Chapter 113
The Saiyan scholar feels her blue eyes upon him as he works. A lion's share of the manual tasks within this lab have fallen onto his shoulders due to Washu's distraction by her intermittent emotional distress and lack of focus. He reads up on one of the automated reports on all noticed irregularities within the closest star cluster and takes a sip of some coffee he brought in from his own house. Steam from the coffee fogs his unnecessary glasses which he wipes away as the constant barrage of new information keeps him utterly swamped. The peering watch of another nosing in on what he is doing cannot be ignored.
Gohan swivels about in his chair to see Mihoshi playing it coy that she was not just watching him for several minutes on end. She waves a friendly greeting at him and beams a smile his way, he fires back a joke that this cannot be the glamour she expects from her super hero. Becoming self aware of her previous fangirling over him she becomes shy as she says that it is fine and he is helping lots of people with his work right now too. Gohan picks up on the subtext. He is helping people. She is unable to right now as a police officer. Being stuck in this laboratory with little way to do anything he sees that she wants for some activity to help her aid those she thinks of as friends. He is the only other here that she can interact with when not being smothered by Washu using her as a security blanket with Yamcha being occupied in keeping Washu in check and not running rampant against Queen Vegeta.
He asks her casually how Kiyone is doing, if she has heard from her, and Mihoshi wavers that she seems so-so concerning how up in the air it all is with Kiyone living for her career and not liking leaving a job half done. Mihoshi looks around for a bit at the strange laboratory before continuing. She has talked to her family and having got permission from both Jurai and Washu she has informed her family – who basically run the Galaxy Police – about her position and her heritage. It was a delicate topic to broach and luckily no skeletons in closets have been unearthed yet as to where this Tuffle ancestry originated. The amount of Tuffle DNA within her is so microscopic as to be insignificant but it succeeds in one job valiantly in how it paints a target over her head and how just as easily Kain could have targeted her after Washu.
"If you're bored in here just say, I can open up a door to the outside if you want. It'll be to my home but if you want a space to relax that isn't as imposing as this strange dimension then by all means you're welcome there." Gohan offers Mihoshi.
Out from this lab is what she wants and so Mihoshi nods eagerly even as she asks if this is alright with Washu who mostly does not want her out of her sight. Gohan gives her the go ahead and presses the combination of buttons to open a door to the real world. She skips through it with little wariness into an unknown house at an unknown location. Tripping and stumbling on her way out of the slightly raised cupboard that the dimensional door is attached to Mihoshi blows her blonde ponytail out of her face and breathes in the natural air again and smiles. A couple of minutes pass and Gohan thinks to himself he should probably message Videl and informs her of the stranger in their house that Videl has not met before Mihoshi gets taken down as some home invader by the Great Saiyawoman.
Snooping around with little care Mihoshi investigates the spacious and large house owned by the daughter of Hercule Satan. The game begins as she starts playing around as the detective she is. Observing clues, piecing together patches of their lives and all in all being quite nosy as she amuses herself in a place that is not Washu's laboratory. Martial arts equipment reveal Videl's sporty and competitive side, the large array of photographs and memorabilia of Mr. Satan showcase her strong bond and pride in her father, the pantry and kitchen are exceedingly well stocked in desserts which she presumes to be for the Buu fellow she has heard of that is in some of the pictures with Videl's father. In the corner of the kitchen there is even a basket and a pile of dog toys though the lack of animal fur in the carpet leads her to deduce they do not own a dog themselves so there must instead be a regularly visiting pet – Bee. There is little owned by Gohan that is not academic, few personal items or luxuries from his frugal upbringing and easy ability to visit his family whenever he needs to. With all this Mihoshi's snooping coincidentally brings her into a private place she should know better than to intrude as she slips into the master bedroom.
Her eyes gleam with childish delight as Mihoshi finds the treasure she has been seeking. She slips the watch-like device onto her wrist and presses the button. Mihoshi dashes over to the full length mirror in the bedroom with a cape flowing behind her and throws out a signature pose. She is now dressed in the authentic Great Saiyawoman costume, wearing the actual attire used by one of the superheroes she has seen on television and admired. More quick poses simulating the heroic duo reflect back as she enjoys herself. However in her enjoyment she does not hear the front door open, nor the footsteps. The other person in the house though can hear the giggling clearly. She puts her grocery shopping down and picks up a tennis ball from Bee's corner. Unimpressed, Videl opens the door to her bedroom and bounces the ball off of her own helmet and startles the galactic police officer who hurriedly becomes quite embarrassed with her actions. As Mihoshi tries to stammer out an excuse for her behaviour Videl marches over and presses the button again on the watch so that the outfit is removed before slipping the watch off of Mihoshi's wrist.
"So you're that alien police fan-girl that was staying at Vegeta's? You look normal enough to me, come help me put the food shopping away whilst you explain what you're doing in my room." Fans are nothing new for either Videl or for the Great Saiyawoman so she takes it in her stride as she reprimands Mihoshi and goes off to continue her day.
Mihoshi sheepishly follows Videl into the kitchen. A familiar sight greets her looking at the humongous spread of shopping bags containing food to feed a Saiyan stomach. The police officer sets to work putting items in the fridges or pantries when she notices Videl looking at her curiously.
"You're not some super strong alien race are you? No silly powers?" This bouncy blonde is not lifting the same amount of items as Videl can – which intrigues her as all aliens she has met put her strength to shame.
"I'm … a police officer, so a bit strong to do my job but I still need a gun and things to take down criminals not like the Saiyans and the scary things they can do."
"C'mon then. Arm wrestle me." Videl rests her elbow on the kitchen counter top and looks at Mihoshi in challenge. It is a matter of her pride here as a fighter that she finds at least one alien she can beat or match in physical strength.
A shy Mihoshi thinks this is some kind of punishment and nervously goes along with it. She gets flipped head over heels when Videl starts the match and collapses heavily on the tiles in a daze. That was not the level of strength that Videl expected from an intergalactic space cop. She rushes over and profusely apologises for almost concussing her.
"D'ya think I'm some idiotic naïve princess? I ain't being led by a man like you down into some jacked up and grimy warehouse." Digging her heels into the ground and refusing to move, an obstinate Ryoko pouts at Vegeta.
After a lovely and relaxing time spent just being together and comforting each other she now sees the next destination Vegeta has in mind and is not impressed. This locale is quite suspect. This is not a place you take a lady on date, she is half unsure whether she would even find a decent dive bar in this kind of estate. Factories, warehouses, this is an industrial complex and not a clean nor one that seems particularly bustling. She relinquishes her hold on Vegeta's arm and crosses her arms with a harrumph.
"I ain't going any further, not to some dark alley or warehouse that basically scream abduction or you trying to continue what you almost did to me during your season. No." Compared to the elite and prestigious store housing wedding dresses this is a drop in quality and Ryoko shall be vocal.
"A remote and secluded cabin in the wilderness with no-one around for miles is where I live, so quit your yammering about this place being suspect – you don't complain there so don't complain here." Vegeta shall give Ryoko the modicum of attention required to continue without openly insulting her. Some faith in him would not go amiss.
"It's different at home, maybe it's even fine for you to try some a' those things-"
"That's wrong for a start. Come on. Once you are inside you shall change your mind."
"You wouldn't take Ayeka to such a dirty and smelly place."
"I have no need to. Or is it my turn to tell you to stop thinking about Ayeka on our excursion."
"Date. Not excursion." She sticks her middle finger up at his back as she sulks and sullenly continues to follow him to this strange factory.
Cargo ships are laden with wares before they drift upwards into the sky. Large chimney stacks belch steam to cool their inner workings. A maze of buildings, pipes and metal surround the two as Vegeta walks without a care through this industrial complex. Ryoko turns her nose up at the stench of exhausts and the labour she so constantly avoids. Wafts of strong heat come from open doors and vents on the sides of the sturdy factories. Strange looks are given their way from the few workers outside. Ryoko persistently asks Vegeta where they are and what they are doing here and he responds with a teasing reminder that she says she enjoys surprises. A few iron girders lie on the floor in front of him that he nonchalantly kicks out of his way. Ryoko has taken up batting at Vegeta's tail to pester him into answering her.
"Yo, so you did come." A sturdy black woman in her early 50's stands before Vegeta and waves in casual greeting. An upturned welding mask is on her head, large boots on her feet and grime covers her work overalls and apron.
Vegeta simply nods and this stranger also nods in response whilst giving a curious eye up and down these two not suitably dressed for where they are. Ryoko immediately questions who she is in quite a rude manner. The worker flips out a lanyard from inside her apron and leaves her name unsaid – Ryoko takes this as a greater insult for her illiteracy. Vegeta goes to walk on inside this smaller industrial looking building they are outside when a stocky arm from the woman bars his way.
"You two sign waivers before you get anywhere near my forge. I'm not going up against Capsule Corp. legal team if she gets some embers on her clothes." A wry smile plays across her face as from a large pocket in her apron she pulls out several legal documents and a pen. She is not going to be taken for a fool or make such a mistake as allowing these rich randomers injure themselves in her workplace.
"I thought I offered enough money and potential clientele with Capsule Corp. to get around this annoyance."
"You paid the agreed upon fee, all additional wealth you shoved at me I paid back into your account. It doesn't put me at ease that the rich and powerful don't seem to even know what bribery or the laws around it are. Either sign the waivers or get the training required, the safety certificates and the necessary insurance." Her moral compass does not let her sink to the levels that would make it easy for Vegeta, excess money will not sway her. She waves the papers about. This is not negotiable.
Vegeta gives a disgruntled huff and signs his name. He would not sue even if harm could come to him, the law is not what he uses to settle disputes. The paper is passed back to Ryoko along with a pen and she freezes for the second time today at her lack of an Earth language signature. She makes a show of reading the document whilst stalling. Ryoko then makes an extreme scrawling on the line. Now it is so non-legible no-one can tell that it is an alien language. Ryoko hands it back with a false smile on her face. This woman said forge. That is not a usual date location, however forges means metals and they can be rare and expensive depending on what is manufactured here. The worker takes and pockets the legal documents and says if they need anything there is a working intercom to contact someone. Vegeta gave strict instructions when hiring out her forge for the afternoon that they required no instructions or guidance or supervision. She is unsure about this and how foolhardy it can be and thus she is now legally covered against any consequences. She gives a warning that they should familiarise themselves with all safety apparatus and guidelines whilst the heat builds to a workable level.
Entering the building with Vegeta leading the way to whatever mystery he has planned Ryoko already feels the heat hit her. For all the hard work Shiso and Cilantro put into her appearance she does not see her make-up or hair-do surviving this room. A complaint is quick to fall from her lips. Looking about she sees crude and almost archaic mechanisms. She is not one for work or manufacturing so does not know what these devices are or are used for, all she cares for is that most are hot. Smelters, casters, furnaces, crucibles and quenching barrels line this musty and sweltering room. Thick and grime covered windows let in some light but remain closed so that the fumes are funnelled through proper ventilation and cleansed by the futuristic catalysers and converters available on this Earth. All the equipment is heavy duty and well worn. A rack of cumbersome metal tools are ignored by Vegeta. On one of the few workbenches besides a vice is a clean and thick wooden box. The Saiyan opens it and Ryoko's attention is stolen.
Bullion. Feline eyes affix onto the prize she suspected of being in here. Ryoko floats over his shoulder and her greedy fingers reach down. There is not a lot in the box, small weights of a dozen varying colours of metals. She picks up the shiniest and most colourful ones and purrs as she strokes them and thanks Vegeta for the presents. The gold bullion is filched from Ryoko's hands as Vegeta holds it before him. He simply asks Ryoko why he thinks that they are here. She shrugs and guesses it has something to do with making some metal present for her, some jewellery or gift and then her voice trails off. Looking at the metals and then at several of the casts and moulds and a few fine implements that guess of jewellery seems correct. Her eyes go wide in shock as it falls into place. There is something else that was promised on this day. Some other item and event. Out of all the fuss and excitement over the wedding dress it slipped her mind that this place is where her promise to Vegeta to propose to him properly would be upheld. This is where she has the parts and equipment necessary to make her ring for him.
"Ayeka's was handmade so hell if I'm stupid enough to not think you'd not at least want the same. Is it escalating enough for you now?"
"Y-y-you're making me a r-ring too?"
"Against my better judgement, I know you're going to be unbearable with this. Now don't go throwing a fit and tantrum if you start trying to pity yourself over not thinking you deserve a ring, got it?"
"I know, dick, I'm Princess Ryoko, the woman with Mr. Super Saiyan wrapped about my finger." Glowing and brimming with a tender warm feeling in her gut, Ryoko beams as she gaily boasts. "So how the hell ya make rings and stuff then?"
Vegeta cockily smirks as he has no intention of telling her and wants to see what she can do by herself. He gets a swift kick to the shin for that and then what he anticipates to be a slap when Ryoko's hand stops right before his face. She keeps it there and waves it excitedly before him. She asks if he can see it right and if he knows her hand's size and has it all right for everything to be perfect. Vegeta simply nods. The pirate then lunges forward and seizes his hand. Vegeta tells her she has the wrong hand and she grumbles as she switches his hands and stares at it then puts her hand over his for comparison. She loops a finger around his and tries to gauge some measurement from this before floating about the room for any kind of measuring device. Ryoko finds a small iron rod, bends it around Vegeta's finger and snaps off the remainder so she has a rough guideline. Her ears stand to attention and her eyes glaze over in thought.
"Like does it have to be a ring?" Ryoko queries as she is having an idea she thinks is quite cute and will make her ring stand out as more thoughtful and superior to Ayeka's.
Since the Saiyan Prince is not one to hold strictly to Earth's traditions he says she can make whatever she wants so long as it is not obscene and is fit for someone of his stature. He takes his medallion of gold over to a forging hearth in his bare hands and subsidises some heat with his ki to begin melting the metal into a workable state. His shirt begins to crisp and char, he clicks his tongue and Vegeta drops the molten gold into a crucible before he takes his top off.
"So … can I ask for a teensy bit of service? Y'know to make me feel better to stop me getting sad and stuff over all the serious shit, could you maybe make the most of the hunk you are?" A coy woman sidles up to the topless Vegeta. A hunger not borne for the precious metals plays across her predatory eyes. She traces a fingernail across his shoulder. With the heat of the furnaces her flustered face hides any blush, yet her ears stand to attention.
He gruffly clears his throat in question of what she is after. Ryoko ponders for a bit as she decides then she holds up two fingers on one hand and points upwards with the other. Super Saiyan 2 erupts from Vegeta as he minimises its destructive and electrifying aura. Ryoko claps her hands pleased. It feels hotter now due to his energy but she shall manage. Since his shirt is already off she susurrates for him to remove his lower garments. Vegeta eyes her with suspicion and firmly states he will not be getting naked here. The pirate innocently says that is not her intent and that she just wants something on her date, some fun, after he left her all high and dry after promising her such love and passion when in Kagato's trap. She does not want him naked, just almost naked. As the Saiyan Prince weighs up whether he should acquiesce to her demands or not Ryoko raises her ki and dips her finger into the gold and quickly flicks several droplets onto his bare chest. It does not burn him and she likes how well it matches his hair as she wipes her finger on a nearby apron.
"Spoil me a little, would ya? C'mon, it's too hot and sweaty for me to touch you."
"It's hardly spoiling you a little if it continually happens. Why do you want me undressed? Are you after some slight titillation or are you trying to wrongly prove something to yourself? Nothing's changed since then, you do not have the ability to be sexually passionate towards me."
"Look it's bloody hot in here so if I'm gonna strip to not melt in my damn skin then you have to do so too." She makes a show that her wants are not just carnally driven by tossing off her shawl onto a workbench and wiping the beading drips of sweat from her brow.
The trousers, boots and socks of Vegeta are kicked off into a far corner of the room from the rogue. He watches Ryoko's gaze to see how truthful she is being and finds it to not be that much, he wraps his tail about his boxer shorts and goes to grab at the molten gold again. As he heats it afresh gently with his and the furnace's heat he casts a sideways glance at Ryoko to find her state of dress has changed little as she fans at herself. After circling him for a while she finds a stiff and coarse towel and mops at her face with it. Looking back at her on the towel is a reflection of her smearing and leaking make-up. Ryoko groans and then thoroughly wipes at her face to clean it. Watching Vegeta is not giving her much of a clue over the actual how of forging jewellery. She hovers close to him to ask and he pushes her back with the back of his forearm warning her that her hair does not stand upright away from the flames. Agreeing that she does not want to singe her lovely hair but also refusing to undo her styled hair she goes over to one of Vegeta's boots and steals a lace from it. She uses this string to tie her hair up on-top of the style into a high ponytail away from her shoulders and face. A low voice mockingly says she looks positively perfect at her vanity.
Blistering and growing heat get Ryoko to succumb. The boots are the first to go and then for modesty she throws on a blacksmith's heavy apron as her dress slips off her. She even splashes herself from the water meant for quenching heated metals. A complaint comes from her that she could use another drink about now. Vegeta gruffly reminds her she is an adult woman who can teleport and sort out her own needs. Water steams off his back as Ryoko playfully splashes him.
Happy with the state of the metal he takes it out of the furnace and a mould meant for small ingots he pours a shallow amount of the precious liquid in. He needs it now to become cool enough that it is solid and so turns about to wait as he looks at Ryoko trying to learn from his example. She matter of factly states that what he has there is not a ring. Ryoko wants to know what he is making for her. He does not give her an answer. She dichotomously excitedly sulks away from him and rummages through the medallions of metal as she is still yet to decide what she is to construct. Ryoko knows what metals she likes however her task is a metal for a Saiyan Prince who does not share her sense of style. Pragmatism is a hard aspect to adhere to in accessories and beyond that she has to outdo the Washu manufactured triple layered and personalised ring of Ayeka with one hunk of metal. That tan-line of his old wedding ring she needs to add to.
"After seeing the intimidating might of a true Saiyan female, has this swayed your stance on that decision at all?" Vegeta questions Ryoko to pass the time whilst he waits on the metal to be in a workable state.
"Mummy dearest has given me her blessing so screw the rest of her, I don't care. She's just a worse you, and ain't as fun as Ayeka to play with. What'd you do if I took her down after making a bad decision and became Queen of you? I haven't had you bow to me like you've done for Ayeka, and I'd make you King then, my King." Taunting is repaid. Ryoko chuckles at the thought of lording over him and Ayeka with her rank and of him having to show proper respect and humility to her.
"If you did not kill my mother then you'd die shortly after she healed. I know the limits of Saiyan royalty. I watched my father the King be stepped on and cower beneath a greater title. Until you can bring me the status of Emperor I shall remain a Prince."
"... I don't really understand this nonsense with Saiyans, Jurai and me but I think what you're saying is me as is now. Which is good 'cos I'm perfect. Unless you want to be a bastard and overthrow that insignificant empire of Jurai? You make Kai-Kai sad and I won't forgive you."
"The business with Jurai is them having to mess with a tangle of bureaucracy of their making. Dealings I care so little for they were forced to summon another Saiyan. It is entrapments like those I do not want. The classic issue of Saiyans: we strive for power and the power of rule, yet we never want to do any of the politics and ruling that comes with it. As I said, Prince."
"If ruling is too hard then I'll just have to rule you for you." She sidles up alongside him and grins. Ryoko giggles at his annoyance at those words. She keeps watching him and then kicks his shin. The pirate holds his chin to face her. "You started the flirting so you see it through."
Vegeta steps forward into her, causing her to back away, and one of his rough hands clasps over the side of her head with a finger dangerously stroking her ear-lobe and close to her sensitive area. His hand retracts and he messes her hair. A skittish fear alighted in Ryoko. She might want for attention and affection yet she is not ready for any aggressive pursuit on his part. She grumbles to herself. The pirate goes to repay this act by giving him a hicky on his collar but is unsuccessful through his hardened hide and the heat of his transformed flesh. With a light punch of annoyance to his gut she tells him to get on with making her engagement 'ring' so she can work out how it is done.
Once his gold is solid but heated enough to be in a malleable state he begins his craft at haphazardly forging it into the rough shape he desires. Nosey eyes and ears are not allowed to peak upon his work which gifts him a Ryoko pestering and annoying him for the duration. He is careful with his speed and ki as he does not want to damage the integrity of this creation. It takes shape into a pointed rectangular shape. Vegeta uses a small needle of ki to open it up along one of its short edges through the length of it and makes a hollow opening so that it is possible for this to be worn. Perfecting the shape, size and density of this lump of gold the Saiyan's lack of artistry leave him with the largest obstacle facing him in terms of decoration. With a fine and controlled hand he adds carvings and patterns to it before quickly tempering and then quenching the gold and shooing Ryoko away from spying on it before it is completed. He reminds her there of what she said surrounding this event and passes the ball into her court.
Being an expert thief she has some speciality in terms of jewellery and estimating sizes, Ryoko does not think it will reflect well on her if she is so unfamiliar with Vegeta's body she cannot make this correctly. She has to do this to overwrite the dark past of her initial proposal to him in the rain and dirt. Bronze is her metal of choice. It is not too garish for the Saiyan and that is about it in terms of reasoning. As she heats up her metal she does not allow it to become molten so stops when it is glowing and workable. Summoning one of her red lances of energy she drives it carefully through the centre to make a hole. As to what she can do now she pauses to think. She needs to make the hole bigger and the ring thicker. Finding whatever tool looks the part she begins squeezing and hitting away at the bronze loop. Ryoko feels quite disgusting in this heat and perspiration yet toil and labour is something that appeals to Vegeta so she puts up with it.
Her eye for detail and familiarity with designs and embellishments on jewellery leads her to take far longer on decorating her gift for Vegeta than he did. In truth this is the best thing she has made for the fact she is not much of a creator and more of a destroyer. She budges past Vegeta to do what he did at the end with tempering and quenching. With both their products resting at the bottom of a steaming pool she wipes at her brow and slicks back her damp fringe off her face. They smile at one another as Ryoko whines for him to turn the fires and furnaces off.
The room begins to cool down and Ryoko mops at herself with the apron she wears and splashes more water on herself. As the heat decreases however the redness to her face does not diminish. She knows what she has to do next. She has to do this first. A sweaty and overheated mess is not how she pictured this to go down but alas it is still a large improvement on her violent insanity as she screamed the ultimatum of a proposal first at him.
Ryoko reaches down into the lovely cool waters of the trough and plucks out her gift. In some sense she could call it an engagement ring, yet since he was being avant-garde in his creation she did not want to be similar and likes having this difference between what Ayeka presented to him. Ryoko holds it behind her back as she faces him. Crimson glows on her cheeks and her ears nervously droop. As the Saiyan Prince watches her he asks if he should remain transformed or not for this. She pauses and then nods.
"Yeah, but higher. I think I need you at level 3 for this, so long as you keep it safe." More than her personal preference on his appearance she knows that his transformations run deeper in the psyche of this play. Vegeta's ego and identity run deep with his Saiyan blood and power. What he recognises as himself is his power and thus his highest transformation is his truest state of being. Beyond that, Bulma. Ryoko cannot hide from his past of Bulma and there is no greater way to address it than to do this in the presence of her final gift to him.
He elongates his hair and transforms into the Super Saiyan 3 form. Calmly breathing he regulates his energy so his aura is near imperceptible. Ryoko quietly thanks him under her breath as she looks at him. He understands what she is doing here. Unlike Ayeka there is no Trunks to go through or seek the blessing of and he suspects Ryoko fears that familial path for Trunks' opinion and her aversion to the topic of children. Here she seeks but him. The gold flecks on Vegeta's torso she earlier splashed onto him she stalls for time with by flicking them off with her free hand. Stood next to him she looks eye to eye with him. Her voice freezes and catches so she wipes at the soot and grime from her face.
"Vegey, you promise you'll protect me?" She nervously asks in a subdued manner.
Vegeta nods, he shall use his power to protect her.
"You'll treat me right? With respect and kindness and no cruelty to me because I'm hard enough to take it?"
Again he nods.
"Make me happy."
There is no question. This is a demand from Ryoko as she blushes and lifts her feet from the floor. Floating in the air to remain eye to eye with him she kneels in the customary position for a proposal. The tips of her ears go crimson. She shall not submit to him and lower herself, forever she shall remain his equal for only then can she hope to gain what she seeks. Ryoko has no more smart words. Before he can reply she darts out with a hand and grabs at his tail. No questions asked and without hesitation she shoves and slides a large brass band down along the length of his tail. Ryoko proclaims affirmatively that he is hers and that they will wed on his next birthday. Nodding to herself she watches carefully for any tell on the stoic face of the Saiyan.
Silently the Saiyan looks down at this ring on his tail. The metal is similar in hue to the fur of his tail. Along its edge are engraved patterns. The same letters he saw carved upon the back of Princess Ayeka are fancifully detailed along its circumference: Ryoko's. In as much an act of calligraphy as she can manage, a technical a font as Ryoko could muster on the metal denotes her possession over him as she claims him as hers and hers alone with the trident-like symbol of Saiyan royalty punctuating its end – which she learnt watching him consecrate Bulma's grave with. For him he can read the standardised language of the Cold Empire naming him as her partner, yet he sees her trickery in how it is unreadable to those from Jurai.
The Saiyan without word pushes the band down to the base of his tail where she could not reach. He does not speak a response for any truthful words he speaks shall spoil this moment. This is as much as he can accept. She takes his acceptance of her gift gratefully and smiles nervously. An arm reaches behind her and into the trough. Vegeta dries off his own gift and warms it to body temperature as he holds it behind Ryoko. He can see the barely held back anticipation within her – Ryoko looking as if she is about to burst. Vegeta speaks and calmly asks her to close her eyes. She does so immediately.
She flinches when she feels his touch and half calls out his name in protest until she feels the metal. He is touching her ear. She can feel his rough skin against her sensitive appendage. He is putting something on her ear and it is not like any earring she knows of. There is a weight to her ear. It is not the easiest to keep her elfin ear erect with it on.
"You stole some of my thunder by asking me to protect you, for that is the theme I chose. I will not forget my sins against you. This gift shall act as a reminder to us in what we have overcome and how I shall strive to never let my evil befall you again. With that armour, you have the word of the greatest Prince of all Saiyans that none may harm you and live." Vegeta states proudly. Her fears must be allayed and so he combats them by protecting her with this.
He goes to step back from her and give her room to admire his craftsmanship, however her hovering kneeling position has her legs free and so they come forward and wrap about him in a hug along with her arms. With muffled words she speaks and gently nods into his collar. Feeling the metal she knows why her ear now. Hearing his words she knows its shape. It completely encases and more the wound from him biting her. Her most vulnerable place that he can make jewellery for he has encased in metal and with a vow. Vegeta's arms go around her though are mindful of her state of dress. With this the deed is done and the act is complete. They have proposed to the other and there are no nasty hitches to ruin it for her.
"Is there a mirror around? I wanna see it but I'mma kill anyone who tries to take it off." She kneads her chin into Vegeta's collar as she asks and looks about the smithing room. The want to see shall not overrule her desire to keep this on her – not even for a moment shall she voluntarily yield it.
Vegeta motions his head towards the workbench and tools for he thinks there was a small one among the junk and it might be clean enough to be of use. Ryoko responds by kicking her feet into his back in a mushing motion. This Saiyan Prince shall not be her steed those few metres. In no part of his words to her did he say he would serve her whims like a serf. A disgruntled click of her tongue playfully comes from Ryoko as she floats on past him to the prospect of getting to see the thing weighing on her ear.
Gold. She knew it was made of gold in the first place but there it is a large hunk of gold metal wrapping nicely over the top of her ear. All the areas that were damaged or are sensitive are encased in an arcing curve to leave her inner ear open for hearing. It fits snugly. A comfortable tightness to it that means it shall not fall idly from her and that Vegeta has intimate knowledge of her anatomy. Her fingers stroke against it. Her breath fogs the mirror. This is foreign for her even in her hoarding of accessories, never has she worn something as strange as this, as personal as this, as meaningful as this, or something that is worth so little to others except her. In the corner at the tip of her elfin ear is a small etched Royal Saiyan Trident. She smiles at the similarities in her stealing his symbol for use on his tail band. A few flecks and swirls details its otherwise plain and spartan appearance. Along its rim she sees characters written, they are numbers and she asks what they mean. The answer is the date she crashed into his life.
Her eyes turn from the mirror and she fans at her face. Ryoko's eyes mist over as emotions fully overwhelm her. This is hers. Only hers. To try and lighten the mood she jokes through a cracking voice that he could have made it lighter for her to wear. She then hurriedly flies back over to him and buries her face in his glowing chest to hide her tears and bask in his warmth as she expresses her overflowing passion and love. His promise he has not made idly to protect her. The Super Saiyan 3 awaits any move by Kagato to attack this woman, for he knows that as much as a target is painted on Mihoshi one also lies squarely on Ryoko.
With no snide insults nor innuendo she divulges the truth of her feelings to him and what this day means to her. She basks in his ki. Ryoko looking deep into his eyes tells him she does not need his words right now as she knows the truth of the matter concerning his emotions, she has already gotten a small confession from him of his fondness over her and pushing any further shall spoil this. Stroking his tail with one hand she kisses him on the cheek. A pleasant surprise is warmly welcomed as she gets a similar peck from her betrothed. Ryoko giggles that she is going to be insufferable gloating to Washu about comparing her emerald ring to her ear cuff.
"Watching you play with Sasami is more to my liking than having to guide you here. These are names that I know but you do not. You cannot hope to read them all, for I know how long this took to painstakingly construct, you care for its scale and the question of whether he killed this one or not. As a prince himself did he ever talk or mention some kind of memorial for his own people?" Acting the elder brother, Yosho solely guides Ayeka with both in a sombre tone in respect to their surroundings.
" … As a Saiyan I know his answer. He talked in excuses of reminding me of his sins as a way of honouring the dead by keeping them in memory, that was it. Their race place no merit on the deceased for death is a failure they cannot forgive. I can hear his words now that if they had made any memorial the one word it would say is: all." Ayeka sourly gives what answer she can.
"I guess that is true. It is not my place to disparage the customs of another species, nor of what mindset their psychology feeds. I am sure his views on death have radicalised compared to that of the average Saiyan, I know I myself have done a fair reflection on the proven existence of the afterlife. How he views his mother and her now archaic way of thinking shall show how strong his ties are to serving death."
They stand in a grey place. No grass, no trees and no greenery shall ever grow here. As much as it pained the Juraians to scar their home-world with this barren patch it would be more abhorrent if this effort was not taken. Dark stone lines the ground. Each brick has a name, a date and a one line epitaph, and if the family requested another line or symbol. Thousands of square metres is this dull brick ground interspersed by a black grid of black pathways. The usual creaking of trees, of wood-life and the sounds of nature that Juraians are accustomed to hearing are dim and faint here.
Yosho looks down at the names of their great-grandparents that were lost in the great war. Ayeka is too young to have ever known them, yet he did, and he was there to witness Lady Seto and Misaki on the day the news broke. Here they are simply more bricks among millions of others, they are not here to pay their respects for their empty resting place is in a mausoleum far from here, they are here to be put into perspective at the behest of his sister.
She is visibly shaken and subdued from her emotionally gruelling day of facing the war she was heralded as an end to. Only a few of the veterans she met could speak in any manner similar to Vegeta in regards to the parts they played and the horrors they saw, and they were not adjusted well nor coping in an empire with little need for soldiers. The damage and the trauma she could barely stomach. She asked few questions regarding the 'extinct' Saiyans and most could only repeat tales they had heard themselves. - none among the living had first hand experience. Ayeka's learning and understanding of a veteran of war is awhirl with confusion and disappointment for she cannot make it fit the picture of Vegeta she knows. Together with their heads bowed to the ground she takes in this place of memorial.
"No-one there would say. Your tales of heroism in war I grow disillusioned to. I am no longer 'Little Ayeka'. Can you please tell me what the act of taking a life feels like? Why would any find an allure to it?" She places a hand on her brother's arm as she asks for grim information.
Remembering back to when Washu struggled with layman terms to explain his mating season to her she realises there is so much to life that her few years have not experienced. Ayeka knows what they teach of death and the sin of taking those precious to Tsunami, she also knows her brother's part he played and needs to see if there is anything she can compare to the dispassionate responses of Vegeta and Ryoko when it comes to murder.
It is not like his sister used to be to touch him so casually. Her time with Vegeta has changed her attitude towards men whether she likes that or not, and he suspects she is far more relaxed and comfortable around him now they do not have an incestuous arranged marriage hanging over them both. Yosho nods in understanding at his younger sister's request. He moves his robe to the side and rests a hand on the pommel of the three gem encrusted hilt of his ceremonial sword. Yosho pats the hilt of his saviour in a few fights but shall not draw it in this place.
"No matter how decorated or holy, Tenchi is a blade built for a singular purpose. I fully understand and realise its implications every time it is drawn. In extension all soldiers know the potential of their profession. What can be inflicted upon the fellow man in the line of duty, an army is not a peace keeping force, harm shall ever be present. I am but a poster boy of the war – the valiant hero whose name can be sung freely from balconies for the good of Jurai. If you are granted power then it is possible to make the act clean and merciful if you desire. Most are not so lucky. Messy, dirty, vile and cruel acts are necessitated in a fight for survival. The rules we have over warfare are written through a costly and ignorant blood price. I do not know if my view of war is one that can be shared with your Prince's. For larger scale conflicts I can only imagine Father to be the one to discuss that with."
"Trying to talk reason with Lord Vegeta has made me grow tired towards people avoiding my question, brother. I shall talk with father, but later." She respects her brother in answering, however knows an avoidance of a question when she hears it. Ayeka does not know the full extent of his military history yet he can challenge her mother so is one of few who can face the might of the Planet Trade Organisation on foot.
"My view on that matter is tied to my own code of morality as well as our people's religion of Tsunami, neither of which afflict Vegeta. Mother Funaho has enlightened me with data I have asked for provided by Washu during your extended leave. To understand the man he became and the man you hope he has grown past you should seek words from the Queen of Saiyans. It was her, the King Vegeta, General Nappa and Lord Frieza who raised him into one of our Empire's greatest fears." Yosho shall not divulge his own experiences, not for fear of what his sister shall think of him but for how worthless they shall be for use in learning of Vegeta. He despises killing and simply that is not true for the Saiyans.
"... What information is it that you were after?" His distraction works in gaining her curiosity and luring her away from his military service.
"The first drop of rain that began the monsoon. … 'twas not as I expected."
"His first kill? Please tell me brother, what of-"
"The princeling was not even 3. Forced into a situation he could not understand and to continue senselessly beating even when death was not something he knew of. Thrown to a dangerous criminal as a means of execution and a test for himself. All the while actively encouraged and threatened by his parents to commit the deed. A toddler too young to comprehend either their own actions, their consequences, or any true empathy for others. Corrupted since before his memories began, he truly does know of no other time than having killed."
"That- I do have much to talk with Queen Vegeta. I- … Dr. Washu was right to withhold the full truth from me at the time I saw into his past. I know her explanations, I know his reasonings or whatever lies he believes about his mind … and I know of the promises he keeps that shackles the hands of a killer. He needs to find his tranquillity, to become one with himself and accept fully who he is before he shall evolve and grow beyond that past. He is a man at constant war with himself, and he need not be."
"And you are going to make sure that he does not get shaped into another of Lady Seto's weapons, right?"
"Airi and Haruna are the reason that you shall not understand my strong stance against Vegeta and why I am displeased in my engagement to him. I shall not dance to the tune of my grandmother as she puts me under false pressure to marry another of her relatives off in a bid for power."
"It is not false. She will do it."
"That was not my meaning. I do not underestimate her will. Grandmother Seto has simply no chance of accomplishing her repulsive goals, I have myself a worthy rival who shall easily outdo her."
She casts a sideways look to her brother. Ayeka will resist blindly relinquishing herself back over to Vegeta. If he wants her back then he shall have to take penitent action, not her grandmother trying to either force her hand or gain herself a safety net. Kind words to Ryoko are not easy to speak but are easier than the image of Vegeta being manipulated into becoming her step-grandfather. Yosho lets that drop. He will not rile her up by pointing out what should be obvious to the princess. They are here over Vegeta's crimes and killings and her first and only reason she spoke for leaving his planet is his actions with another woman. He knows his sister to have a modicum of selfishness even so the names at their feet should be reminder enough of the bigger picture surrounding why to not fall for the fury of a warrior.
"... The actions of the Vegeta of now should always be of more import than those before my birth where his choice were to put his head in the noose or others'." Ayeka quietly grumbles out a late excuse to her words as she too slowly realises herself. "Rehabilitation above retribution is where true justice lies. I have seen the good within his pride cries out to deny."
From within her robes she retrieves a communicator and sends a short message invite to her father. She shall have to wait for a response for Saiyan kind is occupying most of the royal family's time, a mess she has begun. Together they stay and wander about the memorial grounds for a while longer before it becomes too late. She walks from her brother to the quietly meditating Piccolo at the perimeter for him to protect her the short distance back.
Once in her bedchamber she finds an already sleeping Sasami and a reply from her dad. Late evenings are the only time available for him, even for family, so tomorrow before bed she can have her talk with him and if Funaho is present then all the better. Before preparing for bed Ayeka meticulously composes a long and detailed list of questions she sends to Washu to be forwarded on to Vegeta to answer for her. If he attempts to be brusque or use his machismo to lie in them then that shall be that. Today she has seen the faces of victims of war, now she wants the truth as to what secrets the face of Vegeta holds.
As soon as her message is sent an automatic message is delivered to her back from Washu. The sender is listed as Ryoko. There are attached images, and a dangerous subject line. Ayeka looks to her sleeping sister then hurriedly exits their room for privacy in the en-suite bathroom. For a solid minute she stares at the message before she dares to open it. An ear piece of gold has her catch her breath and stiffen. Luckily there were no pictures of the wedding dress taken to taunt her with. Following a self congratulatory paragraph by Ryoko celebrating her date and trying to one up Ayeka through her proposal to Vegeta over hers the writing takes a haltingly dreary shift. The insults and jokes stop. The beginning is a facade for Ryoko to keep up her appearance of nemesis. What follows are the desperate and searching questions calling for a friend to help her. Ayeka learns of the doubts of Ryoko. The headstrong pirate faltered in her date and made a realisation she is struggling with. Ayeka is beseeched for help over Ryoko's worries concerning marriage.
Leave him. Get out. Do not marry him.
Harsh and evil thoughts are what she wants to send to the pirate stealing her prince. Ayeka sets down her communicator. She glares at her reflection. Those dark thoughts and emotions are one of the reasons she is back on Jurai. The princess shall stifle them and not be corrupted. She splashes water from a sink onto her fair face. Slowly, she combs her long purple hair to calm herself. Since she is asking for hard truths from Vegeta it is only right she be prepared to help Ryoko. This sly rogue has turned to her which cannot have been easy. Ayeka picks up the communicator and types the few lines she can bring herself to before ending with a promise that they shall talk in the morning for it will be easier over a live dialogue.
Ayeka does not find sleep easily that night. Ryoko finds the gold on her ear uncomfortable to lie on when sleeping as she watches the glowing Super Saiyan in the night.