Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Trials Of Techorin ❯ Diamonds ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah…I don't own DBZ…blah…I wish I did…blah…you know, standard stuff.

Author's Note: I know Vegeta was very out of character last chapter but then, this is my story and I can make him act in whatever way I wish to make him act. Now then…ah, I know. Ahem, hear ye, hear ye, the new posting of teams is up and Vegeta is on a team with another saiya-jin named Canta…(it's short for Cantaloupe but don't tell anyone, Shh…it's a secret ^- ^) Anyway, Canta is going to become a major player in this story and his appearance is going to scare the hell out of a certain group of girls when they go through the second level. Now, onward to the story.



Chapter Four: Diamonds?



Pacing back and forth impatiently, Vegeta listened to his father go on and on about all the wonderful qualities of his bride-to-be then growled angrily and slammed his hand down on the table, cracking it easily. "I don't care about the stupid chit, all I want to know is whether or not you really think Techorin is that important?"

King Vegita sighed tiredly then studied his son carefully, taking in the young man's appearance with a critical eye. "Yes, Techorin is very important and don't you ever forget that. I went through it when they first set it up and you will go through it if you expect to become the next king of Vegita-sei."

Growling louder, he glared at his father's image on the screen then swore, loudly and vehemently, when he thought about his chances of making it as king without taking the stupid trial. "Fine father, but I will not take any joy out of doing this fucking trial."

"I never expected you to brat."

"And I'm not a brat."

"You're my son so you have to be a brat."

"Whatever old man." Turning off the screen, he sighed tiredly then looked out his window, towards the nurse's station, where his one friend slept and recovered from her exertions earlier that day. Leaving his room, he walked to the tent she was kept in then stopped when the two girls who had come out with her stood in front of him. "What do you want?"

"Why did you treat her like that?" Bulma's bright blue eyes were glittering angrily while she spoke and grew even angrier when he snorted with laughter and shook his head. "Well? Answer me you no good freak!"

Growling softly under his breath, he refrained from killing her then grabbed her by her pale neck and held her, now afraid, gaze. "I treated her like that because she doesn't need to get any closer to me than she already is. We've only known each other for three days, I don't want to lose my friend because she worries about what's going t happen to me."

Becky chuckled under her breath when he let go of Bulma, letting her fall to the ground unceremoniously. "Where you hoping to get a better response out of a saiya-jin?"

"Not particularly." Rubbing her sore neck, she glared at the retreating prince then got to her feet and brushed the dirt off of her butt. "He could have been more polite about it though."

"Why? You called him a freak for no reason whatsoever."

Sniffing, she played with her silky locks then grinned and studied his backside. "Because I'm beautiful and as a beautiful woman, I should be treated with respect."

"Oh yeah, he's going to choose a beautiful woman over an unconscious friend who also happens to take care of anyone she's traveling with." Shaking her head, Becky started walking away then laughed jovially when the other girl ran after her. "Come on Bulma, think about the saiya-jin code of honor…and what I've told you about Kathi. She's a perfect example of what to do when you're trying to impress any saiya-jin."

"But…"

"Not to mention the fact that she gives new meaning to the phrase, fear not the saiya-jin but those who he calls friend. Now, weren't we going to hunt for a couple of guys to flirt with?"

"Yeah…"

"Great, I get first dibs on the best looking guy we find."

"No you don't."

The two girls raced towards the eating compound, unaware of a pair of ruby eyes following them.

Standing next to his friend's bed, he sighed then reached down and smoothed several strands of hair back from her peaceful face before smiling at her when she opened her eyes sleepily. "I know, I lied about coming back."

Smiling as well, she wrinkled her nose then rolled her eyes before yawning and sitting up. "Did you talk with your father?"

"Yes."

"And?"

"And he's informed me that I can't back out of these trials, no matter how stupid I think they are."

"Well duh." Rolling her eyes again, she climbed out of the bed, unconscious of the fact that she had been dressed in a hospital gown, and walked towards the tent opening to stare at the gateway that led to the next level in Techorin. "How bad do you think the next level will be?"

Shrugging, he kept from looking at her bare back and brightly colored underwear as he made his way to her side. Studying the gateway as well, he glanced at her from the corner of his eye then smirked when she lifted a brow and glared at him for not answering right away. "It has occurred to me that the second level would be harder than the first. But I don't know exactly how hard the next level will be."

"Care to take a guess?"

"My best answer would be that if you thought the first level was hard then you really shouldn't go on. No one would blame you for quitting after the first level and I sure as hell would feel better if you kept your weak ass in bed, away from the trials."

"Ha, you're just worried that I'll get through the trials before you did."

"Oh yeah, I'm afraid that a short female human is going to beat me through Techorin."

"Well, you either are or you aren't."

"I'm not afraid of anything…so don't try my patience."

"Fine then."

"Good, I'm glad you see it my way and have chosen the best course of action." Smirking, he glanced at her from the corner of his eye again then looked up at the sky, trying to figure out what she was studying so intently. "What are…"

"I used to watch the stars every night while I was preparing for the next level in the American trials." Smiling wistfully, she traced each constellation with her eyes before speaking again. "They kind of reminded me of diamonds and I often wondered what they were like…where there other people up there that were interested in what was going on down here?"

"Diamonds? Those planets you speak so casually of are definitely nothing like diamonds. I've visited almost all of them so I would know what they were like."

"But did you take the chance to meet the creatures on the planets or did you kill them?" Tearing her gaze away from the stars and focusing it on him, she lifted a skeptical brow then continued her observation. "I know what your people are like and I know what you do out there."

"I never took the time to learn what those other people were like so…it never really occurred to me that they might have deep thoughts such as the thoughts you are having right now."

"I figured as much. And, in spite of what you wish me to do, I'm still going to finish the second level."

Grinning and laughing softly, he nodded in understanding then put an arm around her shoulder and hugged her to his side, a big brother comforting his sister, or two friends just standing together. "I expected no less out of you."

"Thank you for understanding…" Hugging him back, she released him then headed back to bed. She needed to get a lot of sleep if she wanted to live through the second level tomorrow. "Good night Vegeta."

"Good night girl."

"Hey now, all you sinners, put your lights on, put your lights on. Hey now, all you lovers, put your lights on, put your lights on. Hey now, all you killers, put your lights on, put your lights on. Hey now, all you children, leave your lights on, you better leave your lights on. Cause there's a monster living under my bed, whispering in my ear. There's an angel, with her hand on my head, she said I've got nothing to fear. There's a darkness living deep in my soul, that's still got a purpose to serve. So let your light shine deep into my home, god don't let me lose my nerve, don't let me lose my nerve…"

Waiting to enter the second level, he looked around for his third teammate, aware that his second teammate was busily grooming his familiar with patient skill and untiring determination. Sensing the presence of another saiya-jin he looked up then lifted a brow when a lanky young saiya- jin approached him. "You're late."

Shrugging, the other saiya-jin sat down and started meditating silently for a few minutes before speaking, startling the older man out of his exercises. "I am Canta, your father sent me here a few years ago to keep track of the progress you make through the trials and to take them as well. He contacted me early this morning and informed me that I was needed to watch you even closer than before because he was worrying about whether or not you would quit these trials."

"He's a fool, a good man, but a fool as well."

"I don't know much about your father, but those types of comments don't have much meaning to me. All I know is that I will be your partner through the rest of these trials…at least…until they reform the groups for the last three levels. Then you are on your own."

"And I look forward to it, now go back to your meditation so I can finish training." Turning his back on the younger man, he started doing sit-ups then stopped when he saw a familiar group of girls walk out on the field to prepare as well.

Noticing his prince's lack of movement, Canta cracked open an eye and watched the girls come out onto the field as well. Seeing one of the girls turn her head and meet the prince's gaze evenly, he lifted a mental brow then his actual brow when she smiled and waved before turning to her own exercises. Intrigued, he decided he would have to pay that group a visit when they finally entered the second level. He wanted to know what was so special about that group, and that girl, that his prince radiated waves of discomfort and concern when he looked at them.