Chapter 83

Desperate times have called for risk-laden action to be taken. Tackling everything he faces head on is his usual tactic, save for this sole individual. He does not want to take these actions and make this choice which is sure to cause hurt both for his target and in the long run for himself. Goku scratches at his long blonde hair. The sound of knocking has frequented his new training room yet again. Goten trains by himself as Piccolo rests. Goku faces the door and steels his nerve. With a strong pull he opens the bulkhead and stands before his persistent wife in Super Saiyan 3. He crosses his arms in mimicry of how Vegeta acts for that style of behaviour he shall attempt to emulate. His wife looks at him and peers past his muscled body to her son to check that no Cell is present as she waits for a greeting that never arrives. Goku is appearing stern, his thick and hairless brow furrowed and Chichi is not used to her husband not saying a friendly 'hello' to her.

"Chichi, I'm not leaving this training room until dinner now. Stop bothering me like this." Goku firmly states his refusal to play along with his wife's antics any longer. He will not let this become a habit of hers and he shall get her to address this strange behaviour on her part.

"I beg your pardon? You won't be getting any dinner if you think speaking to me like that is fine." Chichi looks offended at his sudden standoffish attitude towards her and how he rudely called her trying to involve him in the management of their family and household as simple bothering. As far as she can see she has done nothing to warrant him speaking so rudely to her.

Her hands go on her hips. Goku does not back down nor does he make a show of cowering from her growing anger. He shakes his head at her. Being rude and offending his wife is not pleasant for him. He expected her to bring up food, Goku looks over his shoulder at his training Super Saiyan son. Goten is pretending not to listen, the boy does not want to get involved in his parents arguing – and arguing in a different way to normal. The Super Saiyan 3 has made a few battle preparation concerning challenging Chichi.

"Ya hear that Goten, with all this new money we're getting takeaway tonight. … I'm putting my foot down on this. I am training, I won't keep doing this." His blue eyes return to his wife as he brushes off her threat about food and remains resolute. No power surrounds him, no aura pulses from his energy, Goku will not intimidate his wife.

"Fine then, if you want to train then train since I guess one of your oldest friend's wedding doesn't matter to you but you will talk to me with respect." Anger is never too hard for Chichi to conjure up, her husband is trying to bring her son onto his side of the argument against her and that is unfair as is her perceived treatment here as some villain.

"9 times. You've knocked 9 times from us getting back from finding Gohan. I did what you said because I respect and love you. I ain't respecting you too much if you bother me every time I finish a warm up. Why?"

"Whaddya mean why? I just said, Yamcha-"

"I will take you back to Washu if her making you younger has changed you like this. I'm not moving."

A punch flies towards his orange gi and his sturdy chest. In a motion that human eyes cannot see it is deftly pushed to the side so that the striker becomes unbalanced. Chichi hops to retain her footing and takes a step away from Goku. He does not normally use martial arts against her when they are rowing, only when they are sparring or playing, she is unsure of what he will do when he is acting far stranger than his accusations of her pestering him. Blaming the blonde hair is easy for Chichi – though Super Saiyan 3 might not look as appealing it holds a special place for her as it symbolises her 'angel' returning to her. All she wants is for him to take an interest in something outside of his obsession in training and spend some time helping her sort things out. Goku does not step forward to follow her motion and keep the momentum, it would scare Chichi if he is aggressive like that, he stays stood unmoving from the doorway to the training room.

"What is it? Why do you want my attention all the time? You're not acting yourself." Goku questions her again after already dismissing her excuse of Yamcha and Washu's wedding.

She reaches out for his hand. Goku's arms are crossed. Chichi grabs one of his arms and gives a tug. He is not allowing her strength to hold any force over him. Goku rarely openly rebels against her like this. Chichi is confused at him acting like this to her and him questioning her on being strange. She questions his name. His piercing blue eyes are unnerving her. Her hand reaches out again and tries to get him to follow her into their house and to leave the training room for a moment. Trying to pull any harder will crack the floor so she stops. Chichi takes a quick step forward and going on her tiptoes kisses Goku on the cheek.

" … You can't pretend that kissing me in the middle of us arguing is normal. Chichi, is it the pills, what Washu did?" A simple kiss will not fluster him or seduce him into mindlessly obeying her. Goku places both hands on his wife's shoulders. He is worried about her.

Her head rests against his chest. In simple terms this is what she wants. Here is the presence of her caring husband, holding her, being with her. The worry in her heart begins to dissipate. For some reason she is agitated when away from him. Baseless worries she first presumed to be about all the goings on made her anxious yet now it is all down to her either being with or without Goku. Chichi puts her hands on his. She asks him to spare a multiform. Goku maintains his resolve and does not want to allow her leeway thinking she can continually disrupt his training. In a quiet voice she says that she is lonely and afraid without him. He moves one hand to her forehead to check if she has a temperature or any signs of illness. With his sixth sense he can detect her wild and untrained energy is disturbed by something.

These tactics are unfair. For his strong willed wife to appear so vulnerable to him with her mood swinging like boughs in a gale there has to be a cause; a cause he cannot ignore. She is worrying him, and her actions are also worrying their son. Chichi's stomach growls loudly. Loneliness should not be a factor when she has her father with her inside the house, although Goku does wonder if that picture of his deceased mother-in-law might be upsetting her. A lot has changed. Narrowing down the cause is beyond him. Goku releases her. Super Saiyan 3 drains his energy at an alarming rate however Chichi has worn down his stamina in another regard. He cannot act cold towards her any longer.

Goku tells her that if she is hungry to go and order some food for them and he will use Instant Transmission to collect it and whilst they wait he shall be practising multi-form so that he can properly use it to keep her company. This compromise he shall make for her. Chichi looks up at her husband, she does not want to be alone again whilst he trains.

"You idiot, we throw out all those takeaway menus so how am I supposed to order something?" She softly grumbles.

"I might not be able to use it but you should be able to boot up Gohan's old computer he used for studying and order on that."

His compromise is the final offer he shall allow, his plan involved the takeaway so he knows how it can be ordered. He releases her and tells her he should have multi-form mastered by the time that the food is ready, shooting a sly glance towards Piccolo who has used the technique for many years. Chichi stands there as unease grows in her at leaving Goku even if temporarily. An excuse to come back enters her mind. She says she shall return when she gets online on the computer so that they can tell her what their order is. Alone she trudges back into their home with Goku watching. Goten descends from his transformation and squeezes past his father and says that he will go look after his mom.

The sound of the city outside does not drown out anything for Ayeka. Knocking on this door, daring to disturb Vegeta is impossible. In the ruins of the upstairs corridor she stands a few metres away – just within view due to the curvature of the circular building – and wishes for the noises to stop. She is being watched and watches back as the lone guardian of this place keeps an eye on her. Trunks is making regular rapid visits downstairs to retrieve a few leftover morsels every now and again to pile up on a platter outside where his father who has had no lunch has retreated. He senses little threat from Ayeka to intrude upon his mother's room unlike Ryoko.

Thudding, grunting and growling incessantly pierce her ears, tearing down the walls around her heart. Ayeka's sympathetic pain for Vegeta is being hit with an additional emotion: guilt. Not just the guilt over her love for this grieving widower, nor how she is responsible for pushing him to face his emotions but for the fact that she has argued with him and shouted at him and yearned for this release. This is something she has said that she wanted. She has wanted his tears, him to break down, questioning him on it when he failed to shed a single tear when he rested beside his wife's grave. Ayeka wanted to witness the true emotions of Vegeta with no facade and she cannot bear what is being revealed. She sniffs heavily and leans against the window-frame.

Ayeka lets out her own shrill yelp of pain. She clutches at her hand and holds it away from her pristine robes. Blood drips from her palm and through her fingers. Royal blood stains the broken glass shards on the windows Vegeta shattered. The tipping point is reached. Ayeka's legs fail her. The princess can no longer keep it in and weeps over the mourning Vegeta. Trunks looks her way and wonders if he should interfere or leave her to get it out like he is doing with his father. He scratches his head, he does not particularly want the job of looking after two grown adults.

The door to the side of Trunks creaks in protest as the door knob jitters violently before it is flung open. A booted foot is lifted from the ground and thuds heavily outside his marital room. A heavy pant of a breath is the only noise escaping from this sacred, uninhabited room now. His other boot follows, impacting with great weight outside the doorway, and turns to stare down the corridor at this noise. Vegeta's black eyes are unfocused and bloodshot. The world around him he is not perceiving. Tracks stain down his face of recently dried up tears. He heard a woman cry out. He heard a woman in pain and here he stands outside searching for something already lost.

Bulma is not in the corridor waiting for him, needing his strength or power to protect her, she is nowhere in sight. This siren's call of distress comes from another. His eyes blink several times to assure himself that this scene is before him. Calf and thigh muscles tauten with another step. Blood has been spilt. He has broken yet another promise, this is harm that he has caused as he broke that glass - he has failed again. A croaky exhale peels from his agape mouth. Behind him Trunks is peering inside his mother's room to check no property damage has been caused by his father even in this weakened state. This next step is a lurch, his boot scraping along the tiles he cracked, and Vegeta glances for any sign of the ghost long since departed. Wind blows in from her grave through broken panes.

Footing fails her. A slip, a tumble and a quick recovery as she makes an ungainly advance. Ayeka envelops Vegeta in an embrace of equal kind to that of her mother. Her head resting beside his on his shoulder, her arms fully around his back and squeezing with all the strength she can find in herself and a patch of red begins to taint Vegeta's outfit. She cries onto him and for him. This sight of her proud prince so reduced and broken destroys her soul - his emotions unquestionable and his pain devastatingly without relief. Vegeta stands unmoving with the scent of blood still in the air. His dark eyes look to the purple hair taking up one entire side of his vision. Her wails are uncomfortably loud in his ears as her sympathy for him gushes out. Half words, garbled noises and the sounds of weeping come from the mouth of the princess. She holds him as close as is physically possibly so that there is no gap between them. His gloved hands stay by his side.

A different perfume, a different hair colour and less power in the grip, the memory of another's embrace is projecting over his senses. The emotion coming from the embracer is the same. Blonde has been trying to force its way into the roots of his hair for several minutes now, finding no ki to ignite itself with, with his ki she would have been destroyed along with the majority of this city. Vegeta's head slowly turns to look about behind him. His shoulder protests at him raising his arm and outstretching a gloved hand.

Trunks walks the short distance to answer the call of his father. He raises a fist and throws it at his father's undefended flank. Crying is a crime in the eye's of Vegeta and the swift punishment for Trunks has always been corporal, the son conducts his revenge by flooring his father. He does this to be just and fair, not to be cruel – Vegeta will not argue against being treated as the Saiyan philosophies dictate. The punch was feeble, as is his father, just strong enough to do the job and not injure either party. Vegeta and Ayeka collapse to the floor. The princess unaware of the strike is shocked as she finds herself falling underneath her prince. Drops of her tears and blood hit the floor but her body does not. One of Vegeta's hands holds himself up as the other keeps Ayeka from completing her fall. He cannot hold this position for long and lowers her. Trunks kicks his dad this time, sending him clear from Ayeka and colliding against the ceiling. Trunks has little excuse for this. He felt that it is time he showed some dissatisfaction for his father's physical closeness to the women. Between the two sounds of Vegeta hitting the ceiling and the floor two other metallic noises ring out.

Without strength, with every ounce of energy his body creates being constantly sapped away, exhausted and famished with his heart beating rapidly, Vegeta pushes himself up from the floor with no damage. As a baby he survived falls on his home planet with ten times Earth's gravity, without strength and as an adult he can survive such a minor impact. Trunks says a brief goodbye to his dad and walks off to see his other family members before he strikes his father again. He saw what flew from his father's pockets. Vegeta sits and pants, every movement is an effort and wearing his weighted gloves and boots is not making it easy for his ki-less self to move. Away from him Ayeka sits up and watches Trunks walk off and then turns her attention to her prince to see how he is faring. As she moves a fair hand to rebalance her weight she feels a finger come in contact with something cool. She looks down and through her teary eyes sees a pearlescent band.

Saiyan eyes are staring up at the ceiling. His mind is flitting between thinking about a lot of nothings and nowheres. He takes a deep breath through his nose and the pungent odour of blood reminds him of why he exited his marital room. Vegeta lowers his vision to the princess. She is looking at something hidden behind her leg that he cannot see, what he can see however is a spreading stain from her other hand. Her red eyes are having trouble seeing through the broken dams of her tears yet she notices his attention. She shifts herself from the item on the floor.

"... Ring..." Ayeka more mouths the word than says it aloud. Questions and fear are elicited from this item. Her eyes refuse to leave the shining ring. Her finger touching it lifts and strokes the smooth and cool material. The sight captivates her with a daunting adulation. Her breath catches in her throat as she rests a finger upon it.

This is neither the time nor the place. She tears her hand from what is easily within her reach and clutches at her breast. It could be what Ryoko claimed to have witnessed. Ayeka is no thief. A pained whimper comes from her throat. Her purple hair spills about her as she shakes her head to rid herself of temptation. Crouching and bowing to the floor in a full kowtow, Ayeka pushes the item with her none bleeding hand towards the Saiyan. He sits up alert seeing it no longer being in his pocket and then his posture softens. Her sobs are not quiet. Her body is trembling. Ayeka wails into the floor and presents the ring back to him.

Vegeta pats at his pocket carefully with his heavy glove and confirms that the pocket is empty of either ring. Those noises he was making until he was interrupted. Vegeta pounds the ground with his fist and the tiles rattle and crack. His body is thrashed and knackered. He is the prince, he is the mighty, if he could control himself, his power, and his emotions to a greater degree then he would not have been successfully attacked by his son. This is his fault. Vegeta is furthering the suffering of others through his continued failings. His ego shoulders all blame. He is lucky that Ayeka is valiant and strong enough to pick up where his strength fails and do the correct thing. Vegeta cannot reach from where he was kicked.

Not giving into the falsifying temptation is ripping her asunder. To take would be to diminish. Within her grasp sits the item that she wants above all else. Nothing can stop her from claiming it. The minute she does it becomes worthless junk that would only taint her royal hands. This is a gift that can only ever be given. The ring is still Vegeta's and not hers. As a fiancé she is still devoid of an engagement ring. It is beautiful in what she can make out, simplistic and pure, full of thought, and yet full of the wrong emotions right now. Ayeka needs it gone out of sight. She needs it away, she needs to help Vegeta and ail his woes. Thieving from him will make him suffer greatly.

The ring remains untouched. After a few ungainly shuffles Vegeta removes a hefty glove and with a free hand inspects the bleeding wound of Ayeka.

Her head raises. A soft mewling interrupts her cries. She nudges the ring towards him again, her fingers flinching from it as if the material were aflame. Her palm is sliced cleanly open. She went to lean quite heavily on the windowsill and rested most of her weight onto her hand, it is a nasty gash bleeding profusely. Delicacy and dexterity are skills beyond what Vegeta's hands are capable of at the moment. There is a glistening in the cut. A small shard remains inside. Vegeta's rough and unsteady hands will more likely aggravate the wound than relieve it of this debris. His tail wafts over towards Ayeka and slides the ring across to him before going back to the princess' distraught face. Bristly fur wipes and dabs at her face. Vegeta pulls Ayeka's hand closer to his face.

A red smear is on his face. He spits blood and the offending shard from his mouth. It was not wedged deep and so the suction from his lips proved enough to dislodge it. A warm and metallic taste is on his tongue. He releases Ayeka's hand. The hand remains in the air before slowly dropping. Drips dot about the outfit of Vegeta whereas her outfit is untouched.

Ayeka's tongue moves within her mouth. He has tasted of her blood. The circle of sharing royal blood has been completed. He put his mouth to her skin, he 'kissed' her wound better. She should be the one helping him not the other way around. The princess' face is already flush from the emotions of heartbreak and anguish, there is no room for a blush. Her head falls onto his lap and rests there as she cries. This pillow she awoke to is no longer as warm. Vegeta rubs at his face with the back of his hand and looks about for his wedding ring. No gold is in sight.

With effort she raises her head. From her low position she has to stretch. Ayeka's tiara and her forehead touch the widow's peak of Vegeta. Her none bleeding hand finds support on his thigh. Her eyes are closed as they stream tears. Ayeka keeps her head against her fiancée's. She is here for him. His reluctant head leans back against hers after a while, as uncomfortable as it is against the petrified wood of the tiara. Time ticks away with no word said between them.

"Hah, I'm not looking. Don't you trust me?" Giggles circle about the room and harshly echo off the tiles. Ryoko is feet from Kaia and is most certainly looking, taunting the blind woman. "It's quite rude to walk in on other people bathing, I made sure your gloves wouldn't get to spy on my beautiful body."

Crouching down with one hand across her face and the other covering her groin is Kaia. Sneaking up on a blind person is not the greatest of accomplishments, this is not the first time she has suffered this ridicule. This time however she is at the mercy of a known criminal. Kaia cowers. The mocking voice stops. She hears feet touch the ground.

"Even Ayeka don't act like that. You scared of me? Scared I might take advantage of some poor defenceless Juraian? Juraian's are so distrustful, I ain't done nothing wrong." Ryoko crouches and grins at Kaia. This is an interesting reaction; Kaia is showing a lot of fear in comparison to humility. She touches her knee against Kaia's and watches the flinch.

"I-I have no money with me, no possessions on this planet." To move would be to reveal herself, Kaia is stuck where she is unable to reach her gloves to see the world around her. This voice and this knee is all she has. She is prey caught in the huntress' trap.

"Well good for you, I'm offering to pay you for that lovely – though stilted and a bit stiff – strip show. Why you tellin' me 'bout you not having cash?"

"... The policewomen said that... that you are a pirate and a thief."

"Yep. That's me, Ryoko the pirate. Though, give me some credit, I'm a good pirate and thief so if I was gonna steal from you then you wouldn't know. I expected more pleads if this is how it is, normally how it goes, or did they say I was only a thief? I was part of the Planet Trade Organisation like my Vegey, I'm a killer."

"Oh please, what do you want from me?" She is unable to flee or defend herself. Kaia is face to face with a murderer. Bribery cannot work with no money. Begging and pleading is all she can do.

Kaia screams as an arm threads underneath her legs. She goes to move away and as she falls backwards she hits another arm waiting for her. Tiled floor is no longer beneath her feet. Ryoko lifts up Kaia and starts spinning around on the spot. All sense of direction is lost from Kaia – she has no clue where to go to return to her clothing. Defensively curling up as tight as possible serves only to cover what modesty she can. She is terrified. Gohan swore to protect her and that he would be a few minutes, that time should have passed, though if he were told she is bathing then her only hope is that her protector is someone who would try and take advantage of her disability like Ryoko to peek on her. Hair tickles the hand and face of Kaia, Ryoko's head has to be over her own.

"Fun. … Fun, fun, fun. I'm here doing what Little Princess Ayeka told me to. She said to go have fun and toy with the 'surprise' waiting back at home to calm myself and make me happy. You're the surprise. Can't go against royalty's orders can you?" Ryoko enjoys herself as she softly whispers these words to Kaia, teasing her with delicate sounds as she seals her fate. A pleased cackle comes from her. With her main plaything away looking after Vegeta she has a new Juraian toy to entertain herself with. She is glad she was born a sadist as she pirouettes around a few more times.

"Lady Ayeka would never betray me or sell any citizen out to the likes of you. The police and-"

"Ayeka don't know, I kept you secret, she knows there's a surprise not what it is. Don't matter, she still said I can play with you."

Kaia shouts for Gohan and the police. She cannot reason with Ryoko or talk her way out of this. A dangerous amount of dark intent she hears behind each syllable from Ryoko. Squirming about yields her no release from the strong arms of Ryoko.

The bathroom door opens. Gohan stands there responding to the call for help. His face blushes and he awkwardly stands at this situation of two naked women, one in the arms of the other, not sure of what action he should be taking here. Someone taps him on the shoulder. Ryoko sticks her tongue out. She has multi-form, she has cunning and wit, she has the translation glasses and most importantly she has a trap. With a smug sense of satisfaction she coos to Gohan to leave them be or she will show his girlfriend the picture she just took of him very eagerly opening the door to women in the bathroom. Blackmailing the Saiyan who apprehended her destroying bank vaults pleases her to no end. The translation glasses are snatched from her hand. Ryoko nonplussed states that all of Washu's data will be backed up, and those glasses come from Washu, and that she promises not to harm Kaia to any degree where she would require saving. Threats and hostage situations he knows how to handle thanks to his vigilante work. Ryoko puts a hand on him. The multi-form and Gohan vanish.

Kaia calls out to the absent Gohan. Ryoko merrily informs her that she has teleported Gohan to a far off wilderness and also teleported Kiyone and Mihoshi into the nearby forest so allies will take a while to find their way back to the house. They have their privacy. Kaia calls out again, there is no response from Gohan so she has to assume that Ryoko is not bluffing.

"Destroy and delete that image you took of me to threaten Gohan with, please." Her stern demand takes a polite turn as she realises yelling at the powerful killer and possibly angering her not be a smart move. Kaia will not tolerate being shamed with such indecent blackmail.

"Hmm? What image is that? I didn't take anything. Now my turn to say please, Kaia, move your arm 'cos you're pinching my tit."

A red faced Kaia gets placed stood up back on the ground as Ryoko releases her. Ryoko tells her to stay where she is for a second. Kaia's feet do not move. Her arms still cover her, Ryoko was holding her equally naked and she was touching her, and she believes the words of the pirate that no offending image was taken and that it was a ruse. The sensation of touching Ryoko and being touched is causing her to blush to no end.

She drums her fingers on the bathroom door. Ryoko tells Gohan to stay on the other side and that he flew back faster than she predicted. Very simply the apprentice of Washu explains that all she did was get rid of a multiform with his real self close by and ready to make another using the technique, it is not something that should have been overlooked by another user of multi-form. Ryoko hums and shrugs at this miscalculation. She compromises and says that he can stay on the other-side to protect Kaia if he senses any threat whilst she gets to make a new friend in peace. He is unsure of her mental stability and so agrees that he shall stay close by for the safe keeping of Kaia Jhun, Ryoko teases him to not get too excited by what he hears listening in on the bathroom and flies back to Kaia.

"C'mon and take your glove." Ryoko cheerfully says to the timid lady. She holds out a glove for Kaia to take.

"... This is a trick where-wh-where you have me 'accidentally' t-touch you instead." Kaia is hesitant and does not reach out with her hand. More touching would be inappropriate and she does not want to dance to the whims of Ryoko.

A short giggle comes from Ryoko. That would be funny to do. She is not in the mood for being clumsily felt up by a blind person and as fun as it would be there is an element of danger. Kaia could recoil and with that she could splash into the water behind her. Ryoko is not too sure on the swimming capabilities of blind people. She is being kind and offering this with no strings nor tricks.

"That sounds as though you speak from experience, but that's too easy and you were already touching me a bit ago. Not that imaginative a prank. Though, cop a feel if you want."

"I... I shall pass on that offer. Is the more imaginative prank you placing me immediately next to a pool of water?"

"You've got good ears. Not really a prank, it's a trust exercise. I put you there and told you to stay and you trusted me and so didn't fall in. See? All worked out good, now take your glove so you can stop acting so scared." Smiling, Ryoko wafts the sensory glove around before Kaia's face. She is definitely a fun person to play with.

"If I take it then-"

"Those eyeholes of yours really bother you so much that I've been looking at your cute little titties all this time? Ya ain't covering anything and I don't give a shit 'bout your eyes so just take it." The argument of reaching out will reveal her body is crushed beneath more brusque crudeness from Ryoko. Kaia is covering her face and groin, Ryoko can see Kaia's breasts perfectly fine so being revealed should not be too large an issue. She hovers closer and hears a shy squeal from Kaia as she tries to manoeuvre her elbows over her chest.

"C-c-c-cute? What? Avert your eyes!" Kaia is wary of motion with water behind her and does not like knowing that someone is staring at her bared body. She can hear this pirate so close to her, another naked woman next to her, and her sensibilities are being overwhelmed.

On top of her red hair the glove is placed. The hand covering Kaia's eyes reaches for it and deftly puts it on. A palm faces out as Kaia's hand resumes its place covering her face. She can perceive shape again. Her blushing face remains flushed. She can now perfectly observe the contours of the naked Ryoko in front of her. This woman is smiling at her. Ryoko bounces on the spot. Her feline eyes observe the reaction of Kaia as the movement of her body is observed by a hand. Kaia makes a shrill squeak as Ryoko approaches extremely close, she crouches down so her knees cover her torso, and she finds the errors of her ways. Ryoko stands over her, and Kaia's hand is at the perfect level to view a place of Ryoko that the criminal is making no effort to conceal.

"Oh dear, where are you looking? Huh? Well, what if I..." Phasing her body she continues playing her game.

Confusion sets in. Fingers move, the hand waves side to side, Kaia meekly calls out Ryoko's name. The rogue watches. Ryoko sits down in front of Kaia. The blind woman's hand keeps searching about and she questions again. Ryoko gives her body physical properties again and gives Kaia a start with her sudden reappearance. She repeats that she has beaten that form of security before and can easily fool it. Seconds pass as an uneasy and on edge Kaia sits and Ryoko plans. Wild hair takes up the majority of the glove's view, Ryoko sits with her back facing Kaia, she swishes her hair forward over her shoulders and reaches behind her for Kaia's hand. She grabs and there is reluctance in the Juraian but no strength to resist. Her ungloved hand touches skin. Smooth skin and then a raised rougher patch.

"There. You stop being so scared. I'm showing you my scar, it's ain't something I let everyone have a feel of – ain't something I'm proud of. This is me." She goes to bridge a gap between them. Ryoko shows her weakness and that she is vulnerable and gets hurt like everyone else.

For a while the hand of Kaia does not move. Fingertips soon begin to peruse about the texture of this scar tissue. Kaia has not felt a true battle scar like this with her own hands. It is an old wound that has long since healed that cleanly cuts down her back. Kaia's hand follows the scar to either end. Apart from the scar her skin is soft. Kaia can feel muscles and strength to this woman. Her glove is used to keep an eye out for any subterfuge from Ryoko as she investigates this back. She has been welcomed into a physical intimacy and Kaia does not know why.

"Why are you showing me this? … What part of this is 'fun' for you?" She questions as her fingers delicately explore the the ridge of the scar.

"Ain't this some common ground thing that we can both bond over and become friends with? Juraians can be shitty bullies when they wanna be. Was a Juraian boy I trusted with my life who gave me this on my back, and you keep hinting that all isn't rose gardens in your past."

"... You want to be my friend? Why? You-you're a killer-"

"See, you know so much about me and what do I know about you? Who are you? Why you in my Vegey's house? You gonna be rooting for me or Ayeka?" Ryoko looks over her shoulder at this confused Juraian. Some of her hair trickles down onto Kaia's hand. She is sensing a pleasantness to the touching, Kaia is being extremely gentle and conscientious of how and where she touches, and Ryoko wonders if she will feel Vegeta's gentleness.

The brief outline of events trips out of Kaia's tongue in dribs and drabs. Touching another like this does not come easily to her yet Kaia feels that this bonding is for some reason important to Ryoko. She tells of Lady Seto's ploy and her becoming stranded with no information, of her fears, what she has been told and her supposed ability to sense energy. Ryoko listens and Kaia can see her ears move with interest. Eyes glimmer and narrow. Ryoko can see what has not been told to Kaia. No mention has been made of Ayeka and the new man that she is engaged to. The hand removes itself from her back with the short story told.

"Do you know that I really detest Juraians and their snooty, classist culture?" The pirate turns about on all fours, crouched before Kaia and looking as if she is ready to pounce.

"Is this another of your trust exercises to see if I react in fear from this threat?" Her voice quivers as she questions Ryoko's motives at this sudden statement. A naked woman is facing towards her again and her hand observes all in front of her, she cannot focus elsewhere. Her bare hand retracts back to cover her crotch.

This woman on all fours sways side to side. No reaction of fear is coming from Kaia this time. The blind woman is unsure but not showing the terror of a while ago. That glove appears more focused on her then it needs to be to know of her position.

"I think I might like you … if you swear to me that you are against the Juraian thing of shitty arranged marriages for power between families. Say if someone agreed that Ayeka had to marry someone." An ally against Jurai from within the empire itself will be a sweet prize. Ryoko susurrates her deal as she is confident of Kaia's opinion on this. Logic might have failed her in her plan against Gohan but in this she has plenty of experience.

"Oh. So that's what this is. Do you really need to hear my answer? You can pressure and bully me about being blind or any part of my identity yet if your goal is friendship then I suggest you cease." Defensive and curt is the speech of Kaia. It is obvious to her what Ryoko is implying at. This is not the nicest way for her to be probed and have information gotten from her.

"Say your views on the stupid Juraian culture that I think you aren't all for. Say it just for me."

Golden eyes shine as Ryoko lifts one hand. One finger makes its way towards Kaia with her gloved hand fixing its view on this rogue digit. The glove has to be used for 'sight', the other hand for modesty so Kaia is restrained in defending herself. Ryoko pokes this newcomer's freckled nose and makes a sound effect on doing so. Her hand then turns and rests on Kaia's cheek. She sharply inhales at this touch. Through her skin she can feel the warmth and the accelerated heart beat. Ryoko is smiling at her. Blush comes to Kaia's cheeks.

"... That policy is indeed one I do not support, nor does it apply to me. Laws and cultures of a bygone era fail to progress and luckily for myself do not include me. I cannot be married to join and propagate bloodlines, that part of politics is not inclusive for me. Now why would this fact about myself cause you to like me?" Trying to keep up her defensive tone, a submission occurs within Kaia as she responds to Ryoko. The opinion she wants to hear has been said. Kaia does not agree with all of Juraian culture. She turns the question.

"Oh my. Are you flirting with me? I'm a happily- OK maybe not too happy but I am an engaged woman I'll have you know. Why wouldn't I like you is more the question. You say ya aren't ashamed, why you cover your eyes not your perky nips?" Her voice is low. The glove of Kaia is losing its subtlety. Ryoko knows how to play this game, she has already gained her victory.

"S-stop talking about my breasts please. Why would I not cover my eyes after someone threatens to poke and prod at them?" The blush grows.

"So you're apprehensive about me invading one, or two, of your holes? Ooh la la. If I want to do something to you, then I will do it. So long as I keep you nice and quiet so Gohan can stop his streak of ruining my fun." Ryoko giggles mischievously. Her hand on Kaia's cheek strokes at a strand of hair. These reactions are far better than what she gets from Ayeka, there is hardly any aggression back and she seems to have marginally fewer reservations about physical intimacy.

"That is not something you will do though. If I am right you want something else from me, can I make the suggestion that I be at least partially clothed for this." Kaia knows what this game is and smiles back, she knows what a lie sounds like and calls that playful fake threat.

"And spoil this lovely skinship between us? Sure. You're being nice and accepting of this for some weird reason so I'll give you a small towel."

"I believe myself to be a good judge of character. You're not wanting to hurt me, you do want me as a friend so I should have nothing to fear from yourself. Using myself as emotional support is your aim as far as I can tell."

That answer is bang on the money. Ryoko decides that deciphering her motives is worthy of a reward. She darts forward and gives Kaia a quick peck on the neck. Her other hand moves forward and quickly catches the falling Kaia who reacts with a start to this sudden kiss and almost goes backwards into the pool. Kaia gets placed down back where she is, her face as aflame as her hair, with Ryoko's impish chuckles making her cheeks burn brighter.