Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ do ut des ❯ spilled wine ( Chapter 14 )

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

My hands were warm from stroking the dirty brown hair of the doll I held so close.
It was late at night and my thoughts kept me from sleep.
Thoughts about the future, thoughts about the past.
But now, more than ever, my sleep was delayed by thoughts about the present.

For I did not understand the reason of all the passing events around me. And the few explanations I did get, were far too abstract for me. Explained in a language I do not understand.

Already a week had past since the arrival of the soldier, the ranger and the prince. Things did change, not as much as I expected, Philippus's absence didn't turn out to be much of an influence. We had spend so many time avoiding this head-priest, that it became much of a ritual. A habit, that was now no longer needed. It felt good to get rid of it. Apart from losing that habit, there wasn't much of a change.

The fire kept burning, clothes were still washed and the palace was still cleaned. The only difference was that there now wasn't any pressure to do it. Without any checking the mistakes would not be noticed, would never seem made.

Nobody commanded, nobody complained, and still everybody complied.

Claudia and Ganna took in more responsibility, since the rest of us would be busy doing other things. But they weren't the only ones that worked harder. Albruna would still, no matter how long her baby would keep her awake at night, prepare a lovely breakfast in the morning. Bulma, Chi Chi and I woud still do a few chores next to our training. The household of the Vestae was still managed, as it always was.

Goku and Chi Chi already started training. All day would be spend in the garden, our atrium had been transformed in a training field.

I believe it was a day or two ago when Chi told me in full excitement about the skills and weapons she had learned to use.

'It's tough and difficult', she had said, showing me a few cuts she received from handling the sword. 'But it's worth the try.'

I didn't like the way she talked about the soldier though, full of excitement and admiration, with such sparkles in her eyes that it made me wonder where there quality training time would lead to.

I was even more scared of the outcome of Bulma's and Vegeta's training time together... and I wasn't the only one.

Albruna had warned Bulma. 'Don't get too involved with the prince,' she had said. 'He's a very dangerous man, and the consequences, Vestal Virgin , are even more dangerous.' I overheard their conversation when I walked passed Albruna's chamber.

I had asked Bulma later about it, but she told me she didn't want to talk about it. That was kind of strange since she usually was in for a chat... Bulma never got finished talking. Just the other day she had told me about the training skills she learned and the arguments she had with the prince. The last was told with the same admiration that I discovered in Chi's way of talking. It worries me.

My own days were often spend in Tien's chamber. The first few days we hardly talked to another when I took care of him and cleaned his wounds. It was when I brought Chiaotzu home, that he started to loosen up. In a way Chiaotzu made us both loosen up.

I had tracked Chiaotzu down the day after I asked permission to the prince. It wasn't hard for me to find him- or for him to find me. I had spend an half and hour walking in the forest, calling out his name. Eventually he just jumped out of the bushes, a bit surprised with a 'Why did you call me, lady?'.

I helped him gather up some stuff he wanted to bring along. He wasn't as shy as when I first met him. He asked me a lot of questions, and I tried to answer them the best I could. It didn't help much that I knew so little about what was going on.

He was very interested in Tien's state. He wanted to know about every injury he had. He said it was important to know for their training.

'Especially since Tien doesn't tell when something is wrong. Tien doesn't like to complain. He doesn't like others to see that he's hurt. I can see when he's hurt though, I can see it when he's asleep. Sometimes he even cries when he's asleep.'

I smiled as I remembered what he added.

'But don't tell him I said that, Lady Launch. I don't think he would like that.'

Tien was very relieved to meet his friend again. Chiaotzu didn't fully understand, as I remembered him saying that it has only been two days ago, as an excuse to get out of the embrace Tien was giving him.

I wasn't the only lady Chiaotzu could get along with, Lady Ganna and Lady Albruna did a good job with the kid as well (though I have to admit, it hardly sounds as cute as Lady Launch).

During the day Chiaotzu would wander around the palace, tagging along with Ganna or Albruna, and helping them with some simple chores. The small ranger got fond of Justin as well, entertaining the baby with funny faces and songs- that Claudia had thought him.

Tien had told him to stay away from the prince and the soldier. They weren't exactly hard to avoid, they would be outside all day, while we would spend the day inside the house.

However, Chiaotzu had found a way to get in touch with the soldier-much to Tien's disagreement. The kid had taken quite a liking to Goku, and Goku didn't mind the extra company at all. So after dinner at the altar, Chiaotzu would listen to his stories about fallen heroes and their battles of victory. Tien wasn't happy about that, to say the least, the tension between him and the soldier was really tight. And about to snap into a fight.

Things might go better between them when our training starts. It would get his mind off things.

Since he was still recovering he decided we should start training at a later date. During the day I(and somtimes Chiaotzu who jumped around the palace all day) would keep him company, and we would talk or read time away. I had showed him the library we got, and he was really enthusiastic about it. Sometimes we would just sit at his chamber and I would read Chiaotzu books about sailormen and warriors. Funny how it was, that Tien always seemed to be more caught up in the story than Chiaotzu(who tended to fall asleep during my tellings).

In those few days I had learned a lot about Tien, he had told me about the battles he had fought, and the family he never had. We talked about all sort of things, books, gods, food, dreams and nightmares.

What I liked most about our conversations, is that- and I know it might sound really egoistical- he would allow me to speak. When I would stammer or falter, he would wait. He never interrupted me, he would simply listen to what I have to say. And I can't think of anything more comforting.

I sighed as I rolled over once again, placing the doll next to my pillow. It was quite frustrating to be so wide awake after these few hours of light sleep. I tossed the covers aside as I decided to go for a nice glass of wine to help me drift to dreamland.

I thought I had forgotten the touch of the coolness of the marmer floor against my feet- it was quite comforting too, since my bed had been much like an ocean, the warm blankets twirling and entangling around me- I shivered in delight as I paced and passed.

However, I did remember the taste of wine. I smiled. O well, one can never be sure.

I had always liked the tast of the red grapes with a bit of honey. And it was exactly what I needed to laps into sleep.

This night the wine was a bit to bitter to be my favourite, even though I had added quite a lot of honey. But not nearly bitter enough for my liking. I was just thinking of adding some more honey, when suddenly Tien entered the kitchen.

"Couldn't sleep?" I asked while adding a bit of honey to my wine.

"Not as much as I'd like," he stared at my drink before shaking his head. I looked down at it and wondered what was wrong. I was about to ask when he started to talk. "When you're laying down all day, you rest enough to keep you awake in the night."

It was then asif he suddenly realized I was sitting there. His eyes trailed over me in strange, somewhat hypnotized kind of way, and he swallowed. I looked down at my feet and wondered what was wrong in my appearance. I looked no different then I ussualy did. My hair was a bit tangled, but the tunica I wore, should be just as familiar to him, as it was to me.

I shrugged off the feeling of conscious, and went to sit on the sofa. Thinking of what his last words were.

"Well you do need that rest to recover." I said, snapping him out of the daze he had fallen in.

When I looked over at him I saw that he really was doing better. He was wearing lose pants, and most of the cuts on his bare chest were healed. I knew from the wound-cleaning I had done this afternoon, that the wound I has stiched was having some troubles though... I had re-stiched it yesterday.

My eyes stopped and I blushed at the thought that I had been staring at his chest all the time. A bit embarrassed I looked down and sipped my drink.

"What I really need is a good night of sleep," He sighed, sitting down on the sofa next to me. "I think we should start training tomorrow. Although I have to admit I'm not fully recovered yet, I think we could begin." He smiled, I noted that the left side of his mouth curled a bit more than the right side. "We have a lot to do if we want to catch up with Vegeta and Goku."

I nodded, my thought drifted to all the skills Chi Chi had told me she learned.

"Anyway," he said. "What's your excuse for being up this late?" he asked, while pourring in a glass of water for himself.

"Too many thoughts.", I said while taking another sip of my wine. The honey made the wine perfectly sweet.

He shifted, while staring in front of him, considering my answer, before asking more about it. "About what?"

I sighed. About what not?

"You know, me, you..." my voice trailed off as I realized that it must sound really... stupid. "This," I added. "everything..."

He didn't seem effected by the words when he smiled. "That sounds like a lot of thoughts."

I smiled back at him. "You should take a look inside my head...", I said. "It would really scare you away."

He chuckled, "Is that so?" he asked amused.

And then I thought about what I had said,

'Inside my head...'

'...scare you away...'

And answered the truth after taking another draught of the wine.

"I'm afraid it is."

- - -

"I want you to lean backwards and drop yourself without cathing."

I couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow at the strange task.

Our conversation had ended soon last night, and I was glad when I could return to my comfortable warm bed. It was now early in the afternoon, after I had finished breakfast and some simple chores, our first training had started.

"I will catch you." he said, "In training it's very important to trust your partner..." his voice trailed off, to an old memory perhaps.

"Al-right, so I'll just fall?" I asked, a bit sarcastic.

"Yeah, and I'll just catch you." he said with a smile.

I smiled back, wondering if Bulma and Chi Chi had to do this kind of stuff in their training. Probably not, I couldn't really picture Vegeta giving Bulma this kind of lesson. No, they would be busy doing far more serious things, handling swords and shooting arrows. Serious training, no game of trust. Vegeta had taught a lot to Bulma, she was already a lot more skilled in fighting than I was.

'This is such a waist of time,' A part of me thought. I immediately realized that it has been quite a while since I heard that tone of voice in my head.

'No it isn't!' I defended. 'It's very useful in-',

'Sure... say all you want, but it really is a waist of time...'

The imposal of the thought scared me. It made me angry that I coudn't even think without an interruption.

'These conversations in my head are a waist of time.'

And then I scolded myself for waisting even more time on this easy task, by argumenting about waisting time. I sighed defeatedly and glansed at Tien.

"Is something wro-" he asked in a tone of worry, but I interrupted him. For the first time, I noted.

"Can I fall now?" I said a bit irritated. It came out harsher than I intended. And I regretted speaking to him in that tone. Since I believed that he would never speak to me like that.

"If you're ready." he replied, calm as always. No hint of dissappointed. Which in turn, dissappointed me.

'If I was ready, how could I not be ready?'

"Alright then, I'm going to fall now." I waited a few seconds for a respond but when none came, I turned around and looked at him.

"Oh, you were waiting for my reply, I thought you were just going to fa-, oh nevermind Launch, I'm ready."

I turned around and muttered an okay back, before closing my eyes and dropping my body.

'He's not going to catch you.'

For a moment I had to refrain a shriek, when I was pretty sure that I should have hit the ground by now.

'He's going to let you fall.'

I was about to catch myself up, when his strong arms folded around my body and stopped me just a few inches above the ground.

When I opened my eyes I saw him smiling up at me, and I suddenly felt very silly. He helped me up.

"Now that wasn't so bad, was it?"

Unsure of whether he meant the fall, or ending up in his arms, I nodded.

"Okay, then we're now going to continue to work on your fighting stance..."

- - -

"Bulma and Claudia are preparing dinner today," Chi Chi grinned while looking up at me, "I wonder if we'll survive it".

I laughed. Knowing from experience that Bulma's cooking combined with that of Claudia's really was a sight to behold, and a sight to fear as well.

''So how have things been with you, Launch?'' she asked, while sitting next to me.

If everything was alright with me... I thought about my first training I had with Tien and sighed.

''I think I'm going to sneeze soon, Chi.''

''Ow,'' She looked up at me a bit surprised. ''How come you know?''

I stared into the flames and scratched my arm. ''The- T-. There is just this constant urge to do so. And I-I can hear her inside me.'' I looked up at her, and for a moment she looked at me as if I was going crazy. ''L-Like when this training today, Tien told me to fall backwards with closed eyes so that he would catch me. It was like this exersize for trust. H-he finds that kind of stuff very important. And well... a part of me was constantly thinking that it was ridiculous.''

She chuckled. ''Well it is ridiculous, Launch.''

I sighed and looked at her. ''You're not helping me, Chi.''

She smiled. ''I know, I know, I'm sorry. But tell me what's the problem if you do sneeze. Everyone of us is used to it by now. Philippus is gone so you don't have to worry about him anymore.''

''What about Goku and Veget-''

''You'll just avoid them.''

''And Tien?''

She thought for a moment. ''Well I guess you'll just have to tell him. That way he would be prepared when it happends... I mean you spend a lot of time training with him, right? So there's a big chance he will notice it some time. Why not tell him?''

I sighed at her explanation. Easy for her to say, she didn't actually have to tell him. 'Hey Tien, guess what? I have splitten personalities! When I sneeze my hair turns to yellow, and I will yell all day. Isn't that nice?'

Things just weren't as easy at that.

''I'm not sure, Chi, I mean he's-''.

''Guys!'', Ganna called us. ''Dinner is served. Didn't you smell the burned potatoes over there?''

Chi Chi grinned. ''No, we didn't, at least not yet. We'll be coming down in a minute.'' Then she turned to me. '' Really, Launch. There is nothing to worry about, Tien wouldn't care if there are two Launches inside of you, plus we'll be able to contain you. I promise I won't let you do anything stupid.''

It actually was a bit of a reassurance too.

''Its going to be alright.'' She smiled. ''Now let's go, we don't want to miss this special dinner, now do we?''

- - -

I looked down at my plate of 'special dinner', and I realized that I really did want to miss it.

The potatoes and chicken were stuck together, and some orange tomato like sauce, covered it all up.

'Is this stuff even edible?'

'Well... at least they tried.'

'... and failed. I bet Vegeta wouldn't even want to eat when he saw this.'

'I'm sure it will taste great.'

'Are you?'

I looked down the table, and saw that everybody was staring at their plate like that. Well apart from Vegeta, who still had to turn up, and Albruna and the baby, who were now watching over the fire. Tien and Chiaotzu had joined the table since a few days as well.

Claudia was serving in the wine with a serious expression on her face. The other cook, Bulma, was staring at her plate, and trying not to burst out laughing. Serious Claudia would be very dissapointed.

But she wasn't the only one who had trouble containing their laughter. Tien shot Chiaotzu a warning glare, but the kid ignored it, and giggled.

''Well if you find it so funny, Chutzo,'' Claudia said, almost spilling the wine over Goku's glass, while giving her little speech to the Chutzo, as she called him. ''Maybe you shouldn't eat at all.''

''But I am not ev-'' Tien gave him a little kick under the table to shut him up. Chiaotzu looked up at him and glared, before taking a first bite. I watched amused how he chewed it carefully and swallowed it with a look of grimace on his face.

When he noticed that I was watching he turned to me. ''I don't think I am this hungy, Lady Launch. Is it okay if I go to help Albruna?''

''Of course it is, and ask her if she will make you a little something later tonight.''

He smiled. ''Thank you, Lady Launch!'' he said, while cleaning up his plate.

''It almost makes me want to go and help Albruna too.'' Tien said with a wink.

I laughed.

'Why did he wink at me like that?'

'What are you worrying about, it that just meant that he was joking.'

'I know, I know.'

'But you just like to believe that it is for a different reason.'

'It's not like tha-'

'Yes it is.'

I looked up, just in time to see Chiaotzu, who was just leaving, and Vegeta, who was just coming in, bump into eachother. Chiaotzu landed on the ground, but was soon picked up again.

I noticed that Tien clenched his fist.

''Watch where you're going, brat!'' The prince spat, pushing him roughly on the ground. And giving a kick into his stomach.

Tien immediately stood up, spilling his wine over the table in the progress. ''Leave him alone, Vegeta.'' His fist were still clenched, and I never saw him with so much anger. Not even the day at the soldiers camp.

''You are no one to tell me what to do.'' Vegeta spat, clenching his fists as well.

''Oh, believe me, you'll be sorry when you don't listen.'' Tien's voice sounded different, with a tone that brought the chills upon my scin. He sounded deadly dangerous.

And I was scared. Scared for not only what was happening, but also scared that this man was the same I trained with this afternoon. It was the same man who listened to my stories. The same man, and the only man I ever trusted.

I saw a side of him, I never wanted to see.

The prince laughed. ''Tell me gladiator, what are you going to do about it?'' He looked down at Chiaotzu, preparing to give him another kick, when Tien's fist couldn't be dodged, and hit him straight with full force, against his jaw.

''Leave him alone, Vegeta.'' He hissed, his fists never unclenching. ''I mean it.''

Vegeta turned around angry, and pushed him to the wall, just missing the open door. ''You can not tell me what to do.'' He gave him a kick with the knees, and kicked him outside.

Vegeta whipped away some blood. ''That scum...'' he spatted. But he made no move to follow him outside. For him, the fight was over.

I quickly stood up, when I realized that for Tien the fight would continue.

'I have to stop him.'

''Tien!'' I called out in a voice, I was having trouble with recognizing.

He laid there outside against the wall of the building. He refused to meet my eyes. I helped him get up.

''Are you alright?'' I asked, afraid that the stomp in his stomach, had reopened the wound I had re-stiched the day before yesterday. ''Let me see.'' I said, pulling his shirt a bit up.

He immediately smacked my hand away.

'I'm just trying to help!'

''It's okay.'' He said, but he didn't look at me. ''Leave me alone Launch.''

''B-but...''

'It's not okay!'

''I mean it.'' He hissed, about to step back inside, when I pulled him back. Anger now taking over of both or bodies.

''You ca-ha ha choo.''

And then I sneezed.