sibling for yourself?" He reminds her that with wish granting orbs Washu should not be the only option that Ryoko sees for herself, and then he gets Trunks to join a topic he has a right to be involved in. This could help allay her fears if his son says the right words, that and he needs to put his son on the spot and think to make him realise for himself the severity of this matter. Vegeta has not forgotten about Ayeka, yet getting her to talk on this would take longer than he cares to humour this for.
"What? N-no … But, wouldn't you like there to be more Saiyans?" Trunks turns the question back as his father is a selfish man and it would not be too out of place for him to want for a female of his own species. He understands how wrong it would be forcing Ryoko into any life altering choice such as this, it is a lot to wrap his head around.
"Not to that degree. Ryoko is Ryoko, a Saiyan is not Ryoko and likewise. Would you have Ayeka go through this process purely for my want to take one temporary step back from extinction?" Vegeta completes this trail of thought by posing the opposing question. If the question is down to the existence of female Saiyans and not fertility issues the immoral nature of this genetic manipulation will be shown through Ayeka. She could be turned into a Saiyan also.
Ayeka is lost. Infertility has been an issue Ryoko has suffered through but these depths she was not aware of. A choice to join Vegeta's species. Though downplaying Ryoko's ability to make rational choices or correct decisions, Ayeka cannot help but take this as a defeat. Ryoko has been teetering on the edge and fallen off it several times even so there is no way that Ayeka could ever consider that option on Vegeta's behalf – whereas her rival almost went through with it. She cannot sacrifice the same for her feelings as Ryoko can. Her people, her status, her family, the empire and her duties, reason upon reason mount as to her never straying from being a Juraian. These ties Ryoko has never felt. For all Ryoko knows her species abandoned her, her family left her, they never gave her anything and she has no ties to her own species so trading it for a place within Vegeta's family is something she can do. Ayeka lowers her head. An inability to match her, the 'Fertile One' stands thinking how base and immature her own woes surrounding Vegeta and his body are when her rival is suffering through this.
"She wouldn't … and no. I hear ya, dad, it'd be wrong. How long have you guys known this? Before you died?" Trunks concurs that with this perspective forcing someone to join the ranks of Saiyans is not something they should consider. He scratches at his lavender hair and looks at the moping Ryoko. This is his fault for bringing it up.
"It was the reason Ryoko left Ayeka in a blizzard and kept me in her bed that night."
Bending down, the food within the oven is checked upon and Vegeta's impatience shows. The time-frame is given. He lets Trunks think on that and categorise her actions before and after that event with this in mind. Stretching his arms causes one of his shoulders to make an unhealthy cracking noise. Ayeka is not comfortable with his displayed physique. That is a Saiyan, the thing she is not and that Ryoko could be. Beyond her disappointment at her own limits and empathetic grief over Ryoko's dire situation she feels fear at this prospect. She cannot compete with this decision so if Ryoko takes it there is nothing she could do but watch. Logical sense dictates that the same species would be attracted more to one another and with their mating seasons Vegeta would be forced to safeguard Ryoko from herself and himself whilst both are at the pinnacle of lust. She wraps the hem of her sleeve around her ring finger. Just as she held victory by having been able to limit Vegeta into not accepting Ryoko's proposal, so too does Ryoko hold a strong potential win for herself if this plunge is taken.
"I think we should let her – well, them – see the video she wants. That or you can spend hours chatting to her like I did this morning to see if she cheers up. You know where it is? Put the first one on, I'd rather not see me with mom."
"Of course I know and, Trunks, you were there in both. First though, Ryoko: how long is your bar from training in effect for? And Ayeka, question me if you will."
"Until I get to see it." Her golden eyes glower out from her arms. Being talked about and discussed is not making her happy. Trunks will give her what she seeks, she will make it so she gets it. He did not ask her about her opinions on this, again only stating his own. Her fingernails claw into the table.
"I do not believe those were the terms agreed between myself and Ayeka. Also, I am still against this. I did not say I would do this." His arms cross and the Saiyan Prince meets the stare of Ryoko. He is not that lenient, nor will he just surrender this because Trunks deems it the easiest path. A low growl comes from the table.
"C'mon dad. She's gonna bug us and search for it whilst leaving snot and tears everywhere at this rate. Let her sort herself out whilst getting this out the way."
" And reward her current behaviour? I am not for encouraging her further when she is spiralling to self destruction. At this rate she'll start getting a weird masochistic tendency."
"As if you're one to talk, all you do is self harm! Let me see it. What the hell does this have to do with masochism anyway?" She rises with her teeth bared. The chair she was on kicked over causing Ayeka to dodge out the way of its fall. Their mutual mule-headedness clashes. He is still denying her and she will not have it. In an accusatory manner she points at her fiancé.
The Saiyan is unimpressed and sighs. Masochism would infer he derives pleasure from his ceaseless training which he told her he does not. Pain is a necessity for him. His son has stoked her want for this and she is pushing. He will not give in.
"There is a pattern and if you latch onto it or continue to try and exploit it for your wants then it would be a masochistic endeavour. After all the ills you have won some prize. You get told of infertility then you share a night beside me. You get nearly killed by me and you become engaged to myself. Now this and you get to fuel your agenda for a pretend ceremony. A mentally sound person would not follow this, but at the moment that is not yourself. … You might try and incur more of these 'debts' I owe you to take what otherwise I would not give."
His brief summary blind-sides Ryoko. She has always claimed and taken after a wrong. Her pointed finger falls as she thinks. So casually pointing out her mental instability wounds her pride and she has to start seriously contemplating if that has ever subconsciously been a reason for her actions. Ryoko cannot tell, though she all too easily could see that happening for her to take advantage of as easily as she could see another panic attack happening. She still wants it, yet now she sees there might be a line to draw in her attempts before what she is doing is purely welcoming a continuation of her downfall for a pittance to be repaid. Vegeta sees that his words have worked and that correlation will place an obstacle in her way.
"Lord Vegeta, please, may we watch it. I feel … I know that it would be beneficial to your journey through grief." Ayeka bows her head as she takes the plunge and joins the fray. She deems that quite the low blow to hit Ryoko in her loosening grip on sanity. Another tactic she takes, this angle seems more appropriate for the way in which Vegeta is so irrevocably defending this simple video. Bowing her head allows her to hide her face as Vegeta makes a derisory snort.
"Is that a dare? Are you calling me out on cowardice so that I will yield? Contrary to both of your efforts I am allowed my own privacy. That was between me and Bulma, and that is how it will stay. If either of you go behind my back on this and skulk to Washu I will know. Drop it." He will not be baited and he will not be ganged up on. Firmly keeping his gaze on the demure princess holds her in silence. His words on privacy acting on her as intended. There are many reasons he does not want to yield this.
"C'mon dad, just let up. She ain't said a thing like that and getting all defensive only proves her point. You got a better plan to cheer her up so you can go back training?" Trunks backs up Ayeka, grief is definitely a factor – as the son knows – and this behaviour of his father is strange considering how trivial the want is. He wants to amend for upsetting Ryoko and his father is making it all the more difficult.
"I will not fuel her obsession for a wedding ceremony. She hurts herself and purposefully provokes me, that is on her head to sort out. If you want to babysit her you can, I have more important things to do than watch Ryoko slowly destroy herself."
"Lord Vegeta, it is your fault that she is currently doing this and in this vulnerable mindset, do you not intend to take responsibility for your actions?" The princess sees it as wrong to insult Ryoko so for the position she is in is down to the breaking of her that this Saiyan did.
"I did, and you hated me for accepting her hand in engagement. I also intend for Ryoko to take responsibility in the part she played, which she can start doing by stop playing the victim every-time she causes herself pain through her idiocy and uncontrolled emotions." Vegeta is not going to play nice and shuts Ayeka up. He growls. Ryoko joins him in the growl.
"Fuck you, I don't get it! Tell me not to be the victim then when I try you just call bullshit on my acting and push me to the kerb. Tell me not to-to worry about that shit with my body and hassle me to play nice with your kid. Half the time I pester you like this you get a damn hard-on for being challenged but, no, now -now when I want it you're-y-you're- Fuck off. You try to touch me, or even use your damn powers 'n' I'm adding 5 hours to your nice, relaxing break." A hiss follows her as she vanishes from the room, having had enough of arguing with Vegeta, she will take matters into her own hands. Her threat of him trying to stop her in anyway is there.
The food in the oven is still not cooked as Vegeta checks again and looks over to the clock. His fist slams down on the counter. He can hear Ryoko and what she is doing. Glancing over at his son he orders him to continue his training whilst the room is vacant. Trunks questions back why that video is the one thing he has drawn the line at and not engagements or kissing or such which are far bigger betrayals towards Bulma. His mother showed her marriage recordings to all her friends, they were not a private affair. Vegeta lets out an exasperated groan which morphs into a snarl. Brusquely he rhetorically asks Trunks how he upset Ryoko and what was the immediate cause of himself marrying Bulma. That is all he feels he should have to state. Ryoko has not reached rock bottom yet but she could easily do so with this shove and Trunks should be persuaded by this. Trunks simply replies that Ryoko already knows that fact. Vegeta scoffs that the pirate in question forgets the dangers of many things if that thing is something she wants.
Ayeka picks up the knocked over chair and listens to the clatter and muttered curses and grumblings coming from the adjoining room. Things are going from bad to worse and he has said mean enough things to her to warrant her banning his training, she knows it would be more productive not to enrage him further but to tackle the cause. She knows he has spent hours intentionally injuring and hurting and tiring himself out, that he had to fuse with Goku and on top of that had a fight that showcased his lesser strength and speed. Then there was also Chichi, the still alive wife. She hears Vegeta's point that it is not wise for Ryoko to see the wanted recording at this time, and she also sees him staying here and not pursuing her whether out of confidence she will not find it or pure lack of caring. This is not going to make sorting out her own problems easier with Ryoko's taking the forefront so prominently. Then her mother enters the house.
Following a less than friendly greeting from Ryoko, Misaki strides into the kitchen and heads over by Vegeta and sets the tap running. She can sense the thick tension. Another argument has happened, and no leap of logic is needed to know Ryoko was involved with her in a huff and after throwing her sword at Trunks. Turning to the householder she opens drawers nosing about as she enquires if there are any decanters as they are getting thirsty outside playing this Earth sport. Vegeta's dead black eyes meet hers. He reaches down to a cupboard at crotch level of Misaki and opens it. Sasami is the chef, any utensil or such in use will not be found at a level higher than a pre-teen girl can reach. She thanks him and bending down to get it and accompanying glasses she sees the much talked about fluff.
"Drop that line of thought now." Vegeta's low voice threatens her over what she is so obviously thinking. She is of a one track mind, like himself, and he knows that she was thinking of his physical trait of a tail being passed down within her family.
"I was not going to ask. It would not be m-my place to t-t- to touch your t-tail." Subverting his warning so that the two children of these parents think he was referring more to the normal question of curiosity around touching his tail, Misaki fails. It was the easiest place to move the talk and then her mind caught up with her and images of a naked Vegeta and her daughter holding him and her voice petered out.
Red is on both Juraians cheeks. Ayeka has not yet broached that with Vegeta, and the insinuation there that it is her place as Vegeta's future lover to touch his tail brings her thoughts right back to his nudity. The Queen of Jurai starts filling the decanter with water and clears her throat.
Shouts of victory come from Ryoko. Vegeta's fist pounds rhythmically on the work surface and the water Misaki is pouring spills slightly. Trunks looks questioningly at his father. He did not think that it was actually in the house for her to find but back at Capsule Corporation HQ. The Saiyan's confidence was apparently misplaced, he underestimated Ryoko. He switches the oven off and marches from the kitchen out to the front room to confront her, his son follows him. The Queen is not sure of what is going on but with this urgency also in her daughter she sets down the drinks and goes to investigate with Ayeka to see if she will be necessary as a moderator or to soothe Ryoko. What she sees she was most certainly not expecting.
Loss is written across Vegeta's face, in both senses of the word, as he looks at the television and who is displayed upon it. He has been beaten. The ki beside him is fluctuating. He glances down at his son and rests a hand on his shoulder. Ryoko holds the controls and pauses the home video as she looks at the father and son, Vegeta said it was hers if she could take it, and she has, so she is watching to see if he shall stop her. He covers his face, thumb and forefinger resting on opposing temple and a long exhalation strains through his gritted teeth. Ayeka looks from the still image to the family photo, that is the same joyous smile, mere months between the two images. The princess looks to her prince and cautiously approaches him to see how well he is faring. So far Ryoko has not sensed any action against her, she cocks her head to the side to see if the Juraians are going to interfere.
"May I?" Ryoko tauntingly asks as she twirls the remote in her hand. Vegeta has to tighten his grip on his son.
"How did-. Why?" The how is not important now as she has found it, if he can dissuade her though he will.
"Why? I said. I wanna know what the hell marriages are like. I wanna see what you were like with Bulma. I wanna see you happy for once and not moping about. … Chichi said something, this'll test it out. She- She said your deadline's gonna be a lie. That you won't love me or Ayeka then. Here's-here is your chance. Prove it. Prove your training worked, dammit."
She points in an accusatory manner at the proud Saiyan with the remote, not thinking she needs to explain herself to him over this. The princess got her education on the physical aspect of relationships that she did not know of and so Ryoko thinks that it is her time to see the joys of a committed relationship. Her accessory tail swishes restlessly through the air and her ears are alert.
She tosses the remote over to Vegeta, he catches it and his eyes linger on the screen. Ayeka was not truly calling him out in challenge over this, this is him being dared to view something that already is stirring up pain within him. His wife looking so hopeful and happy, a woman on the brink of marriage with all her thoughts directed to the future, a future with him and her expected child. He looks down at his son and squeezes his shoulder, asking if he wants to go and train. Misaki and Ayeka spy the strewn open box on the floor. The same one that they were watching. All of Vegeta's losses and victories were truly stored on one disc, no matter how he actually classifies this first act of his domestication. Ryoko had one starting block in her search, the one disc she knew of, and she will not be tricked by it having a secret B-side to the disc. Her feline eyes are on Trunks now as well. He is the threat and danger, the Super Saiyan child that could attack over the memory of his mother, and she wonders if this is her place to step in like Vegeta wants as a surrogate mother figure – whatever that is.
"You're gonna end up crying and hurt again. Just making it harder for yourself." Gold flares up around Trunks, his emotions breaking out as he half threatens and half warns Ryoko about her destructive actions.
"Yep. I know. … But I need to know. Vegey, I need to see if your training was good for something. … I-I can't keep doing this if it's all just a lie." She dares to step closer to the enraged father and transformed son. This is not something she can be negotiated around. All her hopes rested on that. She is far past her limit. She needs there to be an end, a light she can find comfort in. The warning of Trunks she heeds as she knows the subject of Bulma's pregnancy and subsequent joy will rip through her, a price she will pay for Vegeta to show her his commitment to his fiancées could possibly match that of Bulma.
"I said I would make a choice. A choice I will make. Your actions right now are only weighting the die against you." He barks out an answer to shush her dangerous words. His hand purposefully releases Trunks in lieu of threatening Ryoko to cease this.
"No. Not choose. You can choose who you like more right now. It means zip! Not like. Not prefer. V-Vegey, it's always been for l-love. Stop your word games and give me it straight, I ain't a toy for you to play with."
"Silence! She is not a weapon for you to use against me and my son! How is you acting like this ever going to aid that goal? Do not question my-"
"... It will aid."
A second bonfire of gold ignites as he is attacked from a flank he believed to be protected. Piercing blue eyes lock onto the princess who dares to speak out against him and ally herself with the hysterical Ryoko. Her timid voice stops seeing his rage. Misaki protectively stands close to her daughter bravely making a stand. One hand holds the seashell necklace as she holds onto her fraying nerve. There is an underlying point here that Vegeta is purposefully ignoring, and she will call out this wrong. For the best show of force she can muster two guardian logs appear on either side of her.
"It- I cannot pretend that this is not my business, that it does not involve me, for it does. … Your grief failed due to repression. Seeking distraction in your eternal training, shutting everyone and everything out. When- dur-during your training with Trunks you opened up. Sh-shutting the lid now will halt your progress to the peace you seek. T-ta-talk about it. Share w-with us. I've said it before: your mourning does not make you weak. How can you help Trunks through this if you do not tackle this foe yourself?"
She finds her footing as she speaks and the principle behind which she can support her argument with. Ayeka is not wholly for Ryoko's methodology yet the point remains, he has become more open but this reflex denial and defensive attitude is a symptom of deep emotions he claims to have rid himself of. His failures as a father are heard by the now lavender haired lad. It was good the time they spent in time dilation getting things off of their chests and discussing their loss, painful but even in his youth he knows it is right. His mother would not want them to be fighting people over this, but instead celebrating it. Misaki bites her tongue to keep herself from intervening where she should not as a Super Saiyan stares down her eldest.
"Saiyans fight their battles alone."
"Grieving for a loved one is not a Saiyan issue." Emotions made his response predictable and he will not shirk off his responsibility to aid in Trunks' emotional well-being. He cannot argue this point without undermining his great pride in the Saiyan culture.
The display on the television flickers back to life as Vegeta descends. Cowardice was making him retreat from an enemy. A misplaced loyalty he does not want to surrender. He will not fail what remains of his family any further. The amount of times he beat Trunks for crying as they trained, he knows how much his son suffers, a suffering he shares and hides from the world. Moving on. Words he spoke, a promise he gave, a pleasant sounding prospect that tears at him with every step he takes down that path to lessen the pain he feels weakening him. He turns and faces his wife's smiling face. This is not a recording he needs. Vegeta remembers every facet of that day in perfect detail. On that day they promised themselves to one another for life. Then her life ended and she left him alone. He pats his son's head. Fear will never control his actions. No challenge will make him cow and turn away.
Several curlers remain in her unfinished blue hair and only a preliminary layer of make-up is on her face. A simple work shirt and trousers are all she wears for the time being as the camera auto focuses on its target. The hovering drone capturing film autonomously as its creator smiles and waves at the camera from inside a bedroom that at this minute is still only hers.
Ryoko gives her thanks to Ayeka and Vegeta. The Saiyan is deaf to her words. Misaki knows when she is not wanted and hurries into the kitchen to fetch the drinks for the others and gives a reassuring and parting squeeze to her daughter's shoulder. Trunks looks up at his father. The Saiyan has paused the video with only a few seconds having passed. A tail passes over his wrist. Ryoko cannot touch him, this is the comfort she can give to make him go along with her wants and face the ghost shackling him to bachelorhood. He heavily sits down on the sofa. His bare musculature is tense and a spasm runs through his abused tail as the weight of his back presses against part of it. Ryoko is mindful of the distance between her and him as she sits next to him, her predatory eyes darting between his stern expression and the screen. Misaki enters and exits the room as she leaves the house carrying a tray, a sympathetic look on her face for the hurting child. There is no space for Ayeka as Trunks holds his father's hand. Standing by the side observing would suit her fine if her legs had not turned to jelly after facing down the wrath of Vegeta. One of the spare chairs brought out earlier finds a princess occupying it as she quietly shuffles closer. He resumes the video.
"Hi, this is the last recording of Miss Bulma Briefs before she becomes Mrs Bulma … Briefs." The cheery bride to be has a slight pause as she remembers that she cannot take Vegeta's family name as he does not have one. She then looks down and places her manicured hands on her still flat stomach. "And hi as well from the precious little one in here as well. Surprise."
At the mention of himself all of the Saiyan indoctrination of his father breaks and Trunks begins to cry. Vegeta keeps his eyes fixed on the one who widowed him, pretending not to notice his son's tears so that his Saiyan instincts will not cause him to strike the weakness from him. He senses the differing ki of another being discomfited by those words. The woman who can never naturally share in that same happiness of an expectant mother bearing the child of the man she loves, Ryoko observes the cheeky smirk and wink from Bulma as she openly reveals her pregnancy. She runs a hand through her wild hair and retracts her fake tail around herself as she takes deep breaths to combat her envy and pain. Vegeta's eyes remain solely on one woman. He promises to himself that he will make it through this.
With her introduction over Bulma reaches under the camera drone and picks up a silvery keypad with an ominously large red button on it. She tells the camera to prepare for the show as it is about to begin. A mischievous grin is on her face as she presses the large button. Audio dampens and the drone adjusts its microphones as raging roars break out from somewhere off-screen, and through this Bulma chuckles silently below the noise. The screen transitions having edited out her walk outside of her large family home as she lightly skips through the back of her garden to the receiver of her remote control. A large spherical structure rises and falls. The spaceship constructed to hold the early versions of Vegeta's gravity training room is lifted upon the Saiyan's shoulders as he squats and does the only useful thing he can with it at the moment.
"Bulma! The machine has stop- you did this! Do you want the androids to kill us?" Enraged as he pieces together her new control pad in her hand and how unsurprised she is, Vegeta growls at the woman confidently approaching him after forcefully ceasing his training. He drops the ship off him for it to heavily thud down and ruin a fair part of the lawn. Bulma does not flinch from his anger, instead she gently slaps her cheeks for she knows what she has to do here.
"Don't pretend your training for anyone but yourself. Now I- Hey!" Her speech is interrupted as he rudely grabs the keypad off her and starts jamming on it for his training room to turn on again. The red button illuminates with the words 'locked' after one incorrect attempt. Bulma is no idiot. She looks unimpressed at the semi-dressed Saiyan growling before her and takes the keypad back into her possession. "Yeah, that's right, full alphanumerics, 20 digits long and a lockout timer of 5 minutes for each wrong guess. Try and hack it, or, save yourself some time and listen."
With her hands on her hips she lords this new power over Vegeta. With this she can get his attention when necessary, like right now, and she sees his suspicions rising as he notices the drone behind her. Bulma looks him up and down, the weight of her decision he does not know of weighing on her and a few doubts creep in the back of her mind. He crosses his arms and waits for her to tell him what she came here to so he can hopefully get promptly back to his training. She steps up to him and pokes his bare chest, fluttering her eyelashes at him. Bulma tells him that they have both got a very important meeting to attend, a cultural celebration of Earth's. He questions why he has to be involved in this. She takes one of his hands and places it on her stomach and he looks off to the side with a small blush on his face.
"A celebration for a successful ejaculation, you humans are a strange people. It won't take long will it?"
Ayeka makes a small squeak as her face flushes at the past Vegeta's lack of tact and blunt description of events. She tries to keep as silent as possible as interrupting this important viewing would be very rude and undermine the end goal. Trunks lets a shiver of disgust run through him at the phrasing of how he came to be, Ryoko attempts to find humour in his awful wording to stave off the effects of this very bad topic for her. This is her proposal to him, Bulma in a roundabout way is asking him to attend his own wedding, and Ryoko cannot help but fixate on how Bulma's marriage only came about at that time due to the bun in the oven she was carrying.
Back 10 years ago Vegeta argues back as to why he has to get involved in a human activity that will last for hours when he could otherwise be training. He utters not a single threat however as this is Bulma he is dealing with and they do not work, and secondly she is pregnant with his child. She stands resolute. Fiddling with her blue hair she is cursing inside her head at how difficult he is making it for her in this less than standard proposal. Fiddling with the keypad she keeps randomly hitting buttons and queues up an hour of lock-down and looks at the stubborn Saiyan.
"You're gonna do this for me because you love me."
"Saiyans do not get infected with such a wasteful disease of the mind."
"Funny, pretty sure I know one Saiyan who loves his wife. That's 50% of your population so not too uncommon a trait then."
"A real Saiyan, not some Earth raised trash.
"What was that? Did you say a real Super Saiyan like Goku?" Bulma taunts the jealousy of Vegeta and mocks his lesser power until his temper gives. He transforms, a feat he has not been able to perform for that long. She smiles at his glowing self, not scared or threatened. "That colour won't match the outfit I've picked out for you. Go wash off that stinky sweat, pretty yourself up, get dressed and I'm sure you'll know where to find us with your super awe inspiring senses."
She smiles at him as she sends the Saiyan on his way, Vegeta grumbling as he storms off to get this over with as quickly as he can. Bulma stretches and a few nervous laughs come from her as it sinks in that she has just proposed to Vegeta and the trick is seemingly unnoticed. Turning back to the camera she announces that it is time that she gets ready as well and looks up to a window where her mother is waiting.
"You've never been properly proposed to have you? Just traps and tricks from all of us." Ryoko does not expect an answer from Vegeta as she muses this, and she does not receive one. She finds solace that so far she is the only one to have explicitly asked him in a straight forward fashion even if her intentions were for the opposite, and that this first she might get to have when on her special day with him – if he still allows that.
His eyelids feel heavy and they close. There is a lot in his mind and in his heart. Her way of dealing with him and his temper he misses. He places his arm around his son and holds the crying boy. There is so much more he could have done for her and failed to do. A compliment comes his way also from the cyan haired rogue. The recording has skipped to him appearing around a different side of the house and Ryoko has commented on his sharp manner of dress, akin to what he wore on their date. A black bridegroom outfit with tails. It looks good on him and she says so. No words come from Vegeta. She looks past over to Ayeka sat on her own and can read from those red eyes thoughts similar to her own at seeing Vegeta in this situation.
Barely a row of chairs is set out, 4 in total and all but one is empty. A black cat meows at Vegeta as he walks past the chairs and to the altar at the front. Having an inflated sense of ego he has no problem being the centre of attention and naturally drifts to the front, caring not for the decorations, banners and flowers or the human like automaton on standby mode behind the altar. His arms cross as he harrumphs. The amount of time it takes him to get showered and dressed is drastically less than it takes for Bulma to, and to set up the rest as well. The Sun moves across the sky and two hours are fast-forwarded with the Saiyan only periodically moving to test whether he can enter his training room again, the cat zipping about the sped up scene and disappearing for a while before climbing on Vegeta's shoulder.
Music starts up and Vegeta glances about bored and wishing for it to begin. The robot vicar boots up and scans the scene, people are missing so it shall not initiate its program yet. From around the other side to where Vegeta came from a woman with blonde curly hair walks up to check on things. She wears a long dark blue dress and the fanciest jewellery she owns – which is very ornate since she is married to the richest man on the planet – and is also wearing make-up. In her hand she carries a handkerchief and her eyes show the tell tale signs of tears and as she sees Vegeta patiently waiting there the waterworks start up again. He does not want to deal with emotional people but she approaches him all the same. The first thing he asks is where everyone else is.
"Did Bulma not say? She was supposed to tell you to meet up here in 10 minutes, but eagerness is never a bad thing, I guess it just slipped her mind with everything going on. I'm so proud of you for doing this. You're gonna make Bulma very happy. Tell the truth I thought you'd take more persuading."
"Well it's for the child."
"Such a responsible and honourable man, just like I knew you were. You're gonna be a great daddy."
"Is there going to be food after this?" Vegeta does not care on her thoughts on his personality. He is starting to get hungry though and if he is not training he might as well be taking care of his bodily needs. She smiles at him and nods, remarking on his calm demeanour and handling of this.
"You're an idiot, dad. Mom really pulled the wool over your eyes didn't she?" Trunks looks up to his dad and smiles through the tears, throwing a mock punch at his father's side.
"That she did. What was I supposed to do with my best man never leaving the bridal party?" He returns the smile to his son and ruffles his hair. During his second marriage ceremony he did appoint Trunks his best man, truthfully he likes no-one else on the planet near enough to warrant that privilege. His son seems embarrassed by this compliment and finds strength in his father acting like this. Vegeta knows the basics of parenting and this is a rule he can abide as a Saiyan: to never show his fear or weakness to his child so that they do not share in it or get burdened by it, he shall forever remain strong for his child to depend on.
Ryoko wants to join in with a joke. Whatever she would say would be inappropriate and she knows she will be butting heads with Vegeta before the day is out and so will not ruin this now she gets to see her fiancé at his first wedding. If she were sat next to Ayeka this might be easier for her. She figures though for all the pain this is bringing up surrounding the child heavy basis of the wedding Vegeta is suffering greater than her. She wonders if he could ever feel that level of loss over her. The princess on her own notices that Vegeta and Trunks are trying their best to utilise a distraction in their jokes to limit the damage they suffer. Her words were the ones that are making these two endure this. She quietly asks if Earth weddings are normally such a small and private affair as they are not on Jurai. Vegeta does not scold her probing, instead he answers telling her that Bulma sacrificed her plans for extravagance and a large wedding with all her friends to keep it under the radar from him so that she could trick him like she did, she forfeited her wants for the ceremony due to who he was at that time. Curtailing luxuries for the sake of marriage, that speaks to Ryoko.
Mrs Briefs busies off to finalise a few other matters off screen and Vegeta stays stood by the altar. Scratch takes its seat again and curls up on the cushion. The smells of an awaiting banquet waft over to the Saiyan and his nostrils begin twitching, and the black cat pays attention to these smells as well. It is not possible for anyone to sneak up on him from around a circular house or with his acute senses. His head leans back as he observes both blonde mother and daughter arrive. There is a giddiness around them, more so for the mother than Tights, and he snorts through his nose at the continuation of this highly emotional event he wants nothing of. Tights wears a similar dress to her mother, both being bridesmaids their outfits do have to match, and her hair is curled and over her left shoulder. The last time Vegeta saw this sibling to Bulma was during a falling out between sisters due to Yamcha, his Saiyan mind does not understand familial bonds. They take their seats on the side opposite to the early arriving cat and Vegeta pays them little attention. Mrs. Briefs' handkerchief comes back out. The robot whirs into action noticing others – they are not standing by the bridegroom so it rules out a beginning to proceedings.
Gold trickles through his roots and ignites along the length of his hair, from his widow's peak all the way to his top spike. Blue eyes open on the recording. His hand not holding his son tightens into a fist, knuckles white and Ryoko watches his reaction. Static fizzles across the screen before settling down due to this energy.
Her father escorts her, arm in arm, towards the one row aisle. For once his greying purple hair is combed and neat, including his moustache, and the acclaimed doctor wears the best tailor made suit he owns. His gait is slow, and steady, a smile hidden under his facial hair. He looks to his youngest child. She is nervous, frightened of this hare-brained scheme she has come up with to deceive a Saiyan prince. Dr Briefs speaks words to her as they walk together, words too quiet for the drone to pick up.
A sharp breath is inhaled through Vegeta's nose. His teeth clench tight together. This image has haunted him for too long. A face he can only see through looking at the past. He gives a rough pat to his son's shoulder. Ryoko can sense his ki, changing, being battled down as his emotions unleash more and more of his control. His piercing eyes hold a deep sorrow.
The veil hides crimson lips. Blue hair adorned with pearls braided in a ring about her head with the rest falling loose in ringlets down the open back of her gown. A light shade of lilac accentuates her veiled eyes. No high heels are worn in respect of Vegeta's less than gigantic size, instead white open toed shoes step out from the hem of her dress onto the grass. The bouquet she grasps firmly in both hands is an intermingling of both white de-thorned roses and splendid bright blue lilies. On her right hand she wears an elbow length white glove that is similar in appearance to the like that Vegeta is often to wear. The dress is strapless and sleeveless, with a tight fitting bodice that she will wear whilst she can before her pregnancy develops, and her cleavage is as respectfully covered as it can be in this style of dress. Embroided floral designs weave down the flanks of her sheening silken wedding gown in a silver and mother of pearl hue. The dress does not billow out at her hips and follows the contours of her body until it spills out at her knees in a mermaid dress fashion, no ruffles, only one layer of fabric. Her dress' train is short, a foot long. She requires her father's help to make it the last few momentous steps to stand before Vegeta at the altar. The eyes of Vegeta, both present and past, are on her and only her.
"She's beautiful." Ryoko comments on the splendour of Bulma and the wonders of a wedding dress. The nerves, the excitement, the trepidation and the hope, she can see it all, and she wants it for herself. Beside her Vegeta nods.
Through her veil she smiles at her smartly dressed prince and winks at him as she can see how in awe he is of her beauty. He looks about as Earth customs are not things he knows much of and so he does not know what comes next or what is expected of him. She puts her bare shoulder against his so that they stand side by side facing the cybernetic registrar and the drone hovers about to get a better angle. Two humanoids are detected before it stood within the delegated area and so the machine's audio processors begin churning out its programming. Dr. Briefs takes his seat next to his cat and across from his own wife with his glasses fogging up from emotion.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the joining together of this man 'Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans' and this woman, 'Dr. Bulma Briefs'..."
Inside his head the past version of Vegeta wonders on the bizarre nature of some tradition to celebrate a physical coupling so openly, no Saiyan would ever declare pregnancy like this. He looks across to the white gowned Bulma, red tinting her cheeks and her fingers messing with the flowers. The robot carries on with its secular speech, having been tinkered by a genius to bypass a few of the legalities to avoid Vegeta's alien nature causing any more of a hiccup with the proceedings than will happen. Then the inevitable happens.
" … no reason why these two cannot be joined together in the bond of matrimony?"
Having been not paying too much attention to the prattling on of a machine, Vegeta hears that one word. He looks up at the robot as it pauses for a response before carrying on, the Saiyan is not too sure if his ears are playing tricks on him or if this is mere coincidence that humans have a ceremony by a similar name. His sharp black eyes look across to Bulma and a nervous smile meets him. Something is not right and he can sense deception in the air. Locking eyes with her she smiles and sticks out her tongue.
"Do you 'Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans' take 'Dr Bulma Briefs' to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
The display switches off with the safety fuses of Washu kicking in. Even from where she is sat Ayeka can feel the heat of his ki. The legendary Super Saiyan cannot suppress his emotions to that degree, his control over himself is not that strong – not when it comes to her. The life in her eyes, that overflowing exuberance of happiness, her love for him as she asked him – a murderous Saiyan friend to no-one – to be her eternal partner and lover. That was the beginning of a new start. Here he sits with two women in the room and neither of them are her. Ryoko winces at the heat rolling off of his unrestrained transformation. Those are the emotions of a wedding and these are the terrible aftermath. Through the gold she spies faint wisps of steam rising from beneath Vegeta's brow. His pride still holds what it can. His heart bleeds.
Ryoko leans across with her own ki warding off the worst of his energy and an arm goes about Vegeta. They are both hurting, but this despair is not something she has witnessed in person, only through his memories, and she knows what destructively agonising emotions are tied to it. Touching him brings no comfort to herself, she will put up with it for his sake. He is there for her when her emotions rise to the surface and break out and she will provide the aid he will never ask for. Trunks, however, is too far for her to reach. A wedding does not broach much emotion from him, seeing his mother and how his parent's discussed him and their early relationship revolved around him does. He leaves for the training room. He is still a kid, and his father is in no shape currently to support him, this is his limit of what he is willing to go through. Ayeka offers him a look of sympathy and tells him he is brave and strong. The training room closes and the Saiyan blood within him provides him the necessary path to vent his raw emotions.
An empty spot at Vegeta's side has opened up. His energy is too great for her, even Ryoko is discomfited by it, and surrounding him in this delicate state will only invoke his ire. Ayeka wants to help, to be there for her prince. Sitting close to him and beside his mostly undressed body edges her reason to keep her distance. There are other ways to help than physical contact. Ryoko's skin is heating up through her summer dress, Vegeta is not containing his ki, pain will begin shortly so she disengages her embrace. His eyes close and open with a fresh puff of steam.
The answer Ryoko posed to him by means of this recording are answered. Her tears fall unimpeded. Less than 2 months for this to pass and him to fall into the same love that led him to that altar is not looking a likely scenario. She will not be loved like he loved Bulma. Her grief is not silent like Vegeta's. She cannot ask him to waste more years of his life in a training room, she will have to wait it out – her impatient nature taking the daily brunt of the pain of her unrequited love. They all told her but she held out hope for herself, that candle has since burnt out. Venting her pain will only make her the selfish villain to a widower. She teleports over to Ayeka and collapses onto the one she can touch and is going through a similar thing to her for whatever comfort she can find. The princess goes to rest her hand on the crying pirate's head on her lap. A finger touches an elfin ear and a shudder runs through Ryoko.
"Not my ears, please, Ayeka." A soft moan comes from Ryoko concerning her sensitive appendages and Ayeka's hand moves away from them and strokes the back of her head.
Red eyes keep to her prince and her heart flutters. A smile has birthed itself on Vegeta's face. The past and his memories hold more than just sorrow and darkness. He lengthens his hair out and sheds his brow in honour of his wife's final gift to him. Vegeta nods to himself and stands up.
"I will seize that once again." Vegeta declares his intentions as he reigns in his power and the television comes back to life. He will not be bested by this. Blood drips from his clenched fist. Those were the best years of his life and he shall strive to find that meaning in his life again.
His blue eyes go to the two women. Death did not defeat him, death of his other half shall not either. With evaporated tears steaming up under his heavy brow, Vegeta accepts this pain. This is his grief. There is a great distance left on this road for him to travel with his son, and the suspicions of Ryoko appear correct. He needed this push. He needed their action. Ayeka nods her head back at him and gives a tender smile back, the heart wrenching emotions her fiancé is going through clear to all.
"You shall not suffer through a fake wedding, Ryoko."