Chapter 76

Ribbons of metal clatter to the turf as a destroyed robot collapses as scrap. Blonde hair is raised as is a fist and Bulma's bridal gown flutters from his ki. His lightning blue eyes are wide in confusion and shock as he stares at this woman sighing to herself that the jig is up. Energy burns hot in the air as an uncommon blush tinges Vegeta's cheeks. Tights was just about to stand up to bring forth the rings but she stays seated and well away from the inferno of a deceived Vegeta.

"Woman! What is the meaning of this treachery, tricking the Prince of all Saiyans and stopping him from training will-" He roars for an answer as to what is going on at this woman unperturbed by his rage and having seemingly set him up in some elaborate joke. Her own gloved hand rises and she places it on top of his fist and calmly lowers it.

"It isn't a trick, Vegeta. This is me and you getting married, now I've only got another 3 of those robots spare so please don't break any-more and ruin our special day."

"Bulma, he didn't know?" Instead of the Saiyan being the one to interject the father of the bride stands, as far as everyone knew this had all been decided and consented on and not some event to be haphazardly sprung on Vegeta of all people.

Bulma sheepishly smiles as her plan is unravelling quickly. Her family are none too happy that they were kept in the dark and this is some ruse to trick Vegeta and due to this being the case it is beginning to backfire. A black cat leaps up onto Dr. Briefs' shoulder and meows. As a father this is not how he planned for his daughter's wedding to go and using deception on the man she supposedly loves is hardly the sign of a strong relationship. Bulma turns and glances at her surprise bride-groom to defend herself from more ranting and raving from him. No sound comes from Vegeta. The Saiyan stands stock still with his mouth agape, uncomprehending this entire scene. Dr. Briefs questions Bulma as to why she has acted in this manner rather than the more common place proposal that leads prior to the wedding. Her attention however is on the Super Saiyan and not her dad.

"Earth to Vegeta, you … you're not saying no at all to this. Do you not know what a wedding is?" Bulma rustles the bouquet in her hands before his stunned face as she cautiously watches his keen eyes following her every move. She lets out a small smile at his lack of declination and wonders aloud if his alien heritage is leading to a few blanks.

"Shut it woman, don't insult my intelligence. Of course I-"

"So, do you want to marry me?" As soon as he barks at her she repeats the ultimate question to him and silence is once again his reply, along with a blush.

Bulma's giggles cause a low growl from his throat. Sparks fly from the destroyed robot as his energy grows. Still there is a lack of any 'no' having been said. Her family watch this exchange as she tackles head-on this dangerous Saiyan. Years they have lived together now, she knows him very well and she knows how far she can push and still remain perfectly safe from any harm whatsoever.

"... What does my child have to do with any of this?" He questions the bait that led him to this trap and how it is of relevance and continually mentioned in line with this ceremony. This question does not go over too well with the humans who do realise the significance that has been lost on this Saiyan. Bulma groans loudly at his ignorance, and him avoiding her question.

"What? Are you not planning on taking any responsibility for getting me pregnant? I thought you were supposed to be a prince with honour and pride."

"Fine if you insist I'll train the brat once it can stand, that does not answer my question."

Bulma's eyes close in exasperation as she hangs her head at his words. She can hear how true they are but pieces in this jigsaw are missing for this alien, that is not at all what she was asking – Vegeta is not connecting the dots between pregnancy and marriage. A man bred to kill is ignorant to how much is going over his head concerning these matters of romance. She clears her throat. This is her wedding day, her special day, and his Saiyan ways are not making it easy for her – though she holds a fair share of blame for her decision on how the proceedings have turned out. Bulma holds his hand. Explanations are failing. He averted her directness once, not this time.

" … Vegeta, I love you. Will you marry me?"

His skin is hot from searing energy as she gently holds him. Vegeta reacts to this greater than he would any mortal weapon. His breath catches in his throat. Her deepest blue eyes envelop his vision. In over 30 years he never once considered this possibility occurring for himself. This woman is in love with him, he can see her emotions, he can feel them and his heart reacts in turn to these emotions. Vegeta retracts his hand from her. Blackness returns to his hair as he struggles in this alien environment.

"Marriage is not a Saiyan custom." He acts aloof and tries to bat away her question once again, forcing his head to look away from this woman wanting to be his bride.

"Tell that to Goku and Chichi." Bulma smiles knowing precisely how to twist the dials of Vegeta. She waits for his classic response to such things and prepares her claws to pounce.

"I am a true Saiyan warrior. A true Super Saiyan.-"

"You're my Saiyan." Her hands grasp his tie and pulls him close as she claims him as her own. Bulma winks at him.

From such a close proximity they can see the large red bloom on the others' face. Just one fine layer of fabric separates them from the other. Aggression, passion, drive, determination: Vegeta's lips part. His rough and scarred hands close over hers. Her presence exudes a strength over him that he has never known before coming to Earth. Saiyan blood burns to deny this weakness and her dominion over him. His mouth will never be able to speak those words. She is the mother of his child, a woman unlike any he has ever known, a fearless warrior of her own battles and there is no-one else he would want to give the privilege of his bride to but her.

A white veil drifts down on a cool breeze, swiped away and flung high. Vegeta's lips lock with Bulma's. It is far too late for him to deny what Bulma means to him after having gone so far as to have sex with her several times. She is his and he is hers. Following his kiss he sees angry eyes staring at him. His confusion into this whole matter deepens.

"No! That comes later you brain-dead moron. You're doing it all wrong, even Goku got it right you clown. The kiss comes after we're married, didn't you say you knew?" Bulma fumes at him skipping the 'I do's' and going straight for the kill, he is going to marry her properly and not mix up the order of how things should happen. The bouquet of flowers hits across his face as she turns around to shun him for this. A great fire burning within her at his acceptance, of him wanting the same as her and loving her equally.

"We're not married?" The Saiyan questions with an eyebrow raised. In his eyes they have both agreed to it and so the job is done – the particulars of the legality or human ceremonies he has no clue of.

Tights takes over explaining how a white wedding is supposed to happen as she presents the rings whilst her father busies to fetch one of the spare robots. An annoyed but playful tongue sticks out at him from his unveiled bride's face as she watches him get educated. Adding in an insult about him failing in comparison to Goku over something as simple as a wedding has got him paying attention to do it right, she knows how much this rivalry haunts him and how it even occupies his dreams. With the sermon recommencing, the cybernetic vicar replaced and Bulma's veil found the fateful question is asked of both Bulma and Vegeta. Her answer is clear and confident whilst he stutters awkwardly, voicing emotions like this is so foreign for a Saiyan. Solid gold bands are placed on the other's fingers as Vegeta's tongue trips over the two words comprised of three letters.

This time it is her to surprise him with a kiss as soon as he speaks the wedding vow. Now wed in holy matrimony she displays her love to him as she throws back her veil and shows him the right moment for a kiss. Blonde hair flares up as her lips touch his. There is a lot of vigour in her actions as an emotionally out of his depth Saiyan is more concerned about this massive step he has taken. The bouquet is thrown and as the only single adult there Tights fails at this opportunity as the flowers get caught in a gust of Vegeta's energy and land close to Scratch the cat. With a puzzled meow it looks about. Scaly hide looks back as one of Dr. Briefs' pet dinosaurs lumbers about, the cat quickly panics and scampers off.

Vegeta has to force his concentration as he quells his emotions and transformation. His hands hold onto his newly-wed wife. He has a partner, he has a family and very soon he shall have a child. It is overwhelming for him. The rest of the ceremony cumulates with him in a partial daze. When cutting the cake with Bulma his strength sends the knife through the table and out of sight in a hole in the lawn, his hands trembling with nerves. With only 3 guests and them all being close family the wedding receptions lasts as long as the food does. Sidling up to her husband she nudges him and holds up the remote control for the training room, his eyes stay on her for a while before drifting to the device. He takes it from her and she leans across and slowly and purposefully types out the password for him to see:

'ILOVEMYHUSBANDVEGETA'

Bulma beams a smile full of love at him as he hides his embarrassment in grumbles about her having planned all this and tricking him. She gives him a quick peck on the cheek and tells him that he can go off and get changed first before thinking of training. The Saiyan stands. The remote drops onto the soft grass as a woman yelps. Without grace Bulma is slung over his shoulder. He takes a few steps and after a constant volley of shouting and feeble kicks he carries her as she demands a bride should be carried; in his strong arms. Together they cross the threshold of Capsule Corporation. Vegeta is still walking and holding her. She curiously asks why as this tradition has been completed and he can put her down and go train. The Prince of all Saiyans states that since he is already not training he should get everything out of the way to stop any future distractions. Her wedding night shall be had very early on in the afternoon. She laughs to herself at this excuse at his show of love for her. A small chuckle comes from the lips of Vegeta himself and with that the recording of his marriage terminates.

Being stood behind the two grants him the privacy he requires for his grief. The hand of a fair princess has found its way to his though he cannot tell if it is there to support him or for her to gain support from himself. No words were said out of respect of what was being viewed. Ryoko is heavily leaning onto her friend's shoulder. It wounds both of them to witness so clearly the love he does not hold for them. His aggression and passion in that kiss, his cute and embarrassed stammering and him seizing the initiative with the consummation of their marriage. Outside the house Mihoshi and Kiyone wait as intruding on this scene would not be wise, skimming stones they wait.

With a sharp sniff of her nose Ryoko stands and walks over to the television and puts the disc back in its case. She demanded to be shown this and she has. Her smile is ever so weak and fragile as she hands the disc back to its Super Saiyan 3 owner. She spies the traces of his grief he has failed to strike from his face, if she could allow herself to she would hug him but she cannot touch him. He holds the disc that feels so heavy in his hands and his eyes fall to it. Vegeta remembers it all: the thoughts running through his mind, the beat of his heart as he announced that he would take her hand in marriage and the feel of Bulma as they lay together as husband and wife. Having discussed physicality with Ayeka he knows watching him carry off his blushing bride with the intent to bed her will effect her severely, as it will also Ryoko for her own memories over Vegeta making physical advances towards herself. He nods at the pirate. Her wants are written so clearly over her face yet she knows how painful it stings if she were to speak them.

Vegeta walks away leaving Ayeka's hand as he places the disc back where it belongs on the shelf. He reverts back to his base form, the day has been long and his ki needs to replenish and the emotional and mental exhaustion from seeing his wife's smile one last time could cause a lapse in his control over his power. His chest expands and falls with a heavy breath. Vegeta shakes his head and without a word walks outside of his house into the evening. The two offering him a wide berth are wary of him approaching them. There is no malice in his face, no anger and his blank eyes do not register their existence. Under the moonless night he stands at the lake's edge. Kiyone was privy to a lot when mediating between him and Ryoko, she does not move away. A rock bounces over the water before splashing in after 3 skims. A minute later a rock lodges itself in a far tree with a dozen patches of steam rising from the lake's broken surface. Kiyone picks up another flat rock as does Vegeta, and later Mihoshi as a Juraian ship looms over and blots out half the sky.

" … We're really hurting him. All that- Everything I want hurts him. And damn if it don't hurt me too. … You OK there Ayeka?" With her arms crossed Ryoko sombrely drifts in the air before the quiet princess. The great thorn in her heart seeing Vegeta before and after his wife having stricken both her and Ayeka. She rubs at her nose with the back of her hand, her eyes piercing the gloom outside to the man not wanting to seek comfort from them.

The fringe of the princess bobs as she nods. It is a lie, they both know it. Guilt corrupts their jealousy at his love for his deceased wife. She has a duty to help him and she has not the slightest clue what she can do when her own suffering around this immobilises her so. Ryoko drifts closer.

"You told Vegey to look after me when you were shopping, didn't you?"

Again Ayeka nods in response. The Saiyan never overtly said yet she can still infer, her mind has not completely left her. He sent her off with Mihoshi then entered the bath himself, something changed his mind and as he had a doppelgänger with Ayeka it is most likely her act of kindness. Ryoko thanks Ayeka. She thanks her a second time. Ayeka did not do it for gratitude, she did it as it was the right thing for her to do and the right thing for Vegeta to do. The warm bosom of Ryoko shrouds her vision as she gives her rival a light hug. After that the pirate looks to the prince and then instead flies in the opposite direction and phases through the training room door. Ayeka was not expecting her to go that way to Trunks but agrees that approaching Vegeta at this time would be unwise and potentially painful for all parties involved.

After several minutes Ayeka's solitude is broken with her mother leaving Washu to get on with her work. She smiles at her daughter, knowing what she has finished watching, however the smile does not last long.

"Ayeka dear, this will not make things easier for you I know but I am taking Sasami back with me to our home. You understand, right?" Misaki states her intentions as mother of both princesses. This is not Sasami's place. She cannot allow her young child to be away from her parents for any longer, and certainly not when such grave dangers have already faced her and she was nowhere close to protect her. Ayeka has never been without family before and Misaki will cause hardship for her eldest through this, the decision is already made however. "I gave Lord Vegeta permission to have but one of my daughters, not both. Azusa's mood worsens the more he misses her."

" … It is the right thing to do. It was so selfish of me to steal her from you when I ran. I wasn't thinking. For that I apologise mother. … You will visit though?" She cannot argue against her mother in this. It is a blow, and a powerful one, her beloved sister will no longer be by her side. Her room will be empty and all her family in a far off distant quadrant of the galaxy. Involving Sasami further would be cruel and so abhorrently selfish.

There is no force that would prevent Misaki from visiting her daughter. Family is everything to her. The bonds of blood will never be severed no matter the distance or danger. As her mother she kneels before Ayeka and wipes away the tears flowing from her grown child's face. Ever since Sasami could walk she has gone everywhere with Ayeka. She can remember only one argument between her daughters and that was when a teenage Ayeka had been informed of her arranged betrothal to Yosho and was lashing out at the other princess whose birth had led to that decision. Within hours they had made up and stayed inseparable. Ayeka has argued for her independence, for her rights as a woman grown, and so if she wants to start a new family here with Vegeta then this is a forfeit that will be made. Sasami does not know yet. The young girl is fast asleep. She kisses below the tiara on her eldest's forehead and reminds her that she can always talk to them via the communication relay in Washu's lab, reaffirming that Vegeta will end up sick of them visiting every week but she will still continue to come and bring Sasami too.

Ayeka does not let her mother leave. She holds tightly onto her loving parent. In a half mewl she jokes that there will be no-one left to cook the meals. No matter her age, Misaki will always be there to comfort Ayeka. The thought of solitude is scaring her, her coping mechanism for finding rest at night is being taken away and there is no argument she can muster with any right to counteract this. A set of arms not belonging to a Juraian encircles Ayeka from behind.

"Now we can get spoilt everyday with Vegey making us home cooked meals just for us. Ryoko'll be your beautiful and overbearing big sis now, gonna have to get used to it." Goodwill shall be repaid as Ryoko does what she can. Ayeka was always there when she was at her weakest, this rogue shall not be outdone by a Juraian. "Me and Vegey are staying up tonight as I'm not really in the mood for sleeping, join us. Can drink till dawn, have ourselves a little slumber party. You still drinking with us Queenie?"

"I have to leave shortly if I am to keep my promise to Azusa. I shall not be intoxicated whilst caring for Sasami or be under the influence when flying my ship. Sorry, but for now I'll have to pass."

She never agreed to drink with Ryoko, alcohol is not a friend she enjoys company with, and it would not be responsible in her position to drink. Her daughter has to be doing something right if this pirate who tried to kill her is now offering her such help and friendship. Ryoko is nonplussed about Misaki skipping out on a boozing session and nuzzles against Ayeka some more. Out of the training room walks a tired Trunks. The Juraian royal family can keep its issues, for now his own family is his main priority. Ryoko informed him of what his dad is doing and how great he is struggling – she tried to help but she has little understanding of what to do – the hybrid son walks past the women and outside to his father. Mihoshi and Kiyone hurry inside seeking shelter as two beacons of light brighten the failing daylight. Father and son strike at the other. With this they can release their emotions. Sparring together Trunks can bond and speak to his Saiyan father in a truer conversation than any word.

The two policewomen reply with an affirmative when the Queen enquires if her ship is prepared for launch. Windows rattle from the shock-waves of the duelling Super Saiyans. Mihoshi tentatively adds that it was ready last time she checked, damage from the brawl is quite possible. Misaki untangles herself from Ayeka after one bone crushing hug and with no spring in her step ascends the stairs. The news of Sasami leaving the household is broken to the partnered cops and they are saddened by it but Misaki's judgement is correct.

Perched on top of the freshly woken up youngster is an equally sleepy cabbit stretching out and yawning. There are beds upon her ship though she doubts her child will find sleep easily for a few hours following what will transpire. The mother carries Sasami in her arms whilst gently rousing her, long blue hair spilling down to Misaki's knees as the petite girl asks why she is being woken up when it is not morning yet. At the bottom of the stairs Sasami is set down and looks around rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Everyone is looking at her and she does not know why.

"It's time, Sasami. We're both going home now so- … Go and say goodbye to your sister and everyone." This is ever so hard for her to do, separating these siblings is her duty as a parent but it feels ever so wrong to her. She is the mother of Sasami and she will not push the care of her child onto Vegeta any longer. Both her children will hurt because of this, something she abhors above all else, she will have to enforce this tough love no matter how she hates it.

Wide pink eyes blink in confusion up at her. This is sudden. Having just risen from a nap it takes a while for the words to sink in and their meaning to be found. Sasami's lip begins to quiver. As Sasami begins to shake her head Misaki simply nods in affirmation, her time on Earth has run its course. The girl starts trying to argue that she does not want to leave Ayeka.

"Don't you want to see Daddy and Mummy Funaho and your brother Yosho and all your friends?" Truth be told it wounds Misaki how her youngest appears to prefer her sister above even her own mother yet if she can diplomatically persuade Sasami into agreeing to this it will make it easier for everyone. The girl pauses confused by these words as she does want to see her other loved ones however still she does not want to be away from her sister. "We'll talk to Ayeka everyday and visit weekly, so we'll get to see her and play with her lots still."

"I don't wanna go, I've got to look after everyone and cook all the food and keep Vegeta from bullying people and play with Trunks when he's sad and feed Ryo-Ohki and Ayeka will be sad if I go." Sasami reels off what she perceives to be her role, the glue keeping this enlarged household together, and tries to use this duty to shield her from leaving Earth.

She starts walking towards her equally upset elder sister, Ayeka finding it too hard to speak in defence of her mother's choice, and Misaki feels her own emotions bubbling too close to the surface when gold tears across the room. Sparks fly around the upright hair of the lad picking himself up off of the floor. In the doorway to the house Vegeta stands and watches his son. This shall be the only course of action needed, the Saiyan's plot will succeed. A tearful Sasami looks at Trunks wanting her friend to argue back. The electric blue eyes of the Super Saiyan 2 coldly look back at her.

"You've still got your mom, don't waste this time." Trunks says all he needs to and tips the scales as his frank and callous words strike at Sasami to put her situation in perspective towards the motherless Trunks.

The Super Saiyan 2 darts back off at his father with a kick and their match continues. Sasami's lip is quivering even more now. She has lost the ability to speak. Instead of heading to Ayeka she turns and goes into her awaiting mother's arms and bawls about how much she loves both her mothers. Misaki does not agree with such cold and cruel tactics, they have worked however. She hushes her daughter as best she can until she is calm enough to say her farewells.

Ryoko threatens to steal her back if she is gone too long so that her new taste-buds will not forget her excellent food, the rogue then takes her spaceship back with Ryo-Ohki getting one last cuddle. Mihoshi's ability to control her emotions is not that great so she begins to blubber as her friend bows and says how it was an honour to serve her and that they shall do the best to uphold the peace of the house in her absence. Saiyans are still fighting so only one person remains. The sisters that have never parted for more than a few hours now have to go their separate ways. She gets off the sofa and kneels down. Sasami heavily impacts into her as they hug with Ayeka joking that she will have to teach her more cooking quickly when she next visits and Sasami fervently nods. They both cry and Misaki does her damnedest to watch on and not give in to her own tears. One of her children has fledged the nest and is spreading her wings but for the other it is far too early for that.

It takes the two sisters over 10 minutes to finalise their farewells. They do not want to let the other go. Ayeka breaks off and signals for her mother. The laboratory door opens and just as Sasami was about to comment about not having said goodbye to Washu the scientist and Yamcha appear. Being 20,000 years old goodbyes are something she has practised to perfection, Washu promises that she will work hard to make sure all of Jurai and her sister stay safe whilst Yamcha picks up the princess and says that she can be the flower girl at their wedding. The Queen approaches and in a quiet voice warns Washu not to do anything to cause Vegeta to destroy her communications array. Sasami looks up to her tall mother, a soft plead still within her eyes, and hesitantly she reaches out her hand to hold her mother's.

Everyone follows as the Queen and Princess exit the house, the procession ready to wave her off. Ryoko stays tagged onto Ayeka, being there for her despite her having no ability to empathise with anything family related. The lake's waters are greatly disturbed by the pounding of the Saiyans and then it reverts to a millpond as Vegeta drifts down with his son held firmly in a choke-hold. Trunks is released at Sasami's feet. Two parents look at their children. A petite hand rubs some grime from the Super Saiyan 2's face. Misaki bows her head to the homeowner as she graciously thanks him for her stay and for the care of her youngest. A glowing Saiyan nods. Bulma is fresh in his heart, his son has to hit him a lot more for this heartache to die down. He offers a energy filled hand. Misaki is more one for hugs than handshakes.

"Big brother Vegeta you have to be nice to Ayeka or I won't cook for you when I come back." No matter how powerful a Super Saiyan he is nor how many he has murdered the innocent girl bids her goodbye to him with this familiar threat. His scarred hand pats her on the head. Vegeta then disappears off into the house without a trace.

Trunks' form twinkles, he hands Sasami one of his many handheld game consoles and tells her to have it completed when she comes back so that she can move onto the sequel. With that everyone – except a comatose Gohan – has had their turn. Sasami's tears fall thick and fast as she stands underneath the teleporter. They all wave at her, Ayeka reciprocating her sister's tears, and the girl waves back promising that she shall return soon to play with them. Misaki speaks a few kind words to the child not returning to her home and then a green light takes the Juraians from the scene. From an outer hull window Sasami presses her face to the glass. Her mother's ship is large and high in the sky she can only make out Trunks from his shining. With a few red orbs dancing about her Ryoko teleports into view carrying her rival. Neither can hear the other but that does not stop them. Engines engage and slowly the leviathan of a wooden ship departs.

Only one Juraian now exists on Earth. Ryoko touches back down onto the ground and looks back into the house as she releases Ayeka.

"His punches were weak, he wanted me to be hitting him but it ain't gonna be too long before anything makes him rage so I wouldn't." Trunks offers this advice to Ryoko. His father was more concerned for his son venting his grief than his own and so a boiling mess of emotions still troubles him.

"You want a small drink to take the edge off then?" Ryoko is ready for the night of drinking to begin and her ethics hold no qualms at offering an underage child a touch of alcohol.

He declines her offer of a drink citing that he does not want to be the cause of his father's rage. Trunks looks up at the sky where a Juraian ship once was and Ryoko parrots her same question to the princess doing the same as Trunks. Ayeka does not hear the words nor does she voice a response. The pirate leaves her be and stretches her arms, night is on its way and with that she has to somehow spend that with Vegeta without anything else transpiring. The only kid left in the house looks up at the party of adults and watches as Washu quickly vanishes back to continue her work.

"So I'm up for a rematch at that cops and robbers game and I think we should get some bottles out, whaddya say?"

She is all up for lifting this dreary mood and getting her mind on the positive with another round or two at that board game, and to start the party with the night being young. Ayeka jumps as she puts her arm around her, knowing she will try and weasel out to mope on her own but not allowing her.

Mihoshi is up for a game as is Trunks. The question of team set up is raised by Yamcha as he throws his name into the ring. With this Kiyone resigns herself to a night of board games and booze and wanders off saying she will get some drinks out of the fridge. It is a selfish thought but in the back of her mind she is hoping that someone else in this house can cook the amount necessary to feed two Saiyans and the rest of them as she does not want to become a slave to the kitchen. Starting to hum to herself she makes a shocked noise as she rounds the doorway into the kitchen to find someone almost walking into her and knocking her down. Vegeta glares at her standing in his way as he gnaws on some leftovers. She excuses herself past his uncooperative bulk and over to the fridge. The Saiyan does not leave the kitchen. As she fetches a couple of bottles from the fridge a hand reaches past her for more food.

"I'm not going to be having another talk with you, your girlfriends can do that for you." Looking over her shoulder Kiyone quips at him hoping to gain some personal space.

"I need no help in this."

Vegeta stalks out of the room. To the shock of those entering the house he does not turn and immediately enter the training room. The Saiyan sits down in the middle of the sofa. His hair flares blonde and falls down the back of the couch, his ki reserves are low but he shall maintain this form for as long as he can. He rubs at the bridge of his nose as the women and his son observe his aberrant behaviour. Ayeka takes the first step. Next to the glowing Super Saiyan 3 she sits down with an equally despondent air to her prince. Vegeta is all she has left now on this planet. Seating herself beside him gets Ryoko to untangle from her and float further from the man she cannot touch. His blue eyes linger on the photograph of the woman he shall never meet again before his son asks if he will join them in their game.

A non-committal shrug is given. He is not training, he is not resting, he is not out here to socialise. Vegeta has nothing better to do. From time to time he shall act as a father, in this he shall keep an eye on Trunks and indulge him in this. The roster of players has expanded and so Mihoshi quickly announces that as she was the games' master last time it is Kiyone's turn to uphold the laws and rules of the game so that she gets a turn playing. A hand very carefully floats down and moves the family photograph to the edge of the table so that there is ample space to set up, Ryoko has a little plan.

"I say teams should continue with what they were last round. Criminals on one side, boring sheep who follow the law on the other. That should split it nice and even." This will put her on the same team as Vegeta, and out Ayeka from her spot she is trying to hide in. Ryoko does this not out of jealousy or malice. She is still trying to aid her friend and if she can work in a bonus for herself then that works out even better for her.

Ayeka is not up to the task of arguing. Ryoko, Vegeta and Yamcha make the law breaking team. Mihoshi, Trunks and Ayeka comprise their opponents – even with Trunks debating if he has broken a law or if he is only on this side as he is not of legal age to be responsible for his actions. Ryoko will not let Ayeka so readily fall from one crutch of dependence onto another. She sought so much from Sasami's company and Vegeta at this moment in time is not where she should be looking to replace that, the Saiyan Prince does not want a weakling unable to act on their own and always seeking others. Kiyone sets down the bottles and the glasses, a toast is raised with Ryoko chasing it quickly down with a second round.

The game is set up as the rules are explained to the newcomers. Vegeta does not appear as though he is listening. With the Saiyan Prince not moving from his seat his team gain the sofa – Ryoko sitting on the arm to make sure there is distance between her and a mourning Super Saiyan 3. Kitchen chairs are brought in. Trunks is not too optimistic concerning his fellow team member's; a withdrawn Ayeka not wanting to play a game at all and the infamous Mihoshi. Since Kiyone has not been told of Vegeta's life long sobriety a glass of sake is placed before him which he slides across.

"Half of it, Trunks. Never any more than that with your power." His offering to his underage son is curt, the warning ever present and as loud as the absence of any remark concerning his mother allowing him to drink. Vegeta trusts his son this much to be able to handle that and any ki should burn it out relatively quickly. Trunks complies, eager to take this step into the adult world and then his eagerness dies down once he tastes the alcohol in the spirit.

The game begins. Ayeka is hurried as the last one to pick her individual load out and resources to protect the bank. Within 5 turns an explosion caves the front entrance of the bank Kiyone designed, and the thieves lose a hostage in the process. Trunks is reckless and aggressive in his play-style as he tries to make up for the rest of his team's lack lustre performance. The lad and Yamcha's characters clash for a long amount of turns before Ryoko swoops in to aid the desert bandit's endeavour. Not too long after Yamcha succumbs to a trap Mihoshi placed. More drinks are had by the women, Yamcha having also reached the point he deems it unsafe for him to consume any more.

Hours into the board game 2 are left on either side. Ryoko and Vegeta have the loot from the vault when they both round a corner to find Ayeka waiting with her gun levelled. With the princess in front her next turn is to immediately defend her back. Ryoko swears aloud that her intuition is correct. She hits the sofa and angrily glares at the cold eyes of the murdering Saiyan. A knife almost tore into her spine. Vegeta nods in acknowledgement that this ruse is over and takes no action as Ayeka shoots and incapacitates the distracted Ryoko. Cyan hair billows about as Ryoko is taken out of the game by almost a recreation of her downfall. Vegeta kicks over Ryoko's bag of loot to the princess. Ayeka speaks saying it was a pleasure working with him. One way telepathy formed a silent double agent allowing this trap to be sprung. Bending down to retrieve and recover the loot an explosion renders her character unplayable. Vegeta walks out of the bank past Mihoshi. She scrambles to provide medical assistance to her teammate and to Ryoko with him escaping and winning.

"Vegeta, on behalf of all the players I'll say it for them: 'You're a dick'. Congratulations." Kiyone provides a final verdict to the completed game as the underhanded and traitorous methods of Vegeta earn him the win.

Thinking that the pride and extreme competitiveness of Vegeta would not come into play during a simple tabletop game was a mistake. Ryoko's suspicions surrounding Ayeka's far too alert and on the money manoeuvres were correct, the princess is not in the right mindset for such a tactical evaluation. Vegeta is no team player, ultimately their team won yet he walked off as the sole victor.

"You slipped a bomb in my bag and is there really something so appealing about my back that every man wants to put a knife in it? That was not very nice of you, Vegey." Rightfully Ryoko is upset that her own teammate planned her downfall thoroughly and Vegeta used Ayeka of all people to kill her off. Stabbing her in the back whilst betraying her to police is not a tactic she enjoys.

"Don't stand in front of me then. You were playing it careful around me, you suspected, stand behind me and I cannot stab you, and I would be directly between the shot of Ayeka. There was your chance." He grunts out a way she could have escaped his recreation of her arrest with no remorse over his literal back stabbing.

"Doesn't save me from a damn bomb. Well you want to be competitive then game on, we're gonna drink some more and have a go on my karaoke machine. Is Vegey gonna try and beat me in that? Love to see ya try."

A bottle is single handedly finished by the rogue as she she slams it down in challenge of the competitive man. From all his time training she can at least concede that he can project his voice properly and since he danced with her now she wants to see if he shall sing and complete this ensemble. Her form vanishes for several seconds, Ryoko reappears wearing the translation glasses, looking down the lenses at the Saiyan Prince. He snorts. He will not sing.

"Party pooper, just when I wanted to serenade you in a love ballad duet. You're game for this, right Mihoshi?" She hops over the table and prods at the karaoke machine with her feet as she smiles. Mihoshi jumps up wanting to play and sing after being denied access to this toy since she arrived.

Trunks is beginning to become uncomfortable with the amount of intoxicated people – or women to be exact – in the room. Vegeta has not touched a drop and Yamcha barely had enough to get a slight buzz however more than the bottle Ryoko drained is empty at this point. He stands and heads off to the training room before things liven up too far, his father watches him but stays seated. As Vegeta declined her challenge Ryoko now holds out a microphone to the sombre Ayeka, this will be a fun way to test their rivalry.

"If we are forced to hear the off pitch warblings from your mouth akin to Ryo-Ohki being stepped on then I might as well warn you I have had years of teaching around the finer arts." Booze has had an effect on Ayeka's judgement. She takes up the challenge of Ryoko and has a slight wobble as she stands.

Alcohol impairs several aspects of their singing: pitch, timing, reading the lyrics. The extra-terrestrial women are glad to find that Washu's tinkering has made its way into the karaoke machine. It is now hooked up to the galactic web and so has a vast inumerable library featuring songs that these aliens actually know. Mihoshi cares nought for her score or how well the small audience reacts as she is too busy having fun and manages to drag Kiyone up for a duet. The stoic Saiyan sits unimpressed and unreactive to the noise. The natural blonde bumps into the table and clutches at her shin whilst she hands over the microphone to Yamcha. He, like Vegeta, did not say he was joining in with this antics and he has also had barely anything to drink. Yamcha shrugs and stands, not wanting to sour the mood.

" You made a better job of that than when Bulma used to hum it." At this Vegeta grumbles out a review on Yamcha's less than stellar performance, Yamcha takes the compliment for what it is worth. Both he and Bulma were teens at the same time, they grew up with the same music and that song he sung was popular a few decades ago on Earth.

Jurai's Princess showcases her singing ability born from a few hours a week with a vocal coach and the alcohol drags down the standard of her performance as some notes extend into slurring. At this point she has now consumed more alcohol than the few times she has sampled it before. The song is a slow more operatic piece all in the ancient and extinct Archaic Juraian language. Her eyes focus as best as they can on her prince she sings for as she spins the plates of reading the lyrics and battling the lack of focus in her vision. Her performance ranks highest score wise and with pride she accepts her score. She heavily sits down not in her original seat but instead besides Vegeta – Ryoko's initial reason for her move now null and void as the game is over.

The lead of Jurai is destroyed entirely.

Ryoko's choice of song is at first mocked by Kiyone for its age and how even her dad was not young enough to have enjoyed that 'classic', insults of her age get Ryoko to very generously top up Kiyone's modest glass to keep her quiet. She then clears her throat, hovers for dramatic effect and due to her constitution that Washu recovered for her mitigates the alcohol in her bloodstream. She sings. Ryoko gives a flawless performance vocally, and above that she dances and gyrates her body in the air as she improvises some quick choreography. Not a single note is missed and the song is by no means a simple one: time signatures change, her vocal range is tested and the emotion she delivers. Ayeka might have been taught how to sing yet Ryoko holds decades more experience. Chained in darkness not being able to move or see she had one thing she could do to occupy herself. As her body and mind rotted in a cell Ryoko sung to herself when her throat was not parched. Her audience of one escaped into music to pass the long years. Ryoko beats Ayeka soundly and drops the microphone into the speechless princess' lap to try and top it.

"You might've been the one to die, Vegey, but I'm the one with the voice of an angel." Ryoko boasts as she grins at Vegeta as the Saiyan was listening to her top class singing. She showcased to him that she has worked hard at something and diligently trained to a masterful level.

Jurai shall not take this loss sitting down. Ayeka has her own pride. The happy rogue is called for an encore by Mihoshi and Kiyone, Ryoko smiles pleased at the beaten Ayeka. She lifts up Ryo-Ohki and taunts the princess suggesting she tries against an opponent closer to her level. The game is on. The fires of rivalry have been stoked. Glasses are refilled and the night continues.