CHAPTER NINE:

The ride to Capsule Corporation was nothing short of chaotic. Everyone tried to get in a word or two, and it was all because of the question Sasami had asked. She naturally had wanted to know about everything and so for the next two hours the Z-fighters, excepting Vegeta who had ignored everyone and everything around him, regaled the princesses on all that had happened since the prince’s arrival on earth. They told about the trip to Namek and the whole mess with the Ginyu Force, the dragon balls and Freiza, and King Cold’s death by the mysterious youth from the future…

“So now that you know all about us, we want to know all about you guys too.” Goku said cheerfully, leaning forward to stare eagerly into the blank visage of Ayeka.

“What…there is really nothing to tell…” Ayeka began weakly, as Sasami quickly barged in.

“Vegeta rescued us from our spaceship!”

Dazed replies of ‘Nani?!’ rang out in the airbus, none louder than Bulma, who had silently been fuming in her front seat. Nobody really believed that the surly prince actually had any room for rescuing anyone except for selfish means.

Sasami nodded and continued, ignoring the duo glares from the prince and princess. “Ayeka was supposed to be going back to Jurai on her spaceship, Ryu-oh, and then we crashed and then we…”

Ayeka clamped a hand over her sister’s mouth in a snap and smiling wanly at the curious faces around her, she muttered out weakly. “Never mind my sister. She tends to ramble on and on about things that she has no business rambling about.”

“What are you hiding from us?” Bulma snapped angrily, her eyes still pinned in front of her. “Maybe you guys are really evil after all or you wouldn’t be soooo mysterious.”

Ayeka grit her teeth and spat out coldly. “For your information, I have no need to hide any thing from you all. I hardly know you and yet I am expected to tell you all about my life. Please.”

Vegeta, whose eyes had been shut throughout the chaos, opened up an eye in amusement at the spat between the two females. He was unable to prevent the small grin that was about to break out onto his face. This was going to be good. Finally, it seemed like Bulma had found her match…well apart from Kakkarrot’s screeching harpy of a wife.

“Well…you don’t have to tell us anything right now, if you don’t want to.” Goku reasoned. “I can tell that you are kinda strong though.”

“Of course I am.” Ayeka said with a snort. “As the Crown Princess of Jurai, I hold the power of Jurai and so I am quite capable of taking care of myself.”

“I am the Crown Princess of Jurai and so I am better than all of you…little bitch.”

Bulma’s quiet mimic of Ayeka’s words caused Vegeta to burst out in laughter, making everyone in the airbus to stare at him in bewilderment.

“What the hell are you laughing at?!” She snapped, her face going red at the thought that Vegeta might have over heard her words.

“I am laughing at you, onna. That’s what!” Vegeta sniggered.

“Why, you little…”

Ayeka’s frown deepened at the interaction and turning around she stared straight into the neutral eyes of the silent Namek. Before she could even open up her mouth to say anything, his raspy voice silenced her.

“They have known each other for a while.”

Ayeka mouthed a silent ‘oh’, before spinning around to stare out the window. She dug her fingers into the palm of her hands, telling herself that the little pain she had felt at that comment was not out of despair and jealously.

~*~*~*~*~

The man stared at the two women with leery eyes, unable to stop the grin that was on his face. This was his lucky day. It wasn’t every day that two beautiful women stopped by to ask for a room for rent, especially during this time of the night. Sinful images of himself and the women danced through his mind and he was quickly cut off from them as the teal-haired one spoke up coldly.

“Well? How much are you going to charge us for the room?”

“Oh yeah…” the man said quickly, turning his attention back to the room rates in front of him. “For the two bedroom, one bath and one kitchen, it is going to be 3,000 zeni for the month.”

“3,000 zeni?!! That’s way too much!!”

“But Kiyone, we have 3,000 zeni. We can pay the man, can’t we?”

“Shut up, Mihoshi.” Kiyone growled beneath her breath, as she stared at her blonde-haired, giggling companion. “We are trying to strike a deal here.”

“Ooooooh…I get it.” Mihoshi replied, her eyes going wider as the whole thing finally sunk in. “You want to get the room cheaper. That’s a great idea, Kiyone!”

“Gee…thanks.” Came the exasperated reply.

Staring at the women in amusement, the silent manager waited for their exchange to be over before speaking out,

“I could lower the rate for you two on one condition.” ~ Here it comes. ~

“What conditions?” Kiyone asked, an icy edge etched in her voice.

“Well…” the man began, leaning across the counter top and licking his lips in a move that was supposed to be sexy. “You could both do me a small favor. You know nothing to…eep!”

A gun was now pointed squarely at his forehead and feeling himself sweat in nervousness, he tried to smile and bicker his way out of the situation. The cold, blank look on the detective’s face was enough to make his balls crawl up into his stomach.

“You were saying…”

“Nothing! Nothing! You can have the room for whatever amount of money you like. Just, please do not shoot me, okay?”

Putting the gun away swiftly, Kiyone placed a sweet grin on her face and snatched the keys off the table. “Thank you very much, mister. Hope you have a good evening.” And turning to her dazed looking companion, she snapped out. “Let’s move it, Mihoshi!”

“Oh, yeah, right!” Mihoshi said, picking up their small luggage and running after the rapidly disappearing woman. “Wait up for me, Kiyone! I don’t like being alone!”

Kiyone groaned inwardly as she walked down the barely lit corridor, trying to locate their new home for the next several months. She still wondered why she remained stuck with Mihoshi as a partner. The girl was a complete dud when it came to thinking, but she did have her good points. They had been partners for the past two years now and it was the same thing every time. She was never going to get her promotion to lieutenant because of Mihoshi’s goof-ups. Whenever a mission was failed or not carried out, it was always thanks to the blonde woman.

Sighing, she pushed her keys into the keyhole and turned it, raising a skeptical eyebrow at the simple essentials that graced their abode. It wasn’t even a big room. There was a large landscape window that provided the only source of light and fresh air, their bedroom was their living room apparently and the kitchen was enough to contain only two people at one time. Their bathroom was no better as it only contained a shower stall, a sink and of course the toilet.

~ Hn. 3,000 zeni my foot. This place is a dump.~

“Oooooo.” Mihoshi cooed in delight, as she stepped into the room. “Wow, Kiyone! Our very own place, isn’t this the coolest?!”

“Yes, Mihoshi.” Kiyone replied wearily, as she began taking off the red band that was wrapped around her head. “Just don’t forget what we are here for, okay?”

“Umm….what are we here for again?”

“Dammit, Mihoshi!!” Kiyone snapped in anger. “We received a communiqué from the commander, remember? We are here to apprehend the princesses’ kidnapper! And to take them back to Jurai!”

“OOOOH! Why didn’t you say so before, Kiyone?” Mihoshi enthused, grabbing the sputtering girl in a bear hug. “We are going to have so much fun!!”

“Oh, god. Why do I even bother…”

~*~*~*~*~*~

The motley crew stepped out of the airbus, stretching and whining and complaining about how cramped and tiring the trip had been.

“I still say we should have flown there ourselves.” Piccolo said curtly.

“Oh, yeah? Well in case you have forgotten, not everyone of us can fly, you know!” Bulma snapped, before placing her vehicle back into its case.

Ayeka and Sasami gasped at the display and Bulma smirked. ~ So it seems like princess Jurai here can be impressed with something. ~ She had thought that their arrival to the large compound would have had the girls oohing and aahhing, since most guests had a tendency to do that, but all the reaction she had received were blank and non-committal.

~ I guess they live in a much bigger place. Well, duh Bulma, they are princesses, where else would they live…in a one room apartment? I bet they have a really humongous…~

“How did you do that?” Sasami asked, coming close to Bulma and staring with frank curiosity at the small tube in her hands.

Bulma placed her hands on her hips and grinned widely. “That’s what we make here on Earth. These are called capsules; a more convenient way of carrying things about instead of crowding the entire city. See, this one in my hand contains my airbus. I have some that can even contain houses.”

“Wow, that is really…”

“That will be enough, Sasami.” Ayeka said sharply, not liking the self-absorbed attitude of the blue-haired woman. “I think we understand the magic of the…umm…”

“Capsules?” Bulma finished for her, sneering at the flash of anger that flickered through the oval face. “Anyhoo, you guys better follow me, I will show you to your sleeping quarters.”

“Alright, Bulma.” Goku said, waving at them as he prepared to leave. “Thanks for taking care of them. We gotta go train now.” And turning back to Ayeka, he continued lightly,

“Hey! Maybe you can come join us sometime. I would really like to see how strong you really are.”

Ayeka nodded numbly, wondering how in the world she had gotten herself into agreeing to fight with a Saiyan. She and the others watched as Piccolo, Goku and Gohan flew off towards the mountains in the east.

“I cannot believe that they can fly.” Ayeka muttered to herself, inwardly thinking that it would be an advantage for them if they did end up sparring later on. “How do they do that?”

“It is quite simple really, if you put your mind to it.” Vegeta said calmly, staring off into space.

“Oh?” Ayeka replied, turning around to stare at the still figure beside her.

Krillen and Sasami had begun to head off towards the large dome-shaped homes and Bulma was in the middle of an argument with Yamcha over some date, so the two royals were left alone for the time being.

Vegeta nodded, his eyes still pinned on nothing in particular. Ayeka licked her lips slowly and dared herself to ask him. If he refused then…

“Would you teach me how to fly?” she asked softly. She watched as the prince’s shoulders stiffened and wincing inwardly at how stupid and desperate she had sounded, she staggered backwards and mumbled a quick apology. “I am sorry. I should not have asked…”

~ How stupid could I be? Why did I have to ask that? ~

Feeling ridiculously close to tears, she spun around and was about to make her way towards her sister, when the quiet reply came.

“So the crown princess seeks a Saiyan’s help…how…inappropriate.”

Ayeka gripped her hands tightly and bit out coldly, betraying her hurt at the cruel words. “Forget I asked.”

About to make her way back to the house, she froze in her tracks at the single word that was finally uttered out.

“Fine.”

“What?” She asked, not wanting to believe her ears.

Vegeta turned towards her, a strange, unreadable dark glint in his eyes. “I said ‘fine’. I will teach you. But do not expect me to go easy on you just because you are a female. I will not tolerate any weak effort.”

Ayeka huffed at the insinuation and standing up taller, she said haughtily, hiding the slow warmth of happiness that went through her. “I will not be a weakling. I can handle myself quite well, thank you very much!”

“Hmph! Whatever you say, onna.” Vegeta replied, stalking off towards his own rooms. “Meet me in the gravity room tomorrow morning at six o’clock. If you are even a minute late, the whole thing is off. Got it?”

Ayeka stared after him. ~ The Gravity Room? What in the world was that? ~

“Hey, Princess!!” Bulma yelled, cutting off her thoughts. “Are you going to come in here or not?”

The first Crown Princess of Jurai pursed her lips to control her annoyance. She was determined not to loose her temper. After all, like it or not, she was under the home of the woman and the least she could do was act civilized.

Fixing a wan smile on her face, she said out loud. “I am coming.”

~*~*~*~*~*~

~ I just had to say yes, didn’t I? ~

The Saiyan no Ouji groaned as he closed his eyes and allowed the warm sprays of the shower to soak his weary body. He still could not understand this strange feeling he had for the purple-haired female. Was it just a natural attraction to another person that was of royal blood? That had to be it. There was no other way to explain this sudden need and desire to protect her. He snorted. It was almost like one of those stupid fairy tale things that Bulma liked to blab about. How the prince would fall in love with the princess and they would live happily ever after. Like hell they were. At this rate, he would consider himself lucky if Ayeka could even endure him much longer.

He hated to admit that it had hurt when he had seen the look of loathing and disgust that had flashed on her face the moment he had admitted his true identity. It had nearly killed the small hope of….of…what?

~ Kuso! You cannot tell me you have those kinds of feelings for her! You don’t even know if she…~

Another moan spilt out of his mouth as the memory of their one and only kiss came flooding back. He raised trembling fingers to his lips, his eyes dilating at the way she had felt and tasted. She had felt so good in his arms and he could swear that the sweet honey taste still lingered on his lips till today. He would have taken her then. Heck, he should have taken her then. Kami…how could he need someone this much in such a short period of time? Opening up his eyes, he noticed that he had unconsciously become increasingly aroused. Groaning again, he gripped the turgid flesh in his hands and tugged on it slowly, squeezing his eyes shut as the delicious waves of desire flowed through him. He began to stroke himself harder as images of the princess danced through his blinded vision.

“Oh, Kami…Ayeka…” He muttered, tossing his head back as the combination of the warm water and his now frantic hands worked him into a frenzy. “Oh, Kami…yessss…ahhhhh….”

The final image of Ayeka in her skimpy negligee threw him over the edge and with a sharp grunt; he exploded his essence onto the white tiles, watching idly as they streamed down in torrents. Eventually sinking to the floor in exhaustion, he desperately tried to catch his breath back.

Without a doubt, the Saiyan no Ouji knew that the next few days or months with Ayeka were sure to test his patience and self control.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Ayeka stared at the clothes in the closet with dismay. They were too skimpy, too short or too tight. Turning to the woman beside her, she tried to make Bulma see.

“I cannot wear these outfits. They are too…too…”

“Too what?” Bulma asked, running an appraising eye down the length of Ayeka’s body and earning a furious blush in return. “I don’t see you complaining about the body suit you are wearing.”

“That is because it was the only thing that was affordable at the time!” She snapped in return.

“Well, sorry about that, princess.” Bulma said, walking out of the room with a smirk. “Those would just have to do for now. I only wear clothes that I feel comfortable in and if you cannot handle them, then that is your problem!”

And throwing a winning smile over her shoulder, she shut the door with an emphatic slam.

Ayeka, who had had her hands in a death grip, counted slowly to control her anger and releasing the tension with a sigh, she walked into the bathroom to take a much-needed shower. Staring at her reflection in the large full-length mirror, she made a face at the picture that was presented. Her naturally silky hair looked dull and listless and running a hand through it, she winced at how limp the strands were.

~ I hope she has good soap. ~

Stripping out of the bodysuit, she couldn’t stop herself from touching her naked skin in inspection. Her wounds had healed quickly, thanks to the natural healing abilities of her people. She stared at her breasts in dismay. She had noticed that Bulma was a whole lot fuller than she was and she figured that Vegeta might have liked Bulma for that reason. Cupping her hands beneath them, she pushed them together and tipped her head to the side, imagining what it would be like for her to be as big as…

~ Stupid! How can I be thinking about this rubbish? I am proud of my body. I do not need to be as…as…as…Oh, what’s the use? ~

Sighing in defeat, she stepped underneath the warm sprays of the shower and quickly began to wash away the grime and sweat off her creamy skin. Closing her eyes, her mind drifted off to the earlier events of the day. Yes, she had been shocked at discovering that Vegeta was a Saiyan, but it was the way he had tried to prove it to her that sent her pulses racing again. He had taken her hand and had placed it on the most sensitive part of his body…well…apart from the other place. Her cheeks reddened as she remembered the feel of the short stub of fur. She had noticed the stifled moan that he had made. She had also noticed his arousal (thanks to the skintight bodysuit he always seemed to insist on wearing) at that moment and that had been the main reason for her confusion and her stagger.

Obviously their tails were sensitive. She had read all about that. So without their tails, they could not become those ape things with the moon out.

~ I wonder how he lost his tail. ~

It seemed that no matter how it was lost, Vegeta was clearly not very happy about it. And she could understand that. If someone dared steal her crown, it would be like a piece of her had been lost forever. She wondered if the tail could grow back.

~ …and how? ~

But for now, she was going to concentrate on trying to wake up on time for her flying lessons with Vegeta. She was still a bit stunned at his ready acceptance, but she would take it.

~ Yes… ~ she thought, smiling to herself. ~ I will take anything you have to give me, Ouji Vegeta. I will prove myself to you, no matter how long it takes. ~