Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ do ut des ❯ never alone ( Chapter 12 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Launch POV
a moment of comprehension I did not move, when he stopped moving.

In that moment of comprehension my smile did not drop, when his head and hand did.

In that exact moment of comprehension my voice did not function, when his body stopped functioning...

But after that moment I moved, my expression changed and I screamed.

"Calm down, Vestal! He's not dead!" The prince remarked sharply. "Just unconscious." He spoke as if he was relieved. "Kakarot, bring him to the wagon."

"What about his leg, sir?" Goku spoke extraordinairy calm in this situation. I tried to calm myself staring at Tien's not lifeless, but just unconscious body. I was still trying to convince myself.

"Wouldn't it better if we did it when he's uncon-" The soldier spoke, as I noticed Tien's chest move with every breath he took. This little insurance almost made me calm down, untill the prince cut off his sentence.

"Twist it back," Were the words that made my stomach upset once again. I watched with a sick fascination how the soldier pushed the bone back in place. It was only in a matter of seconds that it happend, it went smooth and quick. And the ranger hardly made a sound... the poor thing.

Goku himself didn't make a sound either, and I felt slightly frustrated that he was acting so calm, so indifferent, asif it was an every day situation...

But what could a frustrated out of the line Vestal Virgin like me do about it? I was sweeped over...

"Vestals follow me!" Vegeta ordered.

I watched as Vegeta and Goku, who picked up Tien, were trailing out footsteps in front of me. Both assured that I would do as I was told...

And even though it was frustrating that they knew I'd obey, and that it was frustrating to have no say in this matter, it was slightly comforting too.

Because when they lead and you follow, you don't have to decided which way to go...

And if you follow, and it turnes out to be the wrong way, it's not so bad.

So sometimes, just sometimes, it's okay to make the wrong choises, as long as you take them together...

I glansed at Bulma and Chi Chi, who both looked as lost in this situation as I was. For a moment our eyes met.

The choices we were taking lately may be wrong, but atleast we didn't take them alone.

And then we followed.

- - -

The air was quiet and calm, no tension or suspence. Apart from the grasshoppers that I could hear chirping in the bushes beside us, and apart from Goku's snoring and the clicking hooves of the two horses that were driving the wagon, it was silent all around us. The silence wasn't loaded, as it had been inside the camp, instead the silence was light and comforting, it was giving me a time to think things through.

And there was a lot to think about... not that I could keep my thoughts together. I was so aware of everything still around me, and I didn't dare to blink an eye, afraid of missing some hidden adventure. I had the feeling I had already blinked too much, and missed too many things.

The others didn't seem to have a problem with closing their eyes. Goku and Chi Chi were both asleep, Justin cradled asleep in her arms. The ranger was still unconsciously placed on a cloath in the left of the wagon. Goku had bandaged him before dropping him into the wagon, his leg looked okay again, no strange angles anymore. Even Bulma was asleep her head resting against the Prince's shoulder, who was sitting in front of me. Next to him sat an unknown soldier, who silently leaded the horses towards our home.

Our home... which would soon be their home too. Vegeta, Goku and Tien would be moving in.

We were sitting on sturdy wooden chests, which contained the stuff Vegeta and Goku had gathered. The things they needed when they would stay over for training... How long would they stay anyway? How long will it take to train me, Bulma and Chi Chi for the fight in the colloseum?

I couldn't help but grin a little, I was going to learn how to fight! How to defend myself, how to kick ass! My grin faded as I thought over it once again... I so absolutely hated watching the violence in the colloseum... and most of all, I don't want to kill. Not for entertainment...

But like the many choises we took today, I dreaded this would be another one we would not be able control.

Chi Chi knew already the basics of fighting, so me and Bulma shouldn't slow her down, that's why she will be trained by Goku. Bulma would be trained by Vegeta, which was probably for the best. I wouldn't dare to come between Bulma and Vegeta, they're both too complicated for me...

I watched how the sleepy beauty snuggled closer to the prince, it looked kind of cute. Her head resting on his shoulder like that, still it was strange to see them this way.

And there is a lot I don't understand in their relationship, they kissed a few days before, and this evening they were having an argument, still look where they are now... what else will happen between them when he stayed over?

Bulma was obviously keen on him, and even though the prince's feelings were foreign to me, Bulma could seduce him easily... of that I was sure... but what would the outcome be?

I looked up at Vegeta, who was awake, and our eyes met, he was so dominant... I quickly looked down again, relieved that I wouldn't be training with him. In his precense I would stumble and fail, even before I stood up.

He was probably trained to sleep less. I yawned... I certainly didn't. Maybe it was okay to get some shut eye... I closed my eyes for a moment, leaning my head against Chi Chi's shoulder.

The stars were bright tonight... which really was a pity because nobody was watching them at a time like this.

I yawned and smiled a bit.

Enjoying the selfish thought that they were all shining for me.

Just for me...

- - -

I yawned and stretched out, enjoying the feeling of a good night sleep.

mmm... just absolutely lovely. I turned around in the warmth of my bed thinking what we would have for breakfast. I hoped Albruna would make one of her special cakes again... And even though it was a bit wrong to drink in the mornings, I felt like sipping a bit of wine too. Sweet red wine.

I slowly opened my eyes, still having the image of the divine breakfast in my head, however the image soon faded.

For a moment the sight of my own room, and my own bed comforted me. But after that moment, the adventures of yesterday were remembered. I slowly went to sit up as I thought over the events once again. I didn't remember going to bed... in fact, the last thing I could remember was our trip in the wagon.

"I must have fallen asleep..." I muttered in the warm air. It was already late in the morning. It was possible that someone carried me to bed, I had a rough day yesterday, and was tired no doubt.

I hoped I didn't miss it yet.

I stood up, and walked out of my bedroom, wandering through the marmer halls of our humble palace.

My hatred for the old man only became stronger the last few days, realizing what he did to Albruna was terrible. I didn't want to miss the look on his face when Vegeta told him to leave.

I stopped after I passed the therms, wondering in which direction they would probably be. Left leaded to our library, which did have a lot of empty rooms near by... This might be the rooms, the three new inhabitants are provided with. On the other hand, right leaded towards our kitchen and main hall.

I was just about to turn left when I bumped into Ganna.

"Launch, there you are! Come quick, Vegeta is sending Philippus away," The youngest priestess grabbed my hand and dragged me right around the corridor. "You don't want to miss this!"

"I sure don't!" I said before we entered the main room. The conversation between Philippus and Vegeta had already started.

"-going on?" he asked. "I don't understand."

"Like I said before, your services are needed elsewhere." Vegeta stood in front of the old man, proud and firm as the prince could be.

Bulma, Goku, Chi Chi and Claudia were sitting on a long sofa made of red velvet. After I thought how stupid it looked, watching the show as an audience would, I joined them on the sofa.

"She lied!" I did not recognize the desperate tone he spoke with, and it was awkward satisfying to hear him like this... "I swear the baby isn't mine!"

"Who said anything about a baby, old man?" The prince questioned. "I will not repeat myself again. Gather your stuff, the wagon will be leaving to Hipponium in ten minutes."

"Hippoinium?" The head-priest objected. "But that's in the far south of Italy! Through the Sila mountains! It will take me months to get there!"

"Serves him right..." Bulma mumbled.

"Five weeks exactly. But don't worry, one of my soldiers will keep you company. When you've arrived a ship will take you to the island of Hiera, where you will serve in a tempel behind the vulcano."

"V-Vulcano...?"

"That's right." The prince was calm. "Now go and gather your stuff."

"Yes sir..." The old man took a bow, before leaving the room in a hurry.

A smile graced my lips and a feeling of victory bloomed up in me as I watched the man I had despised so long retreat to his quarters.

I was about to say "Good riddance," when the prince interrupted me.

"Happy now?" The question was directed to Bulma with an annoyed tone.

Bulma looked as annoyed as Vegeta did, but I could care less. I surely was happy.

Philippus is gone, far away, completely, utterly, totally and all the other words that can describe that he is now out of my life.

Yes I was happy, and I had the urge to pinch me to check if I was still dreaming. To check if it was real...

Philippus had been the temple's head-priest for more then twenty years now... I've been under his care for almost 12 years, and now he's just send away out of my life.

Things are going to be so different! Things are finally going to change around here! There will be more freedom, and no orders anymore!

Suddenly a finger was pointed to me. "You go and tend to the ranger."

I sighed as the prince gave around the orders. It was too good to be true anyway...

"And you five prepare a grand dinner for 8, we've got something to celebrate."

A smile returned to my lips, at least it had improved a lot!

- - -

My good mood continued all the way towards the ranger. It only was when I saw his condition that my smile dropped.

The bandages on his head and leg needed to be replaced and cleaned. Tien was still asleep, his breathing low and deep and the only sound in this deserted room.Tien had been placed by Goku in a small room near the library. Years ago it was used for stocking the old piles of books. When our old book shelves were replaced, the room was gathered empty. There was only room enough for a small bed and a little closet. We had much bigger rooms in this house, my own room was at least 6 times the size of this one...

He was half-naked, sheets covered his hips and stomach... A blank sheet where I didn't dare to look under. Still I soon realized I had to... a deep small wound started just above his navel, going an intimate way down under the sheets. It would be easy overlooked... since it was this small, Goku must have overlooked it, but it was so deep that it could be dangerous. I didn't want him to get some sort of infection.

I just needed to get a closer look to see how deep it was...

'Oh for pities sake, do I have to drag your ass up there?'

For a moment I swallowed... 'No no it's okay, I'll manage.' I took a few steps forward so that I was standing against the bed. I was about to push the sheets down a bit, when I thought that he would you know... 'He's probably totally naked under the sheets! I can't see that!' my blush deepened. 'I'm a Vestal Virgin.'

'Grow up, launch, sometimes a woman's gotta do, what a woman's gotta do...' I sighed and with shaking fingers I brought the sheet down a little bit. Luckily the wound didn't go that far down... so I was spared the other part...

' 'Spared'... as if.'

Still that wound didn't look to good, I carefully touched it with my finger. The bleeding had stopped, even though it still was kind of fluffy. The wound itself was pretty nasty, a deep, small long cut, I trailed it with my finger, which should be-

And then Tien groaned, and I froze. Quickly withdrawning my finger from the wound and taking a step back. He shifted a bit, and his breath became stable again. His eyes never opened.

'So... he must have like that...'

'Oh be quiet, it was probably hurt-'

'He probably isn't used to women touching him in that area.'

I ignored my irrational thoughts and after a few seconds I took a step closer again. Thinking over my wound-heal plan. First I had to clean it out... then numb the place with some herbs, and because the wound was so deep, stitching it would be the best option.

I carefully closed the door as I began with my mission of finding the herbs. The plant I was looking for was the anesthesium, it was quite a common plant. And I was sure to find it at the edge of the forest, behind our creek in the atrium.

And I was right after searching of for around three minutes I found them... the only thing I would be having trouble with now was the stitching part.

When I re-entered his room, everything looked the same as when I left it. I sighed as I thought about the job I had to do. Needles were nasty, and it had to be done quickly... I doubted if I could work comfortable in that area... and I didn't want to stich him the wrong way because nervous clumsy me.

'Oh shut up and just do it.'

'First to make it clean...' I mixed the leaves with a pile of warm water and took the cloth to drap it in. I carefully leaned over him, and brought my hand to the wound. 'What if he wakes up?' I hesitated.

'I would love to see his face.'

'No seriously... wouldn't he be mad that I was touching him here?'

'We're just helping him... this isn't working. Let me do it.'

Before I could protest I sneezed, and my hair colour changed from blue to yellow. "Much better." I slowly bend down to clean up his wound... it was pretty nasty since it was this deep and all. Fortunately the herbs that were blended with the water numbed the wound as well. All together it went pretty smooth... it was the stitching-part that would give me troubles. Needles just weren't my style. But like I said before, a woman's gotta do, what a woman's gotta do.

And so I started piercing his scin with the needle, whipe away the blood, pierce it again and so on. I didn't bother to look at his face whether he flinched or not... I was too concentrated on the job itself. I had finished it all up in a minute or five. The wound was now bleeding, so after I wiped the blood away, I bandaged it up as well.

Then I started to replace all the other bandages and cleaning the wounds with the anesthesium water. I washed his body, and I noticed a scar running over the right of his chest.

I traced it with my finger, it was an old scar. From old battles. He must have gone through a lot being a gladiator. He has a nice-

"W-what happened?" Froze me in my place as I heard Tien speak. He slowly went to sit up. Making my hand trail to his stomach. Just above the wound I tended to.

I didn't dare to look up as I heard him question once again. "Where am I?"

Oh hell, I didn't want to deal with this. I wanted to sneeze.

Ha-ha-chooo.

- - -

After the short moment of dizzyness passed I opened my eyes. I quickly withdrew my hand and took a step back.

I blushed and our eyes met. "I-I can explain."

Tien nodded. "I'd like that. But first tell me what happened yesterday."

I went to sit on the edge of his bed. "After you passed out we..."

And so I told him everything I knew, I told him about the baby, Philippus, the trip in the wagon. Everything that happened the past days. And it was nice to talk about it like this without any interruption, (apart from the few times he asked for a glass of water, I had offered him some red wine to numb his pain a bit, but he declined saying that he didn't like alcohol, 'It makes you too careless', I couldn't see what was wrong with that, but decided not to react). Tien was a good listener, asking for more details or questions, which made it easier for me to get it all off my chest. It was extremely relieving. And when my story almost came to an halt, with an 'and then you woke up', he started telling his. Which brought us close to sunfall.

Apparantly Tien and Chiaotzu spent the day like any other, fighting, training and gathering their food for their evening meal. It all seemed like an ordinary day.

Untill suddenly Goku and 4 other soldiers bumped in, (Tien did say the names but I couldn't recall them), Chiaotzu was gathering dry wood for the fire at the moment.

Goku had asked him to come to the camp, but Tien objected. Then the fight started. They were both equal in strength, so when the fight became too long for the other soldiers liking, they intervened and overpowered the ranger.

They caused him his wounds. The wounds he had were really serious, still he didn't complain in fact he didn't mention his wounds at all in this conversation. It made me wonder how much this guy could take.

He also asked me if he could bring Chiaotzu here too, to stay over for the time he was here. "Sure", I said... having no clue how Vegeta would react.

He told me about the deal he had with the prince, a promise that Vegeta broke. He told me that he escaped with Chiaotzu two years ago, that he escaped from death.

Needless to say, but he did say it anyway, he wasn't supporting the deal he just made.

"To guide a Vestal Virgin in her training." He sighed. "That will be you I guess?"

"Y-yeah... does that bother you? Because if it does I could ask Chi Chi or Bulma to switch places..." ... which I really didn't want to do. Tien seemed like a nice guy, and I surely didn't want to switch with Bulma or something. The idea of Vegeta training me gave me the creeps.

I looked up at Tien a bit uncertain, hoping that he wouldn't mind, but hoping that he would be honest and tell the truth at the same time.

"No, no not at all." He smiled. "I think our training time together could prove to be quite interesting."

And maybe it could. I smiled back at him. I hope it would...