Chapter 97

Goku sleepily rubs at his eyes as he lies on the sofa and wakes up to an unusual sense. His wife is asleep on top of him and making no current motion of sickness. The room is dark in the gloom of early morning. He can sense someone else in the room with him. With his tail wrapped about his wife he looks about their front room. Quietly he calls out if Goten is there and gets no response. Goku thinks on this. It is not Goten in this room but someone else and similar enough for him to mistake him. They are close. He cannot see them. Saiyan instincts begin kicking in as his blood pumps and he wakes up. With a gentle pat on his wife he wakes her up and shushes her as he can sense someone with them in the room. Chichi is groggy and confused at this and holds absolute faith in her husband that she is never under any threat with him around.

This time he calls out to Gohan, testing if it is his other son. It is not Gohan and Gohan is not there to answer. Goku is unsure of this and the ki is so close to them. An ill Chichi having relapsed since her bout in the healing tank wakes herself up and sits up on Goku's chest. At this motion Goku senses this hidden person also move. This is peculiar. According to their ki they should be visible to him and all he can see is Chichi. Their ki is familiar yet he has no idea whom it could belong to.

Saiyan ears then hear a faint heartbeat begin.

Such a quiet heartbeat can barely be heard over the near silence of the morning. Chichi is frowning in discomfort and making no signs that it is audible to her. She stands up off her husband and yawns. Goku's eyes follow her as the ki shadows her movements. His wife turns around and smiles down at him and asks if the strange thing he can sense is still there. He gets off the sofa onto his knees before his wife. With reverence in his eyes he looks at her. She tells him he is acting weird. Goku places a hand delicately on his wife's abdomen. His breath catches.

The source of the mystery ki has been found.

Chichi asks what he is doing and that her stomach is still tender to the touch. A smile is curling his lips. She does not know what he is doing acting so strange in the morning. Goku leans forward and as gentle as he can he rests his ear against his wife's abdominals. She squirms and tells him off as she just stated how it is sore to the touch. He does not normally act this way and talking of some stranger in their house is just weird. She is tired and this nonsense is not helping. Only once before can she recall Goku listening to her stomach whilst making such a silly face …

Razor sharp nails grasp into Goku's shoulders. With an anxious and perplexed look down at her husband she wordlessly questions him. His smile widens for her. Goku nods. Black eyes go wide in shock and disbelief. Silently her legs give out, her knees buckle and Chichi lowers herself down to the same level her husband is. He strokes the blonde hair on the back of her head as she embraces him tightly. Bone-crushing strength grips him as he embraces his wife. He hears her quietly weeping tears born of a confused and fearful mirth. A shiver passes through her body as she shakes her head. Goku shushes to calm her.

"It's not … There's no way- … Goku, please can you take me to Washu now." The passionate and fiery Chichi trembles as she asks with a timid voice.

A lot of this is not right. She is terrified for what this means, ecstatic but scared. All the symptoms add up and make sense to her now: mood swings, hunger and morning sickness. Chichi never suffered them this acutely with her previous children. Goku should not be the first to know before her. So many things have changed, especially physically between them as she kneels here in a body the same age as when she first married and her husband's tail wraps about her. She cannot fathom how this is real. Chichi knows this is not natural. She can feel it. She is scared for what this means. Chichi had her period less than two weeks ago.

Reassuring strength from Goku is what she feels and what she needs. One of his hands lets go of her and raises to his head. The two vanish and reappear in the house their eldest son now resides in before teleporting again into the laboratory of Washu.

Washu sleepily rubs her face against the pillow. Intruder proximity alarms are triggering. If not for her intrinsic want to be needed and utilised by people she would be in good mind to switch off the doorways into her realm when she sleeps. Looking over at Yamcha stirring she hopes that Seto has not attempted something else in her slumber. Rolling out of her luxurious bed she stretches and checks the age of her body. Looking back down at her lover she jumps with alarm for the two people stood on the other side of her bed. She hates Saiyans sneaking up on her like that. In the arms of said Saiyan is the most powerful natural woman she knows of trembling like a leaf with eyes imploring her for help – and noted her hair has changed colour since they last met.

One hand from Goku and both of Chichi rest on her stomach. Those eyes and that look she knows. Being a renowned genius has a heavy cost. The adulthood of Washu is stripped from her as she regresses into adolescence. They stand there in naught but their underwear, this is obviously urgent. A phantom pain of Kain's talon tears into Washu. Her emerald eyes flickering to Yamcha for support as he slowly wakes. She is needed. This is her job, her responsibility. Quietly she motions for them to wait outside her room for her to get ready. That faint smile on Chichi's face rips at her very being.

As they leave her bedroom she crawls back onto her bed and on-top of Yamcha, curling up in his warmth. His arms go around her. He does not know what is going on beyond sensing some aberrant ki. The words spill out of Washu as she wails out of grief and envy. This woman has what she is denied, what she has wanted for millennia and seeks her out for help flaunting it in her face. Washu detests it. That wound is too fresh. She surrendered it, her dream and desire, for the greater good and out of a sense of duty and responsibility and those same sentiments are pulling for her to help Chichi. It wounds her deeply.

After the few minutes she allows her personal emotions to hold precedence, Washu gets off Yamcha and her bed, dries her eyes and starts getting dressed. Yamcha's speed has him up and fully clothed before her slower than normal movements. He will be there to help her, and he shall also be there for this wondrous time for his long time friends. Forlorn eyes look at him as she finishes. His stance on this shall not change. This peer pressure he is immune to. Washu nods, hugs him and walks out to consult her early morning patient.

"C-congratulations are in order. When you were last here your blood tests did not show any signs of pregnancy so I take this to be a new development, that and it lines up with what your son has informed me regarding your recent behaviour. … You don't strike me as someone who is usually frightened by this. How can I help?" Washu is professional as she addresses both Goku and Chichi. Pregnancy itself should not be an issue these two seek her out over.

"Please, please help! It shouldn't – there's something wrong. It has to be wrong. I-I can't be, my time of the month was just under two weeks ago now and-a-and he can hear it. That's not right, it doesn't feel right, he shouldn't hear it for a few months." Desperation is clear in her raised voice. Chichi is scared not for herself but for this new life she carries. She is a mother, she knows how these things work and this is not how. She pleads.

"I am assuming that this was not planned. If not, then please inform me of your recent sexual history and contraceptives you've been using. Don't worry, Yamcha has informed me of how human's work and I have good sources of info from Gohan about the biology of hybrids."

Without embarrassment or hesitation Chichi outlines that since her last menstruation there have only been two times; the night before she was made young and last afternoon. They are not currently trying for children and so she has been taking the contraceptive pill to prevent pregnancies like this since she has slight allergic reactions when condoms are used. That is all that Chichi can tell her. The symptoms began after she was made young and so last afternoon cannot be when she became pregnant. Washu rubs at her brow in irritation.

"... Pill? Pill? What is this pill? Chemical composition, dosage, tell me what it is. And that's not good that you lied to me. Not good at all. I asked you last time if you were taking any medication, you said no. This might be a strong factor."

Instant Transmission sends Goku back to his house and back to the lab and he throws across the packet of contraceptives to Washu so she can learn of Earth's drugs. Chichi submissively apologises for misinforming Washu surrounding these pills she did not consider as drugs. She goes and holds onto Goku again now he has returned. Washu reads the ingredient list and cross references the chemical compounds to known reactants in the things she has given to Chichi. Both the youth serum and the heart virus medication have conflicting ingredients that might have tampered with the effects of this pill. This will require analysis. That can come later.

"OK, so something I gave you offset this pill – that or due to the age of these pills they could have been weakening in effectiveness, or your ki had an effect – and so your contraceptive failed. I'll find out the specifics in a bit. First, tell me if you have been regularly taking the heart virus medication and-"

"No, Chichi stopped like three days ago as she worried it might've been making her ill. We did put her in that healing tank you gave us yesterday which perked her up, beyond that she's just been eating enough to feed a Saiyan." Goku answers for his wife.

"Good. It's good you stopped, though that healing tank might have contributed. As you are aware the heart medication contains potent steroids. This was on my part to maintain your health and promote growth and well-being in your cells after I gifted you youth and for the medication to work quickly in a minimal dose. Also, my healing tanks are sometimes too good at healing – take your tail for example – so the undeveloped nature of an embryo could have been aided under the influence of its regenerative properties. … I'll have to do a few tests and check ups to ensure it is developing correctly, and that it is at a natural development speed now. Needless to say refrain from both of these in the near future. Good news at least is you have shaved off a good portion of pregnancy. I could tell you the sex of it if you want, … though … I-I hate to ask but I can abort it if necessary."

A Super Saiyan stands as an answer to that last option. Flames of red burn around Chichi as she defensively clutches at her stomach. Washu raises her hands in defence. It is her clinical duty to provide that possibility to those expecting and even so she cannot carry through with it unless she determines the growth of the unborn child. Goku and his wife simmer down and accept her medical tests. Washu leads them off to a room where she can get a complete scan of Chichi's body and conduct the tests.

"Yo, Goku. Congrats 'n all, but that ki is quite scary, ain't it? I mean, if we're talking heartbeat just starting and it's that strong … Well you Saiyans are just cementing my decision to not be a warrior with that kinda energy." Yamcha talks to his long time friend.

"You're telling me. I thought there was some enemy in my house or that Chichi being young was making her super strong. It is worrying though. She's strong but that baby … well guess I've only got myself to blame. Chichi will be fine. Strange thing is though, with Gohan she didn't act half as strange as now. Every waking minute she wants me next to her and gets frightened if she can't see me. So weird."

"Dude. That's because you can only compare it to Gohan. Think about it, last time she was pregnant you weren't here. Maybe deep down she is scared to death same thing might happen again so what harm is it to keep her company." Yamcha means no insult in what he says but the truth is the truth. "Anyway, could you play it on the low? Me and Washu are having a rough patch around this and she's hurting as all hell. Y'know, no big fireworks and parties or she might just blow up the galaxy."

Goku agrees to his friend's request and shall do his best to reign in Chichi when necessary to avoid causing hurt to Washu and Yamcha. Medical examinations of Chichi begin and are underway as Washu both checks the condition of her fresh pregnancy and how her younger body is faring in general. A few full body scans and several fluid extractions are all Washu requires at the moment as she works in relative silence. Chichi holds onto Goku's hands as this takes place with him reassuring her that he can sense its ki and the baby has to be fine.

With Washu preparing to examine all the results she has collected a newcomer enters the scene. She sleeps within this laboratory and is highly attuned to large ki signatures of which there are three new ones she does not know of. Two of them are exhibiting a frightening array of conflicting emotions. Kaia using her gloves navigates to where everyone else is and upon entering the room and noticing the outlines of these two are foreign she introduces herself with a humble bow. This is the other Saiyan she has been told about. The woman beside him she takes to be the mother of Gohan and it is peculiar for Kaia for she can clearly sense a third individual around where Chichi is but her gloves are not picking up anything. She questions if someone else is there phasing like Ryoko is in the habit of doing. Goku can phase but he is not. Kaia then learns this ki is that of an unborn child.

Wonder strikes her at the power of her gift to sense a child in the womb. She cautiously approaches these strangers and asks if she might have the privilege. Chichi does not know who this woman is except the few pieces she has been told about how frail she is, that she can sense ki and she can see for herself that this woman is blind. Feeling no threat from her she agrees and nods, then verbalises the answer though Kaia's gloves allow her to see the nod. Children are a rarity on Jurai. Though they live for centuries Jurai does not suffer from overpopulation. Ayeka and Sasami being born so close to each other is an oddity due to Misaki's maternal wants, it is far more common for siblings to hold an age difference similar to Yosho and Ayeka. Children are precious and novel on Jurai, she is a young woman herself and the romance of this is not lost on her.

She removes a glove and moves a pale hand towards Chichi's exposed abdomen. Hard musculature, young and supple skin, a slight sweat, the feel of this woman is like a more toned Ryoko if she were to compare. There is no control from either subject surrounding their energy. The empath that is Kaia feels the multitude of emotions running through Chichi. There is something beyond that. Some surreal quasi-emotion. Unformed, unthinking and unfeeling it lies dormant and projects but one feeling of comfort. Through her extremely sensitive hands attuned to the slightest touch and vibration through years of using her gloves she feels the weak and miniscule rhythm of a pulse.

" … This is magical. Tsunami herself blesses us. It is happy." She smiles and states as she removes her hand and dons her glove.

Her empathetic abilities are revealed and explained to the husband and wife. Chichi is overjoyed that someone sensed her child and that it is happy and healthy. Kaia is wary of how close she remains to the emotional strength of Chichi. She is also wary of how she views through her gloves of this fit woman in only her underwear. Chichi is a married woman freshly pregnant and her heterosexuality puts her off the market for Kaia, though this does not mean she cannot enjoy the view. A pang then grips Kaia's heart at this scene.

"Same here Kaia, it's fine. I gave you my word that I'll cure you." Out of the blue Washu answers the thought only just arising in Kaia's mind.

In this the pink and the red haired aliens share a similar painful position. This joy in Chichi is not one they can share. Washu through choice shall not become pregnant whilst her life is in danger. Kaia has a more complex reason. She is capable of conceiving, her genetic disorder took much from her body yet most of her reproductive organs function as they should. The toils of pregnancy would likely sap what weak life force she has. She is too weak to sustain another life. Until she is cured then the child would run a high chance of contracting the same disorder as herself which she will not allow. Kaia then has a road bump on the way to maternity that no-one else in the room has. Being a lesbian leaves her with zero natural ways to conceive. Happy accidents like this are impossible for whichever future partner she takes the plunge with. The alternate option does arise that her partner could be the mother.

"OK. Results are in. That is one stupidly strong embryo. Heartbeat has only just started for it. No abnormalities in its growth, no signs of diseases or mutations. Possible tail. I need to stabilise you by flushing out a few leftovers from the heart medication to ensure no stimulants further its accelerated growth. Other than that, it's a happy and healthy baby. Do you want to know it's gender?" Quick and concise Washu speaks the words shredding her soul. Everything is happy and healthy for this family that is not hers.

Chichi enthusiastically nods. Always one to be prepared she is eager at knowing if it will be a boy or a girl. Ecstatic that everything is fine with the child and the mistakes leading to it have not put it in danger she overflows with emotions. Kaia is both interested in viewing Chichi physically and observing these emotions in her so starkly different than her main case study of Vegeta. The wife cuddles in with her husband.

"Physically it has not developed a gender, but I have my ways through checking its DNA. A girl. The first Saiyan girl in decades." Washu smiles as she gives the answer.

Twirling about as she dances and sings to herself is Ryoko atop the snout of a mighty beast. Red eyes stare at the woman standing on his face. To have her face her fear of him and those eyes that haunt her nights Vegeta stands in a simulation within his training room in his great ape form. A power ball blazes in the sky fuelling his transformation and this time around he is wearing elasticated clothing to stretch to these enormous sizes. She dances and messes about for it has been a long night talking over things with Vegeta and every so often she interrupts her play by kicking at one of the imposing orbs the same size of her. Her foot goes clean through as she is phasing.

Harsh gravity that Vegeta is naturally comfortable training within is destroying his stamina. In Oozaru his power is tenfold that of his regular self, however that is no help for his mass has exponentially exceeded that. With so much colossal bulk to support the artificial gravity pulls relentlessly at his hairy self. Training like this is tough. Holding a conversation with a woman gyrating on his nose is something else altogether. She does not shun away from his red eyes. This other bestial side of himself did frighten her yet she is strong and has overcome this. If something annoys her or scares her, or if she feels bored, Ryoko lashes out with cathartic violence at the invincible Oozaru to calm herself down as his deep voice soothes her.

"Can a mating season happen same time as a full moon? What happens if you choose some crap spot with some moon?"

"It can. And then you have a very big problem on your hands."

"Y'know I've never been with a guy who's as big as ya." Ryoko winks at him as she jests.

"Nor I you, Pumpkin." The deep voice of Vegeta booms out in retort.

Blasts shoot at his face as she responds to his insult. Ryoko is tired from staying up all night talking to her prince. The therapy it has provided her she appreciates after being allowed to view her breaking from his eyes and understand the true emotions he felt during it. The Oozaru form of Vegeta is not a fetching look. She does not enjoy the thought of Jurai visiting yet again, and them taking Kaia back home when they do.

"You know my real nickname, why don't ya call me that instead?"

"Devil Caller. For a nickname it is quite long."

"Call me it, time to time when you feel like it, instead of pumpkin. And … you come with me when I do some mourning for him."

Vegeta agrees, he shall see this through to completion since he is the one who informed her of the truth of her former partner in crime. She smiles to herself and continues aimlessly twirling about on the tip of Vegeta's face. Thinking to herself it would have been more efficient if her schedule lined up so that she went out with Kaia when Vegeta was occupied with Ayeka yet it is what it is since she had to wait for Kaia's operation. It shall not be hard to impress a blind woman seeing the world in monochrome for the first time. She does wonder how far she can push before it becomes detrimental in her relationship with Vegeta. That and she has to keep working on playing with Trunks and building up his dwindling opinion of her for those nights she keeps him awake.

A ki she knows is outside. Her false tail wags. Two monstrous ki signatures appear and then immediately vanish. Goku followed Kaia to leave Washu's lair since their visit is complete and assumed to exit in the same location he entered, he was wrong and Instant Transmission took him out of Vegeta's house before trouble could arise. Now is a time for him to spend with his growing family. Ox-King, Goten and Gohan are in for a delivery of news. Ryoko impatiently looks at the bulkhead door, waiting for Kaia to play with. Kaia herself has become distracted by the natural lighting levels of early morning. The Juraian lady then remembers herself and can clearly sense where Vegeta and Ryoko are. She has been promised a date, little other detail has been disclosed to her. Walking over to the entrance to the training room she hopes Ryoko notices her so that she does not have to knock and disrupt Vegeta, even though sensing the emotions from his enormous ki he is in a relative good mood.

Fangs the size of her leg grin at her in a toothy maw, row upon row lining this predatory face. A raging beast of a face covered in fur, scowling at her, is before her. Hot breaths of the monster pant upon her with a faint growl sounding from its cavernous throat. Kaia fails to scream as she freezes in place. Pure terror grips her. This is a frightening monster the likes she has never witnessed. Being bound by her old gloves she could never view a screen and as such is a stranger to the likes of horror and fantasy and the face of monsters. This is new and terrifying to her. Pupil-less eyes fix on her. Adrenaline coursing through her veins hurts her heart. A dampness spreads down the lower half of her outfit.

Floating off the top of the snout of Vegeta, Ryoko quickly goes over to her blind friend and hugs her tight to soothe her fears. Kaia holds tight to the reassuring woman whilst keeping one hand facing the monstrosity. The pirate is quick in explaining this is just another form of Vegeta, Kaia clings tight still as fear is still rampant within her system. Vegeta scoffs stating that she can sense ki and can tell who he is. His face leaves the entranceway and he dissipates the power ball, without Ryoko he has no cause to be in this ugly form. The shaken lady then acts in shame for she has noticed that her great fear has caused her to urinate. Ryoko keeps hugging her as she teleports them both up into the bathroom so that together they can prepare for their day out.

With the power ball dismissed the fuel for his transformation is gone and he starts reverting back. A hard stubble is left on his chin whilst all the other fur vanishes, 2 nights without sleeping now and he is not bothered enough to shave right this second. He presses enough buttons on the console to warrant some attention from Washu and the video link to his rival's training room is shown. It is empty. He expected as much sensing Goku in his home for a split second – for what reason he does not know. Vegeta goes Super Saiyan and works more on suppressing his power level and lowering his levels for this transformation. A day out for Ryoko shall do her a world of good, and then she shall be spoilt by having a consecutive date after, unless Jurai interrupts his plans.

Morning comes and one woman does not leave her room. Mihoshi and Kiyone take up their post with their ward and take breakfast to her. Her muscles scream in agony at the slightest movement. Ayeka is bed ridden through exhaustion following her training with Vegeta and her sleep has caused her body to lock up. Little sympathy comes from Vegeta, she asked for the date and that is the expected outcome for pain and discomfort and that is how he wakes most days and it does not go away nor stop him from continuing training. A lesson shall be learnt from these consequences. The welcome face of his son appears and Trunks is disappointingly more concerned with the goings on of Seto and Jurai than sparring with him. His son wants him to make breakfast. Vegeta believes his son capable enough of cooking and that request is left unfulfilled. Trunks goes upstairs and enlists Ryoko to his cause.

Ryoko is the wrong option. Ryoko is not in the mood for cooking or much at the moment. A bath with Kaia is nice. Kaia however knows something that no-one else in this house does. Kaia holds an occupation beyond sculptor. As an informant she is more than happy to divulge what she thought to be pleasant gossip with Ryoko. This went down like a lead balloon. Chichi now embodies everything she does not have. That is a woman going through the joys of pregnancy, pleasing her husband in a manner she cannot fulfil to Vegeta. Ryoko sulks and hates herself that this does cause her to want to sulk. Trunks gets an angry growl from her.

Relaying this to his father Trunks is surprised at how unmoved Vegeta is. Whether his rival is going to increase the population of his race means little to him, the potential power of this child is the more interesting factor and this does fit in line with Goku's complaints about his wife. As for Ryoko he will not take action. Over his own sins and cruelties he shall give her aid. This is a torture for which she is dolling out on her own head. He has clearly stated what needs to be said. Her insecurity she feels over this is her personal demon to face. With dragonballs existing he does not see her infertility towards himself as an insurmountable hurdle. This is only telling of Ryoko's own mind.

The pirate begins to busy herself with other matters with Trunks being forced into having Mihoshi cook food for them. Ryoko leads Kaia back into the bathroom even after they have cleaned themselves and plonks her down in front of a mirror. The blind lady does not have this habit. Tutting at her disappointment with her date, Ryoko tells Kaia that she needs to put some effort into her appearance for their date. Part of her handicap has disappeared. Using her gloves the reflective glass does now show her own reflection. This mirrored image of her is strange to look at. Her fingers then detect Ryoko placing objects down in front of her. Ryoko then thoughtfully removes a few. Monochrome may make this difficult yet it is now doable. She tells Kaia to put some make-up on – a first for the sightless woman. Ryoko moves a few more useless components of make-up away: eyeliner and mascara are not helpful for Kaia.

A grumbling Washu receives a visit. Dark anger swirls about her. She has helped to make someone who has stolen her desire for the past 20,000 years. Vegeta calmly asks her how she is doing. The emotional well-being of this woman he does care for since she is liable to snap and then even his time in hell will look pleasant by comparison. She appreciates the gesture as she occupies herself in her work. For now she will not do anything drastic. Washu then tells Vegeta the sole message she has gotten from Seto over the ordeal.

'I have made a small mistake.'

To what it means Washu is uncertain. Things have not gone according to Lady Seto's plans and whether this is good for them or not remains to be seen. Admitting her own failure though means it has to be quite serious. Vegeta shrugs and goes back to training. Once Ryoko leaves with Kaia he can ramp up his power and his son can join him for some proper sparring.

Checking up on Ayeka as she writhes in pain from her thrashed body, the two police officers hear a beeping coming from their communication watches. They check their wrists and a small notice displays to them.

'Hi Mihoshi and Kiyone,

Me, Sasami and Azusa are coming over to pick up my naughty mother so as promised your short holiday begins. I messaged the Galaxy Police and there should be a ship for you soon.

Have fun,

Queen Misaki.'

Mihoshi smiles to herself and shows the message to the princess. Ayeka closes her eyes and groans. Seeing her sister again will be lovely. Spending time with her mother shall be refreshing. Her father and her grandmother being on Earth in proximity to Vegeta is a different matter altogether. This will not end well. She does not want to go through that hassle again, all the arguments and high emotions. Ayeka is not feeling up for all of this. The scolding she got from Kaia will be nothing in comparison to that of her overprotective father concerning her training under Vegeta. Mihoshi skips off to begin packing and leaves Kiyone to look after Ayeka. The cop could not be happier that distance is being put between her and Vegeta.

With the police busy and Ayeka more resting than anything else a floating head peeps through the wall. Her red eyes spy this trespasser and the floating head grins back.

"You got any pretty clothes that Kaia can wear for our date?"

Ayeka sighs to herself. Right now she is practically defenceless and devoid of any energy or willpower to fight back or argue against Ryoko. She just points with her head to her wardrobe. All of her garments are fit for a princess and should not be lacking in any regard for her friend Kaia. Ryoko phases the rest of her body through and shamelessly begins perusing through Ayeka's robes and clothes to see what she would like to dress Kaia in. Ayeka watches and croaks out for Ryoko to be careful and not to crease any, and that Kaia is not comfortable with gaudy or excessively decorated clothing.

"Y'know after you passed out I read Vegey's mind and saw him attacking me. He spent all night making me feel better. The fact that I'm still here should tell ya all you need to know about the truth about then." Ryoko informs Ayeka as she carelessly flicks through kimonos. "He even went full big monkey for me to fight my fear of his red eyes, 'cos red eyes are evil and nasty."

The insult is not lost on the princess with red irises. She does not deem it wise for Ryoko to have seen that memory yet progress is progress and Vegeta is adamant in sticking to his word in righting his wrongs. Ryoko pauses and asks Ayeka if she has any black clothes, Ayeka shakes her head. The pirate pulls out one of Sasami's dresses that has accidentally been left behind and has evil thoughts before Ayeka warns her that her parents and sister are returning soon so to not mistreat Kaia. The child's dress goes back and Ryoko instead takes out a deep green robe. This shall do for Kaia, with her preferences being for traditional Juraian attire. Elfin ears twitch at the thought of what she can do and get away with to the person wearing this, how she can satisfy herself with Kaia and release some of her pent up wants and emotions that she dare not with the untouchable Vegeta.

Ryoko gives aid to Kaia now an outfit has been chosen and Kaia's efforts at make-up are not progressing. Kaia has a few faces she has seen for comparison and none were wearing make-up, she cannot perceive colour and has no experience in this. Ryoko talks her through what to use and where as she brushes the hair of her date. Having to use at least one hand to 'see' the mirror is awkward for Kaia in this. In dressing herself she is independent however, she requires no aid from Ryoko in this despite her efforts. This shall be a lovely prelude and set-up for her big day with Vegeta.

Alone on the landing pad Funaho waves farewell to her husband, her step-sister and her step-daughter as they sail away on the Emperor's flagship. This is quite a mess with Ayeka, Vegeta and now her step-mother-in-law Lady Seto creating quite the array of issues. Her own son is nowhere in sight. Yosho is doing his best to avoid the spotlight even with engagement, adoption of his bride-to-be and possible ascension to organise. She has drawn the short straw. For now she shall remain here while the rest of her family gallivant off to Earth. If peace can be arranged during this meeting it would be a success. She has heard the tale from Yosho of how Vegeta destroyed his hand with a tap, and then later from Misaki of how she had no hope against a weakened Saiyan, this power is a frightening thing to not have as their absolute ally.

She sorts out her raven hair from the departure of Kirito and thinks on what duty to attend to first as the sole ruler left on Jurai – a far departure from her common birth. A message pings on her communicator much to her dread. For the past while no messages have contained good news. The sender is Seto. This confirms her fears of the message bearing ill news. According to Seto an envoy of the planet Airai is expected to arrive shortly for her to entertain and discuss the diplomacy over their extreme reluctance to join their empire. The issue ultimately stems from religious differences from Airai being openly hostile to the heretic beliefs of Jurai for Tsunami. Funaho can do little concerning the state religion of either side, she shall meet them all the same and since her son is busy doing nothing she shall invite Prince Yosho along to attend to these political duties. An officer from the Galaxy Police whom is also a high standing member in Airai's politics is the only named visitor she has. Funaho sees no harm in allowing Yosho to meet with this Airi from Airai.

Duffel bags of belongings are packed and ready downstairs. A giddy Mihoshi impatiently waits for her short holiday back home with family. The news has been relayed to Vegeta by Kiyone and he is apathetic at best about their departure, if Jurai is visiting he might have need of their room. How much rest Kiyone gets on this short break is going to be limited, with knowledge of this scheme from Kagato and of Seto her detective's mind wants to solve the problem and not uselessly laze about instead. Not before an hour is out a bright red shuttle descends out of orbit and comes to an automated landing above the lake.

Before they leave Kaia descends the stairs to say her farewell to the two who shall only return upon her own departure. With a naturally pale complexion a slight rouging is all that has been applied to her cheeks since Ryoko wants to keep her freckles clearly visible. The lips are the main area that has been worked on with Kaia having no eyes for make-up to be applied around. Kaia can only determine the darkness of the hues applied and so if they are of clashing colouration is down to Ryoko. Dark crimson lines her lips, a lighter scarlet red colours the outer edges of her lips and a brighter pink decorates the centre in a faded gradient. She is complemented on how she looks, wearing a regal green robe fit for a princess and with her shoulder length red hair tied up in a short ponytail with a baby blue ribbon, and this aids her self consciousness since she has little comparison on how she does appear. Mihoshi lets out one last teasing remark to her concerning her previous ill-thought out comment around her dark skin as the cops pick up their bags.

With little ceremony the two police officers board the red vessel and it departs. Their return is expected within a couple of days with the changing of guard when Misaki wrestles herself away from her wayward daughter's side. For now they are free.

Kaia stands waiting with Ryo-Ohki nipping at her heels as she inquisitively senses into the training room as father and son spar against the other. The emotions within there are vastly different to when it was Ayeka being subject to Vegeta's training. As a Saiyan he prefers to train seriously and not in a manner humouring a pampered princess. Kaia thinks she has time until Ryoko is ready, the rogue having said little, and so ascends the stairs to go and see how her bed bound friend is doing. Here she can be the one doing the teasing with Ayeka being in a sorry state with her body possible in a worse state than her fragile one. She gets little sympathy from her friend who explicitly warned her of this for a few days. Ayeka gets a few words in herself with Kaia going on a date with Ryoko, giving herself up willingly to a woman who is romantically and sexually aggressive. Kaia has no comment on how she expects the intimacy of this date to fair. She is well aware of Ryoko's love for Vegeta and there are lines that even Ryoko knows not to cross. Ryoko deserves a break and a spell of being spoilt, and so she shall, whatever fun Kaia gains in recompense is fair payment for her sculpture.