Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Apprentice ❯ That Time ( Chapter 2 )

Apprentice by Alexa

Chapter Two - That Time

Vegeta continued to train Ash the same each day. He set her on a schedule of waking up before sunrise, stretching, doing morning katas, running around Capsule Corp. for as long as she could stand it, and then have breakfast. After breakfast, he would have her run some more, do exercises, then teach and perfect new katas. Around noon would be lunch, then more exercising until the sun was below the horizon line. They were never interrupted as Bulma spent the days in her lab, and Trunks was at school.

The more she was pushed, the faster she learned. Vegeta quickly discovered that she whole-heartedly responded to his attacks of her abilities and intelligence. He used this to his advantage. If she wasn't performing well, he let out his rage in a verbal assault on her. Anything not done correctly would be perfected by sun down. She never bothered to hide her growing sense of pride, the feeling she got when she proved Vegeta's insults to be wrong. Her training continued like this for the first few weeks, until the inevitable occurred.

The Saiyan and half-Saiyan awoke early as usual, cleaned and dressed for the day's training. They normally encountered Ash during these wee hours before sunrise doing the same as they; however, this particular morning Ash was nowhere to be seen. Trunks thought nothing of it, and Vegeta took the opportunity to spend time in the gravity chamber. Hours passed, Trunks was beginning to get ready for school, and yet Ash was still not seen.

Vegeta realized how much time had elapsed, and his student had not yet shown. He regretfully exited the gravity chamber and headed for the house. Bulma was still asleep; she had been working late the previous night. Trunks rushed past his father as he ran down the stairs and out the door for school. Vegeta approached the guest room which had become Ash's bedroom. Opening the door, he saw she was still laying in bed but obviously not asleep as she was rolling around. "What the hell are you still doing in bed? You're wasting valuable training time."

"Right now, yelling at me is not the smartest thing for you to do. I'm not in the mood."

"Not in the mood?! No one defies me like that!" Vegeta pulled the sheets off Ashentara and the bed, grabbed her around the waist, and hoisted her onto his shoulder. Before Ash knew what he was doing, she was staring at Vegeta's ass. Whoa! That's a hard ass. Ash was momentarily disoriented as she realized what had happened, and happening. Vegeta was carrying her down the stairs when Ash felt another wave of pain overtake her body.

"AAAAAGGGHHHHH!!!!! PUT ME DOWN YOU FUCKING COCK SUCKER!!!" Ash's body was contorted by the pain so that she almost screamed right into Vegeta's ear. She quietly commanded, "Now." Vegeta did not comply and continued down the stairs. Ash could not take it anymore and began to squirm in his grasp. No matter what she did, nothing seemed to phase him in the slightest. Ash, out of pure instinct, balled both her fists together and hit Vegeta as hard as she could right at the base of his spine, where his tail had once been.

Vegeta felt Ash strike his lower back in that sensitive spot, and he was caught off-guard. He very ungracefully fell and dropped Ashentara. Luckily, he had already reached the bottom floor, and they were not on the stairs. The yelling and sound of their fall did not go unnoticed. Bulma had been jarred awake by Vegeta and Ash's argument. When she saw them both lying on the floor at the bottom of the stairs, Bulma rushed to Ash simultaneously berating Vegeta. "What the hell did you do to her, Vegeta? I've told you to never fight in the house."

"I did nothing to her, woman." Vegeta defended as he rubbed his spine. "And we were not fighting in the house. Ash didn't wake up to train."

Ash laid on the floor clutching her stomach. She looked up and glared at Vegeta so harshly that he didn't say anything else. "I already told you, dipshit. Today is NOT a good day to fuck with me!" She had barely finished her sentence when another wave of pain consumed her.

"What's wrong? Are you ill?" Bulma asked tenderly.

"Cramps. Severe cramps," was all Ash would say.

Vegeta was somewhat puzzled. "What the hell is wrong with her, woman? What does she mean by cramps?"

Bulma never had truly painful cramps so this was new to Vegeta. She glanced between her husband and the young woman writhing in pain. She stood and walked to the kitchen gesturing for him to follow. Once they were alone in the kitchen, Bulma began to describe a human woman's menstrual cycle. Also explaining that each woman has cramps of varying intensity, and apparently Ash's were very intense. Vegeta was thoroughly disgusted at this point. I could have lived without knowing that.

"So what the hell am I going to do with her today? She won't be able to stand up."

"You let her rest while you train alone in the gravity chamber."

"That is the most intelligent thing I've ever heard you say." Vegeta left the kitchen to tell Ash that today she was to rest. After informing her of his intentions, he started for the door.

"Oh, no you don't, you little spiky-haired motherfucker. You rudely dragged my ass out of bed, and you'll put my ass back before you continue on your merry fucking way."

Vegeta turned to look at Ash as she evenly spoke those words to him. He could see it in her eyes; she had a look that could kill, and it was aimed at him. Not feeling like arguing with a PMS-ing woman, he strolled over to Ash, gently picked her up, and began to carry her back to her room. How could I have missed it before? I can smell it now. It's like she's in heat. Even Saiyan women weren't this moody. Shit, humans are an enigma. He laid her on the bed and threw the sheets over her. "As soon as you're feeling up to it, we'll start sparring."

"I'll be fine tomorrow. But, I'm warning you now. This will happen every time, like fucking clockwork. And I will be in full out bitch mode for a week. Understand?" Vegeta nodded. "Good. I hate repeating myself."

"You and me both." At that Vegeta left her room to train in the gravity chamber.

Afternoon arrived, and Ash was still in bed. Vegeta and Bulma were finishing lunch when Bulma expressed her concern over the young woman. "I've never known any woman who had it that bad. She hasn't come out of her room once. Not even to eat."

"She's fine. You did say that this starts when a female is a young teen. She should be used to it by now."

"But, how do we know that it's always this bad? What if something has happened to her because of your training?"

"Don't blame this on me! She told me its always this bad." Vegeta considered the matter closed, but the look on his wife's face told him otherwise. "I'll look in on her." He grumbled obscenities to himself as he climbed the steps to the second floor. That woman is trying my patience with this girl.

As Vegeta entered Ashentara's room, he saw her still laying in bed; however, she was not writhing in pain. In fact, she had an almost serene look about her. The pain must have subsided enough for her to rest. I told that woman she was fine. I'll not disturb her, I'd hate to see what kind of mood she'd be in if I woke her up. He was about to leave when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ash roll over to face him, eyes open. "I assume you feel somewhat better." She nodded. "Rest." He took a few steps closer to the door when…

"Wait." He paused and faced her. "Will you take me downstairs? Please?"

Vegeta was stunned at her drastic change in mood from earlier. She had warned him about being in 'bitch mode' for the rest of the week. Now she was politely asking him a favor. All he could think was, "Why?"

"I haven't eaten all day, and I'm weak. I don't trust myself to make it downstairs without losing my balance and tumbling down. Please?"

He could feel her weakness, but had to ask, "Is it truly that terrible that it takes all your energy when you have done nothing but lay around all day?"

"Imagine what it would feel like if someone decided to make balloon animals out of your intestines. Or, if someone beat a sledge hammer into your stomach, relentlessly for an entire day. Pain so intense that you know the only escape is sleep, only the pain won't let you sleep. So no matter what you do, no matter how you sit or lay, no matter what painkillers you take; in the end, you're still fucked."

Vegeta had no possible response to that. Not even an insult to her inability to withstand pain. He picked her up to take her down stairs. Bulma was amazed to see her husband carrying the young woman down the steps. Her first thoughts were that something was terribly wrong with her, and she would have to be taken to the hospital. "Oh no! What's wrong with her? Is it bad? Will she be okay?"

The response she received, "She's hungry."

"Hungry?"

"Yes, woman." He turned to the small figure in his arms and asked what she wanted to eat.

After Ashentara was fed, she began to feel much better. Bulma was talking with Vegeta so everyone was in the house. From what Ash overheard, apparently Bulma still didn't believe that this was normal to Ash, and Trunks had plans to go somewhere with Goten. What the hell kind of name is Goten? Well, whoever he is it doesn't sound like Vegeta likes him, no wait, not Goten but his father. Kakarot? Now that's a truly fuckered name. Ash was silently giggling to herself when they walked into the kitchen.

"Are you full? Do you want me to make anything else for you?"

"No, I'm full. Thank you, Bulma." Bulma smiled at Ash as she picked up the dishes to be washed. Her smile didn't last long.

"Since you're feeling better, I've decided to continue your training today. What's left of the day."

"Vegeta! She should not be training. I won't let you take her out of this house."

"Be quiet, woman."

"I hate when you call me 'woman'." Vegeta smirked at Bulma with a look that said 'I know'. The two commenced into a staring contest.

No, it's more like a glaring contest. Ash thought as she glanced from one to the other. How in the hell do people like these two manage to stay married? Must be the sex. That's about the only thing I can think of. After all, what woman wouldn't want a man of pure muscle. Like Brad Pitt from Fight Club, but I'd bet my life that Vegeta could kick that pretty boy's ass any day. She stood there imagining that fight and couldn't help but smile as she mentally saw Vegeta pummel him into the ground. Yeah! Die, you commi bastard. He He

Vegeta glanced at Ash and noticed the evil grin. What the hell is so amusing to her? "Why are you smiling like that?"

"Huh?"

"I hate repeating myself."

"That sounds familiar, doesn't it?" Both cast a knowing smirk at each other.

"Now I'm confused." Bulma looked at them wondering what she had missed. "I'm missing something. What is it? I want to know now."

Ash said, "Inside joke." She headed for the door to go outside. "What was it you said about me not leaving this house?" She opened the door and stepped out. Inhaling the fresh warm air, she felt instantly better.

Vegeta exited the house to the sound of Bulma yelling about the 'inside joke'. "Ignore her."

"Ignore who?" Ash just innocently smiled. "Now, about training…."

"Follow me." Vegeta began to walk farther away from the house. He didn't stop until they had reached a small patch of trees with wide trunks and leafed-branches that created a canopy. They had hiked far enough from Capsule Corp. that it was indistinguishable from its surrounding environment. Vegeta sat in the middle of the shade and gestured for Ash to do the same. She sat facing him and pondered. Ok, so what the hell does he plan to do way the fuck out here?

"Have you ever meditated?"

"No. I never seemed to be able to concentrate hard enough."

"You were probably trying too hard. To meditate, you don't always have to have a clear mind. To be unable to completely clear your thoughts denotes an active mind."

"You mean overactive mind."

"Let your mind think and your body relax. Do not think of any worries."

Ashentara sat there thinking. Thinking about everything and nothing all at once. She began to remember why she had gone to the tournament seeking a martial arts teacher. The life she previously led, and all its frustrations. Vegeta could sense and see her body tense at her thoughts.

"Ashentara, you must relax your body. Think of something else, something more soothing to you."

"I'm not sure I can now. I'm kinda tense."

"You can. Or has your mind become feeble after so much sleep?"

Ash opened her eyes and stared hard at him. "Right now that will not work. If you keep it up, you'll see another mood swing." She closed her eyes again trying to let her muscles loosen up and her mind aimlessly wonder. The bad mood that had been slowly brewing was still simmering inside her. One more comment from Vegeta, and she would unleash her anger and rage on him. Which probably isn't a very good idea considering he's your teacher. Not to mention he's stronger than you'll ever be. Very strong, pure muscle, even his ass is rock hard. Images of coming face to … well looking straight at Vegeta's butt earlier came to mind. She recalled how his muscles were moving as he walked down the steps in those little, black, Spandex shorts. The same pair he's wearing now, as a matter of fact. I can only imagine what it must feel like to have a man with that kind of body ……. Ashentara's eyes sprung open as she realized what she had been thinking. I did NOT just start a wet daydream about my martial arts teacher, did I? Great! Now I'm more rigid than I was to begin with. This is just lovely. Ok. Let's try this one more time without the hentai daydreams about the married man in front of you; whom you live with I might add. And his wife. And son who's only three years younger than you. She mentally scolded herself, and once again tried to let herself relax.

Ashentara never realized when she had actually fallen into a meditative state. Her mind just wondered aimlessly for what felt like only a few short moments. However; that assumption was proven incorrect when Vegeta brought her back to reality, and the sun had descended far below the horizon line. Ash knew they would not make it back to Capsule Corp. before it was completely dark. "How long was I out of it?"

"Only a few hours."

"Well, I hope you can see in the dark, because I sure as hell can't."

"Follow me."

"For as long as I can see you."

Vegeta and Ash stood up and began to walk back home. The trip began in silence, a somewhat comfortable silence. Vegeta was the first to speak. "Do you know why I brought you out here to meditate?"

"Because I was in so much pain that I wouldn't have been able to stand up for two minutes let alone exercise. Not to mention I would have been in such a bitchy mood that we probably would have ended up in a screaming contest. That's assuming, of course, that you wouldn't just say 'fuck it' and pummel my ass into the ground."

Vegeta stopped walking and just stared at her. From what Ash could see, he looked either partially confused or totally lost. Try as he might, Vegeta could not make complete sense out of what Ash had just said. So, he chose to ignore it and continued walking. "You need to learn better control over your body. If you can concentrate your mind, then you can block specific sensations and amplify others. If your cramps are consistently agonizing, then the ability to numb the feeling will be a great advantage for you. Or, you could let the torture distract you giving your opponent the advantage."

"I rather enjoy when the odds are in my favor thank you very much."

"Tomorrow we will continue with the meditation. When this day comes each month, we will concentrate on meditating."

"Sounds good to me." They remained silent as they reached Capsule Corp.

Bulma was not happy. I can't believe he wanted to train her on today of all days. He obviously doesn't understand how stressful this day can be. Its getting darker, and they still haven't come back. If he has done anything to make this worse for her… Is that them? Vegeta and Ash walked into the house, and before Bulma could say anything.

"Woman, where is my dinner?"

"Your dinner? You've been gone for hours, I've been worried so much that I didn't get any work done, and you want to know where the hell is your dinner?"

Ash could see where this was going. "Bulma, if this has anything to do with me, then you're overreacting. Vegeta only taught me one thing today, meditation."

Bulma saw the truth in her face. She knew that Vegeta wouldn't do anything to harm her. If for no other reason than he would have to deal with Bulma. "I'm sorry. I was just so worried about you. Dinner is on the table."

"I can take care of myself. I did find the dragonballs, after all."

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