Chapter 73

"Chichi."

Goku stands in the middle of his newly acquired training room with his bare arms crossed, still in only the borrowed underwear from Vegeta's since he turned Oozaru. He raises an eyebrow as his wife curses not too quietly and stomps her foot in irritation. He turned the artificial gravity on to a measly 10 times Earth's for a warm up and to test this machine yet he got interrupted before he could begin properly training.

"Great, there goes my favourite bra, more broken clothes today's all I need."

This is her first time in heightened gravity and one wardrobe malfunction has already occurred, her underwire has snapped. For her strength Chichi can withstand the effort of this gravity quite well, however her lack of ki control leaves her body undefended against the side effects. Balance is hard for her to find and breathing is difficult. She sorts out her clothing as best she can, wearing a spare one of her husband's orange gis loosely over her smaller frame and with her hair tied back in a ponytail.

"Chichi." He calls his wife's name a second time for he knows what she is doing and she does not need to. Her struggles against the gravity are quite clear and he knows why, and he knows she will not accept any training on the matter for he has tried that several times. "C'mon now, it's safe. All good, all safe, and we got one of those healing tanks just in case. Goten'll be fine, no worrying now."

"I'm not checking to see if Goten would be hurt by this dangerous room. I'm … Well, if I don't exercise after eating what I cook for you Saiyans I'd put on weight."

"OK then, it's gonna be Cell." His intelligence might lead him to be fooled often but he can tell when his wife is trying to trick him. He concedes and tells her of the planned simulation he was thinking of training himself and Goten against. The news goes over with her as he expected. Teaching Ryoko to read minds has come with one perk though.

The hands of Chichi go straight through him. Not that he has much clothing for her to grab onto he phases to avoid the worst of her wrath. Her yelling intensifies as he avoids his punishment for even thinking of placing Goten into such a dangerous situation, to offer another one of her sons up to that monster. Goku returns the physical properties of his body and lets his wife vent. He says her name again and she glowers up at him, disapproving immensely.

"Just- just listen, OK? Sure Cell's a bad guy, but he can be talked to unlike Frieza and Buu. He likes the fight, and coulda killed all of us but-"

"But he only killed you, and Trunks! Goten's not strong enough for that. You don't have to do a simulation, some gravity like this should work fine." Chichi prods him hard. These are not reminders she needs. Her son should not have to face Cell. She cannot let her family be in danger because of that monster again. His hand reaches out to her and she hits it away.

"Goten's main problem isn't strength and speed. I know you were doing your best when you trained him, but his techniques aren't that good. If you could fly or shoot ki he'd be golden but he fights like you do, and it doesn't work too good when all the rest of us know how to fight in the air. Cell, he knows everyone's tactics and techniques. He's part Saiyan and enjoys fighting and a challenge, out of all the bad guys he's the best sparring partner. And I'll be here. Right here, to protect him. I can keep Cell in line."

She frowns and punches his hard abs to no effect. Chichi cannot help but feel guilty about this if Goku says her martial arts teachings are a cause for this, if she applied herself she could be a fighter with those skills and so have taught Goten how to fight like his father does but that is not something she shall do. His hand rests on her shoulder and she stares off, still not happy, but to refuse would be to say she has no faith in her husband's power. He annoyingly only talks sense when fighting is involved. She gives the compromise that him and Gohan have to do the same training first to make 100% sure that Goten will be alright before her second son faces Cell. Goku smiles at her and her frown deepens.

"Princess Chichi." Goku grins at his wife as she blushes. The grin then disappears as her second fist hits him.

"20 years and now you don't even use a pet name you made up yourself." She pouts and turns about to face away.

"That's 'cos every time I do you get embarrassed and hit me like this."

Rubbing at his uninjured stomach he wafts his hand through her ponytail and keeps doing it until she turns around. Chichi blocks the fist. Her stern eyes watching him as he launches another attack, the chop is blocked however the tickle is not. She almost falls over from losing her balance in the higher gravity and a leg kicks out at him which he swipes aside. Goku pushes her back with his foot and dodges about his wife's counter attack. He spies that she is aiming for his tail for the easy victory and dances in and out of her attacks. His tail tauntingly floats in front of her face as she swipes for it and he occupies her limbs with attacks of his own. Fur teasingly tickles along her nose. Chichi loudly sneezes.

The playful sparring stops as Goku looks down at the snot on the end of his tail. After the sudden jolt of a sneeze under 10G Chichi winces holding her head and then she blushes embarrassed at what she has done. She blames Goku for causing her to sneeze. He burns up the evidence with friction with a supersonic flick of his tail and looks at Chichi to see if she is in less of a mood with him.

"You're the one who started training Goten. He's gonna want to do it, with Trunks going Super Saiyan 2 now our son's playing catch up. He's probably already done training like this come to think of it when he goes over to Vegeta's house." Goku rubs the sore neck of his wife after the minor whiplash of the sneeze. Chichi thinks on his words that Goten could have been dangerously training without her knowledge. Goku voices the rest. "Can't be that bad if he comes home without any injuries."

"Fine. I said yes already, don't have to twist my arm. …" She leans into his slight massage and prods at his exposed chest. With a feigned look of disinterest she harrumphs. "Y'know, I had a few things planned out because of you lying to me about going out somewhere special."

Goku looks down at her raising an eyebrow as she sticks out her tongue at him, only calling it a lie for the sake of a jape. She jumps up so that he catches her in his arms and she smiles.

"When you're all done training and we've had food and a bath I was thinking we could cuddle up and watch a movie." Her smile becomes infectious and Goku reciprocates it back down to the woman he loves. He feels kind of bad now that she set something up because of the misunderstanding and so nods down at her.

"Sure, sounds good. Can't promise I'll stay awake through the whole thing though."

"Well … maybe you might want to. Goten's gone to stay with Gohan and play with them and Piccolo and Dad's gone over to drink with Roshi … I was planning something special to treat my fool of a husband, but since you didn't do anything treat's on you." Chichi leans forward and kisses her husband as she informs him of tonight's plans. "And you better think of something special for my birthday holiday."

"When I win the tournament they said I could ask for a prize so I can get you an expensive gift then like a bigger house or a car so you don't have to spend so much time getting to the shops."

"I'd spend less time if you used your Instant Transmission, and a bigger house just means more that I'll have to clean as you won't help. I don't want expensive presents. I want something with thought behind it. Think you can remember that?" She goads him again about forgetting her birthday. They have tried before having Goku take her to the shops but his presence only serves to double the bill so for posterity's sake she cycles now.

" Thinking's still not my strong suit-"

"I'm your wife, I should be your strong suit." A soft punch rests on his jaw as she continues her playful teasing.

"Yeah, you're right. Hey, you got time for a bit more play?" Goku is reading the signs, his wife wants his company now as well as when the Sun sets. Chichi puts on an air of having to go out of her to make the time for this and looks about before grinning back at him.

"If my darling husband insists I guess I'll have to make the time. But, turn that gravity off, it's giving me a headache and if I get a headache I might go and fall asleep during the movie." Chichi winks but the euphemism passes unnoticed by Goku. He sets her down and turns off the gravity. Her eyes go to the fluff wagging about. "Goku, when we sleep … c-can you wrap your tail around me like you did?"

Sharing common ground within the school of the Turtle Hermit's teachings the two begin some light sparring. Goku takes it easy on his wife never throwing any attack designed to hurt her whilst Chichi fights with less of a handicap for she knows her strikes will never hurt her husband. Ten minutes of sparring later and Chichi disengages. She pants as she recovers her breath and looks over at Goku who has treated that like a warm up and is preparing to begin his training for real.

"What're your plans then whilst I train?" Goku calls out to Chichi as he inspects the control panel to see which he should start with.

"Ugh, guess I'm gonna have to go through all our finances. I'll see if I can fix any of my clothes, you should be fine with one gi out of your wardrobe gone, but Yamcha's wedding is going to take a lot of our spare cash."

"We've got spare cash?"

" … No. Not now we don't. I'll have to ask Gohan what we should try and invest our money from Bulma in … or see if Hercule'll cover some of the bill for us, but I can only ask that once Yamcha invites them. Don't go training yourself too hard in here now and don't press any button that says 'Blutz' OK?"

Back to the task of running the household single handedly Chichi leaves her husband to scratch the Saiyan itch for power. The income from a tournament will greatly ease her mind as Goten is not too many years off hitting puberty and he will rapidly go through all his clothes and his appetite will grow. Before she takes off her husband's borrowed training clothes she has a look about for any candles then stops and wonders if naked flames are a good idea for a furry tail.

A delayed lunch is consumed by Vegeta alone in the kitchen. His long golden hair trailing after him as he goes about the kitchen in solitude. The image remains on the screen. He spoke some hard words to say, and they will be harder still to enact. His son is still training and he shall leave him be for now to vent out his pain in a fashion Vegeta yearns to at this moment in time. When washing up the plate shatters in his hand, Vegeta does not react to this and throws the shards in the bin. Alone he stands in the kitchen. The Saiyan Prince knows what awaits him if he leaves. That scene cannot remain paused forever on his television. Power courses between his finger tips, he turns the sink back on and splashes water on his face, it steams off his radiating body and he arises taking a deep breath.

The television set turns itself off as he enters the room and his ki triggers its fuses. Vegeta calmly re-enters the room he left under the guise of a meal though the truth is known by all parties. He crosses his arms and looks to the Juraian Princess. Fingers still run through cyan hair. There are dried tracks of tears staining her pale face however as Ayeka turns to look at him a smile greets him, an honest smile – not one forced for appearance. Her hand pats Ryoko on the head, no sound coming from the pirate.

"Lord Vegeta? I do not mean to trouble you at such a delicate time, yet I think- Ryoko is not moving from me." A hue of concern dyes Ayeka's kind words as she showcases her statement by gently prodding one of Ryoko's ears to receive no comment or movement of any kind.

"Her tether is longer than most for this to be the point she crashes at. Stress. She probably passed out like this a few times when she was alone and not here. You'll have to keep an eye on her when she bathes so she does not drown." Vegeta quickly diagnoses the issue with Ryoko and how this culmination has tipped her into unconsciousness. Her body and mind seeks recovery. There should be no need to worry if she is given time to rest, unless there is some quirk of her biology he does not know of.

"Can you be certain that this is-"

"She is not the first person I have tortured. Her mind has conceded defeat for now. You'll have to deal with her yourself, I am not allowed to touch her." His hands are tied, even his powers were barred from use against Ryoko so lifting her is out of the equation. Ayeka winces at his comment over torture but nods at this. Vegeta gives Ayeka permission to enter his room and to set Ryoko down on her bed.

Even though there is little chance of waking her, Ayeka carefully and awkwardly sidles off her chair whilst propping up Ryoko until she is free. In this position of the pirate kneeling face down onto a chair there is no easy way for Ayeka to lift Ryoko in any dignified fashion. She feels the eyes of Vegeta on her and understands him remaining true to his promise to Ryoko but aid would be appreciated. She kneels down next to the chair and moves Ryoko's head onto her shoulder and wraps her arms about her neck. Securing the back of her head and her rear, Ayeka stands holding Ryoko as if she were some large and ungainly infant. Vegeta swiftly comments the main flaw of this inappropriate technique as Ryoko's wild mane spills into Ayeka's vision as she struggles to keep Ryoko balanced. This will not work, Ryoko's longer legs are still trailing along the floor, Ayeka will not make it up a flight of stairs unless she flies.

The princess wobbles as she takes off. Navigation proves tricky but Ayeka manages it all the same. She makes one mistake at the final hurdle and lies Ryoko on her original bed and not the one usurped from Vegeta yet to her that makes sense. The Super Saiyan 3 stands silent in the living room as she returns. He lumbers over and picks up the remote and properly switches off the television. Completing that video would be easier for him now, he cannot do it with Ryoko out the picture as she would insist on her seeing it – and she is the reason it is being viewed in the first place. A silver lining his mind is quick to grasp onto is with Ryoko blacked out her ban on his training has ceased.

"Ayeka, you heard what I said. Any-more and- I have to be with my son now, excuse me. Whenever you're ready for the shopping trip just knock, till then." His aura grows around him as he advances to his training room to provide what consolation he can do to his grieving son. A hand reaches out behind him.

"Please, Lord Vegeta, let your son have a while longer with himself. He- I- See what he can do with his own strength, for my own is failing me right now."

She has allowed it to be put off, for his training, for Ryoko, for her own fear and discomfort, Ayeka cannot handle this delay any longer. The words her mother spoke to her in private were not all painless. Ayeka knows the situation she is in and how it is greatly impacting her status. So many things are wrong. The broad back of Vegeta stays facing her. His head lowers. The tail around his waist unhooks and secures itself in the opposite rotation.

"I am sorry. Those issues will take too long, my son needs me, he is my priority. Those are concerns you have created yourself and choose to live under, like me and my Saiyan pride. Bulma … she has taken a toll on me as well. Later I can give you the attention that warrants. Trunks needs his parent, for now you will have to seek out your own."

"Please, you're always there for Ryoko when her nerve breaks, I-I- I need you too."

"'Taking responsibility' is what you call it. You want to discuss something brought on by your own actions. Ayeka, don't get in the way between me and my son." Vegeta leaves the princess to her own devices, her fretting is not as important as his son. One of the main things he told his child whilst training was how no matter what woman he chooses they will never come between them. She is 21 and his son is not even a teen, the Saiyan Prince will let her sort herself out.

His eyes go to the vertical blonde spikes of his prodigal son. Vegeta closes his eyes. It pains him greatly to see this. He hears those robotic words echoing, of him being asked to be a husband, and this scene here is where it led. The rage of grief and anger at the unfairness of the world has already been utilised by Trunks to let him ascend past Super Saiyan. Vegeta descends back down so his hair and pupils revert to the colour of midnight.

"Everyday I think of what would've been had I just killed her."

"Shut it, dad. I'm not falling for that one again." Trunks growls back at his father purposefully trying to enrage him.

This path has already been walked. He will not be baited into this. During his year training it was revealed to him how much his father does contemplate this hypothetical, how if she were a murder victim she could be revived, and he knows his dad is capable of it.

Calmly, Vegeta seats himself on the tiled floor. His hair elongates, taking back the mantle of Super Saiyan 3 if his son is yielding the opportunity to attack and vent on him, and he decides to lead by example. Anything he could say he already has. The prince shuts his eyes, slows down his breathing and begins to concentrate. Meditation is not easy with his emotions boiling just beneath the surface. He battles against his mind to find control whilst his son uses the physical to exhaust himself. After an hour both father and son are sat in silence next to the other. One bruise on either member of this small family.

Washu types up one set of hypotheses whilst dictating her observations of Otherworld. On another monitor she watches the security breaches that make it though 5 layers of her embedded security. To actually find her servers when they exist in this alternate dimension is no small feat, no common ground is found from either means of attack or the digital address. Her automation defends, his attacks. This has not stopped since Kain. He played his hand, she revealed him so subterfuge is not worth a lot in this war. Washu checks the countdown timers of several devastating weapons she invented and resets a few, Kagato is persistent. 20% of her satellite network has gone dark. She lifts a finger from her rapid typing and swipes at her holo-top to display all galactic and planetary news networks used by Jurai or its allies. Several more harmful stories are trying to get uploaded through her barriers and she deletes them and wipes the hard drives they originate from on some distant world.

Controlling her age against all of this is proving challenging. 20,000 years of habit will not be overwritten quickly. Her emerald eyes peruse Kagato's messages concerning her probability of permanent damage or death from her current iteration of a device to block her ability. She cannot fault his findings. He demands her research on the Light Hawk Blades for him to remove Yamcha from his list of targets. She smiles and confidently replies back. Her own digital attacks are proving damaging and bringing back juicy spoils of his network. Kagato brandishes copies of the truth, of the Juraian royalty and of the Saiyans and his threats hold weight if these ever entered the public eyes. The elder Tuffle scientist purges more and contains the many viruses feeding back through that connection.

'Your child will die.'

Washu stands and walks out of her laboratory. Her white lab coat billowing with her fast pace as she shrinks to a version of herself a year younger than Ayeka. Part of her computer system takes over in maintaining the communication channel to make it appear she has not left. With her back against the hard wood of the door beneath the stairs she sinks down onto her bottom. She hears Yamcha and the others playing outside. Misaki's and Sasami's laughter will not be stopped by that disgrace of a Tuffle. All she needs is one solid co-ordinate and her personal hit squad of Vegeta shall give her peace of mind. Those of Saiyan blood are still meditating from when she last checked her surveillance. She has been in a similar state of mind as him, when her lover was forced from her and her baby torn from her arms, and then later when they all died. This attack has hurt. A move she cannot repay against Kagato and his lack of people he cares for.

With a sheepish look to her face, someone joins the genius in the front room. Floating downstairs she sees this other woman and hovers over for she is missing several pieces of the puzzle.

"You passed out. 73 minutes 19 seconds. Ayeka carried you up there. It takes a lot to shut down your system, your heart is acting erratic, brain waves all over the place and your regeneration is slowing down – like it did when you got that scar. You're pushing yourself too hard, doctor's orders: rest, a lot of rest, medically induced if I must. Vegeta was not lying either. Nor is he coping well. He is with Trunks. Stress is a killer, Ryoko. Or are you aiming for a scene of Vegeta nursing you better than after Missy hit you?" She harshly gives her professional medical opinion on Ryoko's deterioration and on the situation in general from her seat on the ground, not bothering to look up at the rogue or anything else as her mind incessantly whirs.

Ryoko's feet touch the floorboards before Washu and looks down at her. What she is saying makes sense and Ryoko feels the want of her body for a break from all of this and Vegeta, she will not surrender to it or flee from Vegeta. She is already aware of how her regeneration can be influenced by such things, how malnutrition and constant abuse weakens it to the point scars form. This is not how Washu normally acts, her composure only breaks under dire circumstances and having been unconscious for over an hour she is not aware of any. Ryoko lightly kicks at Washu's feet.

"You OK? Sounding pretty stressed yourself."

"I'm getting about the same sleep as Vegeta. And no, Ryoko, Yamcha's actions are not a reason for that, actually been too tired and not in the mood for sex for a while now. I've got a lot on my plate."

"Like a wedding and a kid. Maybe you should try sounding a bit happier about it, 'cos some of us ain't so lucky." From her side she sees little to put Washu in this predicament, she has the things Ryoko cannot at the moment. A lover by her side and a bright future – Ryoko does not see her side for complaint.

"3 times I have come close to wiping the memories of everyone here. Yamcha leaving me. After Kain so no-one else would be targeted. … And now. Ryoko, I am not playing happy families here. Yes, I am getting cranky in my old age if you want to joke about that. No, this is not unusual behaviour from me, I just don't normally let others see it. And I'm telling you this 'cos you're a big enough idiot to listen a-a-and I- there's no way I can say this to Yamcha, not now." Her sharp words cut off any possible retort or response from Ryoko before they are even thought up by the rogue. Washu's eyes drift over to the window and the sunlight beyond.

Washu stands, her height less than Ryoko's currently and she slowly ambles over to the training room door. Feline eyes raise in question at this outburst and what could be causing it since the last time she saw Washu she was over the moon at having gone to the afterlife. The scientist strategically places herself next to the entrance to the training room so that it will be easy for Vegeta to overhear. Washu explains Kagato to Ryoko: the threat that created Grah and hired Kain and how those are only the attacks the others witness whilst she deals with all the rest in the background. Three plunges in Capsule Corporation stocks she rescued, police were pre-emptively called to a gang hideout before they could formulate a plan to abduct the elderly Briefs couple, news leaks about Vegeta and Ryoko and Ayeka she has been fending off for over a month, informing Azusa and Funaho of all the threats knocking at their palace doors. Kagato is not being idle, his constant barrage is a war of attrition and it is hard for her to strike back against him. Washu is tiring. She states his last threat against her unborn child and how she knows it to be likely at the given time since how recently she had a talon of Kain embedded through her stomach and womb.

An aghast woman stands at the top of the stairs as she also hears the truth. Washu estimated her to spend a couple more minutes moping about and writing in her diary, the sound of Ryoko must have caused her to investigate and her overworked mind has overlooked that. Ayeka rushes down the stairs. Washu ignores her worry and turns her head to the side and coldly states she has 17 probable locations that Kagato could be. The meditation of the father ends. Ayeka questions Washu about these persistent threats and the danger to the stability of the Juraian royal family with the potential leaks of her actions and the genius ignores her and plainly says back that she is doing her job under the employ of the Emperor of Jurai. Metal grinds against the ground as the bulkhead is pulled open and father and son stand there in their highest respective transformation. Threats against Bulma and their family they will not allow. Her holo-top appears before them yet none of the locations are ones that can be Instant Transmitted to, they are too far, too distant and remote and there are no ki signatures nearby. Washu says that within 10 minutes these sites will be redundant, she is tracing the trail of a spaceship she does not know and these estimates are the best she can manage on such limited data.

Ryoko goes to offer what she can and Washu shoots her down before her mouth opens by saying it would take Ryo-Ohki almost 17 years of non stop flight to reach the nearest location, that and they are most likely traps. A Saiyan shrugs, his part in this investigation is minor and until he gets the chance to kill this is in Washu's court. Vegeta says that the Kai's can track individuals and could locate him, and threatening them with the 'Counteractor' could force their hand. Ayeka is against word of her mother being used as a weapon and Washu pauses for a second to process that option before shaking her head. Beyond not wanting to rely on these gods she found out the limit of their jurisdiction and the major proportion of the coordinates she guessed were outside of that and in an alternate dimension like her own lab. Vegeta turns about. In these situations he will do as he did when younger, wait for someone to point him at a target and then he shall take action. His training recommences without Trunks.

"Wait, Vegeta, question: your tail's not blonde, why?" Even under this pressure she will never let go of her desire to understand all around her and voices her curiosity.

The fur in question flicks restlessly through the air, brown against his flowing blonde, and he sends out a telepathic message. His answer is another shrug. What he knows of these transformations are what he has learnt through personal experience, the specifics of why the hairs on his tail do not alter he cares nought for. Washu accepts his ignorance in this. Ayeka is not quiet in her opinion of Vegeta's apathy towards this hidden threat targetting them and all around them. Safely passing into the gravity of the training room, Ryoko hovers and looks at Vegeta. She says that she did not say that he could start training again.

"As you saw during my wedding, my wife could also prevent me from training. Any time at all she could lock me out. I missed birthdays, anniversaries, social events, meals, sleep, throughout all this there were less than a dozen times she forced that power upon me. I will respect you once you respect me. Out."

Ryoko teleports back by Washu. His first words to her after proclaiming he will keep to his deadline leave an awful sting in this comparison to the love she is battling against. She was pushing it to try and use it again. The message is heard loud and clear by Ayeka as well. Vegeta is not going to be disturbed. A man jogs into the house heeding the call of Vegeta. Washu freezes up and forces her body back to the adult version it should be in. Ryoko closes her eyes and vanishes from the scene. As Yamcha asks to be informed about what is going on Washu's voice falters and fails her and Trunks repeats what he has overheard. Some of this Yamcha already knew, living with Washu he knows how much she has been working and she likes to mutter to herself. Wanting to get some action out of this and get everyone fired up for an adventure, Trunks then relays the certain threat Washu told Ryoko that she is unable to say to Yamcha.

"This Kagato dude also says he'll kill your baby so Washu's getting all emotional about it. Me and dad'll stop him, but if not we do-"

A vicious backhand tears across the face of the Super Saiyan 2. Daring to voice that option is blasphemy to her maternal wants. Her hand hurts. He blurted it all out. Yamcha will worry and fret now because of this, she will have to discuss something she does not want to, she will have to speak the choice she wants to be left unspoken. He dared to suggest using the dragonballs to revive her murdered child as if it is fine if it is killed. Yamcha grabs Washu's arm and she protests for release, this is a lot for him to take in. Ryoko reappears having done something she thinks should help repay her debt of gratitude to Ayeka and Jurai.

"Here you go, one lab assistant to help catch that prick. Must be something in the water of Planet Vegeta that makes people forget how to ask for help. Go catch yourselves a bad guy now." Ryoko teleports upwards and lounges on one of the rafters with her job done, not worrying about something she can do nothing about and knowing herself to be the lesser target in all this.

With his glasses on and a partially untucked white shirt over navy work trousers, Gohan is once again in Vegeta's house due to the actions of Ryoko. She asked and the cavalry has arrived. He greets the crowd before him. As his powers as a fighter wane his powers in academia advance. Nowhere close to the league of Washu, he hopes that he can help out and make a difference when someone is targetting those he knows and if need be he will step in to defend the innocent. He removes his decorative glasses and looks down at Trunks as the child replays what he said to Yamcha as the man hushes Washu and tries to comfort her about the safety of their planned future child. Her keen eyes lock onto this hybrid scholar and she sneers at the one supposedly able to save her future. She already knows enough about him, his calibre is far beneath her own, she is 1,000 times his age and has the wisdom and intelligence to prove it.

"How many doctorates?"

"Still working on my first."

"Languages?"

"One, few words of Namekian."

"Published works?"

"5."

"You don't even pass close to the level for acceptance to the Scientific Academy, never mind one of my own lectures. How do you think that someone of your intellect can help? It'd take you years just to understand some of the technologies I am using, decades to learn my methodologies. I am the number one scientific genius in the universe. You are unranked."

"My speed. I can process data faster than any of those other academics you know. My stamina. I'm part Saiyan, I can work hard for a long time before I need a rest. Also, being part Saiyan means there is no way I could be on Kagato's side, unlike anyone else you could try to enlist. I'm offering my help. If the number one scientific genius in the universe is too much of a fool to accept then she needs me more than I thought."

Washu sticks her hand out and Gohan takes it as they shake on this alliance. He has passed her interview and his point on his Saiyan heritage making him trustworthy against Kagato is bang on the money why she has not invited others she knows like Yume to aid her. She has bowed to the speed of a fighter's mind before, now she will utilise it, and perhaps finish gathering data on this hybrid. He did not waver as she pressured him and that is a trait she needs. Washu nods and her mind engages in a new plan now involving Gohan's abilities. The handshakes ends and Gohan thanks her for this opportunity as manners dictate.

"I'll tell Funaho to add someone else to Jurai's payroll on a very decent intern wage, more money than those cops outside will ever see. And yes, half of it will be wired back to your mother so your brother and father don't starve. You help me in this and they'll never want for anything again. Also, I'll make you a portal once inside, you won't need to visit Vegeta all the time then, just stick it on a cupboard and your commute to work will be very short. Your studies?" He would work for free out of the goodness of his heart but Washu will not leave him unrewarded in this, he scratches her back and he shall have unfathomable wealth greater than that he has incurred from his relationship with Videl. The technicalities of all this will take mere minutes for her to organise. Ayeka hears her second mother's name, wonders how much she does know as the true employer of Washu, and sees this as another secret from Misaki which she will have to reveal.

"I'm ahead in where I should be, just writing up my thesis so as long as I have an hour or two each day I won't fall behind, and besides, with what I'll gain from working with you my studies will progress further than my university could ever dream of."

Washu wastes no time, the flattery not being missed, and leads Gohan into her lair so that her counter-attack to that vile threat can begin and the training of Gohan can commence. The lab door closes behind them and the second most educated Saiyan hybrid seems bored that that was all this amounted to and the thrill of the fight will have to wait, he powers down and asks Ayeka how long until they have to go shopping. She is incredulous at how calm he is. A great danger has been revealed to be openly attacking them and their loved ones and neither Trunks nor Yamcha are stressing in the slightest.

"Chill it, princess. You think these guys care about your precious reputation? This ain't no fight with Buu, why should they worry? Yamcha trusts the one he loves to succeed, could try having a little more faith in her since we've already beaten the guy twice." Ryoko says as she stretches out on the beam, taking a leaf out of her own words as she tries to follow Washu's advice and relax. Yamcha nods at her words and concurs that Ayeka can safely leave this to Washu, as the scientist said this has been going on a while and no dirt flung has stuck so far.

Being told not to worry and being able to are different matters entirely. They might be used to combat situations and being targetted but she is not. The help enlisted was that of another scholar and not the two able police officers they have stationed here for this very purpose. Ayeka cannot help but think that having a shopping trip at a time like this to be wrong and needlessly naïve. She wishes Vegeta were available for her to get it all off her chest. Yamcha pats her on the back as he walks past to Trunks and the two decide to waste some time playing with their swords. From above a voice goads her into action, speaking her want for Ayeka to go and have her family trip so that they can get back sooner and she can watch the climax to the wedding.

She hazards the journey outside. Dreading the fear that shall be sowed and the worry she will bring to her family, Ayeka keeps her word to her mother and approaches. Kiyone and Mihoshi already knew a portion of the story from their time working in the lab and Washu questioning them on the resources available to them. Their part is superfluous at best with Saiyans around and the Galaxy Police have been informed through confidential channels, they shall do what they can however that is greatly limited and with smear campaigns they as police officers cannot intervene in with free speech and a free media existing. Kiyone does note that Kagato is already a wanted man, or was before he was believed to have died during the Tuffle extinction.

Sasami looks up to her faltering mother to see how she should react to this. This runs far deeper than the Queen thought, she holds to the silver lining that there is a face and a name now, these are the actions of one single man who can be stopped. She struggles but for her children she controls her emotions and retains her fear she shares with Ayeka. This news of Funaho potentially knowing is a sharp betrayal. The one she loves as a sister could have known of this and did not share such important information, whether for her sake or not, and she has to think on how much her mother, Seto, knows since little fails to evade her notice. Her job as honour guard to the royal family might get put to the test. Misaki lets no worry show to Sasami but voices that this tournament seems like the biggest problem. Beyond the difficulties of concealing the identities of two Saiyans, all of his targets will be within one spot and several of them fighting and weakening the other. Ayeka and the officers nod in agreement. Mihoshi will call in whatever favour she can from her family in the upper echelons of the police force to stop this villain from targetting her friends and the Juraian empire.

A dampener has been put on all of their moods. Misaki does not have much time left on this planet before she has to return to her duties when all she wants to do now is stay and protect her endangered children. Ryoko is snoozing as they filter into the house. Now is as good as any for them, they need this to lift their spirits and relax them, Sasami knocks on the training room door. A minute passes and a multi-form of Vegeta eventually opens the door and exits, sweat dripping profusely from him. Misaki does feel safe having this power around for her children, though if he listened to them about altering how he trained she would feel more secure that Kagato could not simply strike when Vegeta has exhausted himself. He gives them five minutes to sort out whatever they might need to whilst he showers and dresses. Sasami then goes off to fetch Trunks.

"Miss Ryoko, sorry to disturb you, but is this villainous Kagato pursuing yourself in any way?" Misaki can see that she is resting but that level of politeness will have to be damned in light of Kagato's actions. She does not like Ryoko, she is a very real threat to Ayeka already, however, she is also a broken woman that does not deserve any more attacks against her.

"Kain coulda killed me, so that. Don't think there's much else, I mean he can post whatever and I don't care 'cos it'll probably be true, only one he can attack to get to me is either Ryo-Ohki or Vegey. Guess there's that then, he killed my Vegey … and with that month's delay it might've influenced my decision in whether I should've visited him in space or been smart and safe. I'll protect Ayeka and Sasami if that's what you're after, Washu maybe, that what you wanna hear?" A pretty penny could also come her way if she sides with the worried mother. For killing Vegeta her stance against Kagato is already set. She lolls her head off the side of the beam and gives a thumbs up. The Queen nods and thanks her for her understanding. Ryoko looks across to Ayeka. "I don't work for free. Give me a nice Saiyan Prince, or- well an abusive one will do as well, and you've got yourself a deal."

"Jurai's sovereign powers do not yet stretch into the kingdom of Saiyans and so he is not a chip we can bargain with. Not unless he were to first become part of Juraian royalty, then we might continue this bartering." Ayeka is uncomfortable with this change in topic as her mother defends her. Misaki has negotiated with worse and crosses her arms in an unimpressed manner.

"If you weren't Juraian or Ayeka's mom I'd probably not hate you as much. D'ya drink? I can wrestle back my booze from Vegey whilst you buy some decent clothes and then we can have a nice girl's night in. It'll be your first time drinking with your daughter, building such precious memories and I wanna see what she'll do drunk knowing what she does sober." She failed abysmally last time she went to Vegeta to ask about an evening drinking but she will take this opportunity to have some fun when she can. Ryoko sticks her tongue out and waggles her ears as she rubs in the fact that Ayeka is no longer her child to baby and of the touching incident.

"I have two daughters. Excluding Sasami any more than she already is with all these adult matters would be thoughtlessly cruel."

"She's already fallen asleep before lunch. She won't make it till evening, not with all this excitement, drink with me. Socialise with the cops you hired, let your hair down, show Ayeka her mom's still got some party left in her. It'd be rude not to have a nice celebration for Washu's engagement, and you call yourself her friend."

Ryoko cracks a laugh that she needs as she toys with Juraian royalty, Ayeka not speaking to her or rising to this humiliating bait. She rolls back properly onto her perch and begins to concoct her heist to retrieve her alcohol from Mihoshi. Beneath her Misaki sighs to herself. It would be nice to share a drink with her daughter and to celebrate Washu but as she is now she is not in the mood for inebriation. Sasami skips back to them with a reluctant Trunks trudging after her, not wanting to go on such a boring trip. The kid takes a quick glance to confirm the outfits of the Juraians and nods at himself, they are going to need a change of clothes if they are heading where he thinks they are. His mother had one favourite resort for shopping at, so likely is the only one his father knows the location of, and it is never cold enough to warrant a several layered outfit.

His outfit is similar to Gohan's bar that his shirt is short sleeved and he has threaded his tail through the belt loops. A grumble comes from Ryoko as Vegeta goes to Ayeka, her ki sense focusing on the powerful Vegeta still training and staying near her. A meow sounds out before the Juraians and Saiyans Instant Transmission off. Ryoko has been betrayed by her own ship as Ryo-Ohki now clings to the shoulder of her favourite blue haired Juraian princess. Her own form vanishes momentarily before it returns with the fluff ball accessory of Mihoshi's in her hand. She has some time to kill cracking this police device. A few minutes later she has both police women beneath her. Kiyone balancing Mihoshi on her shoulders to reach up to Ryoko, and so the pirate hovers back down to the ground next to Kiyone, taunting her as she asks how to get her drinks back. With that she invites them to an evening of fun and frolicking that they can enjoy where even the Queen of Jurai shall attend.

Heat of over 30 degrees Celsius beats down on the ill prepared Juraians. Sasami stands in the shade of her tall mother and Vegeta's bulk. Delicate hands go up to the seashell necklace forever about her neck as Ayeka looks out at the scenery. Stood on a large concrete promenade she gazes down the long sandy shores to the ocean again. Misaki glances across to the Saiyan wondering if this coastal visit was planned for her daughter, he looks back to see the heat already having its intended effect. Sasami grabs her mother's hand to walk with her, and Misaki's hand hovers near Ayeka before drawing back. This oppressive mid-day Sun is sweltering, both Vegeta and Trunks not seeming bothered by it in the slightest, and the Juraians can feel what little skin they have exposed crisping. Ryo-Ohki bounds from Sasami and inside one of Misaki's pockets for shade.

Vegeta motions his head towards the nearest building and begins walking. Its front is smooth white marble and high glass windows featuring several display mannequins advertising their wares. His son follows him and behind are the Juraians as they walk through the revolving door entrance, a strange contraption to the Juraians but once inside a welcome cold wave of air cools them. Aisles upon aisles of designer fashion line the warehouse sized store with several smaller rooms joining off it for more specialised sections and changing rooms. Vegeta turns to his party. He brought them here and he has brought his wallet, this part is down to them now. The failings of their traditional attire has been demonstrated thoroughly so now they can find a solution to this issue. Ryo-Ohki escapes from the warming pocket and scampers off exploring the weird scents and fabrics. Trunks is already bored.

"Lord Vegeta, is- d-do we have to purchase an outfit for that wretched heat outside?"

"That is your choice but it would be a waste if you did not. You do not have to bare skin for that objective, something like what your wore to the zoo can suffice." Vegeta answers Ayeka's question and watches as a store clerk approaches them.

As royalty they are accustomed to having attendants when shopping. Misaki smiles and warmly greets this stranger and when they reply back she takes a second to remember no-one will address or treat her as a Queen on this planet. The attendant is an older woman in her early 50's with hair pulled strictly back and wearing the black and white uniform for this store. A male shop worker hovers a medium distance away and decides it is probably for the best not to go to the intimidating man. Vegeta stays stood where he is as the shop assistant queries what the women are looking for and possible styles as the Juraians answer. She goes to lead them off to the correct department of the store and Ayeka looks back to Vegeta as he remains by the entrance. The father looks down to his son and asks his child how much of his wardrobe he has grown out of during his year of training and with that Trunks goes off on his own with the remark his dad will need new clothes to accommodate a tail.

The Saiyan is not bothered by getting clothing for himself, he burnt a hole in this pair of trousers and he shall do the same to the rest. He walks to catch up to the women and finds them in a room lined with mirrors as the assistant goes to inspect what she has to work with. Ayeka's nervousness is clear and unabated. She sees Vegeta approaching and she wants so desperately to communicate and discuss with him but she is restrained by this public location. Without hesitation Vegeta lists off the accurate measurements of all three Juraians. Ayeka and Misaki blush, he should not be able to recite those – even if the numbers are given for a unit of measurement they do not recognise. He has seen them unclothed only briefly and from a single angle. Vegeta has a warrior's mind and being able to estimate the size and shape of an enemy's dimensions is not beyond his abilities. The tape measure in the woman's hands gets put back in her pocket. Looking at the women they sound correct, though she would have estimated Ayeka as larger but will have to put this down to some padding within her clothing.

"Excuse me Miss, I apologise but our selection for yourself might be limited with your height in mind. We could always order something in if you find something that catches your eye in a smaller size, in case that does happen." Humble, she smiles and covers the bases for the store so that this very tall customer will not be dissatisfied by the custom available. Misaki needs for no clothes in particular and is purely curious about Earth fashion. She smiles back.

"My daughters are the priority for clothing here. I … If there is anything here that I could show my husband then I shall start worrying about tailoring." Misaki waves off this worry as her eyes peruse about the small selection nearby, surprising Azusa with foreign attire does sound fun as he would bluster about how revealing the clothing is, a souvenir for her visit.

"Oh, alright, I shall look after your children then whilst you two browse." The shop assistant nods to leave the two adults to go about their business, words like that she knows when to leave alone and offer privacy.

"Two? Are we only allowed to stay in pairs?" The Queen does not understand why Vegeta is being asked as her escort in shopping. Wires have been crossed. Misaki does not realise the misunderstanding that Vegeta assumed would happen sooner or later.

"Excuse me, I thought you said you wanted to go with your husband."

She walked into the store accompanied by a man, spoke of a husband, and confirmed the children as her daughters. The logical deduction made at this point that the two senior members of the party were the mother and father of the group made sense to this stranger. Sasami giggles at this mix up as she says that Vegeta is not her father, the only Juraian laughing at this, and for what she says the shop assistant is not one to judge and it does nothing more than muddy the waters. Misaki feels shamed that another man has been mistaken for her husband, flattered as she is that she was not obviously spotted as being centuries old. Ayeka hides her face in her oversized sleeves. The man she loves has been mistaken for her father and that is awkward beyond compare. She does not appear to be his lover to the eyes of any outsider and that wounds her. She takes a timid step.

"L-Lord V-Vegeta is m-mi-mine." Ayeka hesitantly states as finger and thumb grab onto his short sleeve. Her face flushing a darker red than her eyes at the bold statement she has made. She meant to explain that she was his fiancé, that it is her and Vegeta not her mother, instead her words came out different. Her nerves got the better of her as she made this possessive proclamation over her prince.

All in all the woman who works here does not ultimately care what their situation is, she apologises for the misunderstanding as it has seemingly upset the younger purple haired woman. Ayeka's face remains crimson at her audacity to so publicly claim Vegeta as she has done, in front of her mother she spoke such embarrassing words. Her hand stays attached. Sasami asks the lady where the clothes for children and princesses are. The store assistant believing the princess part to be a mere game of a child agrees to show her where clothing for someone her age and size are in this warehouse sized establishment. Vegeta clears his throat and looks down at Ayeka. Her body posture becomes more timid as she looks into his eyes and her forefinger and thumb release.

"I-I am sorry for speaking like- it was insensitive. You-"

"Your apologies lose their effect if you spout them out at every action you take, as a proud royal you should not be so meek, you should claim your actions. This is not an action worthy of regret." He will not openly scold her for her words, her behaviour however is continually lacking pride with her mother about.

"L-Lord- . We need to talk, Vegeta. There is an action I deeply regret. Please, listen. … M-mother as well."

Ayeka's eyes look about to check whether they have privacy in this mirrored side room. She sees the reflections of herself by Vegeta, an image she holds dear. Misaki's expression is soft and tender. The mother understands how hard this is on her daughter, she has already spoken her piece about it and now will offer her the unconditional support of her love. She says her child's name and as her daughter turns she smiles at her. Ayeka is not confident enough to return it as her cheeks stay flushed. The gruff voice of the Saiyan confirms to her that there are no other employees within earshot of them so long as their voices do not raise. Her heart is racing, thumping at a deafening level within her head. Her nerves have already caused her to misspeak in a shameful way, Ayeka gathers her thoughts as best she can.

"You held onto me whilst my body was failing and also laid bare to you, this is what is troubling yourself. An instinct to help me over checking my clothing does not seem a damnable offence, whether I require aid or not. I have already told you: I took responsibility for getting Bulma pregnant, it will take something of a similar magnitude for me to be swayed as you intend." Vegeta knows her stance in all of this, how it is effecting her and what she has been taught is the solution – however his decision will not be impacted by her personal feelings of guilt. His nudity is not that important for him. Ayeka shudders at his blunt description. The prince's eyes go to the doting mother. The mother's eyes meet his with little reaction.

Purple hair rustles side to side. Ayeka slowly shakes her head. She bites at her lower lip, her fingers messing with the hems of her sleeves. That is but half of what she wanted to say. From his words earlier she has seen that some of her thinking is wrong. She will rectify this and do what is right.

"Lord Vegeta, I will take responsibility." Ayeka raises her head and speaks these poignant words clearly. The table is turned, she cannot hide from this or ignore it, she cannot selfishly keep placing it all on Vegeta, she is the one who did the wrong against him. Her breath catches. She cannot think of a follow up. Hesitantly the princess tries to explain. "I … I was the one who saw, so – so that means-. I don't know. I-I cannot concentrate properly. Several aspects of our relationship have already surpassed what my mother is comfortable with. And what I am comfortable with, though some of those are through little to no fault of your own. And- and Kagato-"

"Kagato is a dead man who does not know it yet. Washu and Gohan are searching, once they find him it is over. You can only attack so much before giving your position away or making a mistake." Her fears over a threat will not be tolerated, not when he is around. Vegeta will not let Kagato live and so she should not fear any danger to herself if she stays near him.

"Be that as it may, his threat - what he could do to my family, what he has tried to do to yours – it is too great. Your life as a prince might be purely in name but-but my people cannot be put in jeopardy by this, by some incitement. Did your threats ever break through Washu like his did, and she – our single shield – is breaking."

"Have you so little faith in either me or her after we have-"

"You died! He killed you, and only through sheer luck did Washu survive through Kain! It would be misplaced to have such confidence when technically he almost achieved victory in both major assaults." Ayeka halts his leading words that would force her to agree she does have faith in him and his power, now is not the time for his ego to be leading. She is scared by this, her mother is scared and ultimately they have little power to defend themselves if Washu is beginning to buckle. Bigger things are at stake her, her empire is threatened. He cannot gloss over the detail of his defeat or how Kagato knows precisely when and where to strike.

Telekinesis flings Ryo-Ohki a few feet through the air as Vegeta eyes up the princess questioning his abilities. A loud meow comes from the startled animal as it involuntarily leaves the comfy clothes. As the cabbit lands it begins scampering about in alarm and grabs the attention of a few store clerks, animals and pets are not allowed in the shop. To counteract the raising voice of Ayeka, Vegeta has successfully caused a distraction to take them away from this area. She will not like what he has to say. The Saiyan weighs up how much of the truth he should say.

" … Those narrow victories were only close due to mine and Kakarot's Saiyan blood. Kain was an obvious timed ploy to strike when we were unavailable, a stab in the dark hoping my son would not be present. With that beast … it truly posed little threat to us." With time dilated training he does not ever have to be absent for his season so that threat, and the threat to Ryoko, is mitigated. Vegeta's thoughts on the monster who had the strength of a Super Saiyan 3 dismiss it as a true danger. He waves it off, even though it killed him. "I sensed it days before we struck at it. It was weak then, growing, and so far removed from anything it had little chance of reaching us. The thing was a designed weapon, deployed for a test. Any Super Saiyan could have exterminated it the first time we felt its ki."

"Then why- no... No. The truth- why I had to- My grief was over your pride!" Ayeka shouts in dismay as she realises the decision that made her learn what mourning was.

The beast was not strong enough to warrant his attention or time, and so he waited for it to be worthy of his fighting it, and he did not survive. Red eyes pierce like daggers at the Saiyan. This is not a welcome revelation. She spent a month holding vigil for his return due to his arrogance and want for a fight. Anger rises. Misaki fidgets seeing her daughter so unnerved by this and then her eyes widen as Ayeka grabs at the front of his shirt.

"I was not alone in that decision, and less pride more … meaning." His choice against 'Grah' is bigger than mere pride. To test her he places his own hand on her collar. Vegeta smirks as she fails to react, her anger grows.

"What by Tsunami do you mean by 'meaning'?"

"Purpose. I mean finding purpose. I am Saiyan, Kakarot is Saiyan. We both negated to challenge that prematurely as there would be no point. It was not a threat, that far out it only sparked our interest due to its growth. Do you have any clue how mind numbingly dull this mediocrity is with no challenge? I train. I train. I train. And I train. Saiyans need a challenge. Whether it was bait or not we took it, for the thrill, to feel alive as Saiyans and destroy it in a battle that tests us and pushes us past our limits."

"Liar. You have another purpose and you left him an orphan to satisfy your bloodlust. Did Cell not teach you anything? And what- what about my purpose?"

"Flattered as I am, a little early to call me your 'purpose' a couple days after we met. You see this tail? I am Saiyan, I yearn for battle. My son knows what I am. If you complain so much about me orphaning my son then why did you not take action and use the Namekian Dragonballs? They haven't been used since Buu."

"Same can be-"

"Let's play that out. We wish for your ship back. You, Sasami and Washu fly away. First path is that you detain Ryoko to take with you as you first intended: she breaks free and ransoms you off to whoever can pay the most for your flesh. Or second, you flee without her and Yosho catches you and wedding bells toll. Whereas, yes Ryoko is probably right, wish me back sooner and I would be stronger now, and she might have been satisfied enough not to teleport to me."

Misaki recoils at the consequences he lists, Ayeka remains unmoved. He is swiping away her attacks on him, directing the conversation away from areas he cannot properly defend. She moves her other hand for his tail. Fur constricts around her wrist to stop her from seizing his weak spot. Ayeka acknowledges those reasons, however Vegeta listing them like this shows an obvious vulnerability for her to exploit. She will strike him down and get him to admit he is wrong.

"And of what concern of yours were any of those paths? Hindsight shows that, at the time you chose to keep me not for those reasons." Her breaths explode on his face. A look of discomfort enters Vegeta's face for a millisecond and she tightens her grip on his shirt.

" … My thoughts were conflicted. And besides, those Nameks have no love for myself as I did more on their planet than just die to Frieza, they would not waste a wish for me on some simple ship." Listing those reasons would forfeit this battle. The excuse of his massacring Namekians is given in its place, that and the fact he would have to ask Goku for this as he does not know where New Namek is.

" Ryuoh is not simple. Don't change the topic so quickly. Conflicts, you … . You will not win me that easily with cheap words of your loneliness. Swear to me you will do all you can to protect us in every sense from Kagato."

A button pops off his shirt from her grip. Ayeka will have him admit his weaknesses and failings and then have him protect all she cares about. His tail jolts her arms and pins it behind her back. Misaki takes a step forward with her eyes narrowing. This is going too far. Her Ayeka is handling this magnificently yet if Vegeta tries to physically force her she will utilise her own strength. It is bittersweet for her to see clear the growth in her daughter this man is forcing through conflict. She readjusts her hand on his shirt.

"No. I am no journalist to read through what drivel he might spout, or some scientist like my wife was to tackle his technology, that is Washu's job alone. I will defend how I can and send him to meet this Tsunami of yours." Vegeta heard the specifics of her wish and he will not do all, he will execute and leave the other work to Gohan. He will not accept this and she cannot force him to. His training is the priority.

"Not good enough. Bow to your princess and show your loyalty and obeisance to me, and I shall take full responsibility for my untoward actions against yourself." Force enters both her arms. Ayeka strains to break free of his tail and the hand on his chest begins to push as if to force the proud prince onto his knees. He is defying her. She will not lose to his Saiyan nature.

Guardian logs hum into existence as Ayeka bears down on Vegeta. Her physical efforts are getting her nowhere even against this weakened multi-form. Vegeta raises an eyebrow. She knows how large of an ask it is for him to ever bow and he can see how serious her eyes are in this request. He removes his hand from her collar and takes her hand from his chest. That look of determination being shot at him he finds enticing. Ayeka is trying to dominate him, to gain a victory over him. Vegeta smiles as he shakes his head in a happy confusion.

" … I- … I cannot even tell. Are you doing this purposefully like Ryoko tries, or is this-"

"Do not compare me to that fossilised harpy. I am not playing your games." Ayeka growls back in response to him having fun whilst she is deadly serious.

Without realising she has achieved a skill that Chichi showcased: the mastery of conflict against a Saiyan. Her actions are strong, she is determined and passionate, and her goal is to defeat him. Vegeta is being challenged. Unlike Ryoko she is not purposefully goading him into this, the Princess of Jurai is enticing him accidentally as she pushes for her own goals. Her face is next to his. Her whole world is currently him and only him and the goal of getting him to subjugate to her will. She is not embarrassed, she is not taking note of any external stimuli. Ayeka is focused. Her arms strain and the tile beneath her feet cracks.

"Ayeka, sweetie, I think that's quite enough. And Ryoko is not that old."

Misaki will draw the line here, the authoritative tone of a Queen and a parent cutting through Ayeka's fury. Property could get damaged, Ayeka is becoming violently aggressive and wildly throwing insults. The points have been made, her daughter can try acting less like a Saiyan and more like a Juraian and calmly discuss this. When all of Ayeka's family except her younger sister far exceed Ryoko's age, Misaki will not ignore such insults.

Ayeka hears the words from behind her. Her eyes blink several times as the world around her emerges into her vision again and situational awareness becomes an ability she holds. Warm breath is on her face, she can feel Vegeta's slow exhalations as her calming snarls pant onto his. His eyes are fixed on her, his hand is holding hers, she is inches from him and she has taken one step closer to repeating her mistake of touching him unclothed by removing a button. She can feel fur. Soft and warm about her wrist, the hairs long enough to not feel like bristles – this is what Vegeta's tail feels like. Her breaths are still falling on his face so close to his. The wind has been ripped from her sails with her mother dragging her back into reality. Ayeka's anger is still present yet this situation before her is invading her mind.

She has vented like this before, yet not with an audience. That was an unsightly side of herself. Ayeka yelled her fears at him, her demands, her disappointment in his choices. Her mother has already used that stern tone on her today and it was not pleasant. She was losing her mind to emotion. Several times she has scolded her prince on his physical means of punishment and intimidation and here she is no better. The guardian logs fizzle out of the air. He will not escape without answering to her, or giving her solace against Kagato and her anxieties about their relationship. She moves her head. There is one thing through that rant that she did not say. Ayeka wants to be able to say it. Her purple fringe rests against his widow's peak.

" … I- … I love you Vegey." Her voice quiet and intimate so only Saiyan ears can hear, she declares the reason she is so angry with him.

Red is gracing her cheeks again as she takes a step back. Ayeka clears her throat, she can feel the eyes of her mother on her. Somewhere far off in the shop she hears her sister escorting Ryo-Ohki from the store. The loud beats of her heart are painful in her chest. Anger remains. The Saiyan Prince is reacting little to her words, as unexpected as they are. As attractive as she becomes when her fires are fuelled against him there is another woman who did it so much better. He agreed that this shall be his opportunity to win this favour during this trip. The token normally would be a small nothing to him, after watching his wife it has become a heavier burden.

"I know, that's why after you find clothes suitable to Earth's climate I have myself a ring to purchase. And Jurai can take some responsibility by footing some of this bill." His voice does not hold the same impact it did when arguing with her.

"Tell me, what were those conflicts. The reasons I stayed on this planet, was it your Saiyan blood wanting this challenge?"

Hands mess with her robes. Keeping her voice haughty as she tries to keep her position over him, Ayeka struggles to contain her glee at those words. He could feed her more here, tell her a truth she is intrigued about now that he has brought it up. Vegeta chose for her presence on this planet, as stupid as his choice of allowing Grah to grow strong, this decision she wants to focus on more. His joke about responsibility will not gloss over this. Red burns brighter on her face as fabric winds around a certain finger on her left hand. This is a gift she will receive. He offered it to her, he asked her if she wanted it and she did not have to push. Ryoko does not hold this possession, she alone will have this symbol proclaiming their proposal. Her anger is born through her love for him and that tactic has unfairly flared her love to push her rage onto a back burner.

"Yes, that is one, the challenges you and your carnival brought. Sasami is a good cook and me being a prince I am not too fond of doing my own housework. Losing Washu after she upgraded my training room would have been a detriment to my regime. … Trunks seems to enjoy there being others about the house, I am not the best company to keep. Loneliness was not one. I can train by myself for years with no other, unimpeded by that distraction. You brought your fair share of challenges, you tested me and continue to push and test me in a way I would have avoided for years. … I wanted change, to escape from the pit I was in. To not die a widower. Achieving that transformation, that progress, to surpass Bulma. It is no secret that with the way things are with Ryoko that you are the strongest contender, you are growing stronger, you can try and domesticate me but I will push you into further growth." Vegeta did not like the weakened situation he was in, he loathed what a wreck his widowing had made him and how he was so catastrophically failing his son through that time. He did not directly ask for help. Ayeka was aid in this that he did not turn aside, as is Ryoko.

This second strong push on her emotions lights a great warmth within her. She cannot keep a frown on her face, it succumbs to a smile. His power over her is too great when he chooses to wield it like this. A blatant statement of how she is in the lead: how she is the one closer to victory of achieving her dream, how he is coming to like her more than her rival. He might be down playing and exaggerating certain parts of this but Ayeka likes his dexterity in speaking the truth to her, his honesty is destructive and powerful when he wants, not now though. Those answers will satisfy her for now. Later she will ask him in private for more pro-activeness against Kagato, and for him to never through his life away again for a thrill.

"Mother, do I have your blessing in this?" Ayeka turns to face her mother. The talk they had outlined many facets of what is wrong about their coupling. The cruelty, the danger, the lewdness, the murders, the politics and Ayeka has hurled her fair share of hate at Vegeta now. She looks at her mother to see if her ally is still by her side.

"I will always support your decision, child. Though that does not leave me without a mountain of concern. I engaged you to your prince, who am I to not give my blessing to your relationship." Misaki's smile is small. Vegeta is a hard man to condone and with her mother being Lady Seto she can smell cunning and manipulation a mile off. She is steadfast in her support for her daughter, despite her better judgement – and with him and Ayeka having seen each other in the nude it is only right according to Juraian customs for people of their station.

"I'm … I'm tired." The princess looks back to her prince. That shouting and anger took a lot out of her. This is her formally ending it, she cannot continue it now. She needs calmness and a pleasant experience, the reason she was brought to this store. The ugliness can be swept under the carpet for a while.

"When I first reached the peak of my power I could barely hold it for a few minutes, now I can do so for hours. Never surrender, not to Kagato, not to myself and your strength will become more natural."

"Wou-would you do me the honour of – of picking out an outfit for myself? Not that I want to impose further, you've reached your limit as well, but won't say it." Bulma is a ghost she can see about his neck, effecting his every move and action. She wants from him however will not unfairly push him beyond the breaking point he is nearing for she respects him. He knows Earth's fashion better than herself, and this is his treat to her. Ayeka smiles as he agrees.