Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sculpted In Gold ❯ Chasing Napa ( Chapter 15 )

Sculpted In Gold

Chapter 15

On their way back to the palace, there were at least 20 couples dancing to the music out on the Veranda, since it was such a beautiful night and the music from the ballroom filled the enormous stone patio as well. One by one almost all of the couples stopped and stared as they noticed what Vegeta was still wearing. No one actually dared to say anything, of course, but it was clear that they didn't approve.

Vegeta just smirked though; they were so shocked at his garments that they didn't even seem to realize that he had rejoined the party with the previously missing princess and those who had left the party to go find her... He just shook his head wonderingly, if seeing someone wearing battle armor into the party shocked them this badly then it would have to be very boring to be one of these nobles. For the first time in his life, Vegeta couldn't help but think he was glad that he wasn't raised to be one of these soft, pampered weaklings.

Vegeta would never have admitted it to anyone, but he had always been curious about court. He had always wondered what it was like to be one of the idle rich. The haughty aristocrats that frequented the palace, which was adjacent to Home Base 1, often landed their large, luxurious ships at the military base next to the palace. And so, on their way to the palace, they passed through part of the barracks where Vegeta, Napa and Radditz were usually assigned to report to between purge missions. Vegeta recognized many of the nobles here as being people that had once claimed to have mistaken him for a servant. Sometimes they referred to him as, a porter, a bellboy, even one of the damn bath boys once, but today they all seemed a little more like regular men and women than the larger than life celebrities they had seemed to be even a few short months ago.

There were diplomats and nobles here from every corner of the Empire, magistrates, prime ministers even many of the very kings and queens of the planets under the empire's rule, in attendance here tonight. Frieza had them all so completely afraid of him that they were like fish in an aquarium- they were here just for decoration and they knew it. They tried not to show it, trying to continue about their aristocratic lives as though the presence of Frieza and his empire hadn't changed anything about life at court, and yet this was all a show. It was a show put on by Frieza so that he could keep track of his puppet governments' leaders and just to give himself something to do. And to add insult to injury, as angry as they must feel at the little improprieties orchestrated by Frieza and his friends, the nobles had neither the power nor the training to stop him- even if they had the will to fight him, there was no doubt that this was Frieza's territory.

Vegeta glanced at Frieza as he walked toward where Napa and Radditz were continuing to graze happily at the buffet tables, interrupted only when another tray of food had to be brought out. Zarbon was talking to a few members of the purge alliance that Vegeta didn't know and frankly he had no interest in what they might be discussing since he was technically off duty.

The tyrant's garnet gaze was centered on something behind him, but Vegeta waited until he was out of Frieza's immediate line of sight before he turned to see what it was. He was surprised when he realized it was the Elven Empress who held his attention. She was moving majestically through the guests, smiling warmly and chatting with them, of everyone here she seemed the most at ease. Even Zarbon seemed a little on edge, while she seemed to be enjoying herself utterly out on the Veranda with Shani. Shani seemed to just sigh as her mother was suddenly all but forcibly dragged away from her to spend more time with her guests, and even from the far side of the ballroom Vegeta did not miss the look of apology the Empress sent her daughter.

The guests of honor were suddenly both alone at their own party; Vegeta shook his head wondering if this little farce of an event could get any more ridiculous. Shani turned her attention to the garden again, and Vegeta growled, as he moved to join her. Even though there was no one close enough to hear anything he might say to her, it would be alright- even good for them to be seen together now. He had no idea what he would say to her, since the only things he wanted to say to her would've been highly inappropriate, but he did want to be close to her, even though he couldn't do it the way he wanted to.

She leaned far over the railing, reaching for one of the blossoms on a tall flowering plant that grew below where she was standing, not realizing how enticing her adorable little backside looked in that fine gown she was wearing. He smirked, unable to resist the temptation to play with her, even if it was only a little. This was stupid why did they have to be here since they were alone anyway, when they could be having a lot more fun all by themselves in say a bedroom or damn near anywhere else for that matter.

"Surely you don't intend to fall, my lady." He purred quietly, pressing himself against her as he pulled her up and turned her around to face him. "Silly girl, besides I intend to keep all such views of that adorable little backside of yours, all to myself."

She tried to slap him but he caught her hand and released it with a smirk. "Shall we dance? Before we have this whole place in a panic?"

Shani could only nod. Already they had attracted more attention than she was comfortable with. It seemed that only a minute ago he was kissing her like a man dying of thirst in the desert consumes all the water he can find, and then he had held onto her as if afraid the oasis he has found would vanish at any moment, and now she only got the feeling that he was toying with her again. Looking into his eyes as he put his arms around her she sighed, but allowed him to sweep her along with the other dancing couples. Again they swept effortlessly over the veranda with the other dancing couples and soon she found herself smiling again.

"Earlier I wanted to ask you where you learned to dance so well." She said cheerfully. "I mean, I know that you are always busy working for Frieza, so..."

"You don't want to know."

"Yes I do, I asked didn't I?"

"This isn't the right place to talk about it."

"Why?" Her silver eyes were full of innocent curiosity.

"You really want to know? Zarbon had three Rhinarians brought in to show us how to waltz. There wasn't time for us to learn any other dances though and Radditz seemed to catch onto it too, but Napa kept stepping on the poor thing's feet. Then again, that's Napa. These days he has a hard time remembering katas that he once taught me."

At the mention of Rhinarians, Shani tried instantly to pull away from him, but he anticipated her reaction and held on to her easily. As he continued, she started to relax and she giggled. "I can't imagine him dancing, but he and Radditz seem to be behaving very well right now. I must admit after all the things I have heard, I'm surprised."

"As long as there is food they will stay close to it. I know both of them also consider all the females here to be too small and weak to be of much interest to them anyway."

"Aren't you stronger than they are? I mean, I've been with you and I'm fine."

"I was born with knowledge that I needed to control my strength with lesser creatures, and they are not as in control of their more feral desires as I am either. Saiyans are not typically as careful of their mates as I was with you..."

**

Raya sighed happily watching Shani dancing with her fiancé, they seemed happy at the moment, as if they were genuinely enjoying each other's company, so she turned her attention to the two larger Saiyans. Zarbon had told her that three of them had been so busy working that they hadn't been given any time off in months- almost six months to be exact, and that was a long time for Saiyans to go without giving in to their more feral instincts, such as sex... Well, as a loyal Priestess of the Elven goddess of love, Raya didn't hesitate in offering to help the two Saiyans get laid. Two of the Elven servant girls had overheard her talking about it to Zarbon and offered to pounce on Radditz after the party. But she still had to find someone to play with Napa.

It was unfortunate that there weren't any humans of the northern barbarian tribes around tonight they liked the big, brawny, bald look and they- Charsi! Raya smacked herself in the head with a grin for forgetting about the tall but spectacularly attractive human female, not caring who saw her. Charsi was a northern barbarian and she didn't have a mate yet, which was even better! She had been born and raised at the Elven court, where there were no men of her kind, besides her own father but she was not attracted to any of the Elven men, who were almost as small and delicate as the female elves were. Well, that settled that… now she just had to get Napa and Charsi together… Hmm well, perhaps the direct approach would work best on such a large specimen. Raya walked casually over to where the two Saiyans were grazing at the buffet tables and giggled, catching a hold of Napa's long, thick tail, gently petting the soft fur.

**

Napa felt something grab his tail, and start petting it and he nearly jumped into the food in surprise, trying to get his tail away from the attacker. But when he turned around he saw the tiny elf that had healed Vegeta with a touch of her hand? He scowled menacingly at the little female. As beautiful as she was she couldn't possibly know what she would be getting herself into if she kept that up. But he never got a chance to tell her that. She spoke first, not at all intimidated by his most evil look, she smiled sweetly and reached for his tail again. In shock, he backed away and she giggled.

"Napa," She said again, this time in a sultry voice that mirrored the expression in her eyes. "Take it easy there, big guy. I don't want to hurt you. I was wondering if you might want to come and meet a friend of mine."

"What kind of a joke are you trying to pull on me? I'm just here because Vegeta is and…"

"Charsi didn't want to come to the party because she is almost as tall as you are, but believe me when I tell you that you are exactly her type. You're really a good looking guy for your size- when you aren't scowling, and among Charsi's people, men always shave their heads. I think she'd like you better if you had some tattoos… but we'll work with what we have. I noticed she seemed quite taken with you when she saw you from the stairs... I'm serious, she couldn't take her eyes off of you, Napa, it must've been your tail, because female Rangers always seem to have a soft spot for soft, furry things and I..."

"I'm warning you, little girl…"

"I think she's serious, Napa. I met a girl named Charsi this morning, she's beautiful, and she is really tall..." Radditz said, trying to keep the disappointment out of his voice. He had hoped he'd get to see her again, but in spite of Shani's assurances to the contrary that morning, he had known that the beauty wasn't interested in him. Her body language had told him that, and so had her scent as she had walked past him. He had been sure he could have changed her mind if he had been given a chance, but since the opportunity had not come he had given up the chase, which was just as well if she were interested in his Elite companion. Vegeta wouldn't tolerate the two of them fighting over a girl…

"I can assure you, Napa, I'm most definitely not a little girl, and you wouldn't be able to handle me anyway, but you might be able to keep Charsi entertained tonight if you're as big as you look. What do you say, big guy? Would you like to meet her and then make up your mind? She won't come down here we'll have to go upstairs to see her, I've already tried to get her down here several times tonight."

"I can't leave the party!" Napa growled.

"Why not? Zarbon asked me to find you and Radditz some female entertainment tonight."

"Why would he do that?"

"Because you're so tense you've crushed three punch glasses and eaten so much food that we've turned the buffet over three times in two hours and we haven't even had dinner yet. We get you to relax and you'll have a pleasant time at the palace in the next week. Since they are officially a couple tonight, Vegeta and Shani are going to have to make another appearance together before you three are sent back out. The next party is next week. It's the anniversary of the Empire, and you'll be expected to be there too."

"What?"

"I happen to know you both heard me." Raya said, looking at them both calmly with two enormous sapphire blue eyes.

"I don't get it though, what's in it for you?"

"I'm a priestess of love and healing. I've done my healing duty for tonight already so now I get to do my love duty in the name of the goddess. And that, gentlemen would be, to make sure that everyone I know is in love- or at least getting really great sex. So, Napa, are you coming with me to meet her or shall I find you a man instead?"

Radditz couldn't help laughing. He tried not to but it was just too hilarious to resist. Napa's jaw had nearly hit the floor when Raya said it was her duty to help people get laid… the poor elite Saiyan actually fell over backward when she offered to find him a man instead. "You can't be serious…"

"Why not? The goddess welcomes all love bonds, and she likes to see mortal express their love bonds with passion and..."

"Not that, I mean you really think you know a woman that would want me?"

Raya gave him a hurt look. "I would never tease anyone about something my goddess takes so seriously, Napa. To do so would case me to loose the favor of Shinalla. Charsi's people are about your size and you are bald, yes I think she'd give you all the sex you can handle and then some. I think she'll like you a lot if you try to mind your manners and don't scowl at her. Not that you'll ever be able to intimidate her, it just isn't your most attractive expression. She's a warrior too, you don't want her to think you want to fight her, not if you want her in your bed, anyway."

"Actually if she were a Saiyan I would fight her before I could bond with her. It's our most ancient ritual but all of our females have been destroyed, so it doesn't matter anymore."

"Tell me about the ritual. I want to know more about this. It sounds very interesting to me. Please? I like to know about the mating habits of all the different races I encounter."

"I don't think Napa's going to be here that long. He doesn't like remembering that, you know, everything was destroyed." Radditz said, watching the huge elite walk away from them to stand near the huge front door of the ballroom, still scowling menacingly enough to keep everyone away from him. "So, I was wondering, who did you have in mind for me- if you don't mind my asking?"

Raya beamed. "Not at all! A willing subject is my very favorite kind to play matchmaker with, Radditz. Do you see that girl with the tray of Champaign, and the one with the silver hair on the serving line through the dining room doors? Well, I told the two of them there would be plenty of you for them to share. What do you think? They were going to surprise you after dinner, but since you asked…"

"Two??"

Raya giggled. "Well, Zarbon mentioned he thought you and Napa would probably be afraid you might accidentally hurt just one of us "little" elves, but between the two of them I think you'll have plenty to do to keep you busy, as it were. Those two are love mates, so don't worry, they won't have any trouble keeping you or each other occupied, they like to include a man once in a while just to spice things up a little, and I don't mind telling you they have been admiring you since you arrived. Napa has been so tense all evening that I'm starting to feel sorry for him. He's older than you, isn't he?"

"He's older than me by more than 60 years." Radditz nodded. "He's survived a long time because he's too stubborn to die in battle and too dedicated to Vegeta to even consider retiring. I think he lives for the work we do, and for his duty to the prince. I was twelve when the news of our planet's destruction came to us, and I miss our planet, but not the way that Napa does, because I was never there. I inherited my father's talent for staying alive in spite of my lower power level, so I was kept busy with missions, so nothing really changed for me- or for Vegeta really. Napa was definitely hit the hardest, he takes pains not to show it, but he's changed a lot since the three of us were put together as a team. These days he's only happy when he's destroying someone, and no matter how many women he... well you know- but it never seems to improve his mood either. I wonder sometimes if he lost a love mate when Vegetasai was destroyed that he hasn't told us about. Not that it would matter to Vegeta, but it's not Vegeta's fault, he's just still so young… way too young for a mate. I mean, even though he lost his planet and all claim to his title as prince, he was young enough that he decided a long time ago that he's just going to rule the whole Empire after he destroys Frieza. I think to Vegeta the past is dead, the moment is all that matters to him because it's all he's ever had. He's not even really sure we have much of a future, but we have right now. Like right now, he's got his arms around your princess and it doesn't matter to him what anyone thinks of the two of them together because right now they are both happy."

Raya smiled at the large Saiyan. "I understand completely, Radditz. And I think that's why he's getting along with Shani so well right now. You see, my people tend live for each moment too. That's why it is my priestly duty to see that those who are unhappy find someone to hold onto- even if it doesn't last, the moment is what matters because the only thing anyone really can say for sure that they have, is what is before them in each present moment. So, with that said, I'm going to get Napa to follow me up the stairs to meet Charsi. If all else fails, I'll just teleport us to her."

"Good luck."

"Oh don't worry, I have many tricks up my sleeves yet. He'll be meeting Charsi tonight… and in the morning I hope we'll have a more pleasant and relaxed Napa."

"So you were really serious? You think Charsi wants to meet Napa?"

"She's shy around these stuck up nobles, being so tall and muscular, she is nothing like what they are used to but she is a human that was raised among Elves, she'll proposition him when we get up there, where it's just people she knows. You know, she actually said wow when she saw him from the stairs earlier, and I could tell she's interested. I'm a priestess of love, so now it's my holy duty to Shinalla to get them together and see what happens from there. By the way, you're a pretty sweet guy, Radditz; I'll definitely work on finding someone a little more permanent too, but I really think you and Chessa and Virea will get along fine tonight. So have fun if I don't see you again tonight."

"Well what about you, who are you going to be with? Or don't you get to do anything yourself?"

She laughed. "Of course I do. I would be a pretty silly high priestess of love if I couldn't keep in practice. The goddess expects us to express our passions and sensuality. Zarbon and I have been together sort of pseudo-secretly for 15 years, and he's already requested my presence in his bed tonight, but thank you for asking, I'll keep you in mind for later, I've never had a lover with a soft, furry tail before."