Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ do ut des ❯ map of memories ( Chapter 13 )

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

The feeling of the thick, black walnut chest was familiar to him. Opening this chest had always been in a moment of soberty. It made him feel calm, alert and comfortable. A moment of peace in a time of war. The only difference between this moment and all the others, was that there wasn't any war to win, there was no victory to gain. Vegeta had always led the army to victory, he was more known for his victories than any Roman in history. And now, another battle would be won without him. A group of Trojans had to be eliminated at the South Coast, it was nothing big, but it still felt surpressed not to be on the battlefield with them.

"We've always got our own battles to win," would his father clame in times of peace. Vegeta himself wasn't totally convinced that his father had, they were both so utterly different. His father was a container, not a conquerer like he was. When Vegeta was out risking his life on the battlefield, the king would be staying safe inside the house of the enemy, giving counsil while enjoying the sweet taste of red wine. Their ways were so different that it was strange to look at them as father and son, working for the same cause, for Rome, for power. And the Roman empire was indeed enormous and powerful, wide-spread, scattered on the area's of strange conquered lands.

Vegeta had conquered many of those strange lands. All of the places Vegeta had visited were drawn of his own-made map, it was much of a diary to him. And now that he had unpacked most of his stuff, he was going to add another destination on his map.

The Autrium Vestae, the house of the Vestal Virgins. He had visited the altar many times before, every year the prince would witness the ceremony on may the 15th, along with his father and nephew. The fact that he hadn't drawn the small palace of the map before was because it hadn't meant anything to him untill now. The home of the Vestal Virgins had suddenly became more personal, or atleast personal enough to be drawn on his map between the colloseum, and the Castra Preatoria. His map was becoming pretty full... he stared at red drawning of a forest at the North East of Italy... he had met here there. Near Forum Julii, he had found her, and claimed her soul.

Unconsciously he folded out the one and last letter he had received from her... his mind dazed out to the memory of receiving it.

He remembered how surprised he was when she had given him the letter.

- - -

"You've got to be kidding me, Marena, an eighteen-year-old amazone who can actually write? I tought you were just vulgar women in tight sexy outfits."

She smiled, and it did him good. He loved to see her smile, she would smile with every molecule of her body, she smiled carefree and sincerely, so vivid. He could look at her smile all day.

"Now I remember why I hate men like you." she joked, for she couldn't hate the man who made her see so many thing. She might even care as much about him, as he cared about her.

"You don't hate men like me," the prince said. "You adore them, you want to- "

"Sure Vegeta, do I have to remind you that I was supposed to kill you, not bed you?"

No she didn't have to remind him, the memory was still fresh in his mind...

- - -

Battle had leaded him towards the Forum of Julli, some of the greek were protesting, attacking, completely ignoring the contract that was made by his father and the Greek Emperor. Funny how it was that they simply dissapeared as they reached the forest. They became even more surprised, as they found out that the protesting warriors weren't men, but women. Amazone women, women warriors, who attacked the Roman troops with their arrows and javelins.

"Man or not, I'll take them down!" Nappa exclaimed frustrated as he noticed another arrow just missing his head. The royal guard, Nappa, attacked.

And he had taken them down, all the female warriors, except for one, who killed him first.

This made the last amazone even more interesting, maybe even interesting enough to keep around for a while. The prince captured her, and traveled back within their borders.

The last Amazone was a beautiful woman. A piece to be lusted after, strong and fiesty. She would do good in a gladiator fight, and in bed... and that was something most men had noticed.

He would keep her in his tent, so that she wouldn't tempt the soldiers any further.

"You should be grateful I didn't let them rape you," He said while he tied her hands together. "I'm sure they were willing too."

"You disgust me." She spoke with venom, in an attempt to cover her weakness.

"Really?" he picked her up and laid her down on the bed with him.

"W-what are you doing?" came her trembling reply when he embraced her with his strong arms.

"Making sure you don't get away." He muttered, his eyes already closed.

"I-"

"Go to sleep Amazone, it will be day before you notice."

And she did, and the silence, her comforting body warmth, and his drifting fantasies (which the nineteen year old tried to contain) caused him to drift to sleep as well, which he wasn't really supposed to do...

He awoke from the feeling of the cold metal against his throat. When he opened his eyes, he directly stared into her green ones. It was a mystery to him how she got hold on that weapon... she really was something else.

"I'm going to kill you," she whispered against his ear, which caused him to be aware of the closeness of their bodies. "If I won't kill you, you'll be taking many lives of innocents in the future. I can't let that happen."

"Then do it," He sat up a bit, making the pressure of the knife on throat almost too much for his scin to bear. "Do it Amazone," he urged her, his eyes quickly taking a glanse at her lips. "Take my life."

"I-" she too, was caught in the moment of closeness, their noses were touching, their lips almost brushing, and her breath got trapped in her throat.

He leaned forward and kissed her, and as soon as he tasted her, touched her, he lost himself in the heat of the passion. Even the amazone couldn't resist the passion that errupted between a man and a woman.

The sword clattered uninvited on the floor.

- - -

Why was it that she came back to it? She knew he remembered, there was no real reason for repeating it.

"Why are you-"

"Nevermind, 'Geta, just read the damn letter when I'm out of town, I'm going to visit some-", her voice softened. "... some very old friends."

And then she kissed him for the last time. "I better be going now."

She visited friends all the time, nothing strange about it. A few minutes after she left his chamber he opened the letter

- - -

Dear Vegeta,

I'm terribly sorry for saying this to you, I guess you might have seen it coming. I'm going to fight again, the king ordered me into the colloseum. He knows Vegeta, I don't know how because we've be very careful, but he knows about us. And to make things less complicated, I will do as he says. I know what he up to... and don't you dare to take on the fight Vegeta, promise me you won't fight your father. Might anything happen to me, I'll promise we'll meet again in the afterworld. I'll wait for you Vegeta. I could wait forever to be with you. Thank you Vegeta, for showing me what it's like to be a woman. I thank the Gods for our time together,
With all of my love,
Marena

- - -

He re-read the letter for the millionth time before carefully folding it and placing it back on the table... It was in the past, it should be in the past. Three years flied by from the day he received that letter... a lot of things changed. The world changed and he changed too.

He wondered why he had been thinking so much about Marena lately. It must be the Vestal, he concluded. Bulma reminded him a lot of Marena, the way she smiled and her fiesty attitude. He chuckled of the memory of how Bulma tried to blackmail him.

"Because you kissed me Vegeta, and I'm a Vestal Virgin, forbidden to be touched."

The kiss between them wasn't meant to happen, and although he had to admit he enjoyed it (and how could he not? Ever since Marena he hadn't touched a woman) he would make sure it wouldn't happen again.

He simply owed Marena that much.

His trail of thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Ehum, Vegeta?," It was one of the girls. "P-prince Vegeta, I mean..." it was funny to hear her stumble even before coming in.

"Yes Vestal, come in." It was the blue haired one, the one that would be trained by Tien. He stopped his thoughts from going on about that subject and focussed on the young Vestal Virgin in front of him. "What do you need?"

"I-I wanted to to tell you that... that dinner is ready in an half and hour."

"Alright, I'll be there in an half and hour." When he saw that she made no motion to leave he added. "You can go now."

"Ow yeah," she turned around taking a few steps, before turning around to face him once more. "To- to be honest that wasn't really everyhing I wanted to tell you."

"Go on."

"Right... is it okay If Chiaotzu will stay over as well?" She paused a moment to look up at me. "I mean he's just a kid and-"

"I know who he is, and I couldn't care less about his stay here. Do as you please, just make sure he doesn't get in my way."

"So he can stay over?"

"What is your name girl?"

"M-my name is Launch, sir."

"You're not very clever are you Launch? I just told you I didn't care whether you brought the kid here or not, so you can damn well do it!"

"Y-yes sir."

- - -

They could cook, he concluded after he took in his first meal at the palace of the Vestals, and damn good too. The prince wasn't used to such meals, even though he was a prince, during the battles he ate the same as the rest of the soldiers did, and it was never much. Absolutely nothing compared to this wonderfull meal of different grapes and fruits... Salty pork, chicken, duck and fish. Salads and cheese, nuts and olives. Kakarot was definitely enjoying himself. They were al together around the table, except for Bulma, (who was guardening the fire) Tien, and the Vestal with her baby, who were all resting. As soon as the Roman Prince would avert his eyes from the delicious plate in front of him, his eyes would lock with those of the other Vestals. It was unnerving, really, that everybody, (well except for Goku who was too focussed on his food, and Launch who seemed to be lost in thought), was watching his every move. He cleared his throat before taking a draught of his wine, causing everybody to stare at him without motion.

"What the hell are you looking at?" The prince spat, obviously irritated by uninvited attention he was getting.

His outburst startled the young Vestals and they immediately looked down, and continued eating in silence.

"Nothing..." Came Goku's late reply.

Which caused the youngest Vestal to have a great problem containing her laughter, she was nudged by the blond haired who was sitting next to her. The young Vestal looked up at her and bursted out in laughing.

"Be quiet Ganna!" she hissed. Which caused the younger raven-haired Vestal to replace her mood in annoyance.

"This is stupid, why can't we just laugh and talk during dinner like we always do..."

The blond-haired Vestal smiled up at the prince. "Because we now have royal guests."

Ganna was just as unimpressed as Vegeta was, who just continued eating and following the conversation without looking up.

"Your point?" She asked, quirking a cocking eyebrow.

"Well that you're so uncivilized!" Claudia's voice dropped in degrees, as she hissed at the youngest Vestal. "At least some of us have manners.It's isn't polite to -"

"Ow shut up." She cut her off, secretly enjoying how Claudia was trying to contain her own tongue.

"Ganna, I don't want you to talk such-", She could never finish her sentence as she was interrupted once again.

"And I don't want you to bitch me about some shitty rules! Just because Philippus is away, doesn't mean you have to fill up his gap with your large ass!"

"Oh...", Claudia tried desperately to think of a comeback and containing her tongue at the same time. "I'm not sure if the prince would approve such langauge." Was the only thing she could come up with.

'Just how did he end up here?', Vegeta thought. He looked annoyed at Claudia, already disliking her at this first day of stay.

Ganna was about to snap her up when Vegeta cut her off.

"I'm pretty sure that I wouldn't give a damn, thank you." He once again questioned how he ended up here, with these crazy young woman debating about what they could say around the dining table... He was getting a headache. "Now if you'd all excuse me, I'll be bringing some food to Bulma." Would be his excuse to get away from the harpy women.

- - -

As soon as he got sight of her, he stopped dead in his tracks. He froze at the sight of her, enchanted and caught up in the moment.

The woman was dancing, in a own made rythm, expressed by the sweet tingle of her bracelets. Her eyes closed, turning and swaying. Her blue hair floating above her shoulders. Enchanted...full of beauty.

She too, froze when she caught sight of him, which led her blush a soft shade of rose. She looked flushed, but still breath-taking.

"How long were you standing there?" She asked, absolutely embarrassed from her little performance.

Vegeta recomposed himself and chuckled. "Long enough," He walked up the steps of the altar, and placed the plate of food on a wooden table. "I thought you might be hungry."

He quickly added as an excuse for his behaviour. "You Vestals were giving me a headache at dinner."

Bulma sat down at a red sofa next to the fire and smiled. "Another argument between Claudia and Ganna, I assume?"

He nodded and leaned against one of the columns, unable to take his eyes of her smile. Just as Marena did, Bulma smiled with every molecule of her body.

"I don't know what's up between them... not that I can get along with Claudia, but between those too things are really hostile. Maybe things will change not that Philippus is away." Her eyes traveled to the fire, and back to him again. "I hope they will." When the prince didn't react she started on another topic.

"So... I heard Goku talk about a battle on the South Coast. What's that all about?"

What was she expecting from him? A nice conversation?

"If you don't mind me asking." She added.

He sighed, knowing that in a way he did, and didn't at the same time. "Some Trojans tried to invade my country... they won't survive." He was surprised that she was interested.

"Oh really? I thought we were in peace with the Trojans."

He watched how she took the plate on her lap and started eating.

"Just because treaties are made, doesn't mean the inhabitants complied. Trouble hasn't changed."

She nodded in understanding. "So when will we start with this training?"

He looked up surprised. "Are you so willing to begin?"

"I guess, in a way I am."

"Training starts tomorrow, go early to bed today. You'll need all of your energy tomorrow."

"Oh is that so?"

"Don't challenge me woman," Vegeta said with a slight smirk, amused at the dare of this Vestal. "It will be much more than you can take."

She chuckled. "We'll see." she said.

"We will see indeed."