Chapter 118

The following morning sees another set of arrivals at the Son household. He does not call out for his ki and presence alone should be all that is necessary. Prince Vegeta's clothes are the same colour as his hair, a pitch black short sleeved shirt and formal trousers and shoes, and he clicks his tongue seeing the two training rooms beside the small house. Stood at one side of him is Ryoko wearing a mirror of his outfit but for longer sleeves on the shirt and leaving one more button open at the top than Vegeta and the other side stands Trunks as they both take their hands off him now they have used Instant Transmission. He listens and hears the only active training room be switched off and taps his foot impatiently. With a loud clang the bulkhead to the inferior training room slides open and leaning against its metal is a thoroughly exhausted woman.

"That tired after 1 measly day of what you call training without sleep? And look at that, a cute rise to your small level of power, keep going and one day you might be strong enough to challenge Kakarot's newborn. Get yourself cleaned, you come with me today." Vegeta gloats with as much compassion as most Saiyans hold towards their parents. He absently wafts a hand in her direction and blows open the door she is leaning against with a gust that sends her sprawling. She is in no position to refute his orders. "Any disobedience from you and I shall show you what I learnt under Frieza."

With a growl she struggles back to her feet and heavily pants. Queen Vegeta stiffly walks with her tail acting as a crutch to support her legs that feel like lead. As she makes her way inside Goku's house her son strides forward and inspects her training room. He does not go inside but looks in, reading the controls from afar he tuts in disappointment at the limits imposed upon her. Trunks jests that at least his generation of the family learnt to not be idiots when training, to which Vegeta replies that instead his son traded it for being an idiot at most other times. A minute later Queen Vegeta trudges chewing on something and forcefully hands over the documents Gohan wrote to her son and tells him to read before heading back inside. Vegeta looks down at the creased pages and frowns. It has been a long time since he last saw the natural Saiyan language – Frieza imposing strict rules to disallow its use – and tries to decipher what words he can remember from when he still had a home planet.

Inside the house a startled yelp comes from an ageing man. In surprise the Ox King is taken aback as the shower he is currently taking gets usurped as Queen Vegeta with no pause barges in, strips and manhandles him out of her way. Thrown out with just one towel comically small for a man of the width and height that the Ox King possesses an angry and exasperated sigh comes from his daughter. Chichi marches over to the fridge and marks a tally bringing the total up to 30 as she lists every time that this unwelcome guest has misbehaved. The Ox King sheepishly covers himself with the towel and lumbers off. Chichi calls into the bathroom that Queen Vegeta could do with learning some patience and just wait until the bathroom is unoccupied, and the female Saiyan bluntly responds she cannot unless she wants her son to follow through with his promised pummelling. At this the housewife glances out the window to see indeed the other Vegeta is there. She has a bone to pick with him.

Throwing open the front door and standing there imposing with her hands on her hips and a deep set frown she calls out the recklessness of Vegeta that endangered her husband through Vegito and how they are having to take care of his own mother for him. Vegeta does not care for her anger. He tosses her a bag saying that she is to pass it to Queen Vegeta as she has no acceptable clothes for visiting Bulma's grave. Mentioning where he is going gets the housewife to silence herself out of respect. He has no want to supervise his mother, she can do as she will and she prefers the company of Goku to himself – it is unnatural for a Saiyan child and parent to live together unlike humans where both Bulma and Chichi lived with their own. Grumbling to herself about the irresponsible nature of Saiyans Chichi goes back inside her house to set aside this bag of clothes for Queen Vegeta as she finds Ryoko floating alongside her. Goku steps out his house to see his rival. The two Saiyans smile at the other and competitively compare against the other how they found the fight against Vegito.

The bag gets set down by the door to the bathroom with Chichi calling that Vegeta has got clothes for her to wear and a grunt comes in response as the exhausted body of Queen Vegeta laps up the hot waters. Ryoko follows her ever still as she walks into the kitchen to get a mop and clean up the wet floor left by her poor father. With them alone and the floor cleaned the pirate lands and puts her arms around Chichi's as if they were far closer friends than they are. Ryoko nudges against her and spills out about her worries and fears concerning marriage with Vegeta and once the deluge runs out she looks down at the housewife in hope of answers.

"Look, I married the first boy I liked, and we married as soon as we could once we met as adults – after dealing with the whole fire mountain fiasco. I don't know, Ryoko, I haven't been in your shoes of having those worries." Chichi cannot give advice on something she has not experienced.

"But, like – shit, that's not good for me. Even if you didn't you've got experience I ain't so impart some of that wifey wisdom, or advice on marrying an idiot Saiyan."

"No swearing. I can't sing Vegeta's praises for you, but what do you think is the major sticking point here that you have to make a decision on? It's marriage, if you love each other then I don't see the problem."

"Part of me still has that niggling worry and fear 'cos he hurt me and that, but I know how piss easy it is to not let him be an idiot and not have that happen again. I … I just can't get that finality of it though. Like that's me, done, settled, over. No freedom, all over, Ryoko becomes a wife and a good, normal, boring average person. I mean weren't you some up and coming female fighting prodigy and now you get stuck at home worrying and doing laundry whilst everyone else gets to play heroes."

"You've got it all backwards. I only trained to be that tough gal fighter so I could meet Goku in the tournament to become his bride. I didn't have any lofty ambitions of Super Saiyan nonsense, I wanted a family of my own and to be a wife – to be his wife." Chichi explains. "I'm sure he's talked about Bulma enough. She never changed from who she was before to after making that mistake of wanting to be together with that arrogant jackass. Why do you think he wants you to become someone else if you marry him? And if he doesn't want it, and you don't want it, then why would it happen due to your relationship?"

Ryoko looks concerned as she listens. Maybe Bulma did not change during her marriage but there was a vast change within Vegeta as he adapted to life on Earth, and since she is aiming for a similar happy ending to Vegeta coming from a similar starting point it is that domestication that worries her. Maybe she is asking the wrong person. She does not want to be a housewife and that is exactly who she is talking to. Ryoko grumbles to herself. She then hangs her head and closes her eyes. This is the first time she has been close to Chichi in a while. Ryoko can sense it. That ki there is a child growing within her fathered by a Saiyan she loves. Always before she has looked down on pregnant women as fools – taking pride in her freedom of no responsibilities. That there growing within Chichi is her fear. The power level of it is ridiculous at this premature age, just like a child she bears for Vegeta would be, and that thought haunts her.

The pirate takes her arms from Chichi and moves about her front. She looks down at the stomach of Chichi and timidly asks if she can touch it. Chichi nods, wondering why she has become quieter. It takes a dozen seconds after asking for Ryoko's hand to move onto Chichi's stomach. Compared to the ki she can sense there is not much she can feel through her clothes. Yet, that weak and small pulse is enough. Ryoko grimaces and recoils her hand back.

"Yeah … mighta lied. That's the biggest thing. You might not know, I don't care if ya do, but Washu found out that I can't have kids with my Vegey. So this here, yeah this is pretty bad for me." Ryoko confesses in a subdued tone. "Not-not that I want kids but- but y'know it'd be nice to have the option just in case and not have -have to worry about him going for Ayeka if he does want another annoying brat about that house."

"I'm sorry... but it does sound to me like you're trying to convince yourself. It can't be that big an issue when there's dragonballs and whatever magic science that Washu can do, she made me young and helped for my pregnancy to happen in the first place." Chichi tries to delicately offer advice when they have ways of bringing back planets from death this small issue of infertility must have some solution.

"But it's not- I don't know if Vegey would want that, where it's some unnatural method and not some stupid 'true Saiyan' way."

"Those idiots having kids when it's not their time is already a bit unnatural -"

"I don't need reminding about their stupid mating seasons! I don't want kids. But I really, really don't want to end up wanting them and ruining it all when me and him are happy. … After he learnt he called me beautiful and it was so lovely 'cos he knew I was hating myself for this. I just can't get through to him. It's- it's damned near impossible to get answers even if I wanna read his mind. He says he don't want more kids but like hell he planned and wanted for Trunks at first and now look at him, so what does that mean? If Bulma were alive and got like you then he'd be happy again, right?" Working herself up with worry, Ryoko tries to keep her voice low in case Saiyan ears might here her fears.

Chichi rests a comforting hand on Ryoko's shoulder to calm her down. She can see the part she is playing in feeding Ryoko's insecurities through no fault of her own.

"It's not me you need to be talking to about this. I agree he is a pig headed and awkward man to talk to but I can't answer for Vegeta. Your choices I can talk to you about, not his. … For what it's worth though don't beat yourself up about all this. From what Bulma told me he's probably truthfully neutral and passive in this. He had a kid, 'cos Bulma wanted a kid. He got married again 'cos she wanted to marry. So, if you don't want kids, then he won't, and if marriage is scaring you then he won't try for it, at least without this whole mess between you and that princess." She calms and reassures Ryoko that she does not need to be kept waiting in dread until one day her infertility halts her plans.

" … I am getting him wrapped around my finger quite nicely." Ryoko agrees.

Feeling a bit better that Vegeta's general apathy will stop her being forced into decisions she does not want to make, Ryoko cheers herself up by marginally changing the topic and showing off her ear cuff and boasting of her date with Vegeta. A complaint from Chichi comes at the expense of how infrequently Goku takes her out anywhere or is not in the habit of buying her a gift with their previously meagre living expenses. The pirate is still uneasy as she can constantly sense that ki within Chichi, and so can another who despises its presence. Out from the bathroom a freshened up, though still tired, Queen Vegeta walks out dressed in a simple knee length black dress with her tail curling upwards out of the bottom of its hem. She chunters to herself how she is not fond of this plain and civilian like style as she bounces about and rolls her arms to test its limits of motion. Ryoko looks across to Queen Vegeta and is quick in warning her that the dress is from a chest of old clothes left behind by Bulma since she is short enough to easily fit within them and if she damages the clothes in any way then Vegeta shall retaliate in turn. His mother does not understand why he would hold attachment to clothes and ones as bland as this but she does not have the energy to fight her son now.

Outside the two male Saiyans are close to butting heads in their discussion over their few seconds they fought Vegito for and their own influence on his fighting style and tactics. Vegeta argues that since he started his fight with Vegito at full power that there lies the discrepancy between the time they were fighting for as Vegito had to wait for Goku to fully power up to be a match. Goku argues back that neither of their power came close to being described as a 'match' for their fusion. Queen Vegeta marches outside with a frown on her face at having to be seen by her subjects wearing this dress and she takes back the document of Gohan's that Vegeta has forgotten about due to his illiteracy. Now that his mother is here and ready and Ryoko is closely flying behind they are ready to depart. The Saiyan Prince smugly warns Goku that unless he comes up with several new devastating techniques the match is basically his guaranteed victory.

"Where is the Queen's presence needed and why is it required that these flimsy garments are what I wear? So long as this trip lasts only long enough for me to recover my energy for more training this shall be allowed." The monarch barks out her question.

"We go to my late wife's grave, where Trunks' other grandparents live." Her son states back.

"Why do you take me to a grave of all places? I shall not waste my time at a marker for the dead." Saiyan culture does not hold respect for those who fail at the task of surviving, and she has grown a larger hatred of grave sites since she got her own and discovered the shame bequeathed to her upon it. "This is not the actions of a Saiyan."

"Your own opinions as a weaker Saiyan are irrelevant to me. We go because if she were still alive she would have a want to meet you, so come along now and behave yourself or I can and will just take your training room from you." This threat rings louder than any of violence as he reaches out and puts a hand on his mother's shoulder to begin Instant tTansmission.

The party of 4 vanish from Mount Paozu and reappear in the lawns of Capsule Corporation HQ. This sudden movement onset with her weariness disorients Queen Vegeta and as she sees where she is her hands immediately start to raise. Noise, lots of noise, and smells of people and vehicles. The heavily populated urban environment is almost deafening from the serene mountainside she came from. Her eyes dart about suspiciously, looking at all the bustling movement around her. A hand aims up at a noisy and large flying transport vehicle. It does not look threatening. Nothing here looks armed as she scans. No-one is alarmed or attacking even though crowds of innocents wander naively not far from her. She lowers her arm and sees her son watching her.

"Why does this visit take priority over your own training? You are still in a state you can train in, we need to further the Vegeta line and ensure that our bloodline surpasses Kakarot." She begrudges and inquires of her son whilst still keeping an eye out around her at the flying traffic.

"Bulma always held the power to stop my training when necessary, as too does Ryoko." He replies curtly whilst adding in a little something for the sheepish looking Ryoko who he can guess what she was talking about with Chichi.

Vegeta puts his hand gently on his son's shoulder and they walk together around the edge of the house towards the small grove in which Bulma is buried. Ryoko hovers subdued behind them and out of their way. Black eyes glower at the prince and she clicks her tongue in disgust. The Queen of Saiyans saunters idly at the back of the pack with no care for being there. Upon turning into view of the headstone all that changes.

Violet energy sparks off her and her dress flutters from building power. With fury and hurt on her face Queen Vegeta storms off and barges through Ryoko to leave sight of that grave. It is wrong. Her fists clench and teeth grit as she damns it and curses this treason against her. Bulma's grave is marked with the crest of the Saiyan Royal Family. Her grave was not, the slab she had to inter her stripped her of her rank, her title, and who she was. A non-Saiyan was buried with the great honours expected for herself whilst she was left as a corpse labelled to be only remembered as a 'Pranis'. It is not fair. This affront to her should be destroyed and yet two Super Saiyans ferociously guard it. There is no justice here, only insult and shame directed towards her as Queen Vegeta.

A place cannot best her. Queen Vegeta marches back to her family and pointing in accusation at the tomb questions the validity of the crest. She demands to know why a mere human was decorated with such honour they had no blood right to.

"I transcend all that my father the King was. Where he failed to honour his woman with what they deserved I did not." Prince Vegeta solemnly states back understanding the cause of his mother's ire.

"That sigil is deserved by a non-combatant? Is there reason for that beyond your unnatural emotional obsession."

"Without her we would all be long dead. Without her Kakarot would be feral in the mountains or dead by the same heart illness that took her life. Her aid and support in the growth of Saiyan might is immeasurable, her aid against foes without question. You know of the androids, you know of the battles on Namek, her involvement was required for our victory. I have given her the respect here that she, by rights of marriage through me as Prince, deserve."

The Queen silences herself for she sees the glare of Trunks upon her at her questioning. Aiding in the destruction of Frieza alone is enough for her to let it slide. She looks down at the stone. There are handprints in it which is a curious custom she has not seen during her battles filling other graves. Thinking on it there is no current marker for any dead Saiyan, or their race in general. For now this place will work for her as a substitute memorial to everyone she lost. A sombre minute of silence passes before distant sirens distract Queen Vegeta. She jerks up to look about and then out of boredom wanders off. Ryoko sees that Vegeta and Trunks are not finished here and not being comfortable around here she takes her leave and floats after Queen Vegeta. An insult comes her way from Vegeta's mother at her obvious fear and her other failings as a mated partner that Queen Vegeta expects for her son. Ryoko will not retaliate here for that will only serve to disrupt Vegeta.

"Why must we Saiyans wane? We do not need to be the ones to adapt ourselves to this planet. Prince Vegeta mourns like someone we would crush under our heel and all I hear from Kakarot and Washu is to change my way. Is this the cost we bear for our ascendancy into legend?" She sits down on the lawn and relaxes and rests as she muses.

"You spent as long in hell as I spent in a crap prison, ya wanna go back there? Vegey knows from his deaths, and he knows from Kakarot's deaths. If he acts like a good boy and is a valiant hero warrior and all that jazz then he keeps his body after death and can train and fight eternally." The pirate answers as she lounges down herself.

" … I do not like how hard that simple fact of the afterlife is to refute. So instead of seeking wars and battle the life of a Saiyan becomes constant mundane training until one of the few we can fight challenges me – a waiting game for fancy tournament bouts instead of the intended constant struggle."

"Look I don't like waiting any more than you, what else you got to choose? Vegey still lives mostly like a Saiyan, main thing is no killing unless necessary. And your whole race can piss right off with their mating season."

"Those damnable periods that make me pregnant and either kill me or take me off the front lines are not my favourite either. You however are an advocate for Saiyans rutting like mindless beasts whenever and wherever which I oppose-"

"Your lovely Saiyan of a son ripped my arm off as he forced himself upon me before fighting off its fucking influence so I could live. It's called love making for a reason and not torture time." Ryoko growls back in retort.

"All that shows is your unsuitability as a mated partner if you can put up no resistance in the challenge of his power. That and there should be no alien influence, male Saiyans require a female Saiyan for guidance, there is an important role that you cannot fill – that is that." She has no concern for the horrors Ryoko has gone through. "Grow your power to that of a Saiyan's if you can and you might find what you lust for."

Ryoko shakes her head. She does not need power to gain Vegeta's affection nor for him to give her love. Queen Vegeta tuts and complains that this is the reason she prefers pure Saiyan relations over mingling with other species. Impish golden eyes gleam and Ryoko lets out a laugh as she says that she shall find a lovely none Saiyan boy for her to love so she can leave Goku alone. An audible growl comes from Queen Vegeta's throat at that teasing. Ryoko persists and mocks the amount of baggage at her young age she already carries with her and the multitude of undesirable traits she holds if she were to date. The pirate then sobers a bit before pushing too far and sighs that most men do not enjoy women with such large scars like she has across her back and Queen Vegeta is riddled with. The Saiyan scoffs in scorn that males like that only serve to sate her bloodlust.

A couple of minutes pass before father and son enter the scene. The two women stand and Queen Vegeta gives a disparaging look to her son as she follows their lead around the large circular building he once called home. Walking in unannounced but for what the external CCTV around the building has informed Dr Briefs of the family meet the elderly pensioners. It is a pleasant surprise for the grandmother and grandfather of Trunks that he is here along with Vegeta though the more startling surprise is the change of the purple haired princess that previously visited for that of a muscled and tailed angry woman. There is deep set scorn on Queen Vegeta's face as she sees these old, frail and weak humans.

Prince Vegeta introduces his freshly resurrected mother Queen Vegeta to his parents-in-law and briefly describes the events that have led to her being here. The Queen puffs herself up to her full height and raises her power and gives out an intimidating air as she stands before the humans. She waits. No praise or fear or reverence comes her way from these creatures she deems as lesser.

"Have your aged minds failed to recognise the warrior queen before you or is this a direct affront to my power and authority as head of the Saiyan race. Show respect to the new ruler of this planet." She roars out in indignity.

A short chuckle comes from Dr Briefs and with no mind at all the elderly couple give a polite bow to the short woman. The mother of Bulma apologises saying that over the years with Vegeta around they have gotten so used to his similar behaviour and status that they thought nothing of it and meant no offence. This does not sway the angered queen. Her tail gets harshly yanked by her son and she yelps before roundhouse kicking him in the face in retaliation. He keeps hold of her tail and threatens her that any more insult towards Bulma's parents will be met with the discipline of him pulling harder on her tail eventually until it comes off. As he releases it she retracts it under her dress to wrap around her waist inside her clothing. She grumbles enraged at her weakness being shown off in front of weak humans.

Together they sit down at the large dining table as Mrs. Briefs offers them drinks and snacks. Queen Vegeta is wary and unaccustomed to a family based social event and does not know whether to sit near her son or to sit closer to these strange people. Ryoko makes the choice for her by already taking Vegeta's side and so one grandmother of Trunks sits next to the other, one smiling with blonde hair and the other unhappy and wondering if all human females have similarly light hair. Prince Vegeta outlines the goings on since their last meeting involving both Jurai and Kagato as he mentions Washu his mother takes over as she explains how she has been dealing with the persistent Tuffle. The proud woman omits a large amount of their interactions however to cover up her own failings and weakness yet is loud in boasting of her own training room and new sensing technique.

As Mrs. Briefs becomes curious about the new Saiyan sat next to her she asks concerning the Queen's life prior to her death and of her initial death itself since Prince Vegeta himself has never mentioned her. At that the conversation takes a swift dark turn. Warfare as a child, Saiyan culture, exterminating Tuffles, her rise to being a monarch and her own efforts at motherhood do not make for nice conversation. As bad as it is the Briefs have heard similar before though her mentioning of her death at the hands of her newborn and her own child's death that she hesitates for a moment on cuts close for them. From the telling of her dark tale they hear the small lapses of emotion that break through. Dealing with one stoic Vegeta they can easily tell the signs of pain and hurt coursing through this woman.

Out of sympathy Mrs. Briefs goes to put an arm around Queen Vegeta to comfort her for they have both lost their youngest. Prince Vegeta is quick in intercepting with a purple barrier between the two as Mrs. Briefs' eyes open wide with shock seeing the clawed hand hitting against the shield and the feral black eyes staring back. She will not be touched or pitied. Feeling slighted she shouts back at the insult and the judgement she can see within them at her and how they think to liken her to her deviant son here to grieve. She recalls what Goku and Washu said, she cannot admit to her failing as a Saiyan. Her eyes go to her son to see if she shall be physically punished. Yet Vegeta's hands stay by his side. He cannot let his Saiyan tendencies and want to put his mother in his place lead him to excess violence before Ryoko.

"Sit down and either join the conversation or shut it. No-one here is impressed with your strength, your authority or whatever stunt you want to pull. The parents of Bulma are used to me, unless you can surpass me in anyway then silence your threats." Vegeta puts her in her place.

"You could be a little kinder to your own mother." Dr. Briefs interjects.

"The last vestige of her pride she has is that a Saiyan stronger than her treats her as a weaker Saiyan – but still as a Saiyan. That is the single kindness she can get that will not send her over an edge that will take me too much time and effort to bring her back from." The son looks at the mother pointedly as he states this evaluation of her wounded psyche. She flinches at his cold assessment of her damaged state. Those words should not be made public.

"I surpass you in rank. Till you claim yourself as King, you exist beneath me." Queen Vegeta cannot afford to sit down and do as he says here. She walks off. Following her exit are loud and frightened roars from the pet dinosaurs terrified by her presence.

There is an awkward air left in the wake of Queen Vegeta. To try and make the most of being here Ryoko shuffles along to be closer to Bulma's parents and shows off her ear cuff and coyly describes what progress she has managed to get Vegeta to make. She tries to make it out as far more altruistic in aiding Vegeta get over his grief than her own selfish wants and is mindful of Trunks' presence in regards to explaining what pushed Ayeka over the limit to leave Earth. Queen Vegeta re-enters the room after becoming bored wandering the house aimlessly. She hears Ryoko's talk of weddings and marriage and stands proud and proclaims that she has got Washu to concede to her demands and is going to observe the Tuffle's wedding to understand it. An audibly loud sigh comes from Vegeta for this means his job of keeping his mother in line does not grant him freedom from humouring Washu and attending her ceremony.

Talk between the family goes on as two Vegetas stand in mostly stoic silence. Trunks and Ryoko are glad for company and actual socialisation with others. Queen Vegeta sidles up to her son and examines his ki with her new level of ki sensing. She says that she wants her advisor there next time any diplomacy is to be had and she has a long list of techniques she is ready to be taught. Vegeta shrugs and tells her she can learn them herself. His ability to generate a ball of Blutz waves is what she is keenest to master since without Super Saiyan that is her easiest path to a power up. The prince has no care since it is a relic of the past and useless as a technique beyond an amount of power he deems worthy, that and he doubts she will be in full control of her Oozaru form so it will be his job to control her for all that time when in a form he does not like. He gives her a tip that Goku is a master of Kaioken as a temporary power up and instead that will suit her better despite its drawbacks for what else it will passively teach her in ki control and efficiency within a fight – that and if he ever needs to remove her tail she shall have some form of strength to fall back on. Queen Vegeta immediately asks to see it. He flares red and doubles, triples and even increases his strength by a factor of 10 without issues then it dissipates all within the single heartbeat the technique lasts for. She goes quiet in thought.

Ryoko's eyes are on Vegeta as her memories of him, this place, and Kaioken are not positive ones. She knows he is not doing it for the same reason but remembers the cause all the same. The rogue floats out the room excusing herself and teleports off. After several minutes she returns with a small pouch in one hand containing an object she cannot hold. Ryoko offers it to Vegeta but he waves it off for the time being. She hovers off but stays close just in case. Queen Vegeta curiously prods and sniffs at the pouch and recoils back saying it has the stench of Tuffle on it.

There is only so long that Vegeta can put it off under the pretence of having some form of social interaction. He cracks his neck to the side and loudly exhales. Ryoko looks up at him and as he begins walking out of the room without a word she lands her feet and walks on behind him. Going up the stairs within the building she catches up to him and walks at his side. He does not speak a word to her and she does not know how to take his lack of acknowledgement of her following him. A promise was made that she knows he recalls and is keeping in mind.

The two stand before the door to Bulma's room. Only now does Vegeta look to his side at Ryoko. He reaches forward and pushes open the door. Ryoko does not make any motion towards the room. She looks and watches Vegeta and waits. Her hand seeks his and upon touching his fingers his hand flinches away, on a second and more persistent attempt she manages it and weds his fingers with his. Ryoko softly tells him that she is here for him and to comfort him like Ayeka tried last time. Vegeta slowly takes a step forward and as his boot crosses the threshold a surge of blonde races along his hair and eyebrows. Sparking energy and a rush of wind has Ryoko loosen her grip and teleport back for her own safety. His ki wildly fluctuates as does his state of transformation.

Both feet are within the room and it is easier for Vegeta to just accept his transformed state and stand there in his mastered Super Saiyan form. He keeps walking towards the cold and abandoned bed and eases himself down to sit upon the mattress. Ryoko looks in from the door, making no move to enter herself, and throws across the pouch to Vegeta. He bats it away back at her. She catches it and looks confused at Vegeta as to why he would reject an item so crucial to his grieving process.

"No easy ways out. Give it to me properly." Vegeta quietly states whilst his eyes drift down to look at the floor.

Ryoko asks whether he is absolutely sure and certain and fine with this. The Saiyan Prince does not repeat himself. The deal surrounding how he visits Bulma's room was already made and he chose to come here knowing what would happen. She takes a few breaths to psych herself up and Ryoko hurriedly steps into and across to Vegeta to drop the pouch in his lap, her eyes forward and on him alone. He nods his head in thanks and retrieves the energy absorption gem from the pouch and slips it into his boot. His Super Saiyan state reverts and the light he emits leaves the room dark. Vegeta grimaces at the discomfort and weakening. To avoid his look of pain Ryoko starts tentatively glancing about this gloomy room now that she is within it.

A King sized bed that Vegeta sits on, bedside cabinets, bookcases, an empty desk, shelves of decorations, photos and other things she does not know of and a few large wardrobes for Bulma's full collection of clothing. Ryoko will not move to explore this room unless given the go ahead. She looks down at Vegeta just sat there and reads his depleting ki. Standing here is not doing any good. Ryoko came into this room for a purpose. Getting down on one knee she brings herself to his level and carefully watches whether he will react to her or not. Vegeta does no such thing. Ryoko leans forward and gently hugs the widower.

Beneath them an impatient Queen hungrily prowls. This is an unexpected turn of events for her. Her son has diminished in power. If there were a time to strike then it is now so long as she is careful enough to keep her distance and prevent him using Instant Transmission on her. Her tail curls up and out of her dress as she listens and pays close attention to his ki. Trunks clears his throat next to her and tells her not to try it. Looking down at her grandchild she tries to coax him by saying that if he wants to overthrow his father then he can do so too. The kid has no want to do that as all that means is his father will get his revenge on him later on. Trunks watches his grandmother and sternly tells her to behave, which she childishly pouts at the loss of a chance to fight and gain victory.

Prince Vegeta stands and walks aimlessly about the room he once lived in. Ryoko carefully watches him and keeps her hands to herself despite all the interesting knick knacks here tied to Vegeta's history. The Saiyan turns and faces her. She stands stock still fearing he will get angry at her for this intrusion into his past life or for having done something wrong she did not notice. There is a part of him angry at her intrusion but his anger shall not control him inside this room.

"So where has all your confidence flown away to? It is strange you holding your tongue. This is the room where the all mighty Vegeta has loved a woman, and not even a joke nor snide comment from you?" The oppressive silence is broken as Vegeta with no care for tact turns the tables and speaks to improve Ryoko's mood. There is no smile on his face as he tries to lift the atmosphere.

Ryoko appears almost horrified by this question directed at her. She hears his unspoken plea for help.

"I'm only that much a fool when I wanna be, no way I'm being like that for you here. You coulda guessed from Ayeka that we don't really like thinking about you being intimate with another gal. W-what do you need? Is there something I should be doing?" She inwardly cowers in fear that she is failing him massively when he needs her most by him even prompting this. Having intimate knowledge of his grief from his mind itself even still she does not truly know how to ease his suffering. Her being here is to challenge him. Ryoko does not want this challenge to be unduly cruel to him.

"If I knew the words you could speak to aid my grief then I would not need you to say them. Calm. You do not need to be on edge or afraid of me here. Say what you will. Do what you will. Be yourself instead of this trembling fawn before me, it'll make me feel like less the pathetic fool here if I'm not bringing you down with me." He is a Prince, he takes responsibility and authority and blame for all around him. She need not fear treading on egg shells around him, not here, and not this late into all she has said to him before. He cannot directly ask for her help she is here to give, but he can give her the push into being able to give it. "This is the room where I am no Saiyan. Never have been. Here I am but a man. You need not fear me or yourself."

She visibly takes several large and deep breaths to calm like Vegeta wants as she appreciates his kindness towards her during this delicate time for him. Ryoko gives a weak smile towards him. After a few seconds however she sees a distance fall over Vegeta's eyes. The strong current of memories within this room begins pulling him under and away from the present. Ryoko reaches out and places a hand on his cheek. If the past is distracting him then she has finally got an idea as to how to approach this with Vegeta – to air it all out, stop the repression and get him talking and releasing his grief.

Ryoko nods her head up at the ceiling. Her golden eyes look up to a small slit and in a hushed voice she simply asks how that happened. Their ongoing game of scars she continues. The morose man has no need to look. He states how at one time Bulma was working late at night in here and knocked down a case of capsules, one of which contained an object an inch taller than the room. Ryoko keeps a smile on her face. She taps a foot behind her and asks on why the floor indents at the foot of the bed. There is a pause from the Saiyan. He relives the early mornings where he woke up beside his wife in his arms, and he tells Ryoko that over time his strength in putting his boots on for the day pushed at the floor. The weak ki before her is faltering so heavily. She gives him a moment and looking about her sharp eyes spot a misnomer. The thief questions why a random few books are placed on one of the shelves when no other books are there and the others like them are on an alternate and not full bookcase.

He takes a lumbering step back and removes the mentioned books. Behind where they sat are 4 scorched holes in the wall. The books were there to hide the damage. Vegeta carelessly drops the scientific journals and romance novels to the ground as he stares distantly at the marks.

" … Bulma, she … Only 2 hit me, she's a worse shot than you. This is the aftermath of me putting myself under Babidi's spell and my wife's anger at it."

Roars of anger and hurt flew between the married couple on that night following the wishing back of Earth from Kid Buu's destruction. He had sacrificed his life and fought after death to stop Buu and even became Vegito in hopes of avenging his murdered family. However, prior to all that he gave himself up and forsook her and their child for a chance to attack Goku. He blew apart the stadium and killed thousands and endangered her and got himself killed by not working with Goku to take on Buu when he first hatched from his egg. The two stubborn lovers argued and raged from high emotions far longer than they usually did. Those shots were a turning point, the almighty Saiyan Prince worked hard for his wife's forgiveness following them.

By no means is it a happy memory nor is it of a moment he is proud of. It is his though. He puts a hand against the wall and leans. He is guilty of much in terms of the wrongs he did. The blame of his failings to his wife only grew heavier after death took her from him. He cannot atone with a spirit he cannot reach due to his past sins. Ryoko mutely approaches behind him and gives him a gentle embrace.

It is similar. There are differences though that allow his mind to not be fooled, differences both physically and in the emotions of the woman behind him. He has been held by a woman who loves him in this very room countless times, but not by this one and not in this way nor for these reasons. She speaks kind words to him that he does not hear. She is not Bulma. She never will be. This is the largest scar in the room, and one Ryoko knows of.

Ryoko squeezes tenderly for with his ki drained the scale of power tips in her favour. She has pushed and challenged him and she hates seeing its consequences but will bear with it for the sake of him. There is a tension in his muscles she can feel. Ryoko tells him that she is here to help him in whatever small way she can and not to hinder him by him feeling he needs to repress and hide his emotions for her sake. She tells him that he can let it out. That she got that gem so his emotions can finally be unleashed, even if they scare her, even if they turn on her. He asks if she is seeking his weaker and more 'human' side like Ayeka was. Ryoko shakes her head resting on his shoulder and says that he has seen her at her worst so she will accept him at his.

Vegeta's ego is hard fought against – to show such emotional weakness before another is not Saiyan. His fist thuds against the wall as he unchains himself from the Saiyan doctrine and Ryoko grips tighter and presses her elfin ears against the side of her head. As the deluge flows forth from him she accepts it and holds him. His tail seeks her waist.

"Could you … He needs the same, he needs this which I- I just cannot give. My son, please, I cannot do this properly for him. Please." Throughout his grief Vegeta makes a selfless plead for Ryoko to try and comfort Trunks like she is trying for him. She mutely nods in acceptance.

Saiyan psychology always tends towards a singular emotion. Depression and guilt build up and the blood running through his veins begins moulding it to create power in the form of rage. His roaring anger is directed mostly at himself that he cannot forgive yet the frightful outburst shakes Ryoko as she clings on. She will not shush or calm him as this venting is what he needs. It hurts her to hear and feel the depth of his pain – that it is for a woman beside herself is irrelevant. Her presence is all she can give and so she does.

When a lull comes and he catches his breath from a ragged throat, Ryoko then lets slip her arms about him with a sense of her own guilt. She can see another door in this room not the way they entered and due to the affluence of the Brief family correctly assumes this to be for an en-suite bathroom. Ryoko pats him on the back and says that she shall be a minute to get a drink of water – though what she needs is a reprieve from this oppressive atmosphere crushing her. Vegeta's mind takes too long to process her words. As he turns his head to see her he cannot get a word out before she opens the door to the bathroom.

"What argument got you this mad?" Out of shock from the sight Ryoko tries to turn it into the game of scars as this level of damage is too much for a single human to have done on her own.

Two thirds of the tiles are shattered or off the wall. Ceramics from the sink and toilet are shattered and in some places melted and reformed and set in lumpy pools beneath. The light does not switch on which halts all progress from Ryoko in entering the ruined room. Heads to the taps are twisted and malformed and the damage to some of the visible pipes does not lead her to believe that she can get water from this room if she had the wish any longer.

"No-one fixed it …" Vegeta talks absently to himself at the scene of the bathroom.

At this point he resigns on staying stood up and leaning heavily against the wall he slides down until he sits down. Ryoko comes back to his side as somehow this bathroom has triggered something for him. He sees the question in her eyes.

"I did what was right. What she deserved, some dignity and respect." He half answers. Vegeta stares into the bathroom and at the ghosts of the past within. "Bulma gave me the gift of Super Saiyan 3 in my selfish fight against Kakarot. I came back here after my deserved loss. I-I dealt with my hysterical and Super Saiyan son with violence before his power caused harm. After that … I did- I … bathed her body so she could be laid to rest with dignity."

The Saiyan confesses and tears fall from his face. That room is where he last held Bulma. Ryoko looks on at the aftermath of not an argument but a man who tore himself asunder on a duty he believed to be his. The bath looks like it was large at one point, it cannot hold water now. His ego comes at the great cost of all being under his authority and all being his responsibility. Out of great respect and love for Bulma he did the unthinkable and personally handled her body. His devotion to her hurt him in having to so intimately touch her still and cold body. No-one has use for this bathroom now and Mrs. Briefs shall not have workmen traipsing through her beloved daughter's room to do the labour required and so it stands ruined and abandoned with the water to the room cut off. Ryoko crouches down before him and tenderly kisses him on the forehead.

"You shouldn'ta spent a year in that training room, Vegey, you needed that year in here. Whenever you need, I can come back here with ya, or go alone if you feel. Just, please, you need so much more time of this. I don't want you hurting like this no more."

"My son could not have handled that. And I could not have handled a year alone without him." Vegeta answers.

Azusa fumes silently with a hand rubbing his temples and another toying with the hilt of his sword. This brazen attack can be taken in no other way than a direct assault on both his people and more-so his family. None have gone so far even during war to insult and threaten him like this. The taking of his leg pales in comparison to what he is looking at now. He needed to confirm it himself. All other workers in the area have been sent away. Fury burns like hellfire within him and if he could pour more resources into this hunt then he would.

Several minutes prior he received word of an unknown and unregistered one man craft having approached a landing pad and not responding to hails. By itself this would not be a matter for the Emperor, the model of the ship started ringing alarm bells of security forces. The small and sleek black one man pod was an outdated and old vessel designed for espionage. Most of its systems are purely automated and upon any comms it does not recognise being sent to it or of the pilot commanding it shall dispose of its drives and memory banks directly within its reactor core to completely erase any tracing of their past or their mission – save one small subroutine for landing. Obvious flaws with this design caused it to be replaced but now it has served its purpose in being able to deliver its package with no way of checking the ship's disintegrated logs.

From behind him he hears the sound of running and a gasp from a woman. He turns his deep set scowling face about to see Lady Seto and even her blood runs chill at this horrific scene. Jurai is being actively targeted. On the exit ramp to the ship lies its single occupant. They are dead if they ever were alive. An unliving clone body of Sasami with her blue hair strewn loose about her and her body in whatever shape the jostling of the journey has moved her into. Azusa has already contacted Piccolo to be on immediate guard for the threat to his children's lives. This is a warning he will not ignore and he will see proper justice brought about to Kagato for this ill act.

Seto stands a fair distance behind him, not wanting to approach the sight of her granddaughter's doppelgänger. Even at the heart of their Empire, at their protected home world with the galaxy's most powerful fleet in the constantly guarded royal Palace they are being targeted. She gets to work. The Galaxy Police are informed of the criminal threat towards the Princess of Jurai, major donations sent their way to fund any and all efforts against the suspected criminal of Kagato. Beyond this she makes use of her millennia of gaining contacts in a vast array of places to awaken her entire network of soldier, politician, mob boss, religious head, mercenary and assassin to search and target the one who has sent them a corpse of Sasami's likeness. She faces away from the ship when doing this. A King's ransom is a healthy incentive to get her people motivated.

"Lock down this hangar, allow only Galaxy Police access when they arrive to examine this crime scene and ensure full checks are done on all officers assigned to this case. We have Detective Makibi here in knowledge of the criminal, she can head this, the family of her partner are also targets of Kagato and more trustworthy in not working for Kagato. This ship had to come from somewhere, its cargo will bear traces of its origin. Have the home fleet ready on standby in case this is the beginning of any more direct form of attack." The Emperor of Jurai orders. He turns about and strides off and looks at Seto. " … I shall inform your daughter of what has happened."

The walks through the several teleporters it takes is hard, with a heavy heart and heavier footsteps the short distance drags on. Disturbing the scene he finds is a revolting thought. Relaxing in a park is his wife, smiling with little worry as she watches her children in the distance and is only wondering why Piccolo is closer to them now and seemingly on guard. She sees the shadow of her approaching husband and turns to warmly welcome him. The look on his face has her heart sink. That is a rare anger she thought lost to the war. Azusa looks out and makes sure that he can see Sasami with his own eyes and more importantly that Misaki can too. He sits down next to his wife and holding her hands he briefs her on the ship that has landed. She fears it to be news of Washu, of Vegeta or those on Earth. Azusa does not want to make his wife overly fearful but she has a right to the truth.

Trees quake and groan and leaves begin to drift down. Artificial lights flicker and switch off at the fuse. Black as night energy erupts forth and engulfs the scene. Tears flood from Misaki's eyes. Azusa is roughly blasted back as a new power darkens the scene. With a heart-rending cry of pain the Counteractor bursts forth on Jurai.