Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Attachments Detached ❯ Chapter 20 ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter 20

Vegeta glanced back, watching impassively as the door slid shut, locking him in this place for a whole year. He folded his arms across his chest and looked back at his surroundings, snorting at the plush atmosphere of the round room he was in.

To his left was a shower and a bed, as if he would be sleeping much. He glanced to his right, eyebrow raising at the fridge. He walked toward it, line of body tense, as if expecting something to jump out at him at any time. Opening the fridge, he stared at the wealth of food inside and chuckled. Well, this would be gone soon.

He tore off a leg from whatever bird was sitting on the top shelf, already cooked, and tore a hunk from it with his teeth as he closed the door and walked further into the room

With a grunt, he swallowed the food in his mouth, blinking at the white expanse of space that fell away after the steps leading down. This was obviously going to be where he would train. Well…no sense in wasting time.

Finishing off the leg, he tossed the bone behind him and stepped one foot onto the white floor.

It felt solid, and, after a moment's consideration of the ground beneath him, he dismissed it as unimportant. He stepped fully onto the ground, frowning as he felt a twinge in his muscles. There was increased gravity, but he hardly felt it. Still, it would be better than no gravity. When he got out, he would notice the difference.

Sighing, Vegeta started on warm-up stretches, trying to make up for the day he had been incapacitated. He frowned lightly as he balanced his whole body on one hand, thrusting himself into the air vertically and beginning to perform push-ups. It was that Radditz's entire fault. He slowly went through a mental checklist of the longhaired Saiyan.

The Saiyan was a third-class, older brother to Kakarott, son to Bardock. Kakarott was a first-class, as had been Bardock. Radditz and Kakarott's mother had been an unknown, but she couldn't have been that strong and possibly had long hair like Radditz's. It wasn't a Saiyan's nature to remember females unless the fought beside him or were underneath him.

And it was here that Vegeta's frown turned to a scowl as he flipped himself over smoothly and began a round of sit-ups. His father had never mentioned his mother, in fact, no Saiyan he'd ever had a chance to meet had told him anything about female Saiyans. Being young, Vegeta had seen them and dismissed them as he had any other lower-classed Saiyan warrior.

The first female he had ever encountered had been-

He wrenched his thoughts away from that with a growl and leapt up, beginning a series of offensive and defensive moves that would make up the kata he would be working to perfection. He purposely blanked his mind. Now was not the time to think of anything. Now was the time to train. There would be plenty of time to think of women; and one in particular, after Frieza.

<~>

Bulma hurriedly packed the last of ChiChi's items, nervously glancing out the window at the flashes of light that indicated that Radditz and Kakarott were sparring. As long as she and ChiChi were in here and Piccolo was out there as referee, she could handle the man. However, she didn't think she'd ever fully accept the other Saiyan. He'd torn out Vegeta's throat. The loss of that rough and smooth voice for even the few hours they had been together was not something Bulma was likely to forget.

"Bulma…um, no offense, but I think that shirt's folded enough."

"Huh?" Bulma glanced down at her hands to find that they had folded and unfolded the same shirt three times. "Oh." She looked sheepishly at ChiChi, who had an annoying amount of amusement in her dark eyes. "Sorry." She placed the shirt neatly in it's pack and sealed the pack. "Anything else you need?"

ChiChi shook her head. "Just the guys to help carry this." Noticing Bulma's nervous gaze toward the sparring brothers, ChiChi smiled reassuringly. "Listen, Radditz won't do anything. If Kakarott trusts him, I'll trust him."

Wide blue eyes stared at ChiChi. "He killed Kakarott! I mean, I don't like him cause he almost made Vegeta mute, but he killed Kakarott! How can you just-like him?"

Her mouth thinning, ChiChi's eyes narrowed as she took in the little movement she could catch outside. "Oh, I don't like him. I like Vegeta better than I like him. I trust him. He won't hurt my Kakarott again."

Bulma heaved a sigh as she tossed a bag filled with clothes over her shoulder. "Wish I could feel that secure about Vegeta and him. If he doesn't go after Vegeta, Vegeta will go after him."

ChiChi shared a grin with the blue-haired woman as they both moved outside to stop the boys and tell them they were ready. "That's why Kakarott's here. Middleman. I tell you, if I'd seen Vegeta first, I'd have never believed Kakarott's attitude. He's so-sweet."

Bulma nodded. "I remember when I first met Vegeta and Kakarott. I said something, I'm not sure what, but Kakarott ended up laughing himself to the floor. Vegeta just snapped at him."

ChiChi laughed. "That sounds like them all right." She cupped a hand around her mouth and aimed toward the fight. "Hey, guys!"

Kakarott immediately stopped, grinning inanely down at the two women. He gazed at his mate only to have his head snapped back as he counterpart pushed his fist into the side of his jaw.

Rubbing the spot and glaring at the smirk that reminded him unhappily of his Prince, Kakarott moved to reiterate the 'love-tap'.

"KAKAROTT!"

Even Bulma winced in sympathy as both men stopped their begun assault and made their way to the ground, one contrite and one huffy. The huffy one stalked past his brother and his mate with a mumbled statement about whipped dogs. ChiChi glared at him as he disappeared into the house. "Wash yourself before you touch my stuff!"

As Kakarott tried to sneak past his mate to follow after his brother, ChiChi's voice halted him just outside the house. "You too, Kakarott! You stink!"

Kakarott turned around, placing a hand behind his head and laughing nervously as he agreed with a glowering ChiChi and backed into the house.

ChiChi rolled her eyes at Bulma, who giggled. Both women focused on the landing Piccolo. "We're ready to go."

Piccolo nodded. His eye ridges rising as both women somehow managed to put their packages in his arms, two more trips like this and before Piccolo could blink all that was visibly of him was the hint of a turban, two green arms, and the cape that billowed out to either side. He grunted and almost went pink as he heard a definite chuckle that was male and wasn't Kakarott. He felt two more bundles added to each arm and could only growl at the Saiyan as he left the Namek loaded down with nasty chuckles and snickers.

It wasn't too soon, in Piccolo's mind at least, before everyone was loaded also and they took off, being led with gestures and spoken directions to Krillin's house by an excited and slightly nervous Bulma.

<~>

Moss green eyes looked deep into his and he couldn't help sucking in a breath as delicate fingers traced patterns through his shirt. He had put aside his armor in favor of the cool air that was blowing over the planet. He had scoffed at the notion of her coming with him to a desolate planet. Now, he just stared at her with wide eyes.

"What are you doing?"

Her lilting voice laughed at him, and he gritted his teeth, moving out of her reach. She laughed again. "Let's play a game, Vegeta."

His tail tightened around his waist and his six-year-old face scrunched up with something like displeasure. "I don't play games. And I'm Prince Vegeta. Forget the title and you shall be punished!" His voice didn't quite contain the command of his father's, but his power more than made up for that.

She giggled again-what was her name? It didn't matter because she was advancing toward him. "You will punish me? Do you promise-Vegeta?" Her hands descended onto his chest and he sucked in a breath as he felt-something; like a heat that pressed upwards from the very center of him. He writhed slightly underneath her fingertips as they moved, sliding up to his throat and curving around to tickle where spine met skull.

It was a very threatening gesture for the young warrior and he immediately backed up again, only stopping when his back hit a cliff face. She was a favorite of Lord Frieza's. To hit her would be to hit him. And that, with the attached 'promise of safety' for his planet, was something Vegeta had no wish to do. "Don't."

"Don't what?" She quirked a silver brow up as her hands once again moved toward him, this time cupping his face between them. He had one moment to draw breath to angrily dismiss her before her lips closed over his, stealing that same breath away.

Widened black eyes met amused green ones as she finally broke the kiss, leaving a gape-mouthed Vegeta trying to figure out what he had been going to do. Finally, he moved his mouth, the complete opposite of a reprimand coming out. "What was that?"

She giggled. "Silly! It was a kiss." He warily watched her hands come up and assertively place themselves on his sides. She drew close, her head barely touching his shoulder. Her breath tickled his ear. "Did you like it?"

He swallowed, wondering why words were suddenly sticking in his throat. "I'm not silly…. I-I don't know. It was sud-"

Once again, her lips closed over his, this time at a much slower pace, so that he was able to appreciate the texture of her lips over his own. The friction increased as he mimicked her movements, his breath hitching momentarily as her hands slid up his sides to grapple with his hair. It felt good, but it felt wrong too. Something was-off about the whole thing.

He finally pulled his head to the side slightly, breaking the kiss. He fidgeted as her hands stayed in his hair, running through it as if he was being petted. It also did not feel bad-but wasn't quite right. "I don't think we should be doing this. It doesn't feel right." He felt stupid for saying what he thought. A Prince just told people what he thought and wanted; he didn't explain himself.

Her light laughter filled the air again. "We've been companions in almost everything for a whole year, Vegeta. I think you deserve this for being so patient."

He blinked twice at her. "Patient?" As her hands literally clenched his hair and she leaned in again, he quickly grabbed her wrists and pushed down on them, twisting her around and him away from the trap she had made of herself and the rock. He faced her, watching with confusion as her face reddened. He had no control over this situation. He had to have control. "We're only together all the time because Lord Frieza demanded it of us. I have no wish to cart around a female."

His haughty tones caused the other to still suddenly as her eyes took on a hint of wonder. "You Saiyans mature at a slower rate than my race."

It was not a question, but Vegeta treated it as such, his face flushing in anger. "We mature fine. If my father died, I could take over his throne willing and able. My strength is unparalleled in any Saiyan!"

She clucked her tongue on the roof of her mouth, a sound Vegeta had never heard her make before. She approached him, her walk and manner unthreatening, but making Vegeta anxious nevertheless. "Not that kind of mature. Do you want me to kiss you again?"

Vegeta cocked his head to one side as she stopped inches away from him. "I don't recall you asking before you did it the last two times…."

At his slightly affronted tone, she shyly twisted her head down, grinning. "I didn't know you were-inexperienced."

Vegeta started at the last word, a growl coming from between his lips before he could stall it. He leaned in then, awkwardly taking her lips in his own. It was not as her kiss had been, but he noted as he leaned back from it that she seemed pleased. "I'm not inexperienced!"

Hiding a smile, she nodded. "You certainly aren't. May I show you what my race does?"

He paused; then gathered together what courage he had. Since he was so strong, it couldn't hurt him. He shrugged, acting nonchalant. "If you wish."

A hint of a smirk on rosy lips told him his unease was warranted as she slowly leaned toward him. He clearly felt her hands rest on his hips before her whole body melded into his. Her head came around to rest on his shoulder, turning to place her lips on the flesh exposed there. He felt the hands travel up as he stayed still, feeling that heat well up again. Slowly, his shirt was removed from his pants, the hands traveling along his bare skin and causing shivers to race up his spine. He heard a small sound, like a muffled groan, and realized he had made it.

He growled inwardly at the weak noise and raised his own hands, grabbing her face away from his neck and once again kissing her. This time, it was she that groaned, and he couldn't contain his smirk.

As she continued her more experienced movements, he slowly mimicked her, finding that he got more pleasure if he gave her pleasure while she gave it to him. Soon, he found himself on the ground beneath her; the significance of that position not yet making sense to his young mind; and was participating as much as she was, though he could tell some of the things he did produced less reaction than others. All of the things she seemed to be doing made him either gasp, clench his teeth, or let out another of those weak, breathy sounds he loathed.

As he turned his attention to her neck, as she had done at first, teeth delicately pulling on the skin there, his black eyes opened, directing themselves to the sky almost instinctively. They widened as they met the bright light of the planet's full moon….

<~>

Just as instinctively as his dream, the first thing Vegeta looked for as his eyes popped open was a moon. Instead he met the white above him. Roving his eyes, the white only stretched out until he wished he were back in his dream. At least his memories were more colorful. Even if they touched on areas he'd rather not study-ever.

He sat up slowly, memory coming back to remind him that he'd collapsed from exhaustion just-he glanced at the clock-two hours ago.

Scowling at himself, he stood, preparing once again to go over his moves. He could feel an increase in his power, slight and definitely not enough. No, there'd be no breaks for him for the rest of the day…or the next. He was going to defeat Frieza if it was the last thing he ever did.

<~>

Bulma walked cautiously toward Krillin's home, checking this way and that. Everything was still, much too still. ChiChi followed along beside her with Goku and Radditz behind them and Piccolo and Yamcha taking up the rear. Everyone was quiet, holding their breaths as they waited for some sign that there was life in the woods.

"KRILLIN!"

Yamcha yelped at Bulma's yell and then blushed as every face turned toward him. "What? I thought I saw a snake!"

Piccolo raised an eye ridge. "You like snakes."

Yamcha glared at his counterpoint, wishing he'd just take a hint and shut up. "It was a really big one."

Bulma sighed and turned back around, scanning the woods once again. All five stilled as a rustling sound came from their left. Bulma shared a look with Piccolo that clearly said 'check it out'. Piccolo gave a short nod and moved slowly to the bush.

Right before he reached out the part the branches a fluffy, white bunny hopped out, wiggling its nose at the strange green being before continuing on its trek for carrots.

Bulma let out a laugh that was too high-pitched to be anything but nervous. "Boy, Piccolo, you sure showed him!"

Piccolo merely frowned. He had long ago announced that he wasn't carrying anything any further and set everything down as they headed into Krillin's woods. ChiChi and Bulma had complained the entire way, but now, there was not a single word of protest as the stillness of the woods stretched out before them.

Bulma suddenly pointed ahead. "Krillin's house is just around that bend."

"A good place for an ambush if someone were to do so," Piccolo commented dryly.

ChiChi glared meaningfully at him and tapped a fist on a nearby tree. "Better knock on wood."

Before Piccolo could retort, or even move to do as she had suggested on Yamcha's head, an ambush did occur. As the women blinked and the men shifted into fighting stance, a literal army of armed men surrounded them on all sides; laser guns cocked and ready to shoot. And it was a familiar voice that greeted them all out of the bushes.

"Well, well, well. And what do we have here?" Bulma and Yamcha both laid the same acute glare on the black-eyed man that emerged from the greenery, smirking in self-congratulatory pride at his catch.

Ribery looked at first Yamcha then Bulma, his smirk growing wider as he went. He paused though at Radditz, his smirk declining into a frown of concern. "So, are we finally associating with criminals Yamcha? I see we have found Miss Bulma…and Radditz. And what's this?"

He took two huge steps forward as he spoke, confronting ChiChi head-on. "Miss Mau? Why, whatever are you doing in the company of such riffraff? Surely it couldn't be because of a certain wild-haired, tailed man, could it?" His eyes flicked to Kakarott, smile growing again. Talk about two birds with one stone.

ChiChi drew herself to her full height, which wasn't much compared to Ribery's. "I'll have you know that without all these tin soldiers you hide behind my Kakarott could beat you by himself."

Piccolo rolled his eyes and stifled a grin, moving his left foot slightly over to better position himself. The other fighters saw the movement and also started to strategically maneuver themselves.

Ribery immediately turned from the black-haired harpy and the rest of the group. "And where were we going to in such a hurry?" He turned to them with such an amiable smile that it made them all gag. "After all, you wouldn't want to miss Lord Frieza's triumphal entrance as he-" and here his gaze locked onto a nearly snarling Kakarott's, "-collects. It should be quite a show."

As Bulma stepped forward, a retort on her lips, several guns swiveled her way. She stilled immediately. "The only show you'll be getting in a front row seat to Frieza's defeat. Then it'll be your turn!"

Ribery condescendingly smiled at the other woman. "Temper, temper, Miss Briefs, wouldn't want anything to happen to you. After all, Frieza is collecting you too. To finish out your service to our great Lord."

Now it was Bulma who growled, but Ribery, liking nothing more than having the upper hand, stalled her from speaking. "Now, there seems to be someone missing, and Lord Frieza wanted him the most. Where is Prince Vegeta?"

Ribery sighed as the silence stretched before him. "Oh well. I suppose I'll have to-question one of the women until someone remembers."

Kakarott spoke up finally, wishing he could move toward ChiChi and feeling helpless to do so. "Don't touch them!"

Ribery laughed, loud and heartily. "Oh, does the monkey have a soft spot for one of them? Well, tell me where the Prince is and I'm sure he'd be glad to join us. Plus, the women shall stay-here."

Kakarott pressed his lips thin, eyes glancing at ChiChi, who was carefully not looking at him. She was a smart woman…and he planned on keeping her safe. However, it was Radditz who spoke up.

"Hey, you wanna know where Prince Vegeta is? I can tell you. I hold no loyalties to that bastard."

Ribery raised a brow and moved around the group to where Radditz stood, as frozen under the guns' glares as the rest. "And why don't you-Radditz?" He obviously found the rebel Saiyan offensive; for he managed it wrinkle his nose as he spoke his name.

Radditz ignored the glares from women and fighters, ignoring even better the betrayed look he knew his younger brother was giving him. "I was left here to-rot on this filthy mudball." This time he did catch his brother's look, and quickly glanced away again. There was a very set frown on his face. "I owe these maggots nothing. However, if I tell you, you have to let me go. I won't serve anyone. Not these morons, not you, not Frieza. Your word on it."

Ribery nodded, businesslike and professional once more. "But of course. You'll be allowed to go off-planet even. I'm sure when Dr. Briefs has heard of your valiant rescue of Miss Briefs from these ruffians; he'll give you whatever you desire. Now, where is the Prince?"

Radditz nodded himself, took one more look at Kakarott, and plunged on. "Prince Vegeta is training in the desert. You know, the one right below Western Capital, where Yamcha and I had our first, memorable fight."

Nearly everyone kept the surprise off of their faces. Yamcha even managed to add a muttered 'bastard'. Radditz could've snorted at how easily they'd assumed he would betray them. He supposed it came with the territory. In truth, he hated this Frieza more than he could ever hate any of his own kind. The glimpse in Kakarott's mind had assured that.

A last, quick glance at his younger brother, an unnoticed wink, and Radditz was moving toward Ribery. "Come, Radditz. I'm going to this Krillin's house and informing Lord Frieza. You can watch, so you will know Lord Frieza and know who to-avoid."

Radditz wasn't stupid. He had no doubt that he would be betrayed. However, if he had the leader away from everyone else, he could just take him out himself. Most humans did badly without some sort of leader. He was assured that military types were no different.

"What did you do with Krillin?"

Ribery turned with a raised eyebrow at Bulma's cry. He slowly let a grin ooze onto his face. "The bald-headed monk?" He stared at the woman for a bit, letting the color leech from her face, before turning and continuing toward the house, a silent Radditz following.

Piccolo glanced at his companions, knowing they were at a disadvantage. If so much as one of them moved, the rest would find themselves shot down. Or worse, the women would be injured. And it didn't seem likely Vegeta would take well to that.

He met Yamcha's eyes, but the man just shrugged. They were stuck there until something came up.

As the yell sounded from behind the captured and a blonde and blue streak attacked from behind the captors, they knew something had come up.

<~>

Radditz gazed around the country-like house, wrinkling his nose in disgust. This Krillin had bad taste in interior decoration; that was for sure. Although, humans had bad taste in general.

Ribery paused before the intercom and Radditz deftly dodged out of the view-screen's range as it flicked on. He watched with narrowed eyes as a code was typed in, quickly memorizing it. Ribery knew he was watching…and Radditz knew that. If Ribery intended to shirk on his side of the deal-well, since Radditz had never held true to it from the beginning….

Radditz grimaced at the pastel face that filled the view-screen, wide eyes glaring at the caller until he realized who it was. "Why, General Ribery! What a pleasant surprise! Tell me you have good news."

The seductive and lilting voice made a shudder run up Radditz's spine. That, combined with the looks of the creature and the veiled threat in the last sentence ensured that he was at least for his brother's 'friends' until this-thing was defeated.

"I do indeed, my lord. It seems I have captured not only Kakarott, but certain-defectors of our own, including Miss Briefs." The man practically preened in front of his employer, chest puffing out so ridiculously that Radditz had to stifle derisive laughter.

Frieza raised one delicate eyebrow, his horned head lowering slightly as he narrowed ruby eyes dangerously. "That is all good and well, General. Yet you seem to have forgotten a very important, and potentially irritable, Saiyan Prince."

"Not so, my lord!" The man shifted nervously as he hurried to interrupt his master. This was dangerous to his health, but taken into account the more dangerous option of his lord thinking he had failed…. Well, some risks were meant to be taken. "I have his location. I merely wished to give my lord the pleasure of capturing him yourself. I thought-"

"Are you being paid to think, Ribery?"

The omission of the man's title made him clamp his mouth shut with a sharp click of tensed teeth. The friendly tone from the pale creature's mouth made the General swallow thickly through a suddenly dry throat. "No, my lord."

Frieza steepled his fingers on the table in front of him, smiling broadly. "Good. Now, where is the renegade Prince? I will deal with him myself."

Radditz raised a brow as the man before him stifled a frown of displeasure. It was just like a tyrant to take someone's idea and make it their own; cliché in fact.

General Ribery bowed at the waist to the tyrant lizard. "Of course, my lord. I await your arrival with much anticipation. Do you know when you will be here, so I may prepare for you?"

Frieza smiled, really more of a cross between a sneer and a smirk. "I'm sure you'll be ready whenever I get there, General. I expect nothing less."

Ribery again bowed low as the screen cut to black, leaving both men with a sour taste in their mouths. One was detained by the thought of the riches promised him, the other by the thought of the lizard's eventual demise.

Ribery turned to the still hidden Saiyan. "Well now, shall we go see how your-friends are doing?"

As Radditz stepped into the light to take action on the scum before him; both clearly heard the yell from the left-behind group. Thinking only of his brother and his allies, Radditz immediately dashed back to where he had left the others.

A/N: Hm, more mysteries. So, what was that about…the dream and that questionable ending to the Ribery confrontation? Hn. Guess you'll have to wait to find out. Oh well, I'm sure you are all patient…. I'll be getting out the 21st chapter ASAP. Now that I'm break, I should have more time to…. See ya next time around!

Maria S.: You're welcome. As you can see, I'm trying to develop him. He's too…even now…2D for me…. Oh well, the future will tell his-uh, future.

Elbereth in April: Elbereth in April. Welcome. Took me awhile to update eh? But I updated another with this one, so…. Tell me how great I am. Um, well, that was-Vegeta-like. Nevermind my ego. It only shows in my writing.

JadedBest: 18 is very limited on character knowledge isn't she. Don't worry. I've tried to include everyone in this fic. Well, looks like the danger is closer…. Whatever shall happen? *gg*

Lupa: lol Wow! Thanks for reviewing the chapters like that! You know you're one of my fav reviewers now, right? Lol I hope you enjoy the rest of this fic…. BTW, everyone goes gaga over Vegeta-angst scenes. They're just-addictive. I mentioned Kakarott dressed in-oh. Wow! You found a boo-boo! Congrats…. Um, yeah, you're right about that….

Tweetyboo: I'm one of the authors that hides in the shadows. When you've got big names like Lisalu and Darke Angelus, you tend to get left behind…. I don't mind though. I prefer to have a small following so I can pay special attention to my reviewers…. Like this! Thank you!

Mousey7891: Thanks. You know, I don't know about Orlando, but Legolas is definitely a hottie. Gotta love pointed-eared men.

Susan: If he ever gets out of the ROTS that is…. lol