Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Cousin ❯ A Boy Named Kakarot ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: I do not own or claim to own Dragon Ball Z or any of it's characters. I do not make any profit from this fiction, while it and all of its original characters and plots are ãErieDragon 2002.

Author's Note: I will most likely be late with this week's chapter, I didn't actually get started until Wednesday night. Our school has Friday off, so hopefully I'll do most of it then. Also, this is mostly a "talking" chapter, basically things from the show re-written A/U style. Hopefully things will become more interesting as I integrate my own version of the B/V romance.

Chapter 2

A Boy Named Kakarot

Who was that girl? No one had mentioned her, ever. She's not in any of the pictures... The purple-vested man sighed, glancing at his watched. It bleeped a few times, indicating the landing site. Scary thing was, she was Saiyan, and... He peered around, as if checking for someone who might be able to read his thoughts. Gorgeous.

Ona tugged on Tanjua's mane, the two coming to a halt. The purple-haired boy descended from the air, his sword hilt glimmering in the midday heat. The intimidating image caused her to tightly wrap her tail around her waist, but she proceeded to hop off the San's back and approach him. He turned to look at her...

His face! It was eerily familiar. Ona was about to open her mouth and speak when Vegeta landed, followed by the rest of the crew. The spike-haired Saiyan worried her; he'd had his eyes on her since she first showed up.

"How do you know Goku's going to be here?" Krillin inquired, his toe nervously digging into the ground as Yamcha set down Bulma.

"Um... I just do," the man replied, taking something out of his pocket. It was about an inch long and silver, wrapped in a white paper label.

"It's a bomb!" The conclusive, jumpy Yamcha cried as the purple-haired boy threw down the object, sending up a cloud of smoke. It soon revealed a small, pearly colored box, which was adorned with a small handle.

"It's not a bomb, you idiot," Bulma scolded, slapping her boyfriend upside the head. Vegeta raised an eyebrow, and Ona snorted. Turning back to the object, she watched in wonder as the man opened it and pulled out a small, tin cylinder.

"It's a refrigerator. Anyone want a drink?" He asked, showing his offerings to the small crowd. Gohan immediately rushed forward, apparently famished, and was followed by Bulma. The man gave them each a soda, while Ona curiously inspected the small, cold-radiating machine's workings.

"So? Where's Goku?" Chaotzu asked, sitting beside the three-eyed Tien. The other fighters nodded in agreement to the question. The longhaired man turned his attention back to them, sipping a coke. He looked down at his watch, which bleeped in reply to one of its many buttons being pushed.

"Two hours," he replied, taking another swig. Bulma's eyes widened, as did Ona's.

"That's going to tell you when Goku's going to be here?!" The blue-haired woman cried in awe.

"Who's Goku?" Ona inquired weakly. Everyone turned to stare at her.

"My dad!" Gohan announced, sticking out his chest proudly. The newcomer looked up as Vegeta snorted.

"Kakarot's coming back. He's a Saiyan too, ya know," the short, stocky man told her, an evil glare plastered onto his face. Ona shook her head in disbelief. All of these Saiyans were too much for her, she had always been told as a child that she and her mother were the only ones left. The teenage girl sighed, leaning against a rock. Her skimpy robe clung barely to her right breast, and every male eye flashed to it. This tipped Bulma over the edge.

Ona looked up, that blue-haired woman approaching her. The darker girl stepped back, but a flurry of hands pulled up her robe tight around her.

"OUCH! What are you doing?! DON'T TOUCH ME!" Ona shrieked, leaping back and crouching on a rock. Bulma put her hands on her hips and glared, when their little episode was interrupted by a fit of raspy, evil laughter.

"What are you laughing at, Vegeta?!" Yamcha demanded, still unable to take his eyes off Ona's still revealing chest.

"Been a while since I've met another real Saiyan," Vegeta emphasized with disgust. Ona raised an eyebrow.

"What about this Kakarot person?" She inquired, slowly getting off her rock. The purple-vested boy watched in amusement, still sucking on his soda.

"He was one of those low-classes, sent off as a child to destroy this planet. He failed..."

"Because he was dropped on his head as a baby," Krillin put in. Vegeta snarled, but kept his calm so he could keep his thoughts focused on the explanation at hand.

"And became a softie. His brat there is a half breed. Pathetic, really," the spike-haired Saiyan retorted, making a dismissive sweeping motion with his hand. Ona nodded in agreement, glancing sideways at the others, who watched curiously.

"If you know so much, who are you?" She asked Vegeta, raising an eyebrow and perching against a rocky boulder. The other Z fighters began to talk among themselves, and the purple-vested man popped another coke while following the conversation.

"If you must know, I'm the Prince. Prince Vegeta."

Ona's eyes widened a great deal, and the surprised drop of her shoulders nearly caused her robe to slide off. Her mother had given her a few good history lessons about Vegeta-sei, telling her about kings, the monarchy, pods, the Saiyan history, and just about anything else the inquisitive little girl had wanted to know. She had not lived on the planet itself, so she didn't feel an urge to bow. But, the sheer thought that one of her planet's only survivors, the Prince of all Saiyans, was before her now, sent a shiver up her spine.

"Prince Vegeta... What are you doing here? On this kami-forsaken planet, with these weaklings..." Ona took a sidelong glance at the man acting as spectator. He was no pushover.

"The only place I had left to go after Frieza was supposedly defeated," the prince replied casually, snuffing his pink shirt in disgust. Ona had found this quite amusing at first, but now the prospect lost all humor.

"If I may interrupt, who are you?" The purple-haired man said at last, setting down his soda can. Ona glanced up.

"Well.. My name's Ona," she replied blankly. Bulma was watching the conversation, when she must have seen something intriguing.

"That's a Capsule Corp. jacket!" She cried, rushing across and pointing at the "CC" symbol on the shirt's arm. The man raised an eyebrow and nodded.

"Yeah... I'm, um.. a big fan," he stuttered. The blue-haired woman stepped back and grinned.

"Then how do you know Goku? And that we were going to be here?" She pried deeper.

"Um, I can't really tell you that," the stranger confided. Ona let out a chuckle, and the gazes were shifted onto her. The Saiyan shrugged, her tail relatively passive here.

"You're Saiyan.. But where's your tail?" She asked Vegeta, leaning back on the rock and causing the robe to hang so loosely that it took everything they had for the males to shift their stares. Vegeta snorted, and Krillin parted from the group he had been speaking in earlier. Ona raised an eyebrow and got off her rock, bending down as the little bald monk whispered in her ear. Suddenly, she burst out laughing.

"HEY! Baldie! What did you tell her?!" Vegeta cried angrily, getting to his feet and clenching his fists.

"Ah, nothing to get your hair in a knot about," Krillin said ironically. Ona chuckled, sitting back down.

"Relax, y'all are so uptight!" Bulma laughed and sat down next to Yamcha, who turned away from talking to Tien long enough to wrap one arm around his blue-haired girlfriend. Ona noticed the brief look of disgust Vegeta gave before turning his head. Apparently, the taller, longer-haired stranger noticed too and winked at her.

Those two hours passed slowly. A few small fights broke out, but nothing serious. The Z fighters gradually introduced themselves to Ona, but she remained in a darkness similar to that of Vegeta's reclusive composition. They talked quietly for a brief time, of what, no one knew.

"He should be here in a few minutes," the boy announced, getting to his feet. The others glanced at each other, doubt apparent in their expressions.

The group stood, waiting and watching the sky for what seemed like another eternity. Just when even Ona was losing her patience, she felt the strange sound before she heard it. Another talent she had acquired from the nature-revering Gaijins.

The ship charged towards the Earth at full throttle. Dust flew into the air, but was soon cleared by Piccolo's calm, insistent fanning. The fighters crowded around the crater, and Tanjua nervously nuzzled his mistress' arm. She replied with a calming pat on the head. Whoever this was, was obviously a good fighter and worthy of a challenge, from the way the others had described him.

"D-d-d-daddy!" Was the first cry. The pod looked identical to Ona's, causing her a slight shock as it opened. The smoke and dust had cleared significantly, and the sun's bearing rays reflected valiantly off the ship's white metallic surface.

"Gohan?" Ona took a step back. The little boy tackled his strangely dressed father as he examined the crowd. The frazzle-haired man's eyes stopped on her, and their shock was equal.

"P-p-pa.." she cut herself off and stared, the face so blindingly familiar that her heart was in her throat. The hair was much different, yes, and the expression too... This was a goofy, unfocused, non-Saiyan look, but the resemblance made her turn on her heels and run, followed quickly by her worried San. Goku raised an eyebrow, but shrugged it off as the joy of seeing his friends and son again came over him.

Soon enough, the two-strangers-in-one-day syndrome hit him as the lavender-haired man cleared his throat and approached Goku.

"Are you Goku?" He asked. The black-haired man tilted his head, as if trying to recognize the stranger.

"Yes I am," he replied assuredly. The purple-vested man smiled. "Who are you?" Bulma interrupted.

"This stranger seems to know you! We thought he might be one of your fans... He knew you were going to be here and everything!" She told Goku hurriedly, obviously amazed.

"What about Frieza?" Goku replied, eyeing the newcomer with interest.

"He.. He turned into a Super Saiyan, and picked him apart," Piccolo grunted, obviously peeved at the simplicity involved. Goku's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"A Super Saiyan? Just like that? Wow, amazing, and at his age, too!" The oddly-dressed warrior grinned, giving the newcomer a lopsided expression. Ona, meanwhile, watched the exchange with disgruntled interest. Who was this man? Why the HECK did he look so much like Papa? Suddenly, Vegeta snarled.

"Aren't you forgetting something?! You, me, and your hybrid son are the only Saiyans left alive, besides that strange creature that showed up just before you did but still can't prove her heritage any more than this "Super Saiyan" can!!" Vegeta erupted, causing everyone except Goku to take a step back. The purple-haired man continued to remain silent.

"Well, if he says he's a Saiyan, he must be a Saiyan." Bulma rolled her eyes, when the purple-vested man stepped forward.

"May I talk to you privately?" Goku looked at his friends and back at the boy, raising an eyebrow. Suddenly, as if he had just recognized him, he nodded.

"Sure." The group looked on in amazement as the two flew a short distance away, within eyesight.

Ona climbed over the ridge, peering over the cliff at the two men. The one who had just arrived looked exactly like her father, just different in disposition and hairstyle. The second man, on the other hand, seemed decently battle-hardened and bore an uncanny resemblance to the Prince. She listened in on their conversation, floating dangerously close but just out of sight. Ona also knew how to mask her energy, and she landed quietly within earshot.

"Who are you?" Was the first question her father's lookalike asked.

"That I cannot tell you. But, I do know that you are a Super Saiyan. When I saw you hadn't arrived yet to destroy Frieza, I had to step in," the purple-haired man replied calmly.

"Yes... I didn't finish off Frieza, I thought he might change. His ship was just too fast. You came here in time to destroy him.. I could have been here if I really wanted to." Goku trailed off. The boy raised an eyebrow. "I learned a technique called Instant Transmission! I just go like this..." The black haired warrior put his middle and index finger against his forehead. "And I can transport anywhere." The boy's eyes widened. "The people on Yardjrek taught it to me. You can certainly get places quickly going 180,000 miles per second!"

"Oh man, if I'd known that you could do that... I wouldn't have run the risk of meeting the others." The purple vested man lowered his head, and Goku raised an eyebrow.

"Risk? What risk?" The boy looked up, then changed the subject.

"I was hoping you would, or could, power up for me," the boy requested politely. Goku nodded.

"At first it was harder, but now it comes naturally," he said, and closed his eyes. Suddenly, he was enveloped by a yellow energy flame, much to the shock of the onlooking Z crew.

"Amazing, truly. Now, I shall show you my power," the boy said, focusing his energy as well. A similar event occurred, baffling Ona completely. What was happening? Was this boy a Saiyan too? She was not entirely familiar with the Legendary Saiyan myth, regarding it purely as it was: a myth, a fable.

Goku watched in slightly lessened shock as the previously purple-haired boy increased largely in energy. He was very powerful to say the least.

[A/N: I know this is different than the version in the TV show, but I felt it might have been changed by the appearance of Ona. Plus, I'm a little too lazy to copy it down word for word... ^_~]

The next few minutes blurred as the vested man challenged Goku, and in response the formerly black haired man accepted without fear. The former charged, but was countered merely by Goku's finger. The second time around, he attacked with his sword; the taller man didn't react, even when the boy stopped his sword an inch from his opponent's vulnerable body.

"Why didn't you dodge?!" The first, younger fighter demanded. Goku shrugged.

"I knew you wouldn't do it." The purple-vested boy raised his eyebrows, then lowered his sword once again.

"Well this time, I won't stop," he said menacingly. Goku shrugged.

"As you wish." The boy charged, swinging the sword, when Goku's finger shot up and caught the scything metal inches from his body. The wielder stepped back in shock. The boy's hair dropped, becoming purple once more, and Goku's followed suit.

"Wow. You are more amazing than my mother ever could describe. Now I know I can trust you," the vested man commented, obviously humbled.

"Trust me? Who's your mother? How are you a Saiyan? I thought me and Vegeta were the only ones left..." Goku questioned, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, apparently, there is another Saiyan even I didn't know about, but that's beyond the point. I am only half Saiyan... I came from the future. A grim one. My name is Trunks. My father.. My father is Vegeta," the boy said, turning his head back to the group with a strange pride. Right then, Goku facevaulted.

"VEGETA?!" His voice dropped slightly. "Vegeta's going to be a daddy?!" The boy nodded, but put a finger to his lips.

"You cannot mention any of this. Promise?" Trunks lowered his eyebrows, and Goku took a step back.

"What just happened? That boy pointed to you and Goku fell over," Krillin commented to Vegeta. The prince merely hmphed and went back to picking at his t-shirt.

"I promise!" Goku replied.

"That's not what I came here to talk about," Trunks said in annoyance. "My future.. My future is nothing. Everyone who you see today is dead, except my mother. She built a time machine, and sent me back to try and repair the past. We were attacked by two androids, monstrous creatures who destroyed and killed mercilessly. They appeared at 10:30, nine miles north west of South City. They were horrible creatures, and destroyed everything in their path. Our world has become a war zone. We have never been able to destroy them, because we were unprepared when they showed up. They were made by some man named Dr. Gero," Trunks told him, his face dark and sad. He continued in graphic detail, describing Dr. Gero's relations with the old Red Ribbon army, and the manner in which all of the Z fighters were dead in his time.

"Dead?! What do you mean?" Goku demanded, shocked.

"In my future, everyone was killed in the first big battle besides me and Gohan. He trained me... But he was killed years ago," Trunks rasped, obviously delving into painful memories for information.

"What about me? I died fighting the androids too?" Goku asked, prodding further.

"No. You died of a heart disease in one year," Trunks told him bluntly. Goku's eyes widened. "So I brought you the cure for it from the future. Keep it close, and promise you won't let wind of this get to my parents," the lavender-haired boy insisted, pressing a small bottle into Goku's hand. The older warrior nodded in awe. eager to ask his next question. "If Vegeta's your father... Than who's your mother?" Ona was finding this all very amusing. "Do I know her?"

"Um, yes, you do," Trunks informed him, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh! Does she live in my neighborhood, or am I going to meet her?" Goku inquired with vast excitement.

"She's standing over there."

"WHAT?!?!?! BULMA?!" Goku hollered, then quieted his voice before facevaulting again. "The two most headstrong, stubborn people I know... Who woulda guessed?" Trunks shrugged.

"My mom didn't really talk about my father a lot, it was hard for me to recognize him at first. I only have photographs of everyone. I think it was just a passion thing," the boy said, sighing. Goku watched him, appalled.

"I always thought Bulma was going to marry Yamcha or something!" Trunks blushed and nodded.

Yamcha sneezed.

"Excuse you, Yamcha!" Bulma called.

"I'm born after my mother falls in love with my father. But he never admits he loves her, of course." Goku nodded and turned to look at the two, still shocked but not entirely disoriented anymore. "But you can't tell them any of this! If they get wind of it, it might not happen!"

"This is too much. What are you going to tell them? What did you come here for exactly?" The ever-inquisitive man asked.

"To inform you of the threat, so you can be prepared, and to save you, Goku. I never met you in my time, but I am truly happy that I did now." Trunks smiled, brushing his hair out of his blue eyes. Ona sighed to herself from behind the rock, and the two fighters knew instantly that she was there but did nothing.

"Who is that?" Goku asked quietly. Trunks shook his head.

"I don't know. She's a pure Saiyan, I think, but perhaps you can get more out of her than I can," he replied. Goku nodded and glanced sideways, raising an eyebrow.

"She looks darn familiar. I just can't quite put my finger on it.." He trailed off, then turned back to face Trunks.

"That's besides the point. I need to get going now, my mother must be worried sick about me," Trunks pointed out. Goku nodded and thanked him for the medicine.

Ona let out a breath as Trunks took off. She jumped on her San's back, heading in a similar direction. She couldn't be near her father's lookalike... It reminded her of him too much. Maybe this new stranger, who was obviously alien to his powers, might be of some help in understanding why she was here; if he hung around.

The handsome, purple-haired man was climbing into a strange looking ship when Ona approached, Tanjua peering around warily.

"It's you!" Trunks said in surprise, cracking a small smile at the pretty young girl. She was merely fifteen years old, but had a large amount of detectable power and was very outspoken in her femininity, yet she also was not one to be messed with. Ona looked up.

"I suppose it is me," she replied dully.

"Who are you? I thought I was a stranger, but you overheard my entire story. I hope you won't let word get out either," Trunks asked speculatively, stepping down from his time machine. Ona shrugged.

"I have no interest in your affairs. I merely want to know where I am and who all you crazy people are," she snorted, hopping easily from Tanjua's back. Trunks grinned and leaned back.

"I'm supposing you're another alien, but you aren't here to destroy the planet, are you? We have enough troubles," the older boy sighed, keeping his eyes off her perfect chest.

"I have no desire for such things. I merely came here on an inner calling, and I want to know why. What is going on? Who is everybody?" Ona inquired, curious as ever. Trunks stood up.

"I'll come back, try to have this make sense. I'm sure you could weasel answers out of the others, but I'll come back. It will be three years before the Androids arrive, and hopefully they will all be training. This planet is in danger, but I'll come and meet you here in one month," Trunks concluded, giving his word. Ona nodded.

"I will try to deal with this strange planet until then," she replied, jumping onto her San and taking off without a second thought.

I'll have to find out who she is, Trunks thought to himself as he cleared the air, waving to all on the ground. Goodbye, my young mother.

"I could swear he just waved to you, Bulma!" Yamcha cried in surprise as they gestured their goodbyes to the departing time machine.

"Goku! What was all that he talked to you about?" The group asked all at once.

"Oh, um, it was nothing important, really.." Goku admitted, trying his best.

"It all sounded very important to me," Piccolo snorted, and Goku's eyes widened. "I heard it all, my ears do more than frame my face."

"But you heard him!" Goku exclaimed worriedly.

"I won't say anything to endanger your friend, but we all deserve a chance to change our future!" Piccolo insisted angrily, and began the story.

"Wow... But how do we know he's just not.. cracked?" Yamcha asked, deriving an annoyed snort from Piccolo.

"Believe what you want to believe. I'm going to train," he announced. Tien and Chaoutzu nodded in agreement, followed by the rest of the crew.

~*~

Ona had wandered back to the city, but less conspicuously. She pulled her robes tight around her with her tail, and insisted that Tanjua travel separately and meet her when she said so. The Saiyan searched for nearby energy levels, perhaps the familiar ones of the strange people in the desert. This was one backwards planet.

The building was like a small dome, and read "Capsule Corp." on one side. This was where the Prince was staying, and perhaps she could get a few answers here.

Ona's San arrived in no time at his mistress' call. The two strangers had met in a small yard, looking over the fence at the building's large property. They were relatively hidden behind a large tree, and peered carefully through its green leaves at the action now taking place.

The strange, scar-faced warrior was now making his way down the pathway, aiming towards a strange, orb-shaped spaceship. Red light streamed through the small, portal-like windows, and the approaching human's tip-toeing must have had something to do with whatever was inside the stationary vehicle.

Ona slipped silently over the fence, making her way between bushes and trees to get a better look. Tanjua waited patiently on the other side. The forest-haired teenager raised an eyebrow as the fighter approached the ship, peering inside, then stepped back in shock. His blubbery, blue-furred friend flew over, watching as well. They exchanged indefinite words, and went back to whatever training they had been conducting previously.

Ona motioned to her San, who hopped over the fence easily and carried his mistress across the yard, somehow unnoticed. Tanjua seemed apt to such a talent.

"Oh Yamcha de- OH MY!" Came a high pitched voice. Ona spun, seeing a bubbly blonde woman pouring tea into a long-overflowing cup. Immediately, the familiar aqua haired woman dashed from the house to see what was the matter.

"It's that girl from television.. The one who showed up when Frieza arrived!" Bulma cried, tilting her head. Ona nodded and raised one quizzical eyebrow, Tanjua standing protectively beside her.

"Yes... I need to talk to someone. Anyone who knows what the hell is going on, anyway," the Saiyan said gruffly, straightening her posture. Bulma nodded furiously.

"Of course, of course!" She responded, motioning towards what appeared to be her house. Ona patted Tanjua and motioned towards a tree, which provided decent shade. The San, reluctant to leave, nodded and flopped down on the grass as the forest-haired girl made her way towards the glass double doors indicated by her excitable hostess.

This was a strange planet. All the people were friendly and accepting, despite the fact she was an alien and had just shown up on a whim. The Gaijins, and the Letas as Ona had been told by her mother, were very accepting people and didn't mind giving shelter to others. But Ona, on the other hand, had a deep desire to just go and destroy things, as was exemplified when she blew up a whole portion of the forest after someone ticked her off. She believed this had to do with her father, who's one year influence on her changed her forever.

The Saiyan made her way inside the glass double-doors, and instantly felt horribly cramped. She greatly disliked confined spaces, especially if it was closed off on all four sides. Ona had grown up on the wide open fields of Leta and the big, roomy caves of Gaija.

The floor of the enclosure appeared to be patterned squares, decorated with various obnoxious colors. The ceiling was low, leaving Ona slightly confused as to why the building's outer roof was much higher. To each side were raised platforms, which weaved around the room's many walls. There were barely three feet of space between the counters and the wooden boxes above, which appeared to have a small door on the front complete with a decorative handle. There were strange gadgets and gizmos everywhere, but the most bizarre was the big, white, steel box which stood between the closest wall and the counters. It made loud growling sounds and was radiating cool air.

"Never been in a house before, have ya?" Ona, still in shocked awe, shook her head. Bulma chuckled and motioned to a chair, which she had pulled out while the Saiyan was enraptured by her new surroundings. "Well, my name's Bulma, but I'm sure you know that by now. This is Earth," the blue-haired woman stated quite frankly, readjusting the blue headband used to hold back her wild, broccoli-like mane. Ona nodded.

"I sort of figured that." The other woman burst out laughing, causing Ona to raise an eyebrow in frustrated curiosity.

"You sound just like Vegeta! Ah, you really are a Saiyan," Bulma said, still chuckling. Ona snorted.

"Whatever you say. I'm sure there is a wide difference between me and the Prince," she replied, crossing her arms.

"The Prince? You actually call him that? Oh my Kami, that's funny," Bulma retorted, obviously cracking herself up more than Ona.

"Well, I came here for a reason. I want to know who all these other people are, including yourself. I'm here, and I don't think I'll be leaving anytime soon, so I might as well figure out what the hell is going on and beat the crap out of those "androids."" Ona said, growling. Bulma watched her with a slightly slackened jaw, then readjusted it and her eyes got back to normal.

"I'm Bulma. My father, Dr. Briefs, runs Capsule Corporation. We manufacture those little metal devices that that handsome stranger used," she responded with pride. Ona chuckled to herself. "The other Saiyan, with the black hair and the son... That's Goku, but I'm sure you figured that out already. His son's name is Gohan. Yamcha..." She paused, getting a schoolgirl-like daydream expression on her face. Ona had to whip the table with her tail to bring Bulma back to reality. "Yamcha's the other one who lives here. There's Tien, the triclops, and Chaotzu. They're best friends, and Chaotzu used to be this really powerful emperor. Then there's Piccolo.. Earth's protector's name is Kami, and Piccolo is his evil half. That's another story, though. Krillin, I've known just as long as Goku and Yamcha; we all met and had some pretty amazing adventures all those years ago," Bulma continued, sighing. She was obviously very fond of all these weak, obnoxious humans. Ona leaned back in her chair, ready to tune out Bulma. "Vegeta. He's another story as well... I'm sure, you being another pure Saiyan, he would tell you. Not with the same perspective as say, one of us, but you know what I mean," the aqua-haired woman implied, motioning towards the small ship outside. The Prince's massive energy was fluxuating maniacally inside the small structure, and Ona was intent on finding out why. What was the reason that he was training inside such a useless piece of machinery when he could be getting field training in the open air?

"I will talk to him some other time. I should probably leave now, there is no reason to further pester you. I'll be back in one month, but first..." Ona trailed off. Bulma raised an eyebrow, and decided to interrupt the Saiyan's train of thought.

"How about you stay here?!" She asked suddenly, grinning ear-to-ear. Ona raised an eyebrow. "I'm going to be stuck with Vegeta for the next two years, it might be nice to have another woman to talk to. You're just a teenager, but you are so.. mature. I'm impressed," Bulma praised, patting Ona on the shoulder. She tensed, but decided not to react like she normally would.

"I probably should go, Tanjua will need a place to sleep and such. He doesn't like being away from me.. He can get very dangerous if we are separated. It might be nice to train with Vegeta... Back home, no one was never strong enough to quench my thirst. But first, do you, by chance, have any food?" Ona inquired, her last question a high-pitched, residual plea. Bulma laughed.

"Of course. Though, I don't know how we'll cope feeding two Saiyans; but if Chi-Chi can do it, so can I!" The woman said defiantly, standing up and opening the bottom portion of the strange white box. That instant, the double doors opened and Vegeta stepped inside, toweling off his face with a white towel.

The Prince looked extremely different without his ridiculous pink shirt and yellow tights. He was now clad in nothing besides tight, spandex shorts, revealing every single ripple in his muscle. He was older, experienced, and had scars ornamenting his body to prove it. Ona gave an acknowledging nod, then turned her head from him to avoid eye-contact. Her mother had taught her a few things about Saiyan royalty; perhaps the wise old dame knew that her daughter would run into this entity at some point in her life.

Vegeta was shocked by the respectful mode in which he was greeted. No one since Nappa had treated him properly, and even in such a mild, humble way, it felt good. He let out a tiny, wicked grin, and then proceeded to wipe it off with a casual scowl and bump Bulma from her spot in front of the refrigerator.

"HEY! I was STANDING there! Excuse me would be a proper PHRASE!" She hollered, causing Ona to jump. Vegeta continued to root trough the cooler, unfazed.

"You let her talk to you like that?" She whispered, so only the Prince could hear. He snickered, grabbed a few sodas, and left the kitchen just as quickly as he had come. Apparently, training was more important today than arguing or putting the obnoxious woman in her place.

"That man, I don't understand it. Well, anyways, as I was saying... You can have one of the guestrooms upstairs. Choose any one you like. I can get my father down to your ship so he can bring it to you, perhaps we could study it?" Bulma asked, the assault of questions causing Ona to take a few seconds and process them. Meanwhile, the older, bubbly woman set an array of foodstuffs on the counter.

"Is there a place Tanjua can stay? And just as long as he doesn't harm it, I had to build that ship myself," Ona replied, crossing her arms and putting her feet on the table. Bulma spit whatever she had put in her mouth, apparently shocked.

"You built a ship YOURSELF?!" She cried, almost dropping a knife on her hand. Ona nodded, raising an eyebrow at the older woman's surprise.

"Well, yes, technically. I copied most of the technology from my own pod, and made it bigger to suit Tanjua," the Saiyan responded, tapping the table with her nails impatiently. Bulma restrained her bulging eyes and turned back to the task she had been previously performing.

"Built a pod all by yourself.. Wow. Impressive. I like to build things too, if that helps," she announced, placing a plate of sandwiches in front of Ona. The teenager grinned profusely, diving into the food.

"Shure. I lovthe to wthork wthith thechnology," she replied, the sound of her eating while talking making a shiver run up Bulma's spine.

"Finish eating, and we can talk later, alright?" Ona nodded and dug into her meal.

~*~

"So first, let's get you dressed. We can't have you walking around wearing.. that all the time," Bulma said in disgust, eying the skimpy robe. Ona raised an eyebrow, and scowled resentfully.

"There's not a thing wrong with it!" She argued, holding onto the leather clothes like a four-year-old. Her blue-haired makeover artist grimaced.

"Just try these clothes on. If you don't like them, then wear whatever you want," Bulma reasoned, handing Ona a pair of blue jeans and a gray shirt reading, "You know you want me" in big, black letters. It was now the Saiyan's turn to sneer in disgust.

"Whatever." She disappeared into the bathroom. Bulma sat on the bed, looking at the clothing Ona had left behind. It was constructed of soft, amazingly light cloth, apparently some sort of leather. Suddenly, the door opened and in stepped Vegeta, tossing the armor he had been wearing onto the ground. Bulma looked up, and he replied by glaring.

"What are you doing here, woman?!" He demanded angrily.

"This is MY room! What are you doing here?!" She responded with equal ferocity, getting to her feet.

"I was going to take a show-" Vegeta was cut off as Ona stepped out of the bathroom, having ripped the sleeves off the shirt, followed by a good half of the stomach. The words could still be seen clearly, and the Saiyan's exceedingly tight pants showed off her lower body quite well.

Bulma began to clap, winking at Ona. She growled and spun around, grabbing her usual clothes and disappearing back into the bathroom. Vegeta continued to stare at the slammed door in shock, then spun to Bulma.

"I was going to take a shower, but since you women seem to have something else going on, I'll just go RUN THROUGH THE SPRINKLER!" He shouted angrily and turned, stomping into the hall and down the stairs. Bulma burst out laughing.

"I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT!" She shouted after him, and a loud "HMPH!" could clearly be heard from the kitchen.

~*~

Ona sat in the room that she had been dictated to, for she really couldn't decide which one of the many guest beds she liked better. She opted to keep her original clothing, but she was forced to wear some of the humans' ridiculous garments while her more preferred pair was being washed.

The Saiyan sighed, flopping back onto her soft mattress. This was a strange planet, with a strange people, but its not like she didn't enjoy it. The blabbing blue-haired woman was good company, although Ona would never admit it. She got up and started to stretch, preparing for her first day of training in the yard Bulma had shown her the day before.

Leg up, crunch, a few reps of complete back twists... The flexible alien went on like this for some time, but her bloody blue jeans were causing large amounts of friction. Finally, Ona gave up and tromped down the stairs, hopefully she could take the two hours of free time while her clothes were being washed to eat.

The muscular, black-haired Prince had also chosen this time to take his lunch break, and merely glanced up as Ona entered the room. He assumed she was just that annoying Earth women, when the advancer's distinct energy made Vegeta do a double-take. His head shot up, watching the human-dressed teenager stop in her tracks.

"Prince," she mumbled, nodding her head respectively before entering the room. Vegeta's jaw loosened, but he quickly returned it to its rightful position. Ona proceeded past the table on light, bare feet, and began to rummage through the refrigerator.

"Who are you, anyway?" The older Saiyan asked, laying down his fork and pushing away the large, empty plate. Ona turned, raising an eyebrow.

"Ona," she replied, her tail swaying freely. She was obviously unafraid of Vegeta or her surroundings. A small grin flashed across his face before disappearing regally.

"I see. What are you doing here? I thought me and that clown Kakarot were the only full-blooded Saiyans left," Vegeta inquired again, amazed at himself that he was making conversation with such a random person. She merely intrigued him, for her composition and attitude were only that of a pure Saiyan.

"I was drawn here, I don't know how or why. I'm here, I.. almost feel at home," Ona confided, sighing as she sat down at the table across from him. A pile of various random foodstuffs stood in front of her, making a small vision block between them.

"Hah. I have the same problem, sometimes," Vegeta replied, smirking nastily. This caused Ona to giggle, earning her a quizzical expression from the peeved Prince.

"I am just trying to understand all I've been told and put the pieces of the puzzle together. Perhaps then I will know what's going on and maybe try to help." Vegeta's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"You're related to that idiot Kakarot, aren't you? That's who you look like!" He announced, getting up and eying her warily. Ona raised an eyebrow in response.

"I just met him. I have no idea who he is, and that wouldn't be any of your business anyway," she responded dully, then began to rifle through her new food acquisitions. Vegeta was about to give her a piece of his mind when it came to talking back so rudely, but he just couldn't bring himself to treat this dignified creature the way he treated that low-life human woman.

~*~

Glossary: Kami - God

Dedications: Mizu Megami - Thanks for all your reviews, I know, I'm just AWFUL, aren't I? Evil, evil, evil.

Vegeta's Gyal - Of course, always thank-you's for your empowering advice. Keep it up! Hah!

*Sugar* - Oh I know, it's brutal to wait that long, isn't it? I know the feeling. Hopefully I will be turning out more and sooner as my school studies give out on me.

Schedule - Hopefully the next chapter won't be as long. Next chapter due Monday, May 6, 2002.

Something to Check Out: Of course, read Vegeta's Gyal's fics "An Unexpected Love" and "Something More," as well as her new addition "Vegeta's Childhood." On my website, http://www.freewebz.com/eriedragon, I now have judge openings for both judging Fanart contests, Fanfic contests, and helping me grant Dragon Awards. See the Contests and Awards page for more information.

~Majin Niña~