A few months had passed with Val trying to balance half her time at Capsule Corps being around Vegeta, and half at the rural mountain village training with Tien and Chiaotzu. The balance was difficult, having to skirt around not talking about one around the other. She also felt slowed down in her research by only doing three days a week, and in time impeded in her training by only doing it for three days a week. The balance between the two when she would rather focus one and not both was stretching her thin.
She landed back at the mountain village for another round of training for three days. She dropped her bag off at Tien's yurt and then flew out to where she would train with him and Chiaotzu. She was surprised to find Chiaotzu standing there in the snow, waiting patiently by himself.
"Hey, where's Tien?" she asked curiously.
He looked up at her curiously. "He's over there," he said pointing towards the woods that lead towards the village.
"Why?" she asked.
"Aiko's followed us up here again," he explained. "She keeps trying to convince him to let her train with us, but she's not strong enough to keep up. She can't even fly."
Val sighed, standing there and looking over at the woods. She crossed her arms over her chest and trudged forward. She went through the trees, finding them, hearing them argue without being seen.
"Aiko, just go back," Tien said, sounding frustrated.
"Dah, what are you training so hard for? Eh? That none of us can help as well, but some way the space witch can?" Aiko argued back. "No way she's stronger than me."
"It's top secret, we can't explain it or tell anyone," he would not explain. He was keeping the future about the androids secret, much to Val's relief.
Aiko snapped her fingers. "I could snap her back just like that, but you say I cannot challenge her," she complained. "Like you fear I'd break that pretty face."
"You wouldn't win," Tien warned. "She's like Chiaotzu, don't judge her for her size and looks."
"Dah, I could win. I would if I were to try, even without my blade. You're just scared to give me the chance," Aiko ruled, sounding like she left a lot more unsaid. Val watched her stalk away back down the slope towards the village.
Val tore herself away from the scene, stealing her way back up the slope ahead of Tien before he could spot her. She puffed up next to Chiaotzu. "Did she leave?" he asked her quietly. She nodded quietly at him. "Good."
Val huffed, looking over at the copse of trees to Tien emerging from them. He looked disgruntled. "Hey, you're late. You okay?" she asked, playing dumb like she had just gotten there and had no seen anything.
"Yeah, fine," he answered, sounding distracted. "Just got held back down below is all," he excused.
They trained that day, but Val could tell he was distracted, unable to focus. When they ended early, he claimed to be just having an off day. Even into that evening and the following two days, he was still off, a bit distant in the midst of it, too. She watched discreetly, not sure how to broach him.
She went back to Capsule Corps after the third day, mind buzzing. At dinner with Bulma, Vegeta, and Yamcha, Bulma asked after her contemplativeness. Val explained about Aiko, her behavior, and Tein's confusion reaction to it.
"That woman again?" Yamcha asked.
Val blinked up at him. "Again?"
He hesitated, "they were friends when they were younger, but his mother didn't like her. Likened her to a wild bear."
"Like the onikuma that live up there?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Yeah, those ones. Untamable, like her apparently. I wouldn't even mess with those if should ever see one. Those razor sharp claws could slice a person in two," he reported. "Have done so in the past."
"Mmm, sounds like a case of star crossed lovers," Bulma commented.
Val frowned, not understanding the term used. "But he and I are..." she started.
Bulma rolled her eyes unexpectedly. "Not like that," she hummed. "His mom's not around to stop her from pursuing him, but you are. You're going to have to fight to keep the man you love."
Val went still, not sure what to make of that advice either. "Fight..." she mouthed. "But I don't want to fight her," she landed on.
Bulma gave her an inquisitive look, but Val looked away from her. "Beat the woman, then leave her to the weakling," Vegeta threw his two cents in.
She looked at him, not sure what to make of that either. She shook her head. "I don't want to hurt her, she's a bit too proud," she said, certain on that thought only.