CHAPTER THREE:

“What are you doing?”

“Working.”

“Working on what?”

“Working on the ship.”

“Is it broken?”

“No.”

“So…why are you working on it then, if it isn’t broken?”

Vegeta counted to ten slowly before turning around to face the smiling girl. “I am trying to get my ship ready for lift off. Do you understand?” He said with exaggerated slowness.

“Oh. I see.”

“Good.” He finished curtly, before turning back to fiddle with the switches inside the ship, wondering why in the world he had allowed Sasami to follow him in there. Her close scrutiny was really beginning to bug him and he fervently hoped that she would not speak again.

“So when do we leave?” Sasami spoke up loudly, ignoring the death glare that was thrown her way.

“We leave as soon as you leave me alone and allow me to finish this!” Vegeta snapped, wincing inwardly at the hurt expression that flashed briefly on the little girls’ face.

“I am sorry…I will leave you alone now.” Sasami said softly, about to make her way out of the ship.

“Look…” Vegeta began, “You can come back. I…I…didn’t mean to snap at you….”

“Okay!” Sasami said happily, coming back to stand beside the crouching Saiyan. “You might want to try the red switch, that should get the power started.”

Vegeta gaped dumbly at the girl, who seemed to have the permanent smile etched on her face, wondering how the hell she knew about the workings of his spaceship.

“Ayeka likes to study a lot of things about ships.” Sasami answered the questioningly look. “Mechanical things like that…and I sometimes read them. They can be fun!”

“I bet.” Vegeta mumbled beneath his breath, as he turned back to flick on the said red switch. The slow hum of the power being turned on was heard and Vegeta shook his head in amazement. What other bag of eccentricities did the girls have? Raising an eyebrow, he gave a glance at the curious pink eyes and in a gruff voice he spat out,

“Well, don’t just stand there! Make yourself useful or something!”

Sasami grinned even wider and began to make her way towards the other control panels. Unconsciously she shivered from the cold draft that had seeped into the small ship and Vegeta noticed it, cursing himself inwardly for not thinking about better clothing for the still nightgown-clad girl. Stalking over to the lockers at the back of the spacecraft, he took down two black body suits. It was the only thing he had and it would have to do for them.

“Here!” He said, tossing one of the suits to her. “Put that on. It should keep you warm, at least.”

“Thanks!” Sasami cried out happily. And to the Saiyan Prince’s bewilderment and shock, she leapt onto him and gave him a bear hug. “You are the nicest man ever!”

Vegeta felt his cheeks darken with embarrassment and pushing the girl roughly away from him, he turned back to his work, muttering to himself. “I am not a nice person, kid. So you just get that out of your mind.”

“But…”

“Where is your sister?” He interrupted, not wanting to hear anymore compliments from Sasami at the moment.

“She is outside by the campsite, I think.” Sasami replied, before she heard her name being called.

“Sasami?! Sasami?! Where are you?!!”

“Looks like big sister is here to rescue you from the big, bad monster, eh, Sasami?” Vegeta smirked as he watched the approaching figure of a very dishelved looking Ayeka.

“I am going to change my clothes.” Sasami said quickly, darting towards the bathroom. “I will be right back!”

Vegeta nodded tersely and turned his attention back to his readings of the control panel, when the angry footsteps of Ayeka stormed into the ship. Ignoring her completely, he focused on the blinking screen in front of him. However, it seemed like Ayeka did not like being ignored and with a snort she stomped up to Vegeta, completely forgetting her need for modesty.

“Where is my sister?” she asked coldly, staring at the spiky dark locks in front of her.

With his eyes still pinned on the screen, he answered casually, “I am not her keeper. You should have been looking after her.”

“Why, you…!” Ayeka started to say, before taking a deep breath and calming herself down. “Fine. I will ask you nicely…”

“Wow!” Vegeta said sarcastically, leaning back to stare at Ayeka with mock surprise on his face. “I cannot believe it. The crown princess is actually going to be nice to me? I am in shock.”

Gritting her teeth, she bit out in clipped tones. “I need to see my sister. Now, where is sh…”

“Hi, Ayeka!” Sasami called out, startling the two of them. She was now dressed in the tight-fitting black body suit and she had tied up her hair with a strip of her nightgown. “He allowed us to use his clothes, Ayeka. Isn’t that nice of him?”

Ayeka could only gape at Sasami in disbelief, her jaw wide open, before a black object was flung onto her face, causing her to jump back and gasp in fear.

“Much as I admire the tantalizing view, dear Princess, I am afraid you would have to wear that as well…or if you insist on the negligee…” Vegeta said lazily, his eyes darkening with a look that sent Ayeka’s pulses into overdrive. “I have no objections…whatsoever.”

“Oh!” Ayeka sputtered, her cheeks flushing. “You are so impossible!!” And spinning around on her heels, she stalked haughtily into the bathroom, making sure that she banged the door really, really hard.

Vegeta couldn’t contain the grin that came onto his face. Annoying the prissy princess was turning out to be more enjoyable than he had expected and turning towards a puzzled looking Sasami, he said lightly,

“Hey, little girl, why don’t you come over here and help me with this stuff. I could use your expertise.”

“Alright!” Sasami cried out in excitement, as she raced over to the prince’s side.

~*~*~*~*~

~ I cannot wear this. It is so…so…slutty! ~

Ayeka twirled around in the bathroom, staring at the way the bodysuit hugged every inch of her body, exposing her curves at every angle. It felt like she was wearing nothing at all and she would be damned before she walked out of the bathroom looking like a cheap whore on the street.

~ I bet that’s what he likes. Cheap, slutty looking girls that wear practically nothing. Well, if he thinks I am going to be like that, then he is sadly mistaken! ~

And sitting down on the toilet seat, she made up her mind to stay in there until they arrived at their destination.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sasami stared at the bathroom door; worry beginning to show on her face.

“She’s been in there for hours. Isn’t she ever going to come out?” she asked, bemusement etched in her voice.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if she decides to die in there, but unfortunately…” Vegeta said lightly, jumping to his feet and heading to the bathroom. “I have to obey nature’s call.”

Raising his hands up, he began to bang on the bathroom door, yelling out in a loud voice. “Hey, princess!! Get the fuck out of the bathroom!!”

“I will not!!” Ayeka yelled back. “I am not coming out looking like this!!”

Vegeta grit his teeth in growing irritation. “I don’t give a flying fuck what you don’t want to look like!! You better get out of there or I am blasting this door down and taking you out myself!!”

“You wouldn’t dare!!”

“Oh, yeah?!” Vegeta responded, a smirk lighting up his face. “Try me!!”

Sasami watched in growing unease as a small golden ball of energy began forming in the prince’s hand.

“Umm…Ayeka…I think you better come out.” Sasami said. “He really is going to blow the door down.”

“Sasami! Get away from there! Now!!” Ayeka screamed.

Vegeta’s smirk widened and raising his hand again, this time with a good-sized ball of energy in his palms, he pointed it towards the door.

“I am giving you one last chance, Princess!!” He bellowed, “Come out now…what the…?”

His face contorted into a frown as he felt the air around him begin to charge with electricity. His body seemed to be contracting and sucking in a pained breath, he felt himself being lifted off the floor. Biting his lip to stop the searing pain, he squeezed his eyes shut, idly noticing that he was now surrounded by what seemed to be a million tiny looking logs.

~ Kisama! What is she doing to me?! ~

He opened his eyes again as he heard the bathroom door open. Looking down into flashing rose-colored orbs, he realized that she was still increasing the electrical shock and if he didn’t do something soon, he was going to be fried. But he couldn’t…he didn’t want to destroy the spaceship. For Kami’s sake, it was their only way out of here.

“Let him down, Ayeka.” Sasami pleaded, watching her sister’s look of satisfaction. “He just wanted to use the bathroom.”

“Hn.” Ayeka snorted lightly. “I don’t think so. He is a rude….AHHHHHH!!!”

The room was suddenly filled with a flash of light so bright, that the girls had to fall to the floor and cover their eyes… and then their ears, as Vegeta’s angry roar created yet another brilliant display of electrical energy. Whimpering softly, Ayeka raised up her head slowly, only to stare into very angry looking obsidian depths. The Saiyan no Ouji was not very happy.

In one step, Vegeta grabbed Ayeka’s arm and yanked her up to her feet, coming within inches of her frightened visage. Growling low in his throat, he spat out coldly,

“Now, you listen here, Miss Prissy! I have about had it with you and your little tantrums. Ever since you woke up, you have been nothing but a whining, complaining little bitch!! I have a very good mind of leaving you on this godforsaken planet and letting you rot here for all eternity and I could care less about you and your problems! So do me a favor and grow the fuck up!!”

And pushing her away from him, he stomped into the bathroom and shut the door with an angry slam.

Ayeka rubbed her arms, trying to soothe the small throb from the pressure of Vegeta’s hold. She was a bit numb from the irate lecture and wasn’t exactly sure on how to react. She had never really been scolded before, well except from her father, but no one had ever dared speak to her in such a manner and her mind was in a whirl of conflicting emotions. She wanted to be upset. She needed to be upset. However, she realized that she had never actually been nice to the man that had rescued her and that was deplorable. But, there was just something about him that rubbed her the wrong way. She couldn’t put a finger on it. He was infuriating, yet fascinating…

~ And all in just one day. And I don’t even know who he is. ~

“Are you alright, Ayeka?” Sasami asked quietly, staring at her sister in worry.

Ayeka fixed a smile on her face and patting her sister’s head, she replied softly. “Yes, Sasami. I will be fine.”

~*~*~*~*~

Vegeta splashed the water on his face and leaning heavily on the sink, he stared at his reflection morosely. What was he to do now? Lift off was scheduled in another hour and he was sure that the princesses would expect him to take them back to Jurai, but he couldn’t do that. His main concern now was to go back to earth and to show his new talent to Kakkarrot. A small smirk lighted his visage. He could still not believe it though.

It had happened earlier in the morning when he had taken off to a nearby planet to train intensely, without the knowledge of the girls, since they had still been asleep. He had finally achieved it. He was finally a Super Saiyan! And he couldn’t wait to go back and shove it in Kakkarrot’s face. But now, he had two…actually four extra passengers and he wasn’t sure of what he was going to do.

~ You could always hold them for ransom and get some money from those snotty Jurians. ~

“I cannot lower myself to that level.” He said softly. And besides what could he use their money for. It definitely wasn’t going to have a use on earth….unless… “Oh, well. I have no other choice then.”

And shrugging casually, he began washing his hands. There was no other way to do it. He would have to take them to earth.