Chapter 112

Fingernails impatiently drum as she stands with her hands on her hips. Ryoko faces Vegeta, almost scowling at him. She can see it in his eyes. The first thing he sees is not her. That haunting glimmer stealing him lasts a moment, but a moment too long to not wound her. When the realm of the living is his focus she watches as a stern eyebrow raises. She cannot find it in her to speak out about Bulma to him. He is looking at her now, his distraction from her shall end. Ryoko steps closer so that he can get a better look. He bends down and picks up the bouquet she threw at him and holds it out to her. Ryoko snatches it and holds it to complete her ensemble as she asks whether she should have the veil up or down.

Shiso and Cilantro rush to the room – Ryoko is wearing something very expensive and they are not taking chances on it getting damaged or of her bolting and running out any more doors. Cilantro with less hurry takes up a position to bar Ryoko running from their shop, trying not to look like she is doing what she is. Being a professional thief Ryoko knows what they are doing and is half insulted that they think that is enough to stop her. That is not her concern, this man looking her up and down is.

"Do you think I look good in this dress?" Ryoko asks him a leading question with emphasis on a certain word fishing for a certain answer.

Pure alabaster white. The bodice shows off a small amount of cleavage but this dress has a top section to it made of a thinly woven and fragile fabric almost unseen to the eye that is embossed and embroided with floral and art nouveau-esque patterns. These white patches of decoration conceal some of her breasts to a more respectable degree, lay on her shoulders and play down her arms into a terminating fancy lacy hem at the elbow. Simple enough is the bodice, no garish ornaments or jewellery, just careful and loving stitching as it slims between her breasts and her hips and plays as a continuation to the styling above but in denser fashion. The train of the dress extends back over a metre from her. This is no mermaid style dress for sure as the layers of fabric flow naturally and gracefully down and about her from her womanly hips. An outer layer of the dress plays host to a mirror of the transparent and decorated material on her chest over the main white fabric layer of the dress. On her back the bodice covers less, plunging down almost to her waist with the see-through layer covering it with patterns growing down from her shoulders and reaching up her back towards some decorative thin laces tying the back of her dress in place. Her scar is not hidden, yet it is not in plain sight.

"... I have seen the gods themselves, calling your beauty divine would be a grave insult and disservice to yourself." Vegeta answers and does not fall into her trap as he pays her heavy lip service. His hand graces the material of her veil as she firmly nods in response.

"Do you think I'm the most beautiful woman right now?"

"Right now, and always."

"D- Do you think that I look good in a wedding dress?"

"Yes. Undoubtedly."

"D-D-D'ya like me in this dress?"

"... Ryoko, I'm not saying those 2 words here. Fish for me saying 'I do' another time to ease your doubts. And no, you do not like yourself in that dress so I don't see it suiting you if you are not comfortable wearing it."

Her elfin ears droop and Ryoko shakes her head. It is apparent her asking all these questions to him are to try and alleviate her self doubts and his words are honest and his compliments she takes to heart.

"I'm wearing it to show off to you though, so if you think it's pretty that's all-"

"It's your dress, Ryoko, not mine."

He walks around the back of her and the faint outlines of her scar are visible beneath her hair. Looking to the women he asks if she is being awkward or troublesome – which garners him a shove to the shoulder from Ryoko. Shiso is not certain what to say on the delicate matter that they as a couple should not already know. She says that Ryoko asked around belt loops for him to put her tail about her and maybe that might prove to her whether the dress fits her or not. Ryoko blushes at this. Fur coils about her waist and she looks away embarrassed by this. One hand leaves the bouquet to stroke his tail as she looks down now. Ryoko slowly shakes her head. It makes her feel better but it does not change her opinion on the dress. The tail quickly retracts.

"OK, so are all the dresses she picked out like this?" Vegeta asks Shiso. The attendant nods. "Too tame. She doesn't like that style, try something more-"

"No! I can do this. I'm- I'm good enough to wear a normal dress. I can wear a classic, traditional white wedding dress. I- I'm not a weirdo who always has to dress slutty."

"There is a trend among those who can afford such extravagance to have both a classical dress for the ceremony and then something more 'comfortable' for the rest of the wedding. So maybe we can look at another dress for you that you'll like wearing for that?" Cilantro makes one of the easiest additional sales of her career as she speaks this possible solution for Ryoko that does not delve too deep into her personal issues of identity over getting married.

Ryoko goes to nod enthusiastically at this option. Two wedding dresses is better than one. She pauses though. It should work. She hopes it shall work, having something she can see herself wearing but having some other dress like this for the walk down the aisle. Ryoko in an unusual act of conscientiousness looks first towards Vegeta. This is still hard on him. She looks at him and waits. The Saiyan Prince appreciates her respect towards him and that he is financing all of this and nods, giving her permission to get another to make her happy. Vegeta then offhandedly describes to the shop assistants the usual style of outfits that Ryoko wears, the colours and shapes and fabrics she is comfortable in and her large streak of flamboyance, sexuality and vanity. Ryoko fires her own comment back that a cape would suit Vegeta better.

This time Cilantro gets to escort Ryoko back into the changing room with a relieved smile on her face. Shiso awkwardly looks to Vegeta and answers that they do have a limited amount of cape-like accessories though they are mainly for one shoulder or perhaps a longer tailcoat might make do. Vegeta does not humour any of this and goes back to sitting down, meditating and waiting as any attempt Shiso makes at conversation fails. After half an hour of boredom and minimal signs of life from Vegeta Shiso excuses herself to see to Ryoko as well as her services are not needed here. In his mind Vegeta is planning on how to combat what Ryoko has shown him today with her insecurities and on whether or not he can sense Piccolo on Jurai in case his power is necessary; he cannot. The issue of his mother and her actions he personally does not care for however he knows clearly her effect on Washu and without Washu he cannot be aimed at the true enemy of Kagato. He hopes that whatever magical madness Goku has to make foe become friend can also save the sanity of a woman birthed into a fresh personal hell after residing there for twice as long as she was alive.

Another long hour passes before a loud and proud Ryoko marches back into his sight. A triumphant return. She looks happier and comfortable in what she is wearing compared to earlier. Rousing himself slowly from meditation he uncrosses his legs and opens his eyes to look upon her. With a smirk and a nod he gives her a thumbs up of his approval. This she likes, yet it is not enough to satisfy her. Ryoko approaches him and yanks him up to his feet by his tie, steps back and does a few graceful twirls before expectantly looking on at him. Words and flattery are the price he has to pay.

High heels are back on accentuating her lithe figure. During the ceremony she might want them to appear as equals however if this dress is for the reception and such then she can have her fun again by teasing the short Vegeta. White boots, open toed and tied up her shin with a cream ribbon. This can be seen by a sensual slip running from hip to ground along her right leg that lets spill these secrets. Tights of a thin, floral decorated lace with a front and back stripe of silk are held up an non-traditional and darkly contrasting tall black garter. With Ryoko's long and shapely legs working these to the best she can. Her right leg frees itself from the slit, lifts up and gradually lowers itself onto Vegeta's shoulder – just as it did during their date of ballroom dancing. Vegeta makes no move to touch her foot or leg as he does not want to potentially frighten or disgust her.

Since the presence of the groom is practically unheard of when dress shopping neither Shiso nor Cilantro know exactly what to do in the situation of the bride-to-be so actively flirting. It is a marked improvement upon Ryoko's mood and does shed a far better light on the relationship between the two however this is still a store and as much as it is a store for a romantic occasion there is a line as to what shall be allowed. So long as the scary presence of Vegeta does not push back against them enforcing said rules.

Ryoko chuckles to herself. She toys with the short, half veil across her face and the string of pearls that hold an odd light red pearlescent hue that drops down its centre. She bites nervously at her rouged lips as she feels his stare. This dress is form fitting to an extreme before it serenely cascades away and back at her hip. Again white is the main colour for she stubbornly shall not shy away from the colour symbolising something she has long never been though now ivories and creams join the mix to accentuate the shading and contours.

There is no cleavage on display. Ryoko's chest is fully covered as are her collar and shoulders by this high necked dress, even the back is open to just over half that of the previous traditional dress so that some of her scarring is obscured. Down either arm is a double helix shaped sleeve, swirling and joining down to a small fabric ring on either middle finger keeping the sleeve in place as it covers some of the back of her hand with a sparkling array of small jewels bedazzling it. The rear helix of the coil gets hints of colour as it passes her elbow and towards her wrist the speckling of crimson glitter colours and contrasts against the opposing alabaster helix as they snake about and expose ellipses of her arm. Long threads of silk, some beaded with decorative miniscule diamonds, flow off the back of her hand and her wrist almost giving the impression of the wide and exaggerated sleeve openings found on some of Ayeka's robes. Underneath Ryoko's arms where a split for the oddly patterned sleeve begins the split continues down into a thin triangle down either side with red dotted white ribbons loosely tying together these splits. Upon either shoulder is a lavishly large pauldron in an upwards and outwards flared feathery style – with brass and copper plated metals with golden highlights and tips worked into an almost natural ruffled look as they extend and curl almost a foot in length.

Beyond a patchwork of patterned stitching and the shading hues of fabric the chest, back and torso of Ryoko's dress is fairly plain and serves to enhance and display only her natural physique. Quickly stitched on 4 lacy and large belt loops are around her waist waiting for the completing accessory of her bride-groom. The base and hem of the dress and its train is a deep dark crimson with the colour appearing to leak and flow and fade upwards. Frills and ruffles dance in a chaotic pattern down the dress as it lightly billows out from Ryoko's form. An under-layer of a pitch material gives a dark inner shadow to the dress and shows vividly through the right hand split.

Ryoko presses down with her foot to get Vegeta to sit and she takes her leg back to stand. He smiles up at her and she gives him a radiant response. Looking down at him she says that she is ready to hear that line about her being divine again. Instead he questions her if her wearing pauldrons is asking him to don his own royal armour. She coyly responds by parroting his words that his clothes are for him to be happy and comfortable in. Vegeta then gives her the lip service that she is after. The heartfelt flattery of her beauty woven with a few backhanded compliments to keep her ego and confidence in check and a slew of sweet nothings to appease the positively glowing Ryoko. These words have Ryoko's ears standing to attention with a rosy colour to them and after a while interrupts Vegeta by taking a seat on his lap with her arms loosely about him.

"Tail ..." Ryoko coos at him to fill the belt loops and complete her ensemble.

Vegeta's tail instead wraps about one of Ryoko's wrists and he raises an eyebrow as he sees his wallet in her hand. Ryoko pouts and complains most men should be too distracted to be thinking about their money at this time. His tail lets go of her hand since he is the only one here with money anyway and was going to pay. She smiles and with her other hand presses two fingers to her lips under her veil and then gently dabs those fingers against Vegeta's own lips. Ryoko holds the wallet aloft like a prize and rustles it about in the air looking to Shiso and Cilantro. It is a crass way to get their attention as they overlook the shameless flirting but a sale is a sale. They ask her if she is happy with her choices and ready to finalise her decision. Ryoko beams and nods. Shiso asks further if the dresses are for straight up purchase, for hire, or to be reserved until February. Ryoko pauses and answers reservation and gives a reason for the belt loops to be done properly as with the other alterations so they keep them until she needs them. She floats off from Vegeta then remembers and hurriedly puts her feet on the floor as she goes off with them to sign forms for reservation and pay.

The paper means nothing to her. A few words at best she can understand with no context. A pen is useless to her as she does not know the alphabet well enough to sign her own name. Beyond that she has no proof of identification. Looking to pay she pilfers through Vegeta's wallet to find only a single card and no physical currency. She does as is instructed to pay by card and then is asked for the pin. Ryoko would guess his birthday if she knew when exactly February is. Turning around humming to herself and trying not to curse under her breath she looks back to see an arrogantly blasé Vegeta waiting for her to ask. She taps her heeled feet and clears her throat looking at him which thankfully is all it takes since he does not want to piss her off too heavily. With the reservation taken care of Ryoko is handed several cards with information on partnered business who can take care of other aspects of planning a wedding, she puts these in Vegeta's wallet.

Both get changed back out of the store's stock and the accessories used in Ryoko's hair are removed though she gets to keep the make-up on as they see no point wiping it off and spoiling her look. Ryoko huffs and feels almost plain in her nice get-up for the date as she throws her purple shawl over her shoulder. As she gets changed back she asks if they do any outfits for small animals as at this point Ryo-Ohki is making up the sum total of her guest list. They can go quite small on outfits as some animalistic people are not that large however rodent sized is a bit beyond the norm. Ryoko waves it off as a thought for another day and goes out to get back hand in hand with the stern Vegeta and continue the rest of their date since the day is young.

"What a relief, since you've bought from the first shop I don't have to bore myself going to any-more now." Vegeta teases as they leave.

"I got what I needed, and you got to see my scar – perv."

"Says the woman who constantly ogles my own and harasses me to know all minor details of how they came to be."

"Eh, only scar that matters to me is the one we share on our palms – even if it can't be seen. Good for you I am already classing this as mighty fine escalation, what now?" In a sense the blood pact between them is already an unbreakable bond just like marriage could be. Vegeta eyes her and begins walking off back in the direction they came from.

The Queen of all Saiyans sits in the grass with her legs crossed and her mind focusing in on the glowing and long haired individual before her. Goku trains carefully in his Super Saiyan 3 form to gain the efficiency and mastery both he and his rival strive for. He also knows that him being at this high power reading is making it easier for Queen Vegeta as she attempts to grasp ki sense. There is something there. She can faintly tell the wisps of something beyond the immense pressure her body feels from the physical proximity of his body. With this she shall have an unmatched tactical insight into any battle against a living foe – better than any other Saiyan born before her that she knows of. She watches and observes and learns from Goku's martial arts even commenting about his lax usage of his own tail and how to better incorporate it. Goku is grateful for her insight, Queen Vegeta feels it is only fair to give him this after the time spent by the river fishing to cool her head off and bring her back above – even momentarily – the depths of despair. That power shall be hers. The future matters, the past does not.

Getting hungry she drops out of the training and waltzes into Goku's house to see what she can find. It is not a meal time yet so Chichi has no cooked food prepared no matter what orders are barked at her. Queen Vegeta flies outside, shoots and kills a deer and begins roasting it with her ki. Eating her fill she butchers a large chunk and brings it back to Goku's house and shoves it into the fridge for later. With that itch taken care of she grabs some paper and a pen and sits down at the family dining table. Chichi tried to get away from this home-wrecking guest by reading a book at the table but has found no such solace.

"You do not look the highly educated type but you might hold something worthwhile in your head, do you know anything on the matters of politics, legislation or the like?"

"No I'm not educated, but be polite when asking people. Manners cost nothing. There's probably some old books of Gohan's or even the computer for info if you must know."

"OK, cannot read them so your aid so far is nil. To appease this current generation of Saiyans I am considering constructing the legal code required for Saiyan marriage to exist. Explain to me details I might need to know about this alien act."

" I'm not telling you how to try and marry my husband." Chichi eyes the Queen warily.

"Not what I asked, worm, nor what I want. Mating is not marriage. Explain what this strangely widespread custom is and how it differs to a mated contract." No simple peasant refuses the queen. She reaches out and grabs at the collar of Chichi. The easy to anger housewife toys with striking back but knows that violence is what this Vegeta wants and so she shall not have it. Chichi easily removes the hand from her.

"Why should I if all you want is to insult me? It's a holy ceremony binding two people in love-"

"'Holy', religion is involved?" Queen Vegeta spits these words out in disgust.

"Kinda, I think Bulma had a secular wedding but that's all cultural differences. Why, is religion an issue?"

"You do know where I was for the majority of my son's life, right? Saiyans are not religious people. We outgrew those childish and pitiful believes early in our race's infancy."

"...You are being offensive-"

"Good."

"So you have some strange superiority complex over those with faith?" Chichi sighs to herself at the pompous and ironically holier than thou attitude of Queen Vegeta, she does not like dealing with Prince Vegeta at the best of times and his mother is hands down worse. She does not care for the bluster and machismo of Saiyans. Chichi is not impressed by the savagery and power of any Saiyan and least of all when they pale in comparison to her obedient Super Saiyan 3 husband.

"Saiyans need only faith in themselves and their own power. No fanciful deity has saved any I intended to kill. You prostrate yourselves voluntarily to some imaginings. Cower and grovel as if Frieza were upon you. By choice! We Saiyans had an ancient spiritualistic belief on our old home world. The light of the moons gives us strength, so we revered its power over us. We then sought out equality and betterment as would any sane individual. Its power is not allowed to be higher than our own, we chased it, we were consumed as a species to overcome it. This higher power as you would call it we did not hesitate to detonate and claim our rightful place at the zenith. We ripped our 'gods' from our own skies and became a race so feared Frieza had to put us down eventually."

"... I don't care about your history, or your silly boasting and posturing. You worshipped a rock then blew it up, cool, fine. All I here is pig headed arrogance and idiocy, so I see where Vegeta gets it from." Blowing up a moon has not been any kind of feat since she was a child. She regularly fends off a perverted old man who did that to beat Goku as a kid at his first World Tournament. A woman damned to hell is for some reason thinking Chichi cares for her views on religion and she is wrong, Chichi looks to her book with disinterest.

"Secular weddings then, what of them?" The arrogant Saiyan slaps the book out of Chichi's hands and across the room. Royalty is not ignored. She shall have her answers.

Anger that is not usually repressed bubbles up within the housewife. Some light discipline is in order now if she is to keep a peaceful house. Chichi grabs the Queen's nose between her fore and middle finger and twists. A pained yelp erupts from the Queen and she wraps her tail about the attacking hand to pry it off her as her own arms dart out to seize her attacker by the throat or face. She grabs at blonde hair and pulls. A chop falls down on Queen Vegeta's head and the strength in her grip lessens as she is dazed so Chichi breaks free of her grasp and calls for Goku. The aggressive Saiyan takes offence at her opponent so freely calling for aid and struggles against the might of Chichi. Unlucky for Chichi her husband is out of earshot, fortunately though his grand power is not needed.

A Super Saiyan drags Queen Vegeta out of the house and pins her down. Goten sits atop her and proclaims that he will protect both his mother and his little sister. The sharp pressure from her pinned limbs get Queen Vegeta to quickly stop moving. Tidying herself up, Chichi walks out and thanks her son though does also reprimand him lightly for breaking the rule about transforming near the house. Goten lets the Queen back to her feet and offers to spar with her to let her tire herself out and calm down. She flies off a short distance and he follows with Chichi tutting to herself as she goes back inside her house.

Back in the park they first teleported in for this day out, Vegeta wanders into a less crowded area and sits himself down on a bench. With a bemused sound Ryoko stands and looks at him and then about at this random park bench. This is not a destination as far as she can tell. There is nothing here but him and it is not as if he is tired and needs a rest. Knowing he has some plan or intent to his action she follows suit and lounges down next to him.

"I'm not going to leave that, not after the show you put on in there. Do you want to talk about it?" He looks across at her. Ryoko is unsure if she sees genuine concern in his eyes for a moment. That question she feels ashamed to have to answer but is thankful that it is asked.

"Dunno, do you? It really hurts when I see glimpses of her when you look at me y''know. We talkin' or is it just easier if we read each other's minds?" She reflects his probing. If she has to talk than so does he. With a sigh she runs her fingers through her preened hair and stares blankly out at the grassy scenery before her. "I couldn't see it. It- I just didn't fit."

Ryoko leans forwards and puts her head in her hands and rocks side to side. She groans and growls to herself. Infuriated at this and how she has had to compromise because of some strange fears and doubts she cannot properly understand. Ryoko leans into Vegeta. He puts an arm around her shoulder and brings her in to rest with her head on his thighs.

"How … how the hell did you with your twisted and shitty ego get that through your thick skull and accept it? That people like us can stand there like regular jack-offs and go about pretending to live boring lives like them and get married of all things. … Vegey, do you really see me as not someone you can love, but someone who can be a wife?" She looks up at him with this plead. Reaching up she rests a hand on his cheek as she implores to know the truth.

"Wives come in all shapes and sizes. You are not Bulma, you aren't Chichi, Misaki, Washu, whoever you think you have to be or act like to have a ring on your finger. Just be you, the rest will come with time, Pumpkin."

" … I'm not too sure that I liked the me I saw." Ryoko closes her eyes and bemoans her self doubts. All she saw in that mirror were her lows and mistakes, all the times she was ugly and unwanted and beaten. That wedding dress symbolises a victory she is not familiar with – coasting along and running and hiding herself from failure in drink and pleasure leaves it foreign and strange to her. Vegeta takes her hand from his cheek and holds it.

" Why? Because you've been kicked to the curb all your life now you think getting out from the gutters might be presumptuous? I wouldn't be wasting my time on someone I did not think was worthy of my time. I- I like you, and as the smarter one of us you better listen." It takes some gall on his part but he gives her the confidence boost he sees she needs with some careful words. Vegeta is cautious around what sudden declarations he throws out so ensures it is only the word 'like' and nothing with any deeper meaning that Ryoko is holding out to hear.

" If I trusted the opinion of things smarter than me than I'd be following Ryo-Ohki's advice and only eat carrots. Thanks. I- it's real goddamn underhanded you say you like me now. I like you too, mostly. But of course you won't say love. How? How do us who've done such shit just decide marriage is fine for us?"

"I'm the Saiyan Prince, I am superior to all and am of course worthy of marriage. That and what the hell kind of choice did I have with Bulma basically holding me hostage at the altar. Ryoko, is it you being scared of marriage, or you being scared of marrying me?"

"... Yes." She nods slowly for he has hit the nail squarely on the head there. Vegeta shall always be problematic and for her to not have massive worries surrounding him would be ignorant and ridiculous. She sighs and Ryoko's ears droop. "Let's face it, what does it say about me that I'm still here after everything when Ayeka had the gall to call you out on your bullshit and leave? I know that if positions were reversed and situations different you'd've tried to do the same for her, 'cos that's what pushed her over the edge – me and you canoodling."

"I know what death is."

Vegeta is curt and brusque in a response to a sin he shall never see as wrong. Ayeka left and Ryoko by all rights should also have gone long ago for all he has done to her. Though Vegeta doubts Ayeka shall stay away for too long he can see the disarray this is putting Ryoko in – the whole dynamic around his house has vastly altered. Ryoko pretends not to hear the terrifying coldness to Vegeta's words there and how horrifying death must be for him to so obstinately believe in his actions for her over any loyalty to Bulma.

"And so you'd kill me when I'm happy to save me from fake Freiza – and that's where Bulma comes steam-rolling back into all this. I think it scared Ayeka that. You are so on the brink, one false move, one wrong step … and I know what those mistakes can cost. You could kill her, or me, and believe it to be the right thing. And- and I hope that I can also do the same mercy to you – but I don't know if I could, and you'd be pissed as hell if I tried."

"Whether we can kill the other shouldn't be the issue. Whether we can live together is. Me, you, Trunks, Ryo-Ohki, that's it in the house. Can you handle that?" She is getting distracted and her idle talk could soon become dangerous, Vegeta nudges her to the issues at hand.

"In our house some day." Ryoko sticks her tongue out as she stalls by pointing out her want of a new house they own together.

"My training may decrease, even with that you will be left to your own devices as unwise as that can be."

"And this is why you asked Ayeka to think on her future like the good daddy you are. No way am I turning out like Chichi did from marriage. Not me." Ryoko knows what Vegeta is pushing for. Her slothful habits she knows he dislikes and it is true she has little to occupy herself with for she is so unused to spending so long in one place when not chained up. She refutes becoming a standard house-wife, thinking of no worse slow death to all she is than becoming some pretty thing to cook and clean for Vegeta and of the horror of perhaps wanting to start a family. Her career options are limited, with that comes a need for education and that Ryoko is loathe to admit or take up. "I'm scared of you. I'm scared of failing you. I'm scared of this- all this highly committed long term relationship stuff. I'm scared of turning into someone I ain't, and I'm scared of that bitch Ayeka robbing me of all these worries that I hate. Then there's like Kagato trying to kill us and he's getting closer each time. Actually, opposite, right? Don't find it that reassuring – funny - that he's getting worse results in offing us."

"If marriage frightens you for what you perceive it as, then why are you so adamant on gaining it? Is it purely for the equality of Ayeka? Or is it some form of proving yourself as being a woman worthy of more than a quick turn under the sheets?"

"You're smarter than that. C'mon with the promises I've had you make me you can tell. You can't toss me aside if I'm your wife. I need that security, Vegeta, right now I need that security that no matter what I won't be alone or abandoned or hurt. That and I want to find the same thing you did from you and Bulma getting together. I want that life changing moment where it all becomes better and happier."

Vegeta nods down at her. Those are the fears he suspects her of, whether her pinning all of this on marriage is correct or not. He can so easily refute that since divorce so readily exists marriage holds none of the security she desires. This Saiyan holds his tongue and holds her hand. He slips his tail over her which she lets a small smile out at. His happiness he found not through marriage, but through having something to pull him away from who he thought he was and to enable him to let up on his dark past bit by bit – neither of those being things Ryoko sounds keen on with her vehement declaration of not becoming a house-wife.

Together they sit in relative silence for a while as Vegeta lets Ryoko calm down and think. His steady breaths rock her gently as she rests on him. Neither care for any person who looks on at them in this public park. Ryoko watches up at Vegeta and tries to tell what goes on in his head, what answers he holds he can tell her and what possible lies he hides from her. His face is not soft, nor does it seem content. Ryoko lets go of his hand and reaches up to place a hand either side of his face.

"How's it going for you? You're pushing through but how much is it hurting?" It is his turn to admit his issues.

"I can manage-"

"You can manage any pain that doesn't kill you. I'm fine with us just hanging here if whatever's next hurts you. I'll hit you, swear at you and call you a monkey, but I don't want you to hurt through that terrible grief looking at me. It's- … It's all become like really real right now, ain't it?"

"Not much of this prior has been play for me. That's why it hurts. It's always been real. The shadows of the past shall not always be cast over myself. All I need to know is: can you give me the future I want?"

"Only if you give me mine, and stop thinking about how to win back princess."