Chapter 106
Goku, Goten and Chichi do not stick around for long with Queen Vegeta hounding Goku. They teleport back to their home with neither parent wanting to answer their son's questions about the Saiyan Queen and why she keeps pestering Goku. Queen Vegeta rushes back into her son's house to pick up the discarded scouter. There are too many different blips and power level readings on it for her to discern Goku from other Z fighters, she cannot fly to find him but she knows there are other means of getting there. Her son does not want her here so her current plan is to stick around until he is forced to be rid of her and take her where she needs to go.
Her son however is not in view, she knows where he is, but for now the Juraians before her are unguarded and juicy targets. Azusa maintains his energy blade. He formally introduces himself as the Emperor of Jurai. Likewise Queen Vegeta returns her introduction with her eyes focused both on his blade and on his prosthetic leg for signs of unbalance and an opening. From the side of Azusa steps out the tall and green haired elder Juraian lady of Seto. She walks clear of his blade and stands in open ground looking at this diminutive Saiyan. Seto bows her head to the Queen eyeing her. With little emotion in her eyes and a dry smile on her face the Devil Princess of Jurai states that beyond her wish for Queen Vegeta's return to life she also made a further wish for comprehensive information on the abhorrent term being used to classify her daughter; Counteractor. Seto waves a hand to the empty lakeside and asks the savage enemy ruler if she would be kind enough to provide her first hand accounts of the Counteractor's power.
Queen Vegeta is not charitable. She sits down unmoved on the grass with her tail coiling about restlessly in the air. She answers firmly that the only giving she shall give to Jurai is either death or that small boon when they concede fully to her Saiyan rule. Misaki does not want talk about that term and Queen Vegeta is a menace she is hurriedly ushering her sweet Sasami further from. Trunks stops Misaki and simply goes Super Saiyan stating that they do not need to fear his grandmother. Queen Vegeta idly jests that surviving to be a grandmother is quite an honour in Saiyan society, she points to Trunks and calls him out stating her recent pregnancy will still prevent most actions against her. The lad shrugs and says he can fly away and easily blast her from further than he can smell her, Queen Vegeta grins and nods that he is no fool.
"Boy, if you want me gone then all you have to do is fly me over to Kakarot's home. For a bonus to your queen you could also fly away that pesky thing that calls itself his wife."
"Gran … Nan? Queen? Weakling? I won't. Don't you want to get to know your family better? Have some quality time with us?" Goten is his best friend and he shall not dump this disaster at his doorstep.
From behind Queen Vegeta her scouter beeps before she feels a tap on her shoulder. She looks and finds Ryoko hovering there and beckoning her to follow. Queen Vegeta sits and watches. Ryoko explains that it is about Saiyan stuff and Vegeta so begrudgingly the queen follows. She follows the flying pirate around the corner to a purple haired Juraian and her son and she shrugs and asks what is going on. Vegeta growls at Ryoko that now is not the time and Ryoko pointedly asks Queen Vegeta about the tail linking.
"I know now that your tail is not real. You, woman, are not bound to Saiyan rule so I don't know nor care what pathetic rules you follow. Prince Vegeta however is under strict command and doctrine surrounding his actions – be they misguided or not. The pact is made. You two disgusting deviants are promised to be mated partners in whatever unnatural union you make." Queen Vegeta cross her arms and scowls as she explains this basic custom that all Saiyans should be familiar with. "I made the same pact with Kakarot. He shall have the abominable culture of this planet beat from him, and whilst I am at correcting idiot Saiyans I feel I might just have to resume pummelling my son, prince, as obviously I failed when you were an infant."
A fist strikes Ryoko in the face as Ayeka seethes for her rival to shut up, she controls herself and does not let a second strike hit into Vegeta despite her want. Queen Vegeta smiles and remarks she likes this person even if their power level is abysmal. Ayeka does not listen to either woman here. She glares death at Vegeta. Ayeka rips her engagement ring from her finger, throws it down on the floor and stomps it into the dirt.
"You can grovel at my father's feet as you explain to him what you did and only once my family accept you can you come crawling back to me to beg for forgiveness. Or rut and rot with her. Jurai leaves soon. Act as fast as you were agreeing to commit adultery or I shall be gone and Goku will be the only Saiyan in the tournament."
Ayeka storms off. She almost hits into her grandmother waiting around the corner and listening, Ayeka does not let her face show. Vegeta crouches down and picks up the discarded ring as Seto walks about the corner Ayeka left with an amicable smile. The Saiyan Prince stands and faces this overbearing woman. The advantage lies with the Devil Princess and she is well aware of it.
"I was not as lax in my supervision of what transpired in that realm. I saw all, I heard all and let me start off by saying that I am truly thankful for what aid you gave my precious little Missy in that hell hole. In truth I do fear Ayeka's idea over monogamy could stem from my own single marriage and for that I do apologise for the hardships you face now. You are not here for my kind words however, but, before we start might I quickly change the topic onto my parents – and more importantly your hand in killing them." Seto has Vegeta in a position where he needs to appease her. Though she has little intention of letting any of his words hold sway, this is the opportune moment for her to strike at him to get what she wants.
"... What can I say about two out of billions whose faces I do not know. You should be smart enough to realise forcing an apology from my lips changes nothing. I will not bow to you."
Queen Vegeta is bored with her son and Seto talking and meanders off into the forests to see if there is anything to hunt. Lady Seto nods in agreement with this Saiyan's words. She then shocks him by bowing to him, humbly and low. Her red eyes meeting Vegeta's with sincerity.
"Then you of all people should understand how difficult this action is for myself. For all the reasons that you do have to apologise and for all the dark emotions you cause within my granddaughter I feel myself to be driven to this one course of action. Prince Vegeta, I Lady Seto Kamiki Jurai, Mother to Empress Misaki Masaki Jurai, ask before the Goddess Tsunami for you to take my hand in marriage and take mercy and spare my granddaughter Ayeka."
Stunned silence comes from both Ryoko and Vegeta. Seto pauses for a moment and then repeats her proposal to this Saiyan and gestures towards the abandoned ring in his hand. Rushing around the corner she left the granddaughter in question hugs Seto and tearfully wails for her to stop and to not do this on her behalf. She does not want for her family to hurt themselves for her or for her proud grandmother to be driven to this extreme due to her poor choices.
"My current husband had the choice of accepting my proposal or facing certain death. Luckily love made a fool of him so he choose poorly and is keeping me company. For now I shall grant you a reprieve, the option however does remain if you do plan on stopping causing my bloodline pain. Your choice, prince." Seto looks down and comforts her grandchild as she threatens the greatest threat to her empire and fully offers herself as a sacrifice. "My sweet Ayeka, please answer with honesty here: is it his wilful allowance of deaths and the slaughter he commits or is it his kind gift he thought to give Ryoko in what they believed to be their final moments that you take issue with?"
Ayeka holds her tongue and dare not answer. She vehemently shakes her head at this possibility. Seto strokes her hair.
"Miss Ryoko, this conversation does not hold you in a good light. Be heartened that I do not see you as the villain in this. The circumstances are easy enough to understand as are both of your decisions. You should both know I hold no love for those miscreants that break the laws of the empire I have been working on for several thousand years. Truthfully, Miss Ryoko, would you have been capable, or the same can be asked of you Prince Vegeta. I hold doubts that your decision to find comfort before the end would have been seen through to fruition."
"Who knows? Moment's gone now. And thanks, you probably helped in gettin' us out so thanks. Shame you don't look quite like my Vegey's type so I don't think he's gonna try any fun stuff with you. What d'ya want?" Ryoko is no wallflower and speaks to Seto who if she had her way would interject herself into Vegeta's love life as her new rival.
"I can speak for myself. Seto, we neither like nor trust the other, and I play second fiddle to no-one so if you are to be serious in any of this whoever your husband is would have to go. Ayeka, I kill simulations all the time just like my son does with his inane video games. I have not broken my promise to Bulma here, the living all survived that encounter. Damnation awaits myself and Ryoko, I know what that is like and if I can send her off with her desires fulfilled I shall. I saw and watched and listened to her struggles, the gift of my body I would give if we both were to die."
Anger and pain fills Ayeka as she winces at his bold words. She does not want to hear his reasoning and excuses for trying to bed a woman other than her. He chose to fully give himself to Ryoko in that moment as they both die with no thought for herself.
"Prince Vegeta, is it customary for Saiyan royalty to play the victim? I cannot help but notice you paint a woeful image of yourself as you try and dredge up some sympathy for your actions. We are not playing your little 'scar game' here where you point out all the times the nasty people hurt you. Now form a civil and proper response to both myself and my granddaughter if you would be so kind."
Vegeta has to blink and take a moment to digest what he just heard. Perfectly on cue to this Ryoko rallies to Vegeta's defence about what she has seen within his mind about his sufferings and it chips away further against Vegeta's ego. Seto casually mentions how the mind perceives things to fit an image it believes and turns Ryoko's point into her own. Ryoko can only respond that they were in that mess only due to Seto's wishing on the dragonballs in the first place. Seto fully accepts this and admits she did not think Kagato would have struck in the way he did. She then explains that though it came at a cost severe damage has been done to Kagato's capabilities for cyber and digital warfare thanks to both Washu and herself.
Deep inside Washu's lab stands Yamcha looking down at an occupied medical bed. Washu is in an induced coma following the events that transpired. The evils she witnessed that pried into her core through the one regret she has not been able to shake for millennia has caused catastrophic hurt to her. She never saw her son's proper death, neither was she invited or allowed to the funerals until several generations passed. She is in her child form, a child's face holding the suffering of an adult. Yamcha kisses her on her brow and taps away at one of the laptops and his call connects. It takes many seconds for the call to be answered with a loud thud and a breathless woman on the other end.
"Hey, Yamcha here. It's … you guys'll probably get sent some report. Look, bad things have happened when you were gone and – and this is the best I can do here. Washu, she's in a bad way – not bad like stabbed but hell she'd prefer that. Anyway, not nice stuff, not good to say over the phone. Would- would it be fine if you came back as quick as you can? Outta all this there's some good news and might as well celebrate it and you might be able to help Washu in ways I can't. Turns out that somehow you're related to her, so come home and give a big hug to your Nana Washu, she needs it."
Without hesitation affirmation comes from Mihoshi and Yamcha can hear her already busying about in preparation. He thanks her with a smile. Mihoshi is of a prestigious family from within the Galaxy Police and as far as she is aware there is no deviation from her species within her ancestry, her brother is currently in an interspecies relationship yet this does not effect her inheritance. She will not ask and pry now, nor cause a rift within her family by snooping about to see where the Tuffle comes from. This policewoman has someone who needs her help. Within minutes she is packed and setting off to a hangar.
Trunks looks across the lake at his grandmother's failed attempts at stealth. It turns out the prey she wants to hunt are Jurai. He can sense her ki, she has no hope of evading his notice. Defeated in this attempt she flies over the lake and asks him if she shall be taken to Kakarot now. His answer remains the same. From out behind the house walk Lady Seto and Prince Vegeta, the Saiyan looking fairly shocked and sheepish compared to the smug Juraian. Queen Vegeta flits over to her son and makes the same request. The two instantly vanish. Vegeta has no loyalty towards the peace of Goku and has enough on his plate right now, he returns with her dropped off at her destination. Seto heads back to her family and prods her daughter remarking that she will never allow her to get into a situation where she is shot again. The Queen of Jurai does finally relinquish her hold on Sasami and stands to walk with her mother for privacy. One wish regarded the Counteractor and this Misaki must know and this is not a secret Seto shall keep to herself. Azusa eyes Vegeta and the manner of his return after conversing with his mother-in-law and can empathise, at his side Sasami holds his hand and asks her dad if they can go inside now so Trunks leads them into the house.
"It's about time you stopped hiding behind others Ayeka. The hell are you being so difficult? We explained what we did, what I asked not him. Stop making it so needlessly hard for Vegey. We didn't have sex." Two have not left the back of the house and the heated row continues with but Ryoko and Ayeka.
"So it is-is fine he with no say otherwise willingly consigned himself to you? I will not be some side mistress to be shamed by you two. Suddenly he can move on past Bulma, with you, so congratulations you thieving harlot!"
"Shut it, princess. 'Cos I was having so much fun naked, crushed by gravity, shot at, imprisoned and the like – fuck off as this is just the same goddamn jealousy and don't pretend it's anything else."
"His final moments he chose to be devoted to you.-"
"Who else, you dumb bitch? You want him making sweet love to your mum instead? You weren't there, Bulma ain't ever being there. I was. I know why he agreed and hell he was arguing and stalling for a delay. If you're gonna be this way then remember I still ain't had my date with him yet, for my dress, my wedding dress. And I won't throw that into the dirt like some crying child!"
Ayeka's fist flies for a second time and Ryoko allows it to strike her. Ryoko will not back down here. The weeping face of the princess grimaces and snarls at the pirate as she recoils from the hit.
"Am I not doing what you have always wanted? What possesses you here but spite to argue with me? You shameless, vile-"
Her words cut off as she wrestles to grab and pull at Ryoko's hair causing a sharp hiss and wince from the still passive Ryoko. Feline eyes are staring at her with disgust.
"I'm doing this 'cos I, unlike this selfish princess right here, love Vegeta. Sure I want you gone, look at yourself and tell me who wouldn't, but you're being a royal ass here to Vegey. Force him to beg and bow to you so you can get yer knickers wet, get him to iron everything out with dear old papa and granny Seto so it's all easy for you. I told you before to stop pushing every single difficulty onto Vegeta rather than do any thing your damn self. You kick him out, he don't go to no tournament and then tell me how the hell this helps him get past Bulma. That is his fucking crux for letting her go so how about you swallow some pride after we fought for our lives and stop moping that someone else kissed Vegey. I don't go off on one like this all the times you sneak and flirt with him like a would-be whore. You know he will go along with your demands, and you know why!"
The hands gripping Ryoko freeze and tense. Cerulean shimmers in the air about the two. Ryoko spits on the floor close to Ayeka's feet.
"You got his damn ring, I ain't yet. Such a sad sack o' shit you are. And I had to kiss him with morning breath too."
She gets slammed back against the wooden exterior of the house as Ayeka shrieks at her to be quiet. Ryoko chuckles even with her power level not being too different from Ayeka's currently.
"He was so~ heroic saving me from that bullet. My own white knight."
Hard slaps ring out as Ayeka cries for Ryoko to silence herself.
"And, god, when he dove naked on me, lord that woulda been a nice accident. Good thing we went for a redo this morning."
The wall cracks and splinters. Behind in the kitchen a cabinet is knocked loose as the top half of Ryoko crashes through. Dangerous eyes look up at Ayeka and the pirate tuts to herself and mocks that Vegeta will not like this. Several more screeches caw from Ayeka's hoarse throat. She then notices the damage she has caused. Her red eyes then see that the kitchen is occupied. Sasami's hands are on her petite hips, disapproving of the vandalism and violence. Stood before the small girl is the emperor himself. Ayeka intended to use her family and Jurai against Vegeta, they have been disarmed from her and Ryoko has riposted.
"A word, Ayeka." He says with a hint of disappointed anger.
"She- this scum is mocking our family honour and taking delight in my suffering!" The fury of Ayeka is still there as her focus does not want to leave Ryoko.
"Quiet your tongue before you bring yourself more disgrace. Release her and step aside." His eyes stare down, no nonsense and severe.
Declination is sent his way as ranting and raving about Ryoko's misdeeds try and coherently fling from Ayeka's mouth. He hangs his head in shame and shakes his head. In a quiet voice the Emperor of Jurai says an apology to Ryoko and with that Ayeka falls deathly silent out of shock. The father looks down at his eldest daughter and whilst maintaining eye contact with Ayeka tells Sasami to remember this lesson and to not fall in the same manner. Ayeka calls for her father in confusion, timidly, blinded in how she has done wrong.
"Jurai does not tolerate despots. You were not raised to be some lowly tyrant." Azusa states with his own anger showing at this appalling display from his daughter. "Take your hands off this woman. Does Juraian royalty strike those they disagree with? Are we a family that oppress through violence and oppression? Is mindless violence ever an answer, when said recklessness causes the vandalism of the home of a high value diplomatic target that Jurai seeks alliance with? Stop beating Miss Ryoko. That is my word on the matter, if you have any composure at hand then respond."
He says his piece to his child. From upside-down and mostly through a wall Ryoko flicks some chips of wood out of her hair and thanks the Emperor Azusa. Tears fall thick and fast onto her prison fatigues from the princess above her who has hastily let go. Azusa takes out a handheld communicator from the inside of his sleeves.
"I am not ignorant as to your reasoning, nor your emotions, Ayeka. … Your mother has remarked that you have snapped into violence before when in the company of Ryoko, acted out of spite to have her hurt, Sasami informed me that at one time Prince Vegeta had to enforce a ruling that neither of you to be in the same room to keep the peace in his own home. I do not believe this is ill-will on your part, I hope that sporadic bursts of emotion are all these are in your youth. Come, Funaho can talk and help you with controlling yourself."
Azusa starts dialling into his communicator as he walks out of the kitchen to meet his struggling daughter. The body below supporting Ayeka vanishes as Ryoko teleports out and into the kitchen to help Sasami in tidying this mess. Still crying the wronged princess of Jurai slumps against the side of the house waiting for her father. She feels shame when he puts a hand on her shoulder. He holds the communicator between them and calmly asks Funaho to give advice to their daughter about the issue of a second woman. Azusa does not dish out punishment for he trusts his daughter knows her actions are wrong, he shall educate her how to stop falling into the temptation of violence. Never before has Ayeka heard her mother talk of her insecurities, jealousy and misgivings surrounding Misaki's marriage to Azusa and never has Funaho openly spoke of it. Though there is considerable audio delay Funaho takes time in the pre-dawn of Jurai to school and aid her step-daughter as best as she can with this trying ordeal.
Most of this Vegeta's keen ears can hear as he stands in front of his house with his own son, keeping an eye on Lady Seto and her daughter as they amble around the lake. Ryoko has certainly done well in keeping a hold on her own temper and leading Ayeka into this submissive position, though he could do without a hole in his house. His son jests to him that Azusa is probably a better dad than he is. Vegeta nods in agreement and asks his son if anything was stated about the future safety of his training room and if they can use it after Kagato's hacking into it. Trunks does not know in detail, he knows damage was done to Kagato so he should not be able to do much at the moment and Washu is not stupid enough to leave the same exposed weakness. The Saiyan Prince makes the concession that if the door is kept open then no simulation can lock them in and at that his son in a blasé manner mocks him saying his power has not recovered enough and will get in the way of his own training. Vegeta scoffs at this and enters his home to rebuild his kitchen wall.
The buttons in the training room make no sense to her and to err on the side of caution is wise after what has recently happened. Queen Vegeta does not want to spend 2 years in this room to catch up to the level of children – combat not exercise is how she has learnt. She stretches her body and feels the same awkward tenderness and discomfort of post pregnancy. Looking down her prisoner fatigues she curses her current state's uselessness as her child is gone. She wants better clothes, armour, food. In her hand she feels the folded up piece of paper Yamcha has cursed her with. There is a knock on the training room door that she does not belong in and she turns to see Chichi stood there. The housewife is carrying something and hands it over to her. It is a handheld electric breast pump, Chichi explains what it is and that Goku mentioned about her discomfort around her lactation.
"I was 'merciful' to the failed suitors of my King, to shame them with Zenkai. … I do not need to be here longer than it takes for Kakarot to accept, though I do accept my own inferior power in this debate." She can only accept kindness to her from Chichi as an insult.
"Guess I was the most powerful woman on the planet when Goku asked to marry me, but that's beside the point now. 18 has the power of a Super Saiyan and my Goku's only talked to her a few times when she's married to his best friend. Queen, it won't happen."
"Your male Saiyans do not spend time near you during their mating seasons for fear of your safety. That luxury I do not have since I shall be in an even more dangerous state than the males when I go into heat. I think it will happen."
"Unless you can use Instant Transmission and sense ki, no, you won't reach Goku. Even your son fought to control his urges then, so shall my husband. He holds such stupid and idiotic levels of power, it's ridiculous. I might be strong but to Goku no and he always treats me with respect and listens to what I tell him to do, nothing can force him to act how he does, he chooses to love and respect me and put up with my tempers. Your Saiyan ways do not work for Goku."
Queen Vegeta sighs to herself. This argument shall not move and honestly Chichi's points are hard to refute given Goku's behaviour. More to herself than to Chichi she repeats the fact that there is no other Saiyan for her left alive. A tail curls about the waist of Chichi and Goku steps into view. The kind hearted warrior smiles at her and says he has an idea that might work for her in terms of getting stronger. No woman there gets a word in before they teleport. A man of similar build and appearance to Goku stands there along with a woman of similar height to Queen Vegeta but lesser musculature. The father introduces his eldest son to Queen Vegeta and remarks that Videl was wanting to start training properly and get stronger and so they could work on it together with Gohan for help.
"Dad, you know I work for Washu … I'm not sure she'd allow this, me training her, and I do not trust her around Videl."
"We can try though, for a bit, see if she can train with Videl. No-one trusted Vegeta – Prince Vegeta – when he first was here but Bulma gave him a chance and that's worked out. I mean, simply she can't stay with me, I can't do that with your mother and Queen's crazy ideas, her son has Jurai and that lot staying with him who she might want to kill. It's this or Roshi, and she didn't mind being naked so I don't think he could take it."
"... It's going to be hard to train her with that smell. Queen Vegeta, what's your say in this?"
"You go Super Saiyan? 1? 2? 3?" Getting to a Super Saiyan state is all that concerns her. She begins inspecting him and nods to herself when he replies with '2'. "Fine, I'll learn from you but this … woman here is she a suitable training partner for a Saiyan elite royal? How many has she fought to the death? Can she at least destroy planets?"
Videl speaks for herself in stating her wants for power, her vigilante ways and of her approximate power level. The Queen does not bother with her scouter to confirm this as the insult of the other powerful Saiyans she wants to avoid. She calls out that Videl has less power than her first newborn and Videl has little comeback to that.
"If we leave her be, she's gonna cause a lot of damage. You guys are superheroes so who better to stop her from going on rampages right? Also, she's a Vegeta. Without guidance she will train like a Vegeta and with this power gap she'll train herself to death." Goku sidles up to his son and explains more of his decision making.
The Saiyan Queen is not impressed with Videl in the slightest and has a mind to dispose of her if she delays her quest of power. Looking at Gohan she frowns as there is a worry. She kicks his shin for attention and asks whether or not hybrid Saiyans have mating seasons. This is not a topic Chichi wants to hear about and both Videl and Gohan blush at this personal topic. Queen Vegeta can infer from their reactions and firmly shakes her head.
"No. I shall not train here where I am at risk from a hybrid. Unless I can surpass him before the next cycle he is too great a threat to myself and sullying the Vegeta bloodline." She dismisses this proposal with disgust and walks back to Goku.
An earful comes her way from the other women. One defending the honour and will power of her son and the other defending her lover's loyalty and his peaceful nature. Queen Vegeta does not care for what they say as she knows they do not have first hand knowledge of mating seasons and so she looks to Goku expectantly with her tail curling in the air.
"You seem to be under the wrong impression about myself and how us with Saiyan blood control ourselves. As of this moment there are several methods we can use to keep those we love safe from ourselves when our minds are not our own. I work for Washu, most of my time I spend in her dimension and as she is an expert of dimensional and time manipulation we can all be kept safe, secure and solitary for our times to pass instantly. I promise you that I am not a threat to you." Gohan explains to Queen Vegeta. The Saiyan hisses in frustration.
"... Imprisonment? Kept as slaves of Washu when we do no wrong but what our nature demands? I shall not be contained like some beast, unless this allows me some privacy between both myself and Kakarot when I decide for another child. Once I have Super Saiyan, then you and I can have some fun fights to test our compatibility."
"If you only just get Super Saiyan then I'm pretty sure I can still easily beat you without having to transform. You're gonna have to aim higher than that." Goku does not get defensive and pushes this Saiyan to have the same aims and goals as himself and the other Vegeta. This bait she will take and buys him many years before she will be remotely close to challenging him for mating. He hops back a step puts one hand on his wife and the two disappear back to their mountain home.
With a brand new wooden wall installed, the cabinet reattached and his kitchen devoid of ruin Vegeta exhales and his tail listlessly stirs about. A false tail catches his and seizes his fur and he hears her giggle to herself behind him. Vegeta matter-of-factly states that he is delaying their date until tomorrow to be on the safe side of any follow up attack from Kagato and for the targets of Jurai to leave this area. Ryoko blows a raspberry and fishes for him to flatter her on her expert handling of Ayeka without any violence that has minimised the issue for him. He pays her the minimum lip service as she flies off to check on the doorway under the stairs. Beyond is not a cupboard – Queen Vegeta is not here – and Ryoko says a quick goodbye as she flies off to see Kaia and tell her that it is safe.
Having been mostly left on her own in the laboratory as the royal family left Kaia sits alone. Yamcha did try to keep her company however her empathetic abilities lent her to learn and share of his pain for Washu and so it is better for her to not be close by. A familiar ki circles about Kaia and she smiles. Her gloves point around and above her and fail to track the flying and teleporting target. Arms go about her and give her a warm hug as a face nuzzles against her own. Kaia welcomes Ryoko back and plants a small kiss on her check claiming how worried she was for her. The two leave the laboratory as Ryoko teleports them both out with the rogue explaining that Queen Vegeta is far away now so she has nothing to fear and no reason to sit by her lonesome.
Vegeta exits his room having changed out of rags, a dark green skin suit and his Saiyan armour with boots and gloves shall suffice for today. He still has a while to go until his ki is at a satisfactory point that he can transform and train adequately. Normally he would meditate during such a period but he sees Ryoko in his front room with Kaia and he doubts her patience in not distracting him. As she cuddles with Kaia the blind woman does notice a difference in Ryoko's actions – a kind of frustration and urgency. They both sense the arrival of Vegeta and with that Kaia makes it a point for Ryoko to stop so openly fussing over her for affection. Ryoko pouts and then slyly asks if Kaia knows what happened between Vegeta and herself this morning.
Her job is an informant, and her place of residence is currently Washu's laboratory, Kaia has access to a lot of data however following the visual displays with her gloves is hard and her constitution is not the greatest so she normally goes to bed early. That also means she wakes up early. Kaia pauses and replies that she is aware with a small nod. Ryoko cautiously asks if she will be the second Juraian to hit her over this. There is melancholy on Kaia's face as she sullenly replies that she knows her place with Ryoko and that is all she says on the matter. Internally she reads the emotions within the room and keeps this information to herself.
Roving hands stroke Kaia and she flinches. There is a blush creeping into her freckled face. The disparity between the stoic Vegeta and Ryoko is clear for her to read. The soldier has done his duty till the battlefield changed and now it is over for him. This woman cuddling and nuzzling so earnestly against her has some strong emotions at the forefront that she is not confident in contending with. Arousal and a want for continuation are there for Ryoko, foreplay got her into a mood and she is not one to easily drop her desires. She is sexually frustrated at having been stopped from going the distance with Vegeta – and also at the same time dichotomously relieved – and Kaia is not someone who can fully help with those frustrations. One glove of Kaia's glances to Vegeta before they centre on the needy rogue with an itch she needs scratched.
"Ryoko, you're bothering her. Leave that woman alone. You haven't bathed or changed clothes yet, go do so before you begin to offend my nose." Vegeta gruffly says. He is aware of the repercussions of his agreement to Ryoko's proposition. Her vanity is a useful vice to control her with.
Ryoko sniffs at herself and looks at Vegeta, she playfully pulls a face at him and he can see the underlining hunger he rallied within her. She reaches for Kaia's hand and as she takes it an excuse comes from the Juraian of having already bathed. Reluctantly Ryoko flies past the two and to this private room where Vegeta hopes she finds more success in what she tried yesterday morning. He hears a timid thank you from Kaia at getting her out of that situation, she then follows up with a further thanks on saving her life against his mother. He shrugs and crosses his arms.
Food occupies him whilst his energy recharges. Vegeta eats and watches his son train, supervising him intently and barking orders at him when the slightest mistake is made. Several minutes into eating a multiform of Ryoko appears fresh from the bath, dripping water on the floor and with a towel around her. She smiles at him, intently watching him and lightly places a hand on his arm. She strokes his arm and part of his chest. Following a couple of minutes of her awkwardly standing there the multiform vanishes as its purpose is served. Vegeta turns his head behind him and red is gracing the face of Kaia once again for she understands the intentions of that multiform.
A distraction from Ryoko's antics come when Azusa enters the house. Outside Misaki is talking with her daughter and Seto observes. Kaia is gracious in her greeting to the emperor. The prince casually states that he shall not fetch his mother the queen for any peace deals or talks. Azusa nods and then he coldly says the number of Tuffles and Washu's relatives that Prince Vegeta was responsible for killing within Kagato's trap.
"That many? What a shambles of an army if they cannot even mobilise to scrape their wounded off the battlefield effectively. So what of my few kills there? They are simulations, and that number does nothing towards what my total has been for a long while." He limited greatly his destruction – and was in term handicapped through his inoperable shoulder. Those deaths mean less to him than the billions he wiped out years ago.
"If you see no point in the loss of those lives then that is the point. You allowed most of your mother's actions-"
"Queen Vegeta's actions. Even as Emperor you shall refer to her by her earnt title – as hollow as it is. I allowed what brought Misaki back. You would kill to save her life, I am not agreeing what my mother did was the best option however it has worked." Morals can always be damned as far as he is concerned. Stopping a woman that due to a smell you cannot touch is not the easiest beyond pelting her with rocks. What happened has, and they all survived. "You fear my influence on Ayeka. Is that it? For all my years of having indoctrination and peace shoved down my throat it is about time people realised it works both ways. I am perfectly capable of turning your daughter into a heartless killer if I wanted, 1 week for an unstable and reckless one, 1 month for a perfected soldier. I have not, and I will not. Her sadism and temper do not stem from me so be careful in how you shift the blame."
The emperor harrumphs. Vegeta tilts his head towards the training room and simply states his son has no issues with sadism. He then postulates how enriching it is for him to divulge in dealing pain and that perhaps Ayeka finds it as stress relief – anger filled attempts at catharsis. Azusa shakes his head and decides this conversation is over. One last comment comes from Vegeta as he informs Azusa that he has no hesitations over sending his mother back into hell if the need arises. The emperor pauses and then remarks to himself that he would rather deal with a savage with a manageable power level than the monster Vegeta is. A small girl stood in the doorway to the kitchen makes sure that everyone is playing nice and looks for the rest of her family.
As Azusa points Sasami to where Misaki and Ayeka are and the juvenile Juraian skips out the house her grandmother stands at the front door. Seto bows her head to Prince Vegeta and politely requests entry to his home, he shrugs and accepts. Without pause she strides in, past her son-in-law and past Vegeta, and at the entrance to the training room she coyly waves to the training Trunks. Seto asks him whether he would be so kind as to chauffeur her to Goku. The lad agrees with Vegeta eyeing her with suspicion. Seto repays his glance to her by answering that she has answers to be sought in the Otherworld and unless he wants to be her taxi service there then she shall utilise Goku instead. He does not trust her intent but this gets her out of his hair, the two go far away.
Ayeka and Misaki are brought in tow with Sasami bringing them back into the house so that the family is not separated. The elder princess is not looking towards Vegeta, she instead goes to sit by her friend Kaia. Sasami is still not happy with her big sister being mean and attacking people and has not heard a proper apology from her so stays by her mother. The leaders of Jurai face Vegeta. He takes a step inside his now empty training room.
"Prince Vegeta, do you think your mother the Queen could find similar rehabilitation as you have on this planet? Will she remain a threat to Jurai or can she see the same sense that you have?" Misaki asks.
"... I was in a similar position to her when I began residing on this planet. She will be crazed for power, driven to do anything and everything to reach the legendary transformation that she cannot but children can. The threat of the Super Saiyan shall keep her in line. Frieza kept her in check and so shall the fear of our resounding power."
"That answers concerning only her immediate threat, not of a possible change of heart."
"You ask me as if I know her on a personal level. I don't. Her life has been war, much like mine was at her age, however her fights were to the death and for a cause she believed in whereas I was just a harbinger of guaranteed death doing the bidding of Frieza. She is young. She is foolish. I understand and I accept her title as a Vegeta. The Saiyan ways are all she has. She was raised by them, lived by them, enforced them and embodied them. I had but remnants told to me by Nappa." Vegeta sighs to himself. "She shall require motivation to change. … She needs someone to be there for that want. Be that her family, her want of Kakarot or something else. That is all I shall say on this."
Queen Vegeta gives out a high pitched and oddly feminine sneeze and rubs at her nose. She complains that this planet is at fault for having 'odd' air causing her to make that sound. Being relegated to having to sit by herself, meditate and learn how to image train is not aiding her impatient want for power. Gohan cannot spar with her and the weak woman is no sport for her – even as she watches this human's flailing against that of someone with Saiyan blood. She has been baited by her pride. Gohan told her that following one battle and defeat at the hand's of his father her son Vegeta mastered how to sense ki. She has been attacked several times by those with this ability and still without the scouter she is blind to this knowledge. Not being able to fight against Gohan this is her given duty – the task of learning how to sense something she is blind to. It does not make much sense to her. Though she is liking the scouter showing her power level at a higher value than her King ever reached. She sniffs at the paper Washu gave her and does not trust it.
She fires a blast towards the couple and leaves it hanging in the air between them. Queen Vegeta is not one to be ignored. Gohan knows how to handle this as he asks if she needs help in him raising his power level to the maximum as that helped the blind Kaia in training her ki sense. Silent fury comes from Queen Vegeta as her blast vanishes. She shall not require what a disabled weakling did. In earnest she concentrates. Gohan thanks that all Vegetas are the same.
Satisfied, fully pampered and rested descends a pleased Ryoko into the living room. She has borrowed more of Vegeta's clothing. The black trousers are a bit short on her longer legs and the white shirt she has not fully buttoned. Her attention quickly goes to the training Vegeta and waves at him with a smile and watches to see if he shall remark on what he gave her the privacy to do. His exercise continues. Whether the door is open or not does not impede Ryoko's ability to distract him in this room. Some red blossoms on her cheeks watching him. Remembering the room she quickly turns about to look at Kaia as she knows her friend can read her emotions remotely. Ayeka stands behind her and distracts her attention from finding out how much Kaia knows.
"Miss Ryoko, my um- my outburst earlier … my behaviour was atrocious and I should not have lost my self to violence over … I apologise for having hurt you." She bows her head and the princess says sorry for her earlier attack as her family looks on.
"Why sorry? I was completely goading you into doing that. If I didn't want you slapping me I wouldn't've said what I did. You're just hella easy to lead-"
"And I shouldn't be. The fact that you can, with ease, lead and stoke my emotions into violence is a failure of myself."
Golden cat-like eyes inspect this modest royal offering her a respect she neither sees often or really wants. One of Ryoko's favourite toys is Ayeka and having her making efforts to be less fun is something she shall discourage. She smiles and floats backwards into the training room and closer to Vegeta and wags a finger at this lady offering an earnest apology.
"It's bad if Vegeta hits people if he's angry, very, very bad, not you though. Are you tryin' to say you won't ever fight me again? Not if I parade about in a wedding dress? Sneak into his room? Give him a few more early morning pleasures? Whenever I want to I hit Vegey, or blast him, it's fun and he lets me, so you have fun too doing what you want when I let you. I mean even Kaia tries to hurt me when I annoy her. You Juraians are just a violent bunch."
At this Azusa stands and with severity faces this miscreant who dares to slander his empire and disregard his daughter's words. His voice is far louder than anyone else in the house cares for.
"Miss Ryoko you are a victim of abuse at the hands of a barbaric Saiyan and have the audacity to list my empire as violent-"
"Um, yeah, clue's in that little word 'empire'. You kill people. You invade planets. You conquer races. You force your culture down everyone's throats. C'mon when have you not been swinging your sword around, or not attacking Vegey … Little Sasami the greatest Juraian ever and uh … whatever Ayeka's other mom is called, I count 2 Juraians I know who ain't violent. And yeah I won't count Seto as Devil Princess, she's violent just not with her own hands." On her fingers Ryoko counts off the two Juraian's she personally knows who have not physically hurt her or witnessed try on someone else. You do not become a galactic empire through only diplomacy. He cannot deny Jurai's involvement in war, nor how they have a feared navy.
"You owe your life to a Juraian. More than once. And her name is Empress Funaho." Though holding the lowest rank of all present Juraians the blind Kaia states with authority a reason that Ryoko should not create enemies where they need not be. A Juraian boy traded his life for hers and Ryoko should honour that.
"I owe my life to Vegeta as well, that make him peaceful and none violent?"
"You said yourself that Vegeta does not lose himself to anger in striking others. Whether you believe our respective races to hold a predisposition to violence does not forgive me of my personal failings in controlling my emotions like Prince Vegeta can." Ayeka presses on with her apology to get Ryoko to accept it. This talk is of her not of her people.
"Yo, Vegey, how many times did Bulma hit you?" The pirate wilfully ignores Ayeka and clicks her tongue as she sidesteps the subject.
" … Do not make me out to be like Kakarot and his household of domestic abuse, I do not enjoy being attacked without the intent of a fight." Vegeta says with a clear expression of wanting to be left alone.
"Little Vegey needs to stop arguing or it's mind reading time."
"Bulma held a temper as explosive as my own. She did break her knuckles on me once. Many times though I completely deserved her slaps. Don't fish for an answer Ryoko, I do not keep count, nor is it a competition you should want to participate in."
"Pirate, desist in aggravating my daughter. Do you think after all that Misaki has told me of you and your obsession with causing Ayeka pain that I have not investigated you? Miss Ryoko, I have access to complete details on your family-"
"I was left in an orphanage, that's all I care to ever know!"
"And that snap is exactly why I possess this information. The why surrounding you arriving at the orphanage can be told to you, as can many other facts that you might not prefer to hear. This time you might have had Ayeka be the bringer of violence, but if I hear of the opposite occurring again then rest assured you shall know the true fury of Jurai."
Azusa stands by Ayeka and his own form of shield now protects her in terms of this threat. This woman shall not so openly disrespect his family nor intentionally cause hurt to his loved ones. He watches fear creep into Ryoko's eyes. With both Washu to garner information from and the informant Kaia to talk to whilst Kagato's trap was sprung he has a strong understanding of the weaknesses that plague Ryoko. She is not as strong a target as she likes to think. This threat to her identity dissuades her.
"Like to see you try with Vegeta here." Ryoko fires back with what retaliation she can muster against the might of Jurai.
"Or … I could just peacefully train instead. That would be the dream."
The Saiyan might save her from the sights of a sniper but if she wants to start her own intergalactic wars then she can finish them herself, and leave him to his training. A growl comes from the woman floating by him and true to her word when annoyed she does fire blasts at him. Blue forms around Ryoko and holds her in place. Ayeka motions with her shield and escorts Ryoko from Vegeta's training room. The red eyes of the princess fall onto the prince. She might have asked for forgiveness from Ryoko, however her words and feelings concerning Vegeta's betrayal to her have not yet been smoothed over. Advice has been given. Although, Funaho comes from a belief in polygamy where adultery does not exist, in this Ayeka stands alone within her family where there shall be no sharing of her lover. With standard etiquette she greets Vegeta and gives him one hour to train before she shall call on him to discuss matters with him in private and briskly turns from him to go to Sasami.