Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Time & Tide ❯ Out on the Town ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter Six

Kakarrot and Chi-Chi had taken Vegeta and Vaya to a small town that was more like a marketplace. Many vendors were selling hundreds of different items, and the teens took in the sights and sounds around them. Vegeta was especially amazed, because he rarely saw the world outside the safety of the palace. Warfrost, who had flown them all there on his broad back, walked a few paces behind them.
Vegeta's three friends had insisted that he wear street clothes when he went out, so he was wearing jeans and a T-shirt. But everyone noticed him anyway, and although people gave them a wide berth because of Warfrost, they gave Vegeta strange looks as he passed by. This made Vegeta uncomfortable, because he hated to be stared at, and he stayed close beside Warfrost, walking in front of the Emera just beneath his huge head.
Vegeta was not the only one who was noticed. Vaya, too, received attention from many people, but much friendlier than how they were acting towards Vegeta. Everyone knew Sdhoirm, so naturally they knew his daughter. The family was well liked because they were so strong, but so relaxed. Or at least they used to be.
Kakarrot and Chi-Chi led the group to a small cafe near the edge of town. Warfrost was made to wait outside while the four friends went in and found a table.
After they had ordered and were waiting for their drinks, Vegeta and Vaya noticed that Kakarrot and Chi-Chi were staring at them expectantly.
"What?" Vaya asked warily.
"Don't play dumb with us, Vaya, you know exactly what we want!" Chi-Chi said shrilly.
Damn, Vaya thought. She and Vegeta looked at each other.
"How did it happen?" Kakarrot asked quickly.
"That's none of your business," Vegeta said coldly.
Kakarrot looked hurt. "Aw, c'mon, Vegeta. You wouldn't even tell your old buddy what went on?"
"No."
Chi-Chi smirked. "That's Veggie-head for you. But Vaya would always tell me, right?" She leaned forward.
Vaya glanced at Vegeta, who quickly shot her a pleading look. She looked at Chi-Chi. "I'm not saying anything."
"But Vaya!" Chi-Chi whined. But the other Saiyans had clamped their mouths shut and would not say another word.
By that time the orders arrived, and Kakarrot and Chi-Chi still continued to pester their friends. But Vaya and Vegeta pretended to be deeply absorbed in their drinks, and didn't seem to hear them.

~*~
Later, the group headed out to the beach. They had all worn bathing suits under their clothes, and were looking forward to swimming on a section of private beach that Kakarrot and Vaya had found. The two of them were big on exploring. Vaya said it was in her blood. She didn't know what Kakarrot's excuse was.
Vegeta had just laughed and put his arms around her. He felt so much more at ease around her, now that he had expressed his feelings and learned for sure that she felt the same way.
The deserted water was crystal blue, and palm trees dotted the shore. Warfrost settled down on the sand, not particularly liking water too much. Kakarrot and Vaya immediately dove straight into the water. Chi-Chi hung back and tested it gingerly with her foot, deciding to wade in a little bit at a time. Vegeta, on the other hand, stepped back a few feet first.
"Hey guys! Check this out!"
They all turned to look as Vegeta took a running leap into the air, somersaulting over Kakarrot and Vaya's heads and straightening out for a dive into the water.
But when he disappeared beneath the surface, he reappeared a moment later--with a giant tail wrapped around his waist. What it was attached to, no one could see. The tail pulled back and then flicked Vegeta all the way back to the beach, where he landed upside down in the branches of a palm tree. After he had stopped swaying back and forth, Vegeta frowned at his friends. "Is there a little something you forgot to mention?"
Chi-Chi looked absolutely horrified, but Kakarrot and Vaya were practically dying with laughter. Warfrost got up and strode over to the tree to help his master. Vegeta managed to free himself from the palms, and he gave them a death glare.
Vaya eventually calmed down enough to explain. "It's all right, Vegeta. That's just Leviathan. He's harmless unless you make him mad, and he's usually not rough with kids."
"What do you mean? He just whipped me twenty feet through the air!" Vegeta cried.
Kakarrot snickered, but replied, "Remember when we said we found this beach? Well...actually, we didn't. Our dads did. When they were kids they used to meet here all the time. I think your dad was in on it too, Vegeta. He used to like to sneak out of the palace as well. Or so my dad told me."
Vegeta blinked. "Really? My...father used to come here?" He looked to Vaya for confirmation.
She nodded. "We thought you'd like to see it. Our dads showed us this place, and told us about Leviathan...Who they befriended by the way, so he's no threat to us, unless you violate his personal space again," she added with a giggle.
"Are you sure he's not dangerous?" Chi-Chi asked uncertainly.
Kakarrot waved a dismissive hand. "No way. Here, I'll show you." He flew over to the middle of the bay area and hovered above the water. He slapped the surface three times.
The water rippled, and suddenly a huge head rose into the air, liquid streaming off its streamlined back. Leviathan was impressive, with black scales and ridges running downwards along the middle of his back. He had blood-red eyes and mother-of-pearl belly scales, and long, needle-sharp fangs. He looked terrifying and could have swallowed each of them whole, but Kakarrot grinned and sat down on his head like there was nothing to fear. Vaya flew over and began to pat him.
"He's over one hundred feet long," Vaya said proudly.
"My dad figured out how to call him, and Sdhoirm used to catch things to feed to him," Kakarrot explained. "Your dad named him, Vegeta."
"Really?"
"Yeah. They used to play with him all the time when they were little."
Vegeta could not picture his father, Bardock or Sdhoirm as children. He just couldn't stretch his imagination that far. But Vaya and Kakarrot seemed completely at ease with the giant sea serpent, so he and Chi-Chi glanced at each other, shrugged, and cautiously flew over as well.
Warfrost stood on shore and roared at Vegeta.
Vegeta looked back and grinned. "Aww, don't be jealous, Warfrost! I haven't forgotten about you. You can come play if you want, you just don't like water, that's all."
Warfrost snorted arrogantly, then settled down on the beach again and put his head on his paws, waiting for Leviathan to make the slightest threat towards his master.
But he was safe. They spent the next few hours goofing around with Kakarrot, Vaya and Leviathan.

~*~
The four teens soon returned to the marketplace so that the girls could do a little shopping, much to their boyfriends' displeasure.
"Oh, this is pretty!" Chi-Chi exclaimed as she pulled out a silver bracelet with green star-shaped jewels on it. Kakarrot took one look at it and then dug in his pouch and handed the currency to the very happy vendor before helping Chi-Chi put it on.
"Oh, you're so sweet to me Kakarrot!" Chi-Chi quickly hugged him. Vaya and Vegeta both looked at each other with raised brows.
"This is nice," Vaya noticed something in the pile and pulled out a golden necklace with a royal blue gem in the center. Vegeta snorted and muttered something about women and jewelry. Vaya merely shook her head and put it back.
"Come on, I hear they've got rings over here!" Chi-Chi grabbed Vaya by the wrist and pulled her over, Kakarrot following far behind. When he was certain they were gone, Vegeta pulled out some money from his pouch and purchased the necklace, hiding it in his pocket.

"This would go great with my bracelet," Chi-Chi said, lifting up a silver ring with a lion's head in the center.
"Wow, that diamond is almost as pretty as you are" a male voice yelled behind the two. They slowly turned around to see four male saiiyans wearing their armor and eyeing the girls shamelessly.
"What are you two lovely ladies doing alone in the place like this," one stepped forward, his hair a blackish-red and brown-eyed. Vaya and Chi-Chi looked at each other with smug expressions. Another one, one with short spiky black hair, pulled up behind them, putting an arm over each of their shoulders.
"So how about it?" he asked with a smile.
"How about what?" Chi-Chi asked, looking indifferent.
"A date, toots! Y'know, come kick it with us," he said, almost incredulously.
"Why should we?" Vaya asked, looking at her nails.
"Because we're training to be 2nd class soldiers. Someday we'll be 1st class and up there with some of the best. This is the chance of a lifetime, sweetheart," one said.
"Yeah, y'know if you get with one of us, your status could go up. You two are probably 3rd class, why not take the opportunity?" the redhead asked.
"Because they're not interested," Vegeta spoke out, turning everyone's heads. He and Kakarrot were standing side-by-side and not looking very pleased.
"Funny, I didn't hear the ladies say that," the black-haired one said as he let go of Vaya and Chi-Chi and approached the prince and his friend, unaware of either one's status.
"She didn't have to, it's written on her face," Vegeta said, his scowl deepening. The redhead scoffed and the four boys surrounded them. Kakarrot and Vegeta both had big smirks on their faces.
"These guys obviously don't know who they're dealing with," Kakarrot said under his breath.
"Oh, who are we messing with?" one boy asked in a haughty tone.
"Hey! What's going on?" another male saiiyan in armor came through the crowd that had formed around the six.
"Cabbat-sensei!" the four boys cried in fear and backed away from Vegeta and Kakarrot. The one named Cabbat completely ignored the younger soldiers and looked incredulously at Vegeta and Kakarrot.
"We were just showing these punks not to mess with junior 2nd class," the redhead said smugly.
"Well maybe if you dipsticks had your scouters on, you would've realized that these two are Prince Vegeta and Kakarrot, junior elite!" Cabbat scolded the now shocked boys.
"Please forgive them, they might be well-trained fighters, but they have a lot to learn about etiquette," Cabbat bowed before Vegeta, as was everyone else in the crowd.
"It's all right, just make sure they never hit on my girlfriend, or her friend again," Vegeta ordered and they left.
"It pays to have power, doesn't it?" Chi-Chi said with a smile. Vegeta merely grunted, looking smug.

~*~
Sdhoirm was in the northern palace courtyard, alone with Cassinian. The Emera was lying with his head on his paws, purring contentedly as his master carefully groomed his thick fur. Sdhoirm was talking quietly to Cassinian, who understood every word and even responded with language of his own.
"Well, buddy...What do you think? Has life gotten turned upside-down for you, too?" Sdhoirm asked softly, brushing Cassinian's neck.
Cassinian rumbled, and gazed at Sdhoirm steadily with his lupine eyes. Sdhoirm sighed.
"Yeah, I know I asked for it, it's my fault, whatever...Didn't say I was disappointed, I'm just a little weirded out, you know?" He shrugged as he went on to Cassinian's fluffy ears. "I mean, I used to think about Sikah all the time ever since she died...But now I hardly think about her at all anymore. All my thoughts are focused on Zafira instead, for some reason..."
He sighed and sat down on Cassinian's neck and leaned forward on his elbows. He tapped Cassinian in the forehead with the brush.
"When did all of this start, huh? When did I stop loving Sikah and start loving Zafira, Cassinian?"
Cassinian snorted in disagreement. Sdhoirm rested his cheek on his fist and stared off into space.
"Yeah, I guess I do still love Sikah...but I love Zafira too...Augh! This is so hard!" he cried, rolling off the Emera's neck and falling on his back in front of Cassinian. He stared up at his pet. "I quit. This is too hard. I'm going to be a monk."
Cassinian blinked his eyes and pinned Sdhoirm to the ground with his nose. Sdhoirm grinned and pushed him off again. He stood up and brushed off his clothes.
"Yeah, I'm kidding. Maybe I'm going nuts, or something...I guess I'm just not used to staying in one place for so long." He sighed. "Spread."
Cassinian rumbled again and shifted his wings. Then he snapped them open to their full impressive length. Sdhoirm started to preen the feathers expertly. He was quiet for a moment.
"I've been thinking..." he started quietly. "I really do want to get back into space again. It would be great to explore, see new places, meet new people..."
Cassinian whimpered and lifted his head, giving Sdhoirm a panicked look.
Sdhoirm glanced at him, then smiled as he went back to the wings. "But then there's always this part of me that wants to stay here, with Zafira and Vaya and Vegeta. I mean, the kids' relationship just got off the ground...and then there's this thing with Zafira and I..."
He finished the wings and went to stand in front of Cassinian. He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow curiously at his pet. "You like it here, don't you, Cassinian?"
Cassinian ducked his big head in a nod and purred, stretching in a very catlike way.
Sdhoirm smiled faintly. "Hmmm...I think if I go, I'll leave you here. That way you can stay in the palace, and help Warfrost protect the family. You don't need to stay with me."
Cassinian growled and grabbed the front of his master's black shirt in his teeth, locking his jaw firmly. Sdhoirm laughed.
"If you rip through this material, I'll kill you...This is my favorite shirt."
"Oh don't do that, I like Cassinian," a sultry female voice invaded his thoughts. Sdhoirm turned around quickly to spot Zafira walking down the flight of stairs. She was wearing her dress again, and though he had seen her in it a million times, she looked especially appealing in it this time. Once she reached the bottom, Sdhoirm pulled her into his arms and they kissed. Cassinian gave an audible groan and rolled his eyes. The couple pulled away and looked at the overgrown cat.
"I think you're jealous," Sdhoirm looked at Cassinian who shot up the second he said it. Zafira chuckled and lightly scratched the cat behind his ear, earning a loud purr from him.
"And now he's trying to steal your attention away from me," Sdhoirm joked, pulling Zafira into another kiss, and earning yet another groan from Cassinian.
"I think at this rate, he'll disown us," Zafira joked and the two chuckled.
They soon picked up the sound of flapping wings in the distance and sighed. The only problem with their relationship was keeping it a secret from their children.
"Looks like we'll have to continue this later," Sdhoirm said slyly before nipping at her ear. Zafira smiled and pulled away from him as Warfrost landed with the four teenagers on his back.
"Shit...I forgot," Vegeta cursed as he tried to hide behind Vaya. She blinked and looked back at Kakarrot and Chi-Chi.
"He wasn't supposed to leave the palace without Nappa," Kakarrot muttered.
"And where did you four run off to?" Sdhoirm asked.
"We headed to the marketplace to buy a few things," Vaya said as they all got off of Warfrost.
"Vegeta," Vegeta winced when he heard his name called.
"Yes Mother?" he turned around looking guilty.
"Didn't I specifically state that you were to stay indoors?"
"Yes Mother."
"And did you?"
"No."
"Hmm, we'll have to find a suitable punishment for you then. Come along," Zafira said and turned around, heading back up the stairs. Vegeta turned to his friends who felt sorry for the prince.
"Here, before I go," Vegeta took the necklace out of his pocket, much to the surprise of Vaya. She took it and smiled warmly, then kissed him on the lips.
"Thank you," she said, admiring it. The prince looked slightly drunk before heading up the stairs. Sdhoirm couldn't help but smile, the plan worked like a charm.