Crossover Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Vendetta ❯ Chapter Fifteen ( Chapter 15 )

Vegeta's House

 

Rei found her nice, relaxing soak in the tub rather rudely interrupted when Vegeta sauntered into her bathroom. Never one for modesty, he shucked his clothing and joined her before she could even get out a protest. Glaring at him, she sank into the water, hoping he couldn't see her. He chuckled.

 

“I don't know why you're so embarrassed. It's not like I haven't seen you naked before.”

 

Rei didn't grant him a response. Instead, she let out an indignant snort and turned to face away from him. She jumped a little when she felt Vegeta's hands on her waist, but his grip was strong and she couldn't pull away. He kissed her neck softly, though thankfully avoided any further contact. They had never both been naked at the same time, and Rei wasn't sure she could handle it.

 

“Why are you here? Don't you have your own bathroom closer to where you train?” she hissed. He chuckled.

 

“I needed to talk to you, so I thought I'd join in. I'm having guests over this afternoon, and I expect you to behave appropriately.”

 

“What constitutes appropriate? I'm not going to bow down and kiss your feet.”

 

“Of course not,” Vegeta said, his voice a little too teasing for Rei's comfort. “Just try not to be too mouthy. These people know what kind of women I prefer, so you shouldn't shock them too badly. Know that if you start spouting out your morals, you'll probably just get laughed at.”

 

He raised one hand to her chin, tilting her head so that he could kiss her properly.

 

* * *

 

The guests started arriving after lunch, and Rei recognized most of them. Orso and Nappa were members of Vegeta's team, and Usagi had come even without Goku. A couple of women whose names Rei didn't catch also appeared, both hanging themselves disgustingly on Nappa's arms. A couple of other warriors arrived, laughing heartily and acting as men often do, shoving and hitting each other for fun.

 

For all the guests were not people Rei was accustomed to being around, she could understand why Vegeta was friends with them. The men were all powerful, good to fight against and train with. The women, despite their disgusting displays, were fairly intelligent and not afraid to speak their minds.

 

Unfortunately, one woman, who arrived “fashionably late,” had not been invited. Rei happened upon her arguing with Vegeta in the foyer, and stood back to see just what the problem was.

 

“I can't believe you forgot to tell me about this little get-together,” the woman whined, laying one of her hands on Vegeta's arms. She was an attractive woman with thick black hair and a curvaceous figure, but her voice was obnoxious. Vegeta pulled back from her touch, but she was persistent.

 

Rei, although she would not admit to such a reaction, felt jealousy flaring in the pit of her stomach. Taking a deep breath, she stepped elegantly into the foyer to confront the two.

 

“Is there a problem?” she asked. She laced an arm through Vegeta's and lifted her head to kiss him. It was brief, but it was the first time she'd taken any sort of initiative, and Vegeta caught on immediately.

 

“Not at all.”

 

He shook the other woman off, wrapping his arms around Rei's waist and bending to kiss her more fully. She let her arms slip around his neck, pressing into him. The other woman let out an indignant snort as the two broke apart.

 

“Who are you?” she demanded. “What are you doing with my lover?”

 

Rei quirked an eyebrow. “Your lover? That's hilarious, considering it's my bed he sleeps in every night.”

 

The woman took it exactly as Rei meant it, and stormed from the house on the verge of tears. Vegeta laughed.

 

“You did that without even lying, you cunning little vixen.”

 

Rei did not reply, but smirked. Tossing her hair, she turned and walked down the hall, confident as she had ever been back on Earth.

 

Goku's Apartment

 

Usagi returned to Goku's apartment after the party, surprised that he wasn't home. He had known he wouldn't return early enough to attend, but it was very late, and he should have been home by now. Immediately, she thought about all the horrible things that could have happened to him. He could have been terribly injured or killed on his mission.

 

At this thought, she came to the rather startling conclusion that she wouldn't know what to do with herself if something were to happen to him. For the past four months, her life had revolved around him. She woke early to fix his meals, cleaned up after him, listened when he needed to talk about whatever was bothering him. And, he'd been there for her as well. Especially after she'd told him about Mamoru, he had been willing to lend her a shoulder to cry on. They'd been able to talk about their pasts to each other, and had formed some sort of bond she had not recognized until now.

 

Biting her lower lip, she went into her bedroom to change into her pajamas and prepare for bed. She wouldn't go to sleep until she knew he was home safe, but it could be a long wait and she didn't want to spend any more time in the corset than necessary. Once changed, she curled up in a chair in the front sitting room to wait for his return.

 

For over an hour she sat, fidgeting nervously and worrying incessantly. With each passing moment, her dread grew. For all she knew, Goku could be lying in a field somewhere, bleeding and alone. Several times she fought back tears, thinking about all the horrible things that could have happened.

 

Eventually, she found her eyelids drooping. She tried desperately to stay awake, but it was the middle of the night and she was exhausted. At some point she fell asleep, curled up in the chair.

 

Some time later, she awoke to hear the front door slamming shut and shuffling in the front hallway. Her heart soared. Goku was home, which implied he was still alive and, hopefully, not terribly injured. She felt elated as she stood from the chair, ignoring the pain in her back from sleeping in such a position. Goku was alive.

 

That elation faded as she moved into the hallway. Goku was alive all right, but he was obviously drunk. To make matters worth, a dark-haired woman had her arms thrown about his neck. She was kissing him, pushing her body against his provocatively. Goku didn't seem too aware of what was going on, but he certainly wasn't pushing her away. Usagi let out a surprised squeak, and fled down the hallway to her room.

 

Behind her, she thought she heard Goku call out to her, but she closed her door, too upset to think straight. She'd been so worried about him, thinking he'd died somewhere, when in reality he'd been out drinking again. He had promised that he would stop drinking. And, after his last few missions, he had stopped. He would come home, upset and unable to sleep, but she would talk to him, hug him if he needed it, and things would get better.

 

She fell on her bed, tears falling freely. If she were to be honest with herself, she was just as upset about the woman hanging all over Goku as she was about him getting drunk. While she had no say in what he did with his personal life, she still couldn't help but feel hurt that he would turn to someone else for comfort. She had tried her best to help him, knowing how terrible he felt after his missions. But, was it enough? Or did he need more than just a friendly hug? Would she be willing to give more?

 

A few minutes later, she heard him knocking on her door.

 

“Usagi?” he mumbled. “I'm sorry. Can I come in?”

 

She didn't reply, but he came in anyway. He walked over and knelt next to the bed, hanging his head. He mumbled apologies, both for the alcohol and for the woman, and she couldn't stay mad. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she whispered comfortingly to him, reassuring him that it would be okay. She was still crying.

 

“You promised,” she said, holding him tightly.

 

He pulled back a little and moved a hand to wipe the tears from her eyes. Then, to her surprise, he bent down and kissed her forehead, cupping her face with his hands. He was so gentle that she started crying again. He started apologizing again, then brushed his lips against hers. As her sobs died down, he kissed her repeatedly, running a hand through her long hair and stroking her cheek.

 

Suddenly, he moved his hands to her waist, picking her up and depositing her on the bed. Usagi let out a light squeak, startled at the move, but further kisses prevented her from saying anything.

 

“You're so beautiful,” he whispered, making her blush.

 

When he started trailing kisses down her cheek and sliding her nightgown up, she found herself unable to protest.

 

Vegeta's House, Nighttime

 

Rei knew immediately that she was dreaming, but that had never stopped her from feeling anxiety before. More often than not, her dreams actually meant something. Even though she could not be hurt at the present, if the dream predicted something bad, something bad would probably happen. This was most definitely a dream, and from the feel of it, it was also most definitely a premonition.

 

She was standing in a void, in some non-place made of swirly black and gray and blue. Everything was still and quiet, and she should have felt calm. But, as she turned to look around, she saw Usagi sitting on the non-ground. She was humming softly to herself, reading a book and smiling. She was also bleeding. Rei couldn't see any of the wounds, but blood was dripping down her arms, staining her dress and pooling on the non-ground below her.

 

“Usagi!” Rei gasped. “What happened?”

 

Usagi looked up, confused. She didn't appear to be in any pain, or to even notice the blood. “Rei? Why are you here?” She set her book down, and it started soaking up blood.

 

“You're bleeding.”

 

Usagi looked down at herself and frowned. “What are you talking about? Why are you here?” She stood up.

 

“Usagi!”

 

“I'm fine.”

 

“No, you're not. You're bleeding all over the place! What happened?” Rei stepped toward Usagi, and the distance between them stretched so that Usagi was farther away.

 

“Nothing happened. Why are you being so crazy? Why are you here?”

 

Rei started running toward Usagi, but with each step she took, the gap between them grew until the blond was hardly discernable in the distance.

 

“Usagi!” Rei shouted. She tried to jump up, now wide awake, but Vegeta was there, as always, holding her down. She was shaking in fear and sweating. Her eyes were wide, her breath coming in short gasps.

 

“Calm down,” Vegeta whispered, pulling her close. She was seized with panic suddenly, worried about Usagi's safety.

 

“Something's not right with Usagi,” Rei said, trying to pull away. Vegeta's arm tightened.

 

“Just a dream. Quit squirming, girl.”

 

“Not just a dream. Something's wrong. I have to go find her.”

 

Abruptly, Rei found herself pinned beneath him, staring up into his dark eyes. She swallowed nervously, a little wary of the position. Vegeta kissed her forehead gently.

 

“It's the middle of the night. You aren't going anywhere just because of some silly dream. Kakorot wouldn't let any harm come to your little princess, I can assure you.”

 

“What if he's the one doing the harming?” Rei snapped. Vegeta chuckled at her.

 

“Look, Kakorot lived the first twenty years of his life on a planet like yours, thinking he was a human. He thinks rape is wrong, and he hates killing. The only reason he's here is to get revenge against Frieza for killing his woman. He's not going to hurt her.”

 

He moved back to her side, pulling her tightly against him. She wasn't sure she trusted his assessment of Goku, but he wasn't about to let her go. So she relaxed as much as she could. However, she felt restless and couldn't fall back to sleep. Vegeta seemed to notice, because he bent his head down and kissed her. Unexpectedly, she found herself on the verge of tears.

 

She fought them off as long as she could, unwilling to cry in front of Vegeta, but in the end she couldn't stop herself. Burying her face in his chest, she sobbed, and was surprised when Vegeta tightened his embrace, kissing her hair and whispering softly to her. She would have expected him to either insult her for her emotional weakness or pull away, uncaring. Eventually her tears let up, though she stayed close to Vegeta, feeling some measure of comfort in his arms.

 

She wasn't sure exactly why she'd burst into tears. The dream certainly hadn't made her feel in any way happy, but she was also pretty sure it wasn't the only thing upsetting her. She missed Earth terribly and wanted nothing more than to go home and see her grandfather. She wanted to be in the shrine, cleaning or consulting the fire or doing anything normal.

 

Exhaustion finally managed to drive these worries from her mind. Vegeta's embrace was warm, and it was the middle of the night. She could not resist sleep forever.

 

Goku's Apartment, Morning

 

Usagi waking alone in her bed was not an uncommon occurrence by any means, but this morning she felt cold, sore and a little disappointed. She remembered immediately what had happened the night before and blushed furiously to think on it. Last night had been better and worse than she had thought her first time would be. She assumed it would have been all wonderful if Goku had not been drunk, but there was no going back. It had happened, and she couldn't change it.

 

She wondered briefly if she had somehow betrayed Mamoru, who was truly her soul mate. She could not lie to herself and pretend to love Goku as much as she had loved Mamoru, though she did care deeply for him. But Goku needed her, physically and emotionally, and she could not bear to see him suffer. If this would keep him from drinking and, hopefully, make him happy, she was more than willing.

 

Pulling herself out of bed, she went into her bathroom to clean up. She was already late in starting breakfast, but Goku had no cause to complain. He was the one who kept her up all night, and, as far as she was concerned, she deserved a chance to sleep in. A warm bath helped ease some of the soreness, and she felt much more refreshed when she finally left her room to go and make breakfast.

 

Goku was sitting at the kitchen table, his head in his hands. His hair was, if possible, more messy than usual, and he looked every bit as hung over as he probably felt. When she entered the kitchen; he couldn't bring himself to look up.

 

“I'm so sorry,” he mumbled. “I know you can't possibly forgive me...”

 

“For what?” Usagi asked. She knew why he felt guilty, but he was depressed enough as it was. She wasn't going to let him mope about what they'd done last night as well. She knelt next to him, taking his hand in hers. “The only thing I'm upset about at all is the fact that you got drunk again. You promised me you wouldn't...”

 

“I raped you.”

 

Usagi shook her head violently. “I never asked you to stop, never said no.”

 

“You didn't have any choice. I don't know if I would have stopped even if you asked.”

 

“Well, there's no sense worrying about something that didn't happen. I made my choice, and if I could go back I'd still do the same. I want you to be happy, Goku. I care about you, and I can't help worrying when you get drunk and mope around. I know you don't like what you have to do, but if you don't, someone else will. Someone who actually enjoys it. Let me help you.”

 

Goku finally looked down at her. She was looking up at him hopefully, her big blue eyes hiding none of her emotions. Her face was a bit flushed, either from the strong emotions or her warm bath, and again he couldn't help but think how pretty she was. Thinking back to the night before, he vaguely remembered her, willing and curious if a bit timid. Jerking away, he stood, breathing hard and fighting back tears.

 

“You're free now. You have to go. I'll go talk to Vegeta, arrange for you to be taken back to your home...”

 

He was pacing frantically. Usagi stood and walked over, unsure of what was wrong. Goku tried to pull away from her, but she was persistent.

 

“What's wrong?” she asked. “Why do you want to send me away?”

 

“I can't...if you stay...you're so pretty and sweet and you deserve so much better...”

 

Impulsively, Usagi wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Goku stood frozen, too shocked to react. After a moment, Usagi broke the kiss but kept her arms around him.

 

“You need me here with you, Goku. I want you to be happy. You've lost so much, been forced to do so many horrible things. You deserve a chance to be happy, and you won't be happy living here by yourself.”

 

Goku took her arms from around his neck, pushed her away as firmly as he dared. She was so small that he was afraid he'd hurt her. “Do you not understand? All I really want right now is to take you back to bed and keep you there all day...”

 

Usagi kissed him again, pressing her body against his. “Can I make us breakfast first? I'm starving.”

 

“I already ate,” Goku mumbled, hardly believing anything Usagi was saying.

 

She finally pulled away from him and went about making herself breakfast. Cooking only for herself would take significantly less time than normal. Goku sat back down at the table, wondering how Usagi could possibly be so willing. He knew she had family back home that she missed desperately, and he knew she had lost her soul mate some months previous. True, she was generous and caring by nature, but to think it extended so far was inconceivable to him.

 

She finally finished preparing her breakfast and sat down across from him at the table. For a few minutes, she ate in silence. He watched her intently, and finally couldn't keep from asking.

 

“You're really sure?”

 

She paused in her eating and looked up at him, nodding slightly. “Why would I lie?”

 

She resumed her breakfast, eating quickly, as was her norm. Goku started fidgeting in his seat. A small part of him was trying to tell him it was better to send her away despite her protests, but the majority of his mind was focused solely on Usagi. After only one night in her arms, he was completely addicted. The thought of sending her away and never seeing her again pained him as much as anything else he had experienced in the last two and a half years.

 

When she finished her meal, she moved to take her dishes to the sink. Goku immediately went to help her clean. As soon as the last of the dishes were dried and put away, he scooped her up in his arms and headed for his bedroom. He thought the bold gesture might shock some sense into her, but she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

 

Vegeta's House, evening

 

Rei was absolutely frantic. She'd been under the impression that Goku and Usagi were coming over in the afternoon, but Goku had called at some point and told Vegeta they wouldn't be coming. He gave no explanation, and Rei couldn't help but think the worst. After her dream last night, she felt certain something must have happened to Usagi, and Goku must have been responsible.

 

Vegeta again tried to reassure her that Goku wouldn't harm a hair on Usagi's head, but the dark-haired girl would not be consoled. Vegeta gave up on her and went to train in the gravity room, while Rei paced restlessly. She wanted to storm over to Goku's apartment and demand an explanation, but Vegeta wouldn't take her, and it was an admittedly dangerous journey.

 

Eventually, she calmed herself to the point that she could sit reasonably still for a few moments. She attempted to read some, but could not concentrate. Images from her dream kept appearing in her head along with terrifying thoughts of things that could have happened to Usagi. After reading the same sentence six times, she threw the book down and resumed pacing.

 

After more agitated pacing, she left the sitting room and headed into the front parlor where the piano had been set up. She had been remiss in her practicing since Vegeta returned from his last mission, and could always clear her head easily when playing. She sat at the instrument gracefully, her back forced straight with the corset and her posture perfect.

 

Taking a deep breath, she attempted to clear her mind. She warmed up with scales: simple, one-octave patterns that she could do in her sleep. For all scales might be boring to play, they were the basis of most modern music, and the sound was relaxing. Rei kept her breathing steady, focusing entirely on her hands moving across the keys. After scales, she took up some of the music she'd been working on, forcing her entire concentration on working out the complex rhythms.

 

At some point, she gave up on trying to concentrate on the new music. It was challenging, and she was not dedicating the proper type of mental focus to learning it. Trying to learn new music as an attempt at distraction wasn't working, so she shifted to pieces she had memorized. She immediately tried the ever-cliché first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, but found the relatively slow, quiet melody not fitting her current mood. So, she skipped ahead to the third movement, a fast, incredibly difficult bit of music that had taken her nearly six months to learn properly and memorize.

 

She was only a few bars into the song when Vegeta appeared in the doorway to the parlor. He'd apparently finished his workout, as he stood there shirtless and glistening with sweat. He seemed content to stay there, watching her play, so she continued. Her fingers flew across the keys, making a few mistakes explained away easily by the fact that she hadn't really played the song all the way through in years. Vegeta wouldn't know the difference anyway.

 

Only when she finished the song, lifting her hands from the keys and her foot from the damper pedal did he approach. He sat on the bench next to her, sliding his arms around he waist and pressing his forehead against hers. Usually he would have kissed her by this point, and Rei couldn't help but wonder what he was up to.

 

“You know you are perfection?” he whispered in her ear. She stifled a gasp, unsure of what exactly he meant. “Obviously you recognize your physical beauty, but you are also strong-willed, passionate, intelligent.”

 

Then he kissed her softly. His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer. She felt completely bewildered. Normally, he would just kiss her or hold her but not really talk to her. Never had he spoken of her with such praise. Usually, he would insult some aspect of her that was a typical human characteristic, and would then enjoy seeing her flustered. But now, he paid her compliments, sounding completely sincere.

 

“You want something?” she asked, refusing to believe he would offer praise without some sort of ulterior motive.

 

“Not anything you don't already know,” he murmured, trailing his kisses down to her neck.

 

“I hope you don't expect flattery to win you any favors. Just saying nice stuff about me won't cut it.”

 

Vegeta did not reply. He was too busy nuzzling her neck to really care. When he planted a kiss behind her ear, she let out an involuntary gasp. He chuckled at her and focused his attention there, hoping for another response. Rei mentally berated herself and steeled her resolve. She gave him no such response, lifting her chin haughtily and attempting to ignore him.

 

“If Kakorot tries to get out of coming over here tomorrow, I'll take you over there and you can bitch all you like. Dinner should be ready by now.”

 

He stood from the piano bench, pulling Rei with him. After another soft kiss, he led her out of the parlor and toward the kitchen. She made the trip in stunned silence, completely befuddled by his actions. First he issued compliments, and then (in his own way) tried to offer some sort of comfort in regards to her unease about Goku and Usagi's strange absence. What the hell had happened?

 

Goku's House, Next Morning

 

Usagi had come to the conclusion rather quickly that sex was a lot more enjoyable when the other party involved was not drunk. It was also probably helpful when said other party felt guilty about how they treated you and wanted desperately to make it up to you. Goku seemed so terrified that if he did one thing wrong, she'd jump up and leave. She wouldn't, of course, but she still had yet to convince him that she was not overwhelmingly distraught by his need for her.

 

He was still sleeping, snoring and with his arm tossed across her waist. He looked adorable when he slept. Usagi reached out a hand to brush some of his wild hair from his face. The touch roused him, and he stopped snoring. A moment later, his dark eyes opened and he yawned.

 

“What time is it?” he mumbled. He tightened his grip around her waist and pulled her closer.

 

“Early,” Usagi said, kissing him lightly. “After breakfast, we had better go over to Vegeta's. I'm sure Rei's had a panic attack, worrying about me.”

 

“She's going to try to kill me when she finds out, isn't she?”

 

Usagi nodded. Reluctantly, she pulled away from him and got out of bed. Slipping on a robe, she padded down to the kitchen to make breakfast. Goku appeared a few minutes later, fully dressed, and helped. He would occasionally pull her away from the food to kiss her, but eventually they managed to prepare a reasonable sized meal. Once they finished, Goku took over cleaning.

 

“I'll wash these while you get dressed.”

 

Once she was clothed and the dishes were cleaned and put away, they made the flight to Vegeta's house. The trip was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. Usagi spent most of it trying to figure out how exactly she was going to tell Rei. Without a doubt, the dark-haired girl would be upset about the development, and in all likelihood would attempt to kill Goku as painfully as possible. Hopefully, Usagi could explain in such a way that Rei would listen and understand.

 

Rei was predictably incensed when they arrived. Before a single word was spoken, she grabbed Usagi's arm and dragged her into her bedroom. She slammed the door and locked it, even though Vegeta or Goku could easily break in anyway. Turning, she glared at Usagi.

 

“Well?”

 

“You should probably sit down,” Usagi suggested.

 

“Oh gods, Usagi, no. What'd he do? I'll kill him...”

 

Usagi took Rei by the shoulders and made her sit on the bed. She settled on her knees next to her friend, and began her explanation.

 

“It sounds bad, but it really isn't. You aren't going to kill Goku, okay? He's had a really hard time the past couple of years...”

 

“I know. You tell me all the time. What the hell happened yesterday?”

 

Usagi fiddled with the hem of her dress for a moment, not looking Rei in the eye. When she finally looked up, she blushed a bit, and then told Rei the whole story. She explained how Goku had come home drunk with some random woman, and what happened after. Rei nearly jumped up and went in search of Goku, murder clearly written in her expression, but Usagi grabbed her arm and held her in place. She tried to explain why she wasn't upset, why she would continue living with Goku and taking care of him, how she kind of loved him.

 

Rei stared at her in disbelief as she poured out her feelings. Once Usagi had finished, she sat quietly, waiting for Rei's response.

 

“You...you really mean all of it,” Rei said, finally. Usagi nodded.

 

“I...it's not the same as with Mamoru. It'll never be the same, but I can't just curl up and die. Goku needs me so much, and I don't think Mamoru would mind.”

 

It was the fist time Rei had heard Usagi talk about Mamoru without bursting into tears. Throwing her arms around her friend, Rei sighed in defeat.

 

“I guess I won't kill him...for now. But, really Usagi, if he steps one foot out of line, I swear...”

 

Usagi chuckled, leaning her head against her friend's shoulder. They sat together the rest of the morning, chatting idly about less serious things. Rei told Usagi about Vegeta's peculiar behavior that morning, and Usagi couldn't resist teasing her friend. It had taken awhile, but she really believed the two suited each other perfectly, despite all of Rei's protests.

 

They headed to the kitchen for lunch some hours later. Goku and Vegeta were already there, inhaling food at a terrifying rate. Rei rolled her eyes, but Usagi sat down immediately and joined in the fray. She could never hope to really keep up with the Saiya-jins, but she was especially impressive given her size.

 

Goku and Usagi left after lunch. They had really only come over to convince Rei that Usagi was still alive and uninjured, and, having accomplished that task, took their leave. Rei sighed once they were gone, leaning up against the wall for support. She couldn't believe she'd let the issue go so easily, and yet Usagi had been so convincing. It was a shame she and Goku had to have other soul mates, because they really were perfect for each other.

 

“Hey, girl,” Vegeta growled at her. Rei turned and glared at him.

 

“I have a name.”

 

Vegeta waved her off, not the least bit deterred. “If you ever fuck me out of pity, I will dismember you in the most painful way imaginable.”

 

Rei blinked. Under normal circumstances, she would berate him for his language, or fire off some sort of acerbic retort. This time, though, she laughed.

 

“I don't think its pity. I think they really care about each other.”

 

Rei didn't hear all of Vegeta's response, but it sounded like something along the lines of “stupid women and their stupid girly ideas.” She smiled and kissed him, despite herself.

 

Later That Evening

 

Rei stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror, a scowl firmly planted on her face. She lifted her arms and turned to the side, closely inspecting the long lines of her legs, the curve of her hip and up. She had just gotten out of the bath, her hair piled on top of her head and revealing her normally hidden neck, shoulders and back. Her arms, she noted, were thankfully still slender, but any muscle tone she might once have had appeared to be gone. Her breasts were still full, her waist still narrow, though she seemed to be developing a bit of a belly where once had been flat, taut muscle.

 

The problem lay in the hips and thighs, she decided. She had always had generous curves, top and bottom, but her hips seemed to be wider than ever. Her thighs were getting fleshy and soft, and her behind seemed to have much more padding of late. She knew, somewhere in the back of her mind, that this would happen some day, but she assumed it would have been in her thirties, or after she'd had children. The idea that she would cease her intensive martial arts routine and replace it with half-hearted attempts at training had never really occurred to her. However, when faced with beings able to destroy planets without breaking a sweat, the desire to train to be in any way competitive was pretty much extinguished.

 

She had tried to stay physically active and to eat moderately, but without her grandfather's training and the threat of youma destroying her planet, things just weren't the same. So, she was stuck with flabby (in her opinion) thighs and a big butt. Letting out an exasperated sigh, she turned the other way, just to make sure the damage was at least proportional. As she did so, she noticed Vegeta, standing in her bathroom doorway. His presence was so common that she was barely startled.

 

“What are you doing, girl?” he asked, his tone mildly teasing. Rei glared at him.

 

“I'm getting fat. I need to work out more.”

 

Vegeta snorted. “Fat? Why would you think that?” He came to stand next to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. “I think you're as sexy as the day we met. Hell, maybe more so.” As if to emphasize his words, he kissed her, running a hand down her side and letting it rest on the curve of her hip.

 

“Maybe not fat all over, but my hips are getting out of control. And anyway, I don't care what you think of me. I think I'm getting too fat, so I intend on doing something about it.”

 

Even as she spoke, she couldn't help but look in the mirror again. Did Vegeta really think she looked sexy? For all she claimed she didn't care about his opinion, she couldn't help but wonder. She generally took his word as the truth, as he had never really lied to her before. And, he still seemed intent on getting her to sleep with him. Surely he would not continue pursuing her if he thought her looks were declining too much.

 

Vegeta chuckled at her feigned disinterest in his opinion. “Look girl. You can work out as much as you want, but don't get obsessive about it. I like a woman with curves. And anyway, I doubt your hips will shrink. Surely they taught you about sexual development on your backwater planet.”

 

Re blushed slightly. “That all happened a long time ago,” she assured him. He shrugged nonchalantly.

 

“Your hips are probably spreading in anticipation of pregnancy.”

 

He had maneuvered behind her, his arms draped around her and his hands resting low on her stomach. He began dropping kisses on her bared neck and shoulders, and for a moment Rei felt warm and content.

 

“Just the thought of you carrying a child...my child.” Vegeta seemed very pleased with this idea, pulling her closer and continuing to nuzzle at her neck. Rei was briefly shocked into silence. A child? With Vegeta? She hadn't even considered it, and wasn't quite sure how she would feel about it. She couldn't see Vegeta being a very loving father, and after her own experience, she was not about to inflict a callous father on any child.

 

Suddenly, she realized how terribly intimate their position was. She was standing there, completely naked, and Vegeta had his hands dangerously close to places they had no right being. Couple that with his kisses and suggestive comments, and Rei suddenly did not feel quite as comfortable as she had earlier. She pulled away and reached for a towel.

 

“Whatever my body might say, I'm hardly ready for children...with you or anyone.” She felt mildly safer wrapped in the towel, but would not be completely at ease for a long time after Vegeta's suggestion.

 

The warrior scowled at her words. “I will be leaving on a mission, and will not return for over a month.” The words were terse, almost angry. As Vegeta stormed out of her bathroom, Rei couldn't help but wonder what had upset him so much. She still hadn't even agreed to sleep with him, so how could he get mad about her not wanting to have his child? It made no sense. Why the hell was Vegeta acting so weird?

 

* * *

 

Okay, kiddies, I'll be updating another chapter tomorrow and a chapter on Sunday. That'll be the extent of what I actually have written. Thus, the end of such regular updates. I'll try to write in a timely manner, but you definitely won't be getting a chapter a week anymore.