Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Apprentice ❯ The Lesson ( Chapter 4 )

Well, another chapter and no new reviews. At least last time I looked. This is still somewhat depressing. But, I'm stubborn and if I keep writing then someone will have to read it. Right? Don't answer that.

Apprentice by Alexa

Chapter Four - The Lesson

Vegeta had talked to the police. He claimed to be able to help find Ash, if he could speak with Mr. Emerald Once the police had given him the information he needed, Vegeta contacted Ash's father. And it went a little something like this:

Phone rings. The middle son answers. "Hello?"

"Is this Mr. Emerald?" A strange gruff, male voice asked.

"Hold on." He cupped his hand over the phone and yelled, "DAD!!"

"What is it?"

"Phone."

"Who is it?"

"Don't know. He just wants to talk to you."

Mr. Emerald stood up from his chair, a La-z-Boy, and slowly made his way over to the phone. After none too gently taking it from his son, he spoke to the stranger on the other end. "Yallo, this is Bill Emerald. Who's this?"

"Why do you search for Ash?"

Bill was taken aback by this man's straight-forward question. "She's my daughter. Why wouldn't I look for her?" Silence. "Listen 'ere, stranger. I don't know who you are, or why you're asking about my Ash, but you better not harm her. You'll have to answer to me if you do."

"Well, we'll see where Ash really wants to be. Be at the airport tomorrow by 10 A.M. if you ever want to see your daughter again." With that, the stranger hung up. Mr. Emerald stared at the phone in shock for a moment before his eldest asked him what the man wanted. The four men began to pack for tomorrow.

Vegeta inwardly smiled. The time difference between West City and Ash's hometown was great. It was only early morning here, but there it was mid-afternoon. Vegeta decided to change the routine from the past few days. It was now Monday, Trunks was back in school, Bulma was at the main complex, and Vegeta was left with Ash. Over the weekend, Vegeta had Ash and Trunks sparring while he was in the gravity chamber. But today, he would have to return to the role of 'Master Vegeta'.

The morning had gone like every other. Stretching, katas, exercises, and a little meditation made the hours fly by. Before Bulma had left, she prepared lunch and just put it in the refrigerator. Ash and Vegeta ate lunch in silence. When all the dishes were in the dishwasher, they both returned outside. Ash immediately began to do a few stretches. This was usually the time they started sparring. Although, the events of Friday were never repeated, Ash still preferred to spar with Vegeta than Trunks. The former may be stronger, but he possessed more control than the latter.

"We will spar elsewhere today. There is something you must learn." Ash merely nodded. Vegeta wanted to just fly to the familiar sparring grounds often used by he and Goku, as well as their sons, but Ash was not aware he could. Bulma had asked him to not teach her everything until they knew more about her. Even he could not argue with such logic. After grabbing a few towels and some water bottles, they were ready to leave. I hate these slow human means of transportation. Vegeta thought to himself as he popped open a capsule containing a hover bike.

The barren, rocky grounds were not far from Capsule Corp. The area actually stretched and curved around a river and rock face. He and Goku normally sparred back there, even though the scenery currently looked nothing like it had before they had found it. Vegeta decided this area would suit his intentions. Secluded, no one will be able to see us. No matter what happens. His thoughts faded away.

The two fighters had been at the rocky grounds for almost three hours. Their matches lasted longer than average, due to the greater open space. Vegeta had been testing Ash's attack strategy by constantly taking the defensive position. She was starting to look a little worn out when Vegeta knocked her to the ground. She laid there for a moment to catch her breath.

"Not every opponent will let you rest." Vegeta walked around his young apprentice, examining her. Noting the improvements since her training began. "If you had to fight for your life, would you be able to win. To continue the fight no matter what your opponent did to you. Break a limb, crush your hope, strip you of any comfort or confidence."

"I've never thought about it, Master Vegeta." It was the truth.

"Why do you wish to be a fighter if you have not contemplated the consequences?" Vegeta asked in a manner that was meant for Ash to answer to herself. He watched the young woman analyze his questions. "Get up."

Ash slowly stood wondering what he meant exactly when he said 'strip you of any comfort'. Probably the confidence to beat my opponent. But, I'm not sure. Ash did not actually believe that query would ever be answered. Vegeta was about to prove her wrong.

"Have you given any thought to the true strength of your will?" Vegeta shifted to an offensive stance. "Answer this truthfully: What would you do if your opponent, your enemy took a piece of your comfort? If he stripped off your little top that you seem so fond of wearing. Would you continue the fight, or prove to be modest?"

"Logic would dictate I finish the fight. Although, I am a bit shy. Maybe my being shirtless might prove a distraction for my opponent thereby giving me the advantage."

"And if you had an audience? There is a difference between being exposed in front of one and many."

"It might fuel my anger more and still give me an advantage."

"Fight in anger and you lose. Your answers still harbor doubt. Doubt yourself and you lose."

Master and apprentice sparred for the umpteenth time that afternoon. Vegeta concentrated solely on the fight and his plans. Ash was still slightly distracted by his previous words. She had not noticed his right hand drop to his side and form a very small Ki ball. Vegeta used his other hand to distract Ash's gaze towards her right. With his right hand, Vegeta flattened the energy to a saucer shape and brought it up to cut the bindings of Ash's bra-like top. He easily jumped behind her grabbing the straps and pushing her to land face down. The ripped top still in his hands. Ash landed with a rather loud thud. Shocked, utterly, completely shocked was the only way to describe how Ash felt in that moment. She remained on the ground until she felt a very strong hand grab her braided hair pulling her to stand.

"You lose." Ash instinctively covered her exposed breasts. "You didn't finish the fight. I knocked you down, and you didn't even bother to get up. Where is your sense of logic now? Look at yourself. There is no one around, and I'm standing behind you. Yet you still cover yourself. Why?"

"Instinct, Master Vegeta. My instincts still overrule my reflexes. If my reflexes were stronger, I would not have remained on the ground." Silence. "And, I do not believe that you would truly harm me. You are my teacher, not a mortal enemy. Fighting you, I have a different mind-set than if I were fighting someone whom I feared or hated."

"I can easily change that." Vegeta released his grasp of her hair but quickly pulled both her arms behind her back. He knew he was holding her more forcefully than necessary. She will not learn if she does not experience it. Nothing is more valuable than experience when it comes to training. "From this moment, until I say otherwise, I am no longer your teacher. You will fight me as you would your most hated enemy. Do everything in your power to defeat me. Succeed, and I will give you this," he held up her top, "back." Vegeta released Ash's arms and tucked her top into the back of his shorts.

Their fight went on and on. No matter how hard Ash tried, she could not pin Vegeta down nor grab her top from his shorts. Her being topless seemed to have absolutely no effect on him either. She was becoming very frustrated and cold. The sun was starting to set, the warmth of the day was going with it. I need to get my damn shirt back. This is pissing me off. I fight in anger then I lose. But if I doubt myself then I still lose. Ok then, lets see if I can do something different. Ash renewed her concentration and more closely observed Vegeta's every move. There has to be something I'm just not seeing.

As the fight continued, Ash spotted an opportunity he repeated while blocking a kick. It may be a set up. But, if I doubt myself… Ash threw a few punches at him, then did the same kick only this time not actually following through with it. Once his arms went down to block her, Ash quickly retracted her leg. Jumping as high as she could, Ash brought her knee around to his back making contact with the spine.

Vegeta was mildly surprised to see she pulled a move so bold and risky. He fell forward but effortlessly flipped back to his feet. As he turned to once again face her, he realized the top was now in her hands. She looked at it for a quick moment and saw the binds were singed. Even if she put it back on, she couldn't tie it. "This fight is not over. You have not defeated me."

"Well, now that depends on how you look at it. You said I had to defeat you, and you would give this back. Yet throughout the entire battle, you kept it out of my reach. Almost as though, if I regained it I would win." She threw it off to the side. "But if you wish to continue…"

Vegeta stood straight and crossed his arms over his chest. "Very observant." He walked over to one of the boulders picking up his bag. He reached inside and pulled out a new top. This one was dark blue. "Do you want this one instead?"

Believing he meant another round of sparring, Ash dropped into one of her familiar stances. She stared at him while he just stood there drinking down a bottle of water. "Well?"

"What?"

"Are we going to fight?" She swore she heard a faint chuckle.

"You only need answer my question."

Ash cautiously treaded closer. "Yes." He gently tossed the piece of clothing in her direction.

"Your training for today is not finished."

"Are you my teacher, again?" Ash innocently asked while lacing the binds. No answer.

Vegeta and Ash trained until the sun had completely set. They rode home in silence. Tomorrow would be another day. More lessons. More training. More bruises and sore muscles. Vegeta was right. I do need to think about these things. Fighting a man is different from fighting another woman. Men tend to look down upon women. Like we're weak, inferior. Ash felt her anger begin to rise. Calm. Just calm down. Not every man is the same. Her thoughts lead her to open her eyes and look at the man in front of her. Her teacher. Master Vegeta.

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If you're reading this, then you have just joined a minority. Well, please leave a review. Because, if I get depressed over this one then it won't help with my others. *mumbles* Which people actually seem to read. *end mumbling*