Chapter 95

Gohan pauses. Blaring alarms and sirens are sounding off all around him in the lab. He adjusts his glasses and flicks through several different screens to see what is setting off one of Washu's alarms. Several weird sensor readings suddenly vanish. The scholarly Saiyan finds the source. One word is listed by Washu's multitude of programs: 'Porunga'. Gohan pauses again and looks about him. Someone has summoned and wished upon the Namekian dragon. This is not good. The Namekians themselves are not a race of people to idly make wishes upon their deity-like dragon and out of his allies only his father or Vegeta could have Instant Transmissioned to the planet but both their positions are accounted for. It does not take him long to find the readings for a massive Juraian dreadnought docked at the planet's surface.

"Gohan, no-one else knows of this but I hold several identical server banks in many different dimensional realms. Cross reference all data between every single bit of datum to see if any changes have occurred. I am checking the surface of New Namek now for any obvious changes and I'll be having a nice chat with Seto about her fun and games." Washu's exasperated voice speaks out from the computer he is working on. A deep sigh comes from her and then a low growl at this continued affront and subterfuge. Gohan replies in affirmation of her order.

The pink haired scientist glowers at her wall of monitors. New Namek is a planet of specific interest for its dragonballs and as such under constant observation by herself. Seto is making too much of a habit of making moves when she is sleeping and unaware – not that she knows how Seto can predict her random sleeping pattern. She has images of Porunga. The dragon is being summoned far away from any Namek tribal villages and so she can rule out any involvement of the locals in this. Seto has many elite units at her disposal, and not all of them of Juraian origin, and they could have located all the dragonballs for her if and only if Seto somehow got her hands on a dragonball radar. Washu has copies of the plans and can manufacture them. Seto cannot to her knowledge.

Seto's ship Mikagami is shaped like a ring with an inner halo within it attached at the fore of the ship. A light wood, like the rest of the ship, makes up the front half of the halo with the aft section a darker wood. The large and fluted wooden ring has two small purple coloured fin-like wings on its port and starboard. A small bow in comparison to the diameter of the ring shape sticks out at the fore of the ship decorated with darker wood at the tips. One small oval loop hangs at an angle beneath the bow with several detached wooden prongs hovering around it. Sat at the back of the bow and before the empty space of the ring is the bio-dome containing the royal tree and the controls. Washu knows the power of this dreadnought. Seto's ship is a flagship almost equal to that of the Emperor's and when it moves it is noticed. This is an action taken in the open. Seto wants to be seen.

With the power of her ship and its Light Hawk Wings she could have easily destroyed Porunga, Seto has not done this and the dragonballs scattered. Seto cares for her family but is not sentimental enough to waste such all powerful wishes on bringing back the dead relatives and friends she has. The living Saiyans are outside the limit of power of Porunga so wishes against them would fail. Washu strokes her chin and wonders if a wish about Kagato would work. Seto's wishes could be anything. Immortality, immortality of her family members, knowledge, a rare item she desires, or it could all be some simple test of hers to see how the dragonballs work and take them out the equation so they are inert for Kagato.

However, this action also represents a hostile motion of the Juraian Empire against the neutral Namekians. Lady Seto is a Juraian politician and she has no right to enter that territory or steal and use their possessions. There is no mistaking her Mikagami. Washu will need to investigate if there were any inside dealings with the Namekians by Seto herself to secure the dragonballs and gain some deal. She leans her head back against the sturdy chest of Yamcha stood behind her. Washu asks him about the most random dragonball wish he knows of. Yamcha smiles and responds that it was a wish for girls underwear by the pig Oolong. Washu does not think that Seto would do the same, though it cannot be entirely ruled out.

Washu has Gohan and many millions of computers working on checking the state of the universe to see if they can notice what has changed or been wished for. She opens up an encrypted messenger and hesitates. The scientist does not want to go pleading to Seto of all people to tell her what she has wished for. Either Seto will inform her or her questions will be pointless. Washu changes the recipient to Funaho. A stern question is posed as to how Seto escaped their vigil and escaped to make wishes on the dragonballs. A few minutes pass as an impatient Washu follows up how the computers are faring in their task when a reply notification sounds.

'Good morning, Sister Misaki got distracted by dealings with Yosho, she slipped away. Missy mentioned something but can you explain these dragonballs properly to me, and how Lady Seto has utilised them?'

Funaho has been woken up by this message but Washu gets the picture. Misaki is strong and fast but a weak chain when it comes to espionage as her emotions make her susceptible to distraction. Washu stands up and goes to get ready for this fun filled day and tells Yamcha to reply to Funaho as he knows about the dragonballs. A poke on her shoulder gets her attention as Yamcha calmly says to her that she has changed age again. The scientist solemnly closes her eyes and rests her head against him. In her sleep she cannot stop her subconscious altering her age, she wants to perfect control in this. Now she is 3 years younger than she is supposed to be. Washu ages herself back to her physical prime and goes off.

During his conversation with the first wife of the Juraian Emperor Yamcha discloses the basic information of Shenron and Porunga, the abilities they posses, the time limits imposed between wishes and the many calamities caused due to the want for their power. Funaho is respectful and offers her sympathies in regards to his own personal dealings with resurrection. There are large pauses between her queries as she takes in this game changing information and alerts her husband sleeping beside her of this, Misaki can remain sleeping as she already should know of this. Funaho then tells Yamcha to inform Washu that the frigate controlled by Seto's husband also left its dock shortly after Lady Seto took her leave. Its direction was not the same as that of his wife. They have access to the ship logs for their fleet and especially of those of high power within Juraian politics and his meandering route has been far and wide. She shall inform him further once she is up to date with his motions throughout the night leading up to Seto's use of the dragonballs. Yamcha thanks her for this.

Flight is used by Ayeka to ease her back onto her feet for any action bending her midriff is causing her pain. Vegeta's straight and repeated jab to her gut has not been thwarted. Her eyes close in a grimace. The arsenal of tricks and techniques at her prince's disposal is so great compared to her meagre shield and guardian logs. Vegeta nods at her and clenches that same fist again. Ayeka shifts her weight onto her other foot and as Vegeta watches and changes his mind he sees her start to think and move her hands to cover her left hand side. Vegeta lowers his fist. He claps once.

"And there we have the first success." He states with no pride or encouragement.

"... A success? But-but I have only just stood back up." Ayeka is confused by his statement contradicting the original goal he set out. She knows better now than to lower her guard in his presence and stays defensive. Her eyes glance behind her just in case.

"You looked behind you then and made those other motions for what reason? You are far from knowing my strategies or predicting my simple moves currently and you are looking at places I am very deliberately thinking on attacking. It is not conscious on your part yet it is a start, and your ki is flowing better through your body now you've had this little warm up."

"Vegeta, are you suggesting that I-I am sensing your motives and ki?"

"I would not go so far, more that you are aware of them then properly sensing. Of course this is with me being very open, slow and methodical in purposefully thinking my attacks for far longer than necessary to trigger this response. It only took over 2 hours for basic survival instincts to kick in." He steadily walks up to her with no congratulation over this feat. Counting in his head he surreptitiously rests his tail against her leg and Instant Transmissions both of them so she is back on the floor before 10 seconds are up. "Since I want you to still be alive come nightfall this training is far easier on you than it has any right to be. Your turn. You try and land a hit on me."

Ayeka allows herself 2 seconds on the floor to breathe and she then hovers and rotates her body into an upright position. He says it has only been 2 hours. She has not been allowed to stay stood up for close to 10 seconds at a time, it has felt far longer for herself. He speaks as if he is being merciful, kind and gentle to her with this regime and it is far from it in her eyes. Striking him is not going to be an easy task. If her reactions then were due to subliminal glimpses of ki then her opponent will read her like a book before she even knows what she is doing. Ayeka springs forwards with a kick. Albeit he is far better than her as a fighter she does hold a minimal reach advantage in her legs. The heavy bruising in her stomach blurs her vision as she lifts her leg to kick. An intercepting elbow slams into her ankle and jars her leg, reverberations of the impact tearing at her wounded stomach, and sending her off balance. He lunges down low and sweeps her other leg whilst charging a blast with a hand to fire above her so she has to move down to the ground to avoid it. A blue shield appears to deflect the blast as she catches herself with flight in the air. She goes to fly higher from the ground within her protection when she finds herself within Vegeta's protection – he casts a violet shield surrounding her own. Ayeka cannot move free of it. A second purple shield shimmers into existence within her own and begins to contract around her. Ayeka forfeits her own shield to try and escape and as she does Vegeta's shields also dissipate and his body is waiting to pin her down on the ground.

With a grunt Ayeka hits into the floor with her prince atop her. He sits atop her hip joint so her legs can not worm free to kick his back with his tail wrapped about them constricting them further and both of his hands imprison her wrists. For a second she struggles and then she freezes. Completely stock still she lays there with her eyes wide in alarm. Patches of rose burn through the grey of her cheeks. Wild and frantic thrashing begins. A high pitched scream erupts from her throat. Blasts of blue rain out of her hands to try and hit at Vegeta. A partial shield tries to emerge and separate her from him. Vegeta remains locking her motions as his own protective shield dispels her blasts. She bucks and writhes with more energy and ferocity than she should have after the punishment he has dished out to her. Cornered and afraid she knows of only one tactic to work. Like a coiled viper she strikes and whilst shrieking tries to bite at his neck or collar. A ki manacle now ties her left hand to the tiles and his right hand holds her back before her teeth can draw his blood. Ayeka's desperate screams now become coherent as she manages to screech the order for him to release her. He does so since he has her in a lock and that sparring match is his win.

Her nails scratch at the tiles as she claws back from him and the now dispelled manacle frees her. Ayeka only stops once she hits a wall and then defensively tucks her knees up covering herself with her back against the wall and her red eyes glower death out at the confused prince. Vegeta stands and she warily eyes him with fear and anger.

"You do not suffer Ryoko's fear of bondage so what gives?" Vegeta bluntly questions her actions.

"Filth. Pervert. Scum. Animal..." Ayeka mutters and mumbles insults directed at this prince.

Red slices and arcs at the position Vegeta is standing. He nimbly teleports and dodges with the slashing red blade hounding his movements persistently. Two burning crimson lances create a dervish of plasma surrounding the prince. Golden eyes burn behind the blades.

"The fuck you doin' here Vegey? Hurting more women are we?" A menacing growl comes from the freshly woken rogue. Untamed hair billowing around her as she attempts to smite the man recreating her pain on another. Ryoko's swords dance ever closer to his flesh.

Vegeta has an issue. This multi-form is appropriate for training with Ayeka and thus is equal to her power level. Ryoko holds quadruple the power of Ayeka currently. This in turn means her speed and raw strength is in great excess of his own. On top of that he can make no aggressive motion against her or block an attack in anyway that touches her skin. Both can teleport so he gains no advantage utilising Instant Transmission. The Saiyan Prince dodges and weaves her twin rods of energy as Ryoko's movements only get more alert with her waking up. Even so he remains untouched.

Reprieve is given as Ryoko's arcing aerial motions come to a halt. She instantly disengages and lands and starts sorting out the red lace underwear that her fluid motions were beginning to relieve her of. Ryoko shall not be accidentally undressing before Vegeta. All tucked back in and secure she summons and levels a single sword to the Saiyan as her predatory eyes look to the princess. She loudly clears her throat and tilts her head at Vegeta for an explanation as to why she was awoken by the panicked screams of a princess. All the Saiyan does in response is pass the buck and look to Ayeka for her reasoning as to her sudden strong reaction.

"... Pervert. Y-you – t-touched me. I-it touched me." Ayeka hisses with malice.

The sword from Ryoko begins to point at a different victim. She did not want to wake up for this nonsense. Vegeta stands there and rubs underneath his tired eyes as he sighs.

"Two days you had to think on this. How on Earth did you not consider the physical intimacy that is required when sparring or training? What fantasy are you in where you thought no 'inappropriate' touching would occur?" A deep growl comes from the Saiyan warrior. She took his training lightly. This is not proving to him she properly thought out this request and decision.

"I goddamn thought her fantasy was for this damn thing to happen. You woke me up for this? For this! We shout at you for days not to be this idiot and train with my Vegey, and even with him flashing his dick around in my face you somehow forget its existence. Fuck off princess." Grouchy at the early morning and how little sleep she has had Ryoko fumes at the naïve princess' excuse.

During the submission hold her groin felt a bulge pressing down on it. Her mind instantly entered panic mode. Vegeta on top of her, being powerless and unable to escape, with an unexpected intimacy thrust upon her. Ayeka growls at the two mocking her and making light of her plight.

"This is … is my date Ryoko, l-leave."

The woman stretching and yawning in just her red underwear continues to do so as Ayeka grumbles and sulks. She teasingly asks Vegeta if she can have breakfast in bed and he shakes his head saying there is no breakfast until Ayeka manages to stay stood up in a spar with him for at least 10 seconds. Ryoko makes a disinterested noise and leers at Ayeka and mockingly scolds her for being rude and waking people up. On a happier note she looks across to Vegeta and says she is off to see his shiny and light giving self. Ryoko vanishes seeking his Super Saiyan 3 form's radiance.

"Your want is for training akin to mine. No holds barred, to experience what I do daily. I shall not hold back in any physicality." Vegeta clearly states that his method of training shall not be altered due to her reluctances.

"... W-we shall do normal exercises now."

"Ayeka, listen to me. Training utilises the entire body and the mind has to be synchronised with all of the body, no exceptions. Erogenous zones are highly sensitive, sensitive means they are strong sources of pain and useful weak spots to use in a fight. There are no rules in fighting, no handicaps. Get up and try and hit me."

"Y-you dodged all of Ryoko. My actions are futile if she failed."

"Ayeka-"

"I will not have that lewdness touching me!"

"You shall be touched and hit however I see fit. If you do not wish to be touched then fight so that it does not happen. Stop me."

The Saiyan stands there resolute. She shall train the same way he does or not at all. Her date idea was not to have a fun gym session, her idea was for him to train her as he does himself. Compromises do not exist in how he trains. He reminds her that no food nor escape shall be available to her until she achieves her goal. Ayeka shakes her head at him. She is a princess and not someone to be ordered about and imprisoned by a deviant. He steps towards her and a shield appears surrounding her. Vegeta spawns a fine needle of ki and slowly inserts it through the shield. He then hammers a fist onto his penetrating needle and shatters the shield.

"You are reticent, I understand, I just recreated the event that ended your first date with a new intimacy and these dates spawn from your want of my redemption over that chapter. I cannot help what you asked for. This is it. My training. Whether it is to your satisfaction or not does not effect what it is. Tell me why you did not anticipate this?" Vegeta stands over her, arms crossed looking down on the scared girl.

She stands up. Ayeka takes two steps to the side away from him.

"You should hold respect for me. Respect enough to-to never force such debase and horrid and vile things on me. Above all else I am a Princess of Jurai. Training does not have to include indecencies." Ayeka shakes her head stubbornly refusing him pinning the blame on her innocent mindset.

"... My respect for you as a woman holds no worth within these walls. Here it is my respect for you as a warrior. You think that after 2 hours this being the first touch is sheer luck? This is training, I am fighting in a way so that you can continue and strive against me, strive against your weaknesses. One by one I highlight an issue, with force, until it is corrected and you are bettered."

"My cultural beliefs are not a weakness you shall ever iron out through physically assaulting me. My mindset around your deviance will not be altered. H-hitting areas you know far better than to will only serve to disrupt this training than to further it. Cease and desist." A purple haired maiden is unmoving in her stance towards Vegeta. There is no training that will change her mind.

"Come then. Prove it. Strike me. Fists talk in here." He readies himself into a stance and takes those fighting words as a challenge, goading her into continuing their training.

"And what confidence can I hold that my strikes will not be met by groping hands or -or your nether regions?" Ayeka is no fool to be lead on by simple challenges. She raises an accusatory eyebrow at this prince. She will not charge straight in to have to exact same outcome.

He smugly grins at her. He will not speak any such reassurance to her. Her stern gaze stays warily on him in case he advances on her. In response to him readying himself for combat she turns her back on him and crosses her arms. There is no discussion to be had here and no want for her to approach her prince if he will misbehave. Her stomach rumbles in conspiracy against her and aches. She fails to hear his floating movements closer to her. One sharp prod and she collapses like a sack of potatoes and squawks in pain.

"Why would I need to touch you in such a way? You are a beautiful woman but your vanity knows little bounds if you think I will not be able to control myself in touching you in such a way." 9 seconds there and it was getting dangerous. A nerve cluster near the base of her spine has done its job. He lets out one bark of laughter. "Unless all you can think of in this is touching me in this training. I told you before, princess, behave yourself."

Flying over the mountains is a multi-form of Gohan. It takes him little time to arrive at his family home on Mount Paozu. He has a mission. Landing down where he was raised he senses about to confirm who is about. He knocks as he walks into the small homestead. His grandfather is in the kitchen washing up and cleaning, they greet each other and the Ox-King states where his parents are even though he does not need to. Gohan stands outside his parent's room and sends a telepathic message to his dad. Goku silently opens the door and tiptoes out.

"Chichi's sleeping so we're gonna have to be quiet. Is this about her still being unwell?" Goku whispers and creeps further away from the room. This multi-form of himself is tasked with looking after his wife and this brief respite when she gets some rest is welcome.

At this Gohan shows some concern and asks about how his mother is doing. The symptoms so far seem the same as before. It is curious that there have been no new developments so it should not be worsening but for there to be no apparent healing is odd. Gohan says it would be wise to see Washu about this and Goku nods and responds that Chichi is being herself and is not budging an inch on seeking medical help, or at least to not take the heart virus medication in case that is causing side effects in her. Gohan pulls out his mobile phone and quickly texts a message to his boss, Washu, probing the question of what could possibly be up with his mother. Now he gets on with the reason he visited.

"Dad, we'll see what Washu says but we've got an issue. Someone used the Namekian dragonballs. We know who, it is a high level Juraian politician, Lady Seto the grandmother of Ayeka living with Vegeta. Somehow she gathered them all without a radar, and we're trying to work out what she wished for. Can you use Instant Transmission to take me there to investigate?"

Goku nods eagerly and starts sensing far out into the cosmos for where he picked Dende up to be Earth's guardian. It takes a while to pinpoint it and then with two fingers on his head he reaches out a hand to his son and they disappear from the planet. Several seconds later a new multi-form of Goku sheepishly tiptoes into where his wife is and checks on how soundly she is sleeping. Her ki is a complete mess for him to sense. No matter what she says he will get her to see Washu by tomorrow at the latest.

Birdsong is a pleasant tune for her to listen to as she works. The breeze cools her wet hands. Listening to the sounds of nature she is content in having time to practise her trade and perform some small courtesy on where she is imposing. Trunks is far away, Vegeta is far away, most powers she sense are out of range except for the hint of Ryuoh. She reaches out with her hands and gently teases over her partial creation to get a feel of how it is progressing and where she next needs to work on. Kaia wets her clay to keep it malleable and moulds her medium with a steady grace. In her mind she keeps a vivid image of her subject matter and smooths at the clay to mimic the texture she remembers. Working on the image of a person she has only one issue that she cannot complete and that is the eyes of the person. People are not of the want for her to touch them, she cannot make any details out with her gloves except of their existence and so eyes on her works are always blank orbs.

Her attuned hearing picks up the sound of heavy footsteps along the grass. This is curious. Their gait is not the same as Kiyone's, Mihoshi's, Washu's or Ayeka's, Ryoko flies, the others she can sense and Ryo-Ohki most certainly does not walk like that. This is strange. She turns her head to the direction of the footsteps and questions who is approaching her – one gloveless palm facing out from habit. He gruffly states his name. Kaia pauses and frowns underneath her blindfold.

"Since you are here where is Ayeka?" Straight to the point she anxiously questions him on the whereabouts of the friend she has failed to dissuade.

"Her stamina wore out and then her adrenaline wore off and so now she's blacked out on the training room floor."

"On the floor? Why have you not moved her to her bed to properly rest?" Kaia is firmly against Ayeka training with Vegeta and this revelation is angering her. The Princess of Jurai, her kind friend is not some peasant to be left unconscious where they fall after being beaten up.

"Am I hearing a weakling speak out against how I train? You would do best not to raise your voice to me, she is the fool who wanted a mimicry of how I train. If I black out then that is where I fall, so she receives the same."

"Can you assure me that she is only exhausted and did not pass out due to any cruel injuries you gave to her?" A hint of fear enters her voice as this strange Vegeta she cannot sense the ki of threatens her aggressive querying.

"I hardly see injuries she asks for as cruel. You truly are oblivious to how basic exercise works. Training is to get stronger, that does not happen when unconscious so I would not intentionally knock her out." Another insult comes her way at the expense of her frail body. The overbearing prince talks down to her and is dismissive of her rightful worries. A small sound in the background goes unnoticed by Kaia."It seems that although you have been a great boon to Ryoko's mental health her rebellious attitude is rubbing off somewhat on you. Is this sculpture one of your boons to win the affection of the beauty surpassing Jurai? You'll need to flirt better than that to supplant what I do with her."

This ki she does know. She hears her now. Kaia blushes. A very happy Ryoko has teleported into the scene. The air disturbances she hears are probably the excited wagging of Ryoko's faux tail at this shameless flattery. Even if these two are at an understanding on their position with their actions it is incredibly awkward for Kaia at Vegeta voicing this and her being here with both Vegeta and Ryoko present. A pleased humming comes from Ryoko as she hovers about closer to herself. Cold clay is poked playfully against her nose.

"So, Vegey, as the resident expert here how well has she captured the shape of my tits?" Harsh cackles come from Ryoko at this teasing of both parties. The cackle turns low and the voice moves further from Kaia. "And you dare say that word on the tip of your tongue and I'll leave you knocked out with Ayeka, darling."

"The shape is what they should be. Now, since I've drawn you out, mind explaining to me the clothes that this blind woman is wearing?" Danger enters the tone of Vegeta.

Kaia listens. These are clothes that again Ryoko has offered to her to wear. They probably have a few unavoidable splashes of dirty water and smears of clay due to her work. From what she could tell donning them they did not feel ornate or something that could not handle simple stains. Trousers are not clothing she is accustomed to. Buttons on outfits are objects she avoids and had difficulty with. The top and cardigan are covered with an apron – meant for cooking not craft – and for Vegeta taking an interest in her clothing is disconcerting.

"You did say I could have them. So I lent them to her as she don't have no clothes. I know they're a bit short on here but hell I can't wear them so she gets to use them." A challenging tone meets Vegeta's question. Ryoko hovers about in circles. Her hands rest on Kaia's shoulders possessively.

Red hair slides across her face as Ryoko messes with her hair. Kaia is unsure of what argument she has been thrust in the middle of. She faces to where this weak low ki Vegeta is and asks him what is wrong with her clothes. A huff comes from him.

" … Ryoko is playing her games. She- … Those are my late wife's clothes." There is resignation in his growl.

She shudders. Kaia rises and stands, brushing off Ryoko's touch. With humility she bows deeply to Prince Vegeta for this transgression. She apologises for how she was taken advantage of to cause him harm. Kaia then states that she shall immediately go and get changed into whatever else is available. Without issue she begins walking off back towards the house with no stick or gloves for she has memorised this path. She feels Ryoko hovering near telling her to stay. Kaia halts.

"What is this? … This you trick me into doing? What is all this? You flirt and toy with me and then go and dress me up like a doll in your fiancée's late wife's clothing with no respect. What does that say? What message am I in your relationship to him?" She is angry. She has been used and her blindness used against her. This is a foul prank to pull on someone.

"No, Kai-Kai this was for Trunks. Think, he wasn't mad and that was that."

"So you want to weaponise me against a child instead now? I do not know if I trust you enough to be in charge of my care post-op. Why would you not inform me of this? Is your racism towards Jurai not allowing you to disclose simple information as you put me in the clothing of the deceased?"

" … My son did not say anything or react to it?" A gravelly voice curiously questions, interrupting Kaia's anger.

The lady of Jurai stops and pauses. She can sense the emotions of strong ki users like Trunks and even so she did not notice anything was amiss until Vegeta actually questioned her on it. Her head shakes and she responds that he said nothing to her and carried on his way with no ill emotions towards her. Kaia then bows again in apology to any harm she may have caused his son. A hand starts touching her own. She pulls back away from Ryoko but her fingers find her way and she holds onto her hand.

"Y'see Kai-Kai it worked. You wouldn't've worn it if I said 'cos you're super nice, so a small trick for this. … Look Kai-Kai I have no clue what I'm doing most the time, but … b-b-but I got a damn big situation going on. I've made promises with Vegeta. … Fuck if it's something I can do, but I'm gonna have to be a step-m-mo- a parent to Trunks. I need to see where he's at. Vegeta ain't the best example to follow but I got little else to work with on how this shebang works."

The hand grips tighter. Kaia can hear Ryoko's reason. More importantly she can sense her reason and emotions through her clasped hand. Some form of proactive behaviour towards Trunks to ascertain her own position with the child. It is a stupid idea on her part and there is little reason she sees why a conversation would not work – if Trunks is not open to talking with her then that is a more pressing concern for Ryoko to address and gain his trust. She calls Ryoko an idiot.

"You need not change. Get back to your work. If you ever want to question Ryoko's behaviour then to the left of your own work is the Ryoko I made." The Saiyan stays where he is as he excuses Ryoko's strange but well intended actions. He will not dissuade her from acting as best she can, any action is better than inaction in his books, and he knows her fears around maternity.

Kaia feels Ryoko's hand tighten again, becoming painful. She dare not go against Vegeta, which is good for she does not have anything else to change into. Slowly she walks back to where she was working by the lake and Ryoko lets go and flies about close to her. Tentative her hands reach down to her work. It is unchanged. To the left she carefully glides her hand to the side so as not to knock anything over. She feels more clay.

In a short amount of time his great speed has replicated her work to a lesser degree. Many of the fine details are gone. This full body miniature of Ryoko is better than most amateurs could accomplish. The clay is hard, brittle and dry. His speed has heated it. There is terrible wear to the material, it crumbles. An arm is missing from this statue. Kaia's fingers stop. A jagged crack splits through the sculpture at its back. Heat pools from a ring about the neck. Part of an ear is missing. Indents, cuts, cracks, wear and tear dot her top half. The outfit on her front is torn and ripped. Then an odd section occurs underneath. Around her abdomen and groin lie no details or anything. There are no cuts or scars or parts of clothing. This part of Ryoko is barren. One wrong move with this mishandled clay would destroy the sculpture.

Particles fly and debris hits against her. Great heat is coming from near her delicate hands and she retracts them. There is some form of ki there. That hastily constructed replica of an abused Ryoko is gone. The ki vanishes and then hands take hers and lead her back to her work. Ryoko is silent. Kaia suspects she is being watched for a reaction. In a bath she has already felt that wound on her back. Small shards of the ruined sculpture poke and pierce at her incomplete work. She delicately begins to remove them.

"You always speak of healing fast and boasting of your regeneration. It would be mana from Tsunami for my constitution and body. Ryoko, a broken bone can mend itself into a warped mess if not cast and set. Do not prioritise healing quickly. Heal properly. Take your time. Then you might be less likely to be a fool."

"Ya have to heal properly too. Or you don't get my singing again." Ryoko repays her kindness. "And Vegey, when you finish this date with Ayeka- whenever that lazy princess wakes up – then it becomes free game for me. My turn. Wedding dress for me."

"After my training Ayeka should be equal to half your current power, and somewhat competent at defending herself. You toyed with her too much when you fought her, not that your basic brawling is that much to talk about. She actually believed she had some modicum of skill. Her mother landed one blow on me. She has to do the same."

"At least I'm independent enough I trained myself and don't need you holding my hand for it. I've got a precious Kai-Kai now to protect so I have to be strong now." Ryoko hugs her friend.

"Woman, if you manage to keep Ryoko in line and well then when I do become the ruler of the universe I shall remember your name for erecting statues in my honour."

Kaia listens to his footsteps become quieter as he walks away. She supposes that in some way she must have earned his respect for him to make that request for her. Kaia then playfully jokes that she needs to make her sculpture of Ryoko sillier to reflect the fool it is based off, and maybe give her some strange clothing to match. A reply is given by a wet finger with clay on its tip drawing a love heart on her cheek. Ryoko flies and hovers in the air about her. After these few days Kaia's ki sensing has improved and so Ryoko is on the cusp of being detectable by her. Ryoko then says that if she is jealous about Vegeta getting a date with her she will say yes if she is ever asked. Kaia blushes. She picks up some small pieces of clay and sticks them on the end of the sculpture of Ryoko's ears making them ridiculously long and sticks her tongue out.

Half an hour passes with Ayeka still firmly conked out on the floor of the training room. Vegeta stands over her limp body perusing through a tablet device he borrowed from Washu's laboratory following a conversation with her. Things have occurred it seems and he has matters to think on. The summoning of Porunga is not to be taken lightly. A wildcard like Seto could wish for anything. Goku and Gohan are investigating on the scene at the moment and Washu's analysis has only covered 2% of her servers – there is a lot of data for her to go through. He scrolls through details on Seto to see if he can devise any of her motives, he looks at possible areas of interest or facts pertaining to his hidden foe Kagato.

Resurrection is the normal wish from the dragonballs. Summoning a Juraian back from the dead will have little impact. With her husband missing in action he guesses that whatever wishes she made would occur in a different part of space she needed a partner in crime for. Resurrection fits the bill here due to the check-in station nature of death. If she brought someone back to life then finding where her husband was at that time would allow easy inference. Unless this is a ruse to distract. Whatever she does, Vegeta shall overcome it like the appearance of Kaia.

His stomach rumbles. At this time of day he could go for some lunch. However, neither he nor Ayeka have even had breakfast yet. The goal set has not been reached and so he bars himself with the same discipline he bars her. With his boot he prods at her leg and receives little reaction. A princess from a luxurious background has little experience with real exhaustion. She has managed to grasp her mother's use of partial shields yet Vegeta is wise to this trick and it will not allow her to sneak a blow past his guard.

Ryoko saunters into his training room to meet him. The prone form of Ayeka is a good source of entertainment for her and she is quick to move in on her prey and begin poking at her. Murmurs come from the princess. The rogue looks up to Vegeta and the tablet, her head cocking to one side in question. He summarises the situation to her. Ryoko's racist mistrust in Juraians is only exemplified by Seto's actions, though if this turns out like Kaia's arrival then she will be thankful. She reaches up and grabs at the tablet from him and within a few seconds gets bored with it.

"Hey Vegey, you ain't mad at all about Kaia's clothes are you?" She queries.

"You would not be my fiancé if you did not cause me aggravation. I know of your strong stance on my grief. Push harder. This … it is disappointing to me really how little reaction I have. I'm angrier at myself than you." An answer is given by the Saiyan. He exhales loudly as he reveals this. "How are you and my son faring with the continued sleeping arrangement?"

She pokes again at Ayeka to stall for time. This time she gets a reaction. Purple brows furrow as Ryoko prods at her stomach. Ryoko does it again and some movement comes from the fingers of Ayeka. She looks up and Vegeta watches. The pirate then unceremoniously hoists up the top of the unconscious Ayeka to show off her midriff. A large and very dark bruise the same size of Vegeta's fist is on her torso. Several seconds pass as Ryoko debates in her mind whether she should do this or not. Ryoko stretches out the fingers of her right hand, an evil grin lighting her face. Her sadism has not been sated for a while. She slaps the bruise with her whole hand. A red imprint now stamped on top of the hideous bruise. At this Ayeka moves a lot, recoiling in pain and starting awake with a scream through gritted teeth. A reflexive knee drives up towards her attacker that Ryoko narrowly dodges.

"I'd really prefer to sleep with you there with me, Vegey. I-I just can't talk, y'know, about all this with him. He's a kid. I wake up from a terror and can't exactly talk to him about my fears of when daddy was trying to stick it in me. He's an alright brat though apart from that. Less moody than you for the most. I like your light better though, your ki." She stands up away from Ayeka and faces Vegeta. Ryoko will abide this decision but her opinion is clear on whom she would rather spend the night with.

Vegeta nods. It is understandable that the comfort and aid his pre-teen son can give is limited to her. He picks up the tablet that she became bored with. Ryoko goes on to explain that later today Kaia is going to be having her ears operated on so that she will be busy looking after her and will not be able to get in the way with him punching Ayeka. The Saiyan Prince half listens as he navigates through the menus of the tablet to find what he is after.

"So far you have shown your mind to me 2 times. Not today so far for I know what you expect. Yesterday I did notice your attempted subterfuge. You cannot properly fake memories or experiences to pass to me or consciously modify them. That was a test on your part and it is obvious as to for what. … When I was getting answers from Washu about the goings on I asked her for one particular answer." Vegeta explains and hands over the tablet to Ryoko with a particular document open.

Ryoko curiously takes it. She has shown specific memories to Vegeta and her emotions for both him and her to understand them better. As to what answer Washu could have concerning what she has shown him she cannot help but wonder. This page shown on the tablet is an old news site. She remembers it vaguely. This is the main news channel from the planet she grew up on. The part Vegeta has scrolled and highlighted is a section far down underneath segments on the war. Ryoko sees a mugshot of herself and photos of her last time seeing the light for a long time as she is led towards the dungeon she rotted in. This is an article from the day she was sentenced surrounding her crime and punishment. Then she sees another picture and growls, there is the Juraian who sold her out for her bounty. Her growl stops. She reads the translated caption underneath.

'Man found dead in apartment having committed suicide following sentencing of criminal partner.'

She reads that line again. Then another time. Her head shakes. Ryoko always suspected her childhood friend died and the most probable cause being the invasion of Frieza's forces which aided her escape. He died long before that. She keeps shaking her head. This does not make sense. He sold her out. He betrayed her. He had her wasting decades in the dark in pain. He gave her this scar on her back. He died for her. He killed himself because of her. He took the bounty and never spent a penny of it.

Going on in silence as she reads the full article she finds little details on his death as the majority is propaganda trying to promote order in the frontier world. A gnarled finger reaches across and presses a button to step ahead to the next document. This article is from several days later. With no family or relatives they have no cause for anonymising this miscreant found dead. They name and shame the suicide victim. They list his crimes and segue into the punishment given to his partner. Evidence and an incriminating suicide note is found following a thorough investigation of the crime scene. Links to a prominent criminal syndicate are noted, blackmail is found as are many blatant threats towards himself and his accomplice. He was being pressured under fear of death to stop their activities on the syndicate's turf, to pay up reparations or to face punishment. A deleted email is found on a hard drive ordering him to set up Ryoko with full details of the plan that got her arrested to take her off the scene if he agrees to quietly leave their territory. The alternative to the plan is stated: he does this or they both die gruesome deaths. A plethora of damning evidence on locations and people is found revealing several members of the syndicate through the dead man's work, all of it attached at the bottom of his suicide note entitled: 'For the Devil Caller'.

The tablet drops to the floor. A groggy and in pain Ayeka barely moves with her body seized up from fatigue and overwork. Ryoko's legs shake like leaves in the wind. For almost a century she has held onto this grudge, this singular hatred of him, of the one whom betrayed her. He suffered his fate the same day she did. He killed himself because of what he did to her. Actions he took to spare both of their lives from a hit squad ending their crime spree. She damned his existence and hated him for an act he took to save her life that he committed suicide over. Ryoko has no clue what to do with this misplaced hate. She does not know what to do with this news.

"There is the truth, Ryoko. That focal point of the emotions you showed me, the answers are there. That is where that loose end ties off. I stopped Washu from finding more, but if you want then she could trace your parents. Go to Kaia. You both need each other and I have training to do. Come to me once her operation is a success and … you shall see what I have to offer, Devil Caller."

A muted and confused thanks comes from Ryoko as she morosely flies out of the room. He took decades out of her life. He then took all the remaining years of his own life and spilt it over his guilt for how he saved her. Never did he speak a word of that syndicate to her. His final writing is probably the last time she was ever called by her street name of Devil Caller, his last moments were thinking of her as she spent those seconds damning his existence and wishing him the death he was embracing. Ryoko teleports off to Kaia. Vegeta absently kicks the tablet out of the training room along with her. He looks down at the struggling princess.

"And that might help with Ryoko's attitude towards Juraians. Are you going to writhe like a worm all day or learn to stand? You have ki, use it. Hurry, I do want to eat sometime today." His kindness is not given to the one still subject to his training.

Struggles come from Ayeka as she fights against her own muscles to get them to move. Again she is prompted by Vegeta to use ki to clear out and restore her muscles, but she does not know how. Sitting up she notices the state of her top following Ryoko's painful antics and hurriedly begins to sort it out with her body complaining with every motion. Ayeka finally gets to her feet. With his disciple now ready as she can be Vegeta goes up to the main console and activates it with Ayeka bracing herself. With his trip to Washu he also got her to deactivate the video function with Goku's twin training room so that this is not broadcast. They have their privacy. A large open plain appears around them. No gravity is initialised.

In the far off distance is a lone peak, noticeable only just on the horizon, and Vegeta points at it and states that it is Ayeka's destination. The order is barked to the woman struggling to stay standing to run as fast as she can to reach it. Dread fills her. That is several miles. He wants her to sprint several miles. The sparring and attacking has stopped but even so her legs are lead and pangs of hunger grip her wounded stomach. The Saiyan has already started running, sprinting off as fast as he can with seemingly no care for pace. His back is shrinking. She puts her left foot forward. Then her right. Ayeka starts a lurching run to catch up to Vegeta. A couple hundred metres in and this becomes a jog. A kilometre later pants explode from her heaving chest as her feet fail to move and she collapses to her knees in exhaustion. Vegeta has not been in sight for a long time now. She inhales and exhales sharp and deep to try and catch her breath, even her arms are shaking now, and the pain of lactic acid build up is not leaving her. There is no energy left in her to give. Raising her head up she cannot tell if the mountain is any closer than when she started.

An unladylike sweat glistens off her grey skin and sticks her fringe to her face. The pain of her stomach does not fade. Not moving her legs the joints begin to lock in place. She is hungry. She is thirsty. She is fatigued. There is no ki left for her to even levitate herself. With a push she leans back on her knees. Ayeka topples when she goes to lift a leg. Her red eyes look off to the unreachable goal of the mountain. She raises a hand to it. Her hand comes down on the grass and pulls. She reaches out again and her hand touches a boot.

"... Vegeta? You're already back?" She hoarsely croaks out.

"You are not running." His stern voice sounds from above her. "Get up, keep going."

Her head cannot turn, cannot lift, she cannot face up to see this man whose physical superiority to hers has never been in question. All she can see are his boots. She retracts her hand from his shoe and lies on the ground. He might want for her to continue yet she cannot stand and so she cannot run. There has been no recovery period, no rest, he cannot expect of her to reach such a far away summit whilst crawling on her hands and knees.

"It's too far. I-I cannot reach that mountain."

"Of course you cannot. It doesn't exist. It's a painted backdrop on the sky. There is no distance you can run to get there. So what are you doing on the floor? Stand and run to get there." Vegeta scoffs at her resignation and coldly states how it was always impossible for her. He tells her to run again. He is not listening to excuses. He is waiting for her to get up and continue.

"I – I am running until I fall then if it cannot be reached. I have fallen. What more can I do?" Since there is no mountain then the journey itself is symbolic and for her that journey is over. She has given her all and here she lies.

"You have fallen once. What more is you can fall again. Is this all that the Princess of Jurai has? Is this the sum of your mother's efforts? One meagre hurdle and you give up? Keep. Running."

" How can I run? I am spent. I am exhausted. There is no more to give. Food! Please Vegeta, let me eat. Let me rest."

"You had close to an hour resting on the floor right before this. Food you can have when you hit me. You will not hit me if you cannot keep up."

"... It's impossible."

"And what of it?"

He shrugs off her complaints. Her mouth hangs open as Ayeka wants to argue back. The princess saves her breath. The impossible means nothing to him. He does not bat an eyelid at a challenge being far greater than himself. For him it is the everyday, it is the norm, it is what he strives for. In training she does not hold that same motivation. She cannot move. Ayeka's body has given all it can. He is of a different mindset to her. Ayeka manages to roll onto her back to look up.

Sweat pours off Vegeta's brow. Laden breaths come from his lips as his chest heaves. He has been sprinting to the best of his ability without stop whilst she jogged and crawled. Here he still stands; indomitable. He ran away from her and he ran back. She looks up at him. Tiredness, fatigue and pain have to exist for his body at the exertion and it is a weakness he will not let show. For him the efforts that have destroyed her are little more than a warm up. Ayeka asks him how long he has been chasing the mountain that does not exist.

"If I set myself an achievable target when training then I will reach it and have to end my training. Actions are only impossible because of the limits you have imposed on your body, on your mind, and a true Saiyan never has a limit. You want to train like me. Now do you see? To train to achieve ultimate power means doing what cannot be done, surpassing what you think you can do. Stand Ayeka. You have one more wind left in you."