Disclaimer: Dragonball Z I own not, now enough with my Yoda impersonation.

Special thanks goes to Lisalu for her suggestions, insights and the inspiration she has given to on this chapter and with this project. Special thanks also goes to Nova for her suggestions that helped with this chapter.

My email is always open 24/7 for questions, comments and additions to the mailing list, so please only write between 3:10 am and 3:17 am local time. Just kidding, the insanity of exams draws closer.

Two legged vermin scurried about in the sea of the great unwashed, guttural cries and frantic haggling filling the air, rising and falling in pitch and intensity as the cloaked figured passed the sellers. The air was filled with the smells of roasting meat and strong spices, combined with the far less pleasant odours of smoke, animals, alcohol and vomit, creating a heady all consuming foulness that stayed in the lungs like a lingering memory. Colourfully decorated tents stood along side bare wood stalls and the backs of hay wagons; the constant moving shadows from the torches and passers by morphing the surroundings into once friendly, once frightening but always ominous. Hood up, covering the figure's head and most of their face, a sight most common in this setting, identity was a liability here. In the hours before dawn the traders and the merchants came to sell their wares, be it wine, woman or information; the very rare, unusual and highly illegal, it was all to be had on the black market nights. Hiding their money and identity in the folds of the long flowing garment, sharp eyes kept a watch out for the required items and an ear to the latest news from the world of the day.

"Have you heard, the two bitch houses have fallen, only this week. Never underestimate the power of the darkness."

"You mean the Desert bastard finally beat that spoiled brat? You idiot, at least the woman kept us to ourselves as long as they didn't find us during the day. Enleo is a ruthless bastard, and a greedy one at that. He built his fortune and his army off the silk and spice trade and he'll take everything he finds here."

"No, not it's not him yet, something worse, if the stories are to be believed."

"What can be worse than a man who impales his enemies on stakes and hangs their heads above his portcullis?"

"Easy, the evil you don't know, even evil is relative. I'll say one thing, I'm not getting on his or their bad side, personally I'd rather be under the power of a man that will take a bribe and look the other way as long as you don't try to stab him in the back. Something against nature to have a woman in charge."

The clarity of the conversation blurred and faded into the nothing more than two raised voices in the general mass of chaos. Squeals and moans soon grew in volume and the sickening smell of filth and cheap sex choked the air as the cloaked shadow walked past the wagons and side stalls where prostitutes displayed their wares.

"Hey, I'll let you do it with the cloak on." a catty woman called out, her pale face painted to the nines with make-up, trying to hide the lines of a face that had obtained them much too soon in life. The covered head didn't even turn to answer, only walked on in silence.

"Fucking fag." the shrill voice called out in response, only to receive none in return. Walking away from the main thoroughfare of the crowds, the swishing of dry brittle grass, wet from the forming dew, gradually overcame the sound of humanity. Even in the den of evil and excess there were those that were not welcomed, their tiny black tents embossed with the last lingering symbols of a culture all but ripped from the Central continent. Even in a travelling market, where the inspector's and landowner's eyes did not linger they were still outcasts, association with the grand enemies of Enleo a sin where death is a reward.

Approaching the first tent that loomed out of the pre-dawn darkness, an old woman sat by a glowing hearth, and she was not alone. Standing before the fire, her back to the excitement of the wild bazaar, was the slim figure of a woman; the light dancing off her corn silk blond hair. Slowing their pace towards the outer encampment, the sound of voices again rang in the ears, of disagreement between the two women.

"What's the matter, crone, I thought the Portia Bruha clan could disguise anything, create any number of illusions? Is my request too difficult for you?" An unconscious shiver could be seen, even if the body under the cloak could not at the words of the young woman. Not the words, it was the tone, the sound of that heartless, cold voice; a wicked gleam of sadism evident. Approaching the two figures, the very smell and essence of death hung in the air, all radiating off of the initial speaker.

"It is not that, vampyre, tell me why you need such power. It is not for your kind to worry about such things."

"It's not of your kind to worry over such issues either; let's say it would be in your best interest to give me what I request, or even the very goddess Gaia and her entire pantheon will not help you. And don't think that those wining, wenching fools can help you, or the idiot approaching us." Juuhachi bit back, looking over her shoulder at the half stunned, now stopped figure, those soulless pale blue eyes boring into a hiding set, smirking when her advanced sight noted the quick shifting of the other's eyes. The smell of plants and berries assaulted Juuhachi's delicate nose, the aromas overpowering on the mortal flesh. That, and, and blood, various humans' blood. A sleek smile was drawn upon her child like mouth as the frightened human turned in their tracks and walked towards one of the other tents that held the wares of once powerful Wiccan clans and villages. Ignoring their interruption, she again turned to the old lady, those teal eyes, still sharp though dulled with age; only one white haired, wrinkled old woman that stood in the way of fulfilling her task. Always welcoming the dark, a creature of its all consuming grip since she could remember; it now offered nothing more than pain, the shadows of the pitiful fire flickering in the dark, creating imagines in her mind. It was there for a second and then gone, a figment of a memory recently wrought. The vision was there, by the old woman, in the distance, trailing after the pathetic human, standing in the centre of a grove of trees and that voice, ever echoing in her mind. In a body that no longer felt hot or cold, a shiver passed through the slight woman's body; of the hundreds of pleas and screams that had rang through her ears only one haunted her, the calm voice just before the end.

'Juu-chan, avenge me.'

"Give me what I need, old woman. You might be nearly the last of your kind but there must be more, and there are other ways, consider this a way to add years to your life and coins to your coffer. I want a way into a palace, some place very heavily guarded, and I need to hide from the eyes of both humans and machines. They say that your spells and illusions are the best, I wish for an invisibility spell, one that I can use at any opportunity." Sighing in contemplation, the crone wrapped the ratty shawl tighter around her tired shoulders, the cold of the oncoming fall seeping into her bones, regarding the unnatural presence before her.

"It will not bring him back. His soul, if one existed in him, has long ago left this plane before he became what he is."

"I don't care about his eternal soul, that is not in the realm of my concern. He left me with a mission, witch, I must avenge his death, get back at the mortals that separated his mind from mine. Now, will you sell me a spell or not?" The less than considerable patience that Juuhachi tried to hold to was slipping away with every moment, the dam of her anger near the breaking point.

"I will not aid a creature of the night, even as it thinks of making more of its kind." The proclamation came down and with a turn of her head, the crone dismissed the vampyre from her attention. Grabbing another log to feed to the fire, the tension in her body drained when she found herself alone, the night being disappearing into its realm. A cold wind whipped down from the northern plains and she again reached for another log to add to the warming fire, her hand brushing against a cloth covered leg. Using reflexes faster than any humans, the now noticed vampyre caught the brushing hand in a vice grip, the same grip on the old woman's neck, pulling the frail body against her eternally young one.

"Listen, bitch, give me a spell of invisibility or I'll roast you alive on that fire." That cold expressionless voice smooth and languid against her ears. An arm like steel extending out to bring the crone nearer the fire.

"I don't care, I'll curse your soul to all suffer but I will not help you."

"That's okay, I can take your spells and your potions and do it myself, but not without a final meal. Besides, as you've already said, I don't have a soul." she whispered back and wretched the woman closer to her body. She sunk her enlarged canines into the woman's skin, drawing the thin red liquid to the surface of the bite and began to suck the blood, knowledge, the very life out of the woman, muted whimpers of pain the only defence that the witch could muster. Waving her arms frantically at first, the motions slowed as her skin paled and the sparkle of light dulled from her eyes. Dropping her back onto the old stool she had used before, Juuhachi smirked down at the frozen fear evident on the woman's face, that look of helpless realisation plastered to her face for all eternity. Might as well leave her, give some poor fool a scare tomorrow, finding the dead bitch. Turning towards the dark tent that once held the secrets of the Portia, the vampyre parted the curtain and walked through the entrance, the stolen knowledge swimming through her mind telling her exactly what she would need. Grabbing items from inside a small wooden chest, trinkets, a leather bound book, and several pouches, she slipped back out into the night. Turning back towards the sights and sounds of the low class mortals, she spared one last glance at the old woman before she flew off into barely lit sky, revenge and the means to achieve it all that existed in her mind.

~~~~~

Moaning in her sleep, the sweat soaked blanket wrapped around her sore body, Bulma jerked awake and yawned; another night on the hard floor had only helped to make her more tired, sore and miserable than she had the day before. Stretching out once more, she tried to untangle the blanket from around her legs, thankful that it still covered her in the most important areas. Her mind and body engaged in a battle over the need for more sleep and the nightmare she had found herself caught in before she had awoken. Wrapping herself again in the warm, though damp cloth, her exhausted body winning the battle as she began to lose consciousness, her eyelids gradually closed over her sleep filled blue eyes, only to be assaulted by another image from her both sleeping and waking nightmare.

Before her was the dark visage of the Saiyajin no Ouji standing proudly over her, his arms crossed lazily over his armoured chest, the muscles of his arms and legs perfectly outline, looking every bit the warrior Prince he was. Caught in the stare of those endless obsidian eyes, she was paralysed by the look he was giving her, a hard mocking gaze that promised pain and punishment at ever turn. Against her pride, her body shook with fear, causing a smirk to form on his hard masculine lips; everything about him was hard, unyielding, dangerous. Whether to her relief or dread, he didn't make a move towards her but that stare, that look of barely contained rage, made her blood run cold, and her breath quicken. His gaze left hers for a second and travelled down her body, a glint of lust pushing through the titanic anger and arrogance. Following his gaze, Bulma gasped in shock at her naked state, her total vulnerability to him. Dear Fates, there was nothing she could do, there was no where to run, to hide, no way to escape, her ever quick mind a complete blank; even reason itself had deserted her. No, she mentally screamed at herself, she couldn't give up; all the years she had fought against impossible odds, gone through hell itself, to lose to a man; what ever powers he has he is nothing more than a man of flesh and blood. As soon as the thought formed in her mind he was on her, grabbing her up and holding her by her fragile neck; that damn smirk of his wide across his face.

"But I'm not just a man, little one." he whispered into her ear, her trembling body pressed against his own, his words an exact reply as if he were reading her mind. "I am a Saiyajin, a Saiyajin Prince, the strongest warrior of my line. You think you have known hell, I will make you wish for it." Before she could spat out a reply or his words could make a mark in her brain, the hand at the base of her neck tightened painfully and his other hand stroked down to the spot on her back that he had introduced her to so many days earlier. Doubling over in pain, she only slightly registered the warmth breath of her neck before the sharp stabbing pain of his canines pierced through her skin and her mind, a scream of fear and pain ripping from her mouth. Her cries didn't last as his mouth quickly covered hers, his tongue darting through her parted lips and she could taste her own blood off his. The pain searing along her limbs dulled and mixed with the warmth that was shooting through her veins as his tail began to probe between her legs and the hand on her back moved up to cup and tease her breast. Something hot and sticky began to roll down her chest and the Saiyajin's mouth left her own, lapping at the blood that had flowed down the wound on her neck, her skin burning everywhere his tongue met her flesh. Making his way back up to the crook of her shoulder, his head once again descended to the bite mark he had renewed and he sucked at the wound, and Bulma moaned in pure ecstasy at the utterly new sensations that flowed through her, inundated her. Lowering her head to his own neck, her body jerked again in pleasure and pain as he entered her, the sudden swift force of his thrust causing her to bite him to keep herself from screaming out. Unaware of her own strength, thick sweet blood dripped into her mouth and she lapped at it. Her steel trap mind blew opened and she was lost in a wave of agony and ecstasy combined in one; foreign emotions, images, thoughts flooded her mind and she felt the same loss of control with her own. Pulling away from her neck, Vegita screamed in the same confused mixture of pain and pleasure. Clutching to his hard body for support, Bulma's brain throbbed and pulsated wildly, she felt as if it would rip apart if the waves of pain didn't soon stop. Her body was giving up to the overwhelming sensations and she was slowly losing consciousness. A single thought passed through her head; a single word foreign to her knowledge and understanding that caressed her thoughts and echoed in her mind as the darkness overcame her.

'Cuibhreach.'

"Ahhh!" Bulma screamed; the horrible pain of in her head was slowly dissipating but the fear and panic of her dream, the knowledge absolute that she was trapped and helpless, coursed through her and it took all the will power she had not to cry. She had fought against enemies before, had come up against seemingly impossible odds but never, never like this one. If she could some how get to her lab, if she were somehow able to arm herself, build a new collar or a ki disrupter or anything to remove the physical advantage he had over her. But no, she was stuck in this cage, her people, HER people at the mercy of that monster and apart from fighting him with what meagre physical strength she possessed, there was nothing she could do.

"Mistress?" the gentle questioning voice broke through Bulma's trace, bringing her back to the reality at hand. Looking up through the grey metal bars of her cell, her tired eyes slowly focussed on the figure of a young girl clothed in the standard white gown and hemp binding fibre around her waist, worry and concern evident in her brown eyes.

"Mistress, I have been sent by the Master to prepare you." the girl whispered. "He asked that you be made up so you will be presentable when you attend him in his study."

"What!" the girl's words shot start through her brain and her temper flared at the insolence and mockery in them. "He orders me to HIS study? Made up so I can be presentable, I'm terribly sorry I haven't been looking my best for HIM, with sleeping in a cage, being treated like an animal. What am I, nothing more than a whore to him?" The stress that had become her reality were start to overwhelm her; the fear and uncertainty, the manipulation of her desires and her sexual frustrations, and worst, the attacks on her pride and dignity; the whole ordeal ripping her apart. Biting back the tears that threatened in her eyes, she centred on her anger and her vow to shed no more tears, they were a weakness, something used by an enemy to hurt you, gain power over your emotions. She could not allow it, she would not show fear, she would not be weak and yet again her attention was drawn towards the girl. Staring with utter hopelessness at having to be the convoy between the two fiery individuals, the girl gulped at the thought of another confrontation and walked back to the entrance of the Kennel, a small purple bundle lying on the ground grabbed Bulma's attention. Picking up the folded fabric, the girl turned to the cage, her fear retreating as she distanced herself from the cage.

"He insisted, Mistress, that you wear this gown; he mentioned it specifically. He asked that you be bathed, dressed and presented to him in hi…the study. That is all I know, My Lady." And with that the girl let the length of the gown drop to reveal a thin strapped, low cut, gown; the same violet dress she had worn at his testing. Bulma gaped unabashed at the gown; it was truly beautiful, one of the nicest ones she owned. The material was almost transparent and the way it hugged and highlighted her body, but why would he allow her this kindness, such a remembrance of his defeat?

~~~~~

Lying down as comfortably as she could against the cold smooth surface of her new home, ChiChi growled as another one of the endless kinks in her back began to act up again. The confined space of the Kennel restricted her movement, not even allowing her rub her sore neck and lower back. She had even lost the will to kick at the immovable bars, her anger and strength drained after the first day. Never had she known such humiliation as she felt as she was dragged naked and against her will to her main hall, threatened and tortured. At the end, his look of contempt when he called her a piece of trash, she spend the better part of that day and night screaming out her rage and frustrations, taking them out physically on the bars of her cage. Tiring herself from her outrage, finally dozed until the next day, her muscles sore and tired and her situation as hopeless as when she had been thrown across the arena floor. Getting the attention of one of the guards, she was able to get herself a set of clothes, albeit a size too big, as she reasoned she was still a warrior of this house and it was unseemly to be seen not in proper uniform. The same reasoning allowed her to get some time out of the cage, as all warriors must be allowed time to train for the security of the house. Practising her katas, the easy movement and focus, the determination behind each punch and kick, block, strike, retreat, roll and combination allowed her to take out her frustrations, her situation a little brighter, though none the less bleak. She had even conversed briefly with the guards, gathering any clues she could as to what the Saiyajin was planning. All she had learned was that he had ran off the day after her imprisonment, most likely the reason she was given her freedoms on that day. The day after that he had taken off when the morning exercises had been completed, only to come back late onto the night. He had not harmed a soul, at least to her knowledge, had not shown any great cruelty or rage as he had with her; his anger reserved only for her it would seem. What had she done to make him hate her so; her honour was one thing but her survival, her desire to restore her parents honour and to find a life of her own? She still remember that first night, before the pull of slumber had drawn her in completely, the look in his eyes when he had teased her, made her laugh the night before flashed before her mind. The vision turned dark when the look of murderous rage in his eyes when he confronted her about her lies and the cold unfeeling stare she was caught in when he nearly choked her to death in that energy ball. What had she done that was so terrible? What had happened to him to make him so cruel, to change from that man from last night? Heck, what the hell is wrong with you, she berated herself, having sympathy for the man who ripped apart your dignity so that he could parade his authority in front of your men? Who cares why he did it; it was his intend and its outcome, not his reason that was at question here. Again silencing that small voice in her head that could put the question aside, her ponderings were quelled by the squeaking of the Kennel door and the steady low thumping of boot heels against the hard stone floor. Turning her head to the side, she caught sight of the familiar black and red armour, a look of detached purpose spotted with concern in the eyes of those that wore her house colours. Without a word of explanation, one of the men produced a key from the around his belt and slowly unlocked the top of the cage and took a step back; letting her know without words that fleeing would be futile. Growling at the advantage over her, if only in knowledge, she emerged from her holding cell and crossed her arms over her chest; she wasn't going any where without an explanation.

"It would be much easier if you came with us, Mistress."

"It would be even easier if you told me where you would be going." ChiChi bit back, not missing a beat. A measure of fear still flowed through her at that thought of the Saiyajin but the same feelings were greatly lacking for her own men. The speaker sighed, the tiniest impressed smirk flashing across his face for but a moment before it was gone.

"We are not privy to Lord Kakarott's inner thoughts, Mistress; we were only told to bring you to the front entrance as soon as possible and wait until he arrived with further instructions." Motioning for her to follow them, the woman hesitated before agilely stepping out of the cage and bowed mockingly for her escorts to lead the way. Snorting at her mimicry, he bowed in returned and a slight smile found itself on ChiChi's lips as she walked towards the door; the old days and her friendly rapport between herself and the soldiers of this house were still there, even if a new master was at the helm. Her future, though seemingly bleak, brightened a little at the prospect of having allies to her side; it was comforting to know that she still had the long held loyalty of her warriors. Walking confidently through the torch lit halls, the odd look-out window flooding the morning light into shadowy corridors. The steadiness and strength of this stone fortress a source of comfort for her, the habitual, if darkened halls as familiar as the back of her hand. Asking out periodic questions to her companion as to the state of the house and the effectiveness of their new lord; she was sure the man blushed slightly with discomfort at the praise he poured upon her enemy. Though assuring her that the soldiers were not as loyal to their Saiyajin Master and they had been to her, especially after the incident in the throne room, ChiChi ended her queries. The rest of way to the main court yard entrance was silent after that, the memories of the throne room, the murderous and cold looks in those ebony eyes, and the sudden fear that rose with every step that brought her to her destiny.

~~~~~

It was a beautiful day for a hunt, Kakarott thought to himself, walking out into the hard packed earth of the outer courtyard. The cool crisp breeze that wafted through the foothills stirred the Saiyajin's hair, the air smelled of dirt, plants, and anticipations. The words of his Prince had been echoing through his mind for two days, if he wished to succeed, if he wished to truly be the single and accepted lord of this house he had to show his ability, his power; his cruelty. The thought had come to him the night before, lying in the bed that only two nights before had held two, the smell of that woman on the sheet driving to such distraction he could hardly sleep that first night. In his stressed, rather occupied mind, he had formulated a plan, a grand scheme, a game he would play with her. Maybe it was the still circulating hormonal rush of the oozaru transformation, the frustration of smelling her scent but not being able to enjoy anything else about her but the words continued to echo in his mind until the thought found life in his brain. The challenge she had provided him, her strength and skill in comparison with his own was nothing short of impressive, for a human. More than anything he wished to challenge her again, to a different game, a new competition, to see how she would fair against him and that was where his need to show his cruelty and fulfil the challenge he craved combined. It would be only a matter of time before the girl would stand before him, he thought, the calm of the sun rising over the sparsely vegetated cliffs a comfort after the uncertainty and turmoil in his life. Leaning against the hard stone wall, not wishing to break the peaceful tableau, his relaxation was shattered when his eyes caught the sight of light glinting off armour, black and gold armour, moving stealthily through the forests surrounding the palace. Gold and black, some people never learn. Flashing out of sight, the Saiyajin warrior appeared in front of the young man, arms crossed over his chest and staring down at the unfortunate whelp with his coldest stare.

"Your master never learns, does he? He sends boys to do a man's job." Caught in the path of that cold black stare, the boy froze for a second, before his instincts kicked in and he tried to run, screaming for help. The pipsqueak didn't get more than two paces before Kakarott's hand clamped down on his shoulder and lifted him off his feet, the silly boy's legs pumping in the air not registering what was happening to him. The noise had attracted the attention of the sentries on duty and a small crowd of on-lookers had gathered at the portcullis, eyeing the young boy that flailed against their master's grip.

"What have you got there, sir? A racoon?"

"No," Kreden laughed out at the question, "Looks more like a weasel to me, of the gold and black variety." Throwing the boy to the ground, the black garbed soldiers forming a semi-circle around him.

"Peace I beg you, I've come to speak to the Mistress of Bushi on a matter of great importance." the boy crocked out, keeping his eyes focussed on the ground and crouching as low as he could.

"Rather deaf your master must be, baka; or you're very slow. We already had a little insolence dog visit us but a few days ago, and left with his legs between his legs. If your master doesn't not understand that I will not surrender to him, or if he does not never know who his enemy is I will be endeavoured to give him a stronger message; your head on a spike would be very nice." The boy shivered in fear, the weakness only making the Saiyajin madder. Did this 'Enleo' think him a weakling, that he would send boys to defeat him, or at least annoy him. This one was even dumber than the last, he actually asked for the Mistress; did this great enemy not even see him as an adversary.

"Speak boy," Kakarott growled out, "Give us your great edict for the 'Scourge of the Fates', and make it good; these words might be your last."

"I know not of what you are speaking, I am searching for the Mistress of Bushi, I have an urgent message from Lage and the rebel forces near the Sauvage wood."

"Lage, how do you know of Lage, boy? Is this some kind of sick twisted game of your master's?" Kreden replied, nearing the boy and placing the sole of his boot across the boys exposed neck. The others around also grew a degree more menacing; the change in his men's attitude confusing the Saiyajin.

"Who might I ask is this 'Lage', Kreden? What is it that this boy speaks of? Another threat?"

"No, My Lord, more of an old friend. Back when the old master was still alive, a part of his forces, lead by his second in command, Lage, left the Lord's service decided that they had enough of the life of soldiers and left to live in peace around the temple of An Damhair. After the death of the lord and his wife, Enleo put the torch to all of the Bushi lands, eventually reaching T-Samhain and the temple of An Damhair. I don't know any of the particulars but a sizeable number of the old soldiers escaped and have been leading a small rebellion in the last couple of years. But how this whelp, wearing the armour of the enemy, knows of the rebellion, knows the name of their leader; what do you know, boy?"

"Please sir, I come from Lage, I was sent to give a message to Bushi. We were able to ambush one of their envoys with a message for the Coltello."

Several held breaths and nervous gulps accompanied these words and anger towards the boy was lessening by the minute. Understanding that he was witness to a communication where he was woefully uninformed, Kakarott kept his mouth shut and allowed the boy to continue.

"We've been fighting them for over a month and a half now, always having to use guerrilla tactics, the bastards burned our homes to the ground, butchering the young, old, the children and the women. I joined Lage's rebellion but a year ago, after the first attacks. We finally got a break when we captured the messenger and forced the information out of him. I had to wear his clothes to avoid getting captured and tortured myself if the Coltello were to find me. Please, I speak the truth, I've travelled for two days straight to deliver this message to the lady of Bushi."

"I'm afraid you're a little late, there is no longer any lady of Bushi. I rule Bushi now, boy, and I hope for your sake this fanciful little story of yours plays out. If I find out you're lying to me in anyway, you'll wish you were caught by these' Coltello'. Kreden, take this boy to the kitchen, get him what ever he needs and question him fully on what he knows; I except a full report when I return."

"When you return, sir?"

"Yes," Kakarott replied confidently, looking back towards the opened fortress doors. "I have business to attend to." Dismissing the crowd of men and giving one last menacing look to the frightened boy, the Saiyajin beckoned to the guard to bring his quarry over. His stare never leaving her deep brown one, his earlier thoughts returning as his tail unconsciously unwinding from around his waist, the tip swaying back and forth.

"My Lord." the guard said to him, the Saiyajin, regarding him with a nod but his eyes never left ChiChi's.

"You may go." Kakarott said, waiting for the man to be beyond earshot. Walking up to his prey, he smoothed his palm against the curve of her jaw, watching as the look in her eyes turned from annoyance to rage.

"Don't you dare touch me, beast." she spat out and shook his hand off her jaw.

Chuckling at her remark, he took her chin in his hands. "What is the matter, little Amazon, you had enjoy my touch before, has the Kennel not been an enlightening experience."

"Oh, it has, of what a cold hearted, ruthless, bastard you are; you are no better than Enleo. My men might have given you their oath of loyalty but they will always look to me as their leader, you are just some muscled moron who can fly, I led them through four years of hell. I swear to the Fates your blood will flow at my feet; I will kill you."

"Then you can take your chance now, wench. I give you permission to try to kill me, or at least wound me, just know I will be trying the same thing."

His words brought a questioning glance to her eyes, flashing for the briefest of minutes before disappearing again as she tried again to pull away from his grip, his hand sliding to the back of her head to keep her in place.

"I have decided on your punishment, for your plotting against me, for your lies; you are right, as long as you exist as an alternative to my rule, the loyalties of my men will always be fractured. So I give you a free opportunity now to try and kill me and I you; you have thirty minutes to get as far away from here as you can and after that time I will hunt you down. This is the way of the Saiyajins with our slaves, and I'm sure you will provide excellent sport." Trying to avoid the flash of fear in those shining mahogany eyes, he released her and watched her recoil from him in horror.

"What if I refuse?"

"You don't have much of a choice either way, I'll simply give you to Enleo and see if what you said is truth." Again that look of fear and utter defeat appeared in her eyes and he held on to his anger to keep himself from backing down, from treating her as he had before his little show in the main hall.

"You wished to spill my blood, well I suggest you try to find something that can hurt a Saiyajin; you have until sun set to kill me or at least survive. Now run." he whispered to her, watching her quickly retreating figure with a measure of sadness as he prepared himself for the hunt.

~~~~~

The Saiyajin Prince began to pace the floor in annoyance, his eyes passing over the remains of a red stain on the carpet soothed him slightly before his monumentally anger flared again. How long could it possibly take to get that woman ready? Maybe, I should have just done the deed and taken her; but, his pride piped back, what of your prefect revenge? How long had he spent planning this, the hours he spend in the Kennel, during his training, in her presence as she taunted him with her mechanical superiority? He had waited almost a month, since the first moment he awoke with his collar around his neck and the whip that struck his skin when he disobeyed, a few more moments would not kill him. Those very words, the echoes of his father's endless lessons on the mark of a king, only inflamed his anger more and he thought of trying some target practice on a passing servant. A knock interrupted his thoughts and the door slowly swung opened. No, he chided, a superior smirk cresting his lips; that will definitely not be necessary. Before him, a look that shouted a readiness for battle glowing from those blue eyes, stood his opponent; well at least they delivered him an entertaining and suitable challenge. Her hair had been curled and piled atop her head, a few stray wisps framing her delicate and lightly painted face. Allowing his eyes to sweep lower, over her graceful neck and almost bare shoulders, he could almost make out her breasts and mons through the sheer fabric, the silk outlining the curve of her hips and waist; definitely a challenge.

"Why have you brought me here, Saiyajin?" she spat out, the tone of disobedience heavy in her voice, her arms crossed over her breasts in a mockery of his own stance. Staring back into that piercing gaze of utter defiance, he licked his lips at the prospect of the verbal spar, all the while holding his trump card. The disobedience will have to be beaten out of her if she was going to be a good pet, well that would come a little later.

"You are not one to ask questions of your Master, or have you forgotten?" he crooned, walking towards her with that confident, sadistic glint in his eyes. His hands came up to stroke her and she backed away, cringing slightly in fear of that painful touch again. Grasping on to her righteous outrage like a life preserver, she straightened again when he was out of range and looked about the room; the bravado she had walked in with deserting her at the first sign of danger.

"I told you, 'Mistress', that I would have revenge upon you, the tortures that you brought, the humiliation. An amazing thing, rage; it burns you inside out, can consume you against the one that first ignited it, to those that fanned the flames. I'm sure you're feeling that right now, the rage of powerlessness, the fear eating away at you. And yet you could never know what I went through, you have not felt that draining of your soul by a lifeless piece of metal, the sting of a whip against your back, being treated like an animal for the whim of another. Such was my great reward, wench, when I walked through your halls and was taken as a means of fulfilling your lusts. How does it feel now, to be standing as the slave of another, the rage and ever present promise of pain always over your head?" With every word out of Vegita's mouth, the tension of his jaw and bitterness of his tone grew. The woman simply gulped and turned her eyes, and he could have sworn he felt the wistful sadness of guilt and regret brush against his mind. As if he cared if she felt guilt, though it would prolong and deepen her punishment. This was his revenge, his satisfaction, his game; ah yes, the game.

"The question then must be asked, what is the ultimate revenge, the most exploitable weakness? Rather a difficult task to choose one from so many. Such pride, such desires, such easy prey; I could have kept you in constant physical pain for days on end, as you have noticed, we Saiyajins are well versed in the finer points of pain. But such pain is temporary, ending in unconscious or death; hardly the impact of mental anguish, having nothing more than to be alone with you and your thoughts, your weaknesses, your guilt. So many weaknesses, you humans are full of them, and none so more than for care of others." At that comment, she looked him straight in the eyes, her head shaking ever so slightly; she knew what he was thinking of, and his quarry had not disappointed.

"No. They did nothing to you; it was my crime and should be my punishment." Even her voice shook with emotion, a tiny lump forming in the Saiyajin's throat at the sound, the sudden weakness blamed on lust.

"But they have, they followed you, treated me as much as an animal as you, possibly more. They are disobedient, a trait most definitely inherited from their former owner, and one can not have that. You think yourself too valuable, little one, I have a use for you, for them I do not."

"I won't let you kill them." she replied back, that determination strong again in her voice. He almost smiled at that fire, the hours she would entertain him with that fire, that will, even as he chipped away at it, left her truly with nothing.

"Rather intriguing idea, you, who has the lower power level than that of a Saiyajin infant, would fight me. Actually, I wish for you to fight me, I'll even agree to a field of your expertise." he gently cooed back

"Nani?" Her eyes blinking in surprise and he walked over to the grandly carved table in the centre of the room, a set table, with platters of food, two wine goblets and the intricately hand carved Kaissa board, the two wooden armies ready for battle.

"You and I will play this game of yours; if you win, I will spare the lives of all the people in the house, well, all but those of that cowardly head guard of yours. If I win, I will kill every single one of them and you will watch, knowing that it was your failure that lead to their deaths."

"You're a monster, an animal. Those people aren't just objects, toys in your game. If you want me, why don't you just take me?"

"You question my motives, 'Mistress'? Manipulative creature; you buy life, you use it, punish it, take it away, do you think it's any less of a crime because you are a woman? I want you to know that you brought these people to this point, it was your treatment of me that caused all of their suffering. Is there no greater torture?" Pulling out a chair for himself, he nodded for her to join him. Walking silently to the table, she took position in front of the white oak army. Grasping one of the quar pieces between her slender fingers, she placed the wooden on the board; her entire focus on the tiny white and black men in front of her and the lives of her people that they represented.

"What happens if I lose a piece?" she asked plainly, not breaking her penetrating stare on the ebony and oak board.

"You may not ask a question of me until you have taken a piece." he said back, glancing from the board to her face. In truth he had not thought of that; well, there was nothing that said they could not continue asking questions of each other, what other little tidbits he could learn about her that could help later on when he was back on Vegitasei. Grabbing one of his black Rider in his white gloved hand, he place it on the board, awaiting her next move. His tail unwinding from around his waist, it swayed slightly back and forth as his eyes travelled over the curve of her shoulder and at the tiny puncture marks at the base of her neck. Her eyes still did not leave the board as she moved another one of her quars, uncovering her Scribe. He could almost see the gears in her mind whirling with strategies and back-up plans, anything she could think of to win. Moving his quar out of the way of his Initiate, he leaned back in the heavy chair and began to pour himself some wine. He would ask her to pour it for him but it would be so cruel to break her concentration, he said to himself, smirking in sarcasm at his statement. Sipping at the sweet wine, he watched in fascination as she gripped her Rider and positioned it offensively against his own Rider. Covering his exposed Rider by moving a quar into defensive position behind it, he was delighted with her aggressiveness; she would definitely be a challenge.

~~~~~

Got to get away, got to run, can't have much time left; the thoughts rang through ChiChi's head like a bell that couldn't be silenced. Adrenaline and instinct mixed into one as she ran through the underbrush of the forests surrounding, low lying branches whipping at her blocking arms while she jumped over fallen logs and moss covered rocks. The hard pants and heavy footsteps of her retreat was the only thing that broke through the almost liquid silence of the forest, even the squawking of the birds and rustling of the leaves were absent. Normally such silence would worry the Amazon, long ago lessons of hunting with her parents had taught her that it was stealth that caught prey, that the animals were the alarms of the forest. Now stealth and covering ones tracks was replaced by speed, the need to get as much distance between herself and Bushi as she could. The green tinted light that streamed through the canopy of leaves distorted her perception of her surroundings, her mind had stopped comprehending time; for all she knew it had been five minutes or ten hours that she had been running. She didn't doubt that that 'thing' knew how to hunt, had said that it was an activity that the Saiyajin did often with their slaves. Slave; slave, she would show that obnoxious jerk how weak she was, she knew she could make it if she got to the cliffs, it was just ten miles to the centre of Le Fort, to the Grigno gorge and hide out until she could be sure she was safe. Safety first, planning was secondary to just surviving. Just survive, she breathed to herself, just survive. A low rustling hit her ears and she turned her head behind her, oh Fates he was right behind her. Running blindly through a low lying fir, the nettles scratching against her face and her arms.

"Ah." the tiny cry ripped from her mouth as she tripped over a rock and fell, scraping her knee open on the sharp stones and pebbles that littered the forest floor. The adrenaline that had been pumping through her veins, that had kept her strong and running and safe was dying away, the pain of her injuries cut through her, her legs almost turning to jelly. The rustle grew stronger, and constant, rumbling against her cheek as she laid on the ground. Realisation hit her as she found her second wind; the Grigno river, it leads to the cliffs, to that hidden cave behind the waterfall. I can lead him off the scent by running in the river; wait, do they even use their sense of smell to hunt, what if he can hear my thoughts? I don't know anything about his kind. Doesn't matter, safety first, planning second. Something in her gut told the warrior that her reprieve was up, he would be on the hunt, on her if she didn't get going. The faster she could get to the river and the caves, the sooner she would be out of the open and such easy prey. Getting back onto her feet, her strength and purpose renewed, she ran for the sound, the smell of the spray and the open air.

~~~~~

It wasn't until she seized one of his quars, the first loss of the game that her heart stopped pounding in her ears. It took all her will power not to start hyperventilating when she took her first move, the air burning her lungs, her stomach felt as if it were made of lead; he was right, this was truly torture. Knowing that every move she made meant all those lives, they might as well be playing on a giant board, with her servants as the pieces, it would be closer to the truth. Lifting her eyes to meet his for the first time since the game had begun, she couldn't keep the nervousness out of her gaze; what had she done to deserve such pain? Those piercing black eyes staring right at her, such anger in those eyes, always hard, unyielding, dangerous.

"What happens if I lose a piece?" Of all the answers, responses she excepted from those eyes laughter was not one of them.

"In a war there are always casualties, but it will be nothing more than the bearing of your soul in this case. Be lucky, I may not be so generous with life when, or if, we play again." Her eyes lingered on his face again, the hard lines of his clenched jaw softened with that smirk, making him look almost handsome. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she remembered a time when he smiled, so far away that look seemed now, nothing existed but those hard cold eyes, devoid of all gentle emotion that had once shined in them before. Keeping her arms and legs close at her side and as far away as she could from his reach, she once again stared down at the various pieces, strategies whirling through her mind all in an attempt to keep from looking into that face. How often she had seen his face since he came here, but what, twenty-five, twenty-six days earlier? At first she had stood by his bedside in the lab, using him as the guinea pig of her father's genius and Gero's madness and hating all of it. So proud and noble a face, only to be clenched in pain as he was to endure his punishment and learn his place; she still remembered lording over him in the throne room, whipping the blood from his cracked lips. He was only a slave, an insolent one at that, he had to be curbed, be brought to obey, but when did he become more, some thing that even Dazu had seen? When he had beaten her that first time in Kaissa, showed himself to be her equal more than any man, or male at least, than any before him? It was the start, maybe when of her grudging acceptation, but when she felt those lips against her own, for the first time truly in her whole life, there was something different about him. Well, more than just the power and the tail.

Eyes still transfixed on the board, she watched him grasp a Tharlarion in his strong, gloved hand and move it up the board, the move seemingly with no observable purpose. Fingering the small ebony quar, she spared another glance to that face; the same superior coldness glowed from his eyes, the simple loss of one foot soldier nothing to him in the grand scheme of his play. Always using strategies that were beyond her experience, trying to trick and fool her, laying out subtle traps until he had the chance to strike; how play imitated life. It was a game to him, all of his revenges, had been nothing more than for her, like a carefully woven plan of attack; the warrior part of him taking out ever indignity he had felt by her hand in the only way he knew to prolong her suffering. This was nothing but one bit of his scheme, her people nothing but quars; all in an attempt to get at her.

"Is something wrong, human; have you decided to fold? If it is encouragement you wish I can promise one death for every piece I take."

"When one is playing against the devil, you can never go jumping into things. I thought patience was a virtue to a warrior, I wonder what that says about you?" The second the words left Bulma's mouth she regretted them but there was just something about him that made her want to fight against him, to show that she was his equal. Never being without her wit, she lashed out at him, defending herself with the only weapon in her arsenal, loving the challenge that he proved her. But now, with so much on the line, with the promise of pain and death and torture, to say something like that, she could almost feel the blood draining from her face. Before she could even muster an apology or think of a way out, his hand shot across the table and grabbed her chin; the overt rage in his eyes countered by the gentleness of his touch.

"Never accuse me of such things, little one, a true warrior gives their opponent a chance, even if it is nothing more than the appearance of one. You would do wise to remember that." His words were so quiet and his tone so silky, the words almost felt like a caress against her skin. Those cold, unending black orbs stared into her eyes, hundreds of emotions swimming in those eyes and not one of them readable. It was of great amazement to Bulma that she didn't faint or fall out of her chair, the strength just draining out of her body in shock. She felt that leather of his glove stroke against her jaw before he finally released her.

"Your move." he chide out, that soft seductive tone disappeared to be replaced by his usual mocking expression. Trying to clear her head of the psychological warfare he was using against her, her stare returned hard and determined to the board and the task at hand. Shifting her Rider to back up her Initiate, she watched helplessly as a black Rider swooped into a flank of white, toppling her Tharlarion. That smug mocking voice flooded her ears again, almost like a low purr as he held the head of her Tharlarion in his hand, a mere flick of his fingers could crush the delicate piece.

"What thoughts have you given to my gravity chamber?"

"None, 'My Lord', sleeping in a cage and being beaten does not lend itself to scientific study. Besides, if you plan on doing what you wish if you win, I will have lost all my technicians and it will be impossible for me to produce it."

"From the sounds of your technicians, you yourself can build just about anything. I wouldn't worry too much, there are two of your cowardly techs in the possession of the new Lord of Bushi, I believe that is the name of the place. I'm sure they would be happy to help you." Paling at the mention of Sar'in and Thak, she pushed the feelings aside; it was nothing but a game to him and if she hoped to beat him, she would have to play the same way. Pouring herself a flagon of wine, she lightly sipped it, and played out the moves in her head, looking for any weakness, any opening, any mistake. Looking over the rim of her goblet, she spotted her chance and shifting a quar into play, her old bravado returning as the sweet wine touched her tongue.

"Your move." she purred out, hoping and praying to the pantheon that he wouldn't see her play.

~~~~~

If this was the extent of her hunting abilities, Kakarott thought, I have overestimated her indeed, the light breeze rustling his spiking hair as he quietly made his way through the underbrush. Before him was a trail that even the most unseasoned hunter could follow, the series of broken branches and the slight indentations of hurried footsteps lead him like a beacon towards his prey. Why, he could even smell her in the air, that soft warm smell, now mixed with sweat and fear, as she tried to escape him. By her rushed progress, it was obvious that she wasn't laying any traps, not that anything she could come up with could hurt him. She might have had an advantage over knowing the terrain but she was doing nothing more than wasting it with this hurried careless path. What could he expect from one so weak? Why then, baka, are you so scared of her, he asked himself, unwilling to think of why he had not taken out any punishment against her earlier. After his little show in the arena, he had not bothered her, had not gone to see her in three days, all the while his thoughts had never left her. He had even smirked when the guards told him of her requests for clothing and time to train, chuckling at her intelligence to convince them that it was in his best interest to allow her these liberties. From what he had gathered from Kreden's and the other soldiers' talks, it had often been their Mistress' intelligence that had gotten them through difficult times. The man that was her father had been hard and cold before he had met the woman that would be her mother, even after he was swift in brutal in his punishment of those he thought deserving. A powerful and feared man, the moment his death had been declared, the remembrances of long ago ills performed by his hand came back and his daughter was left with a hand full of loyal followers in a land full of wolves after her blood. How she had established a fighting house and built up her ranks to almost that of her father in his early days had been nothing short of amazing, the stuff of legends Kreden had once said, the stories still told by the soldiers that lived through it with awe. The camaraderie of the survivors of this Enleo like that of his father to his squad, or like the Saiyajins to their fellow soldiers, the brotherhood forged in blood and war. He almost grit his teeth at the thought, he had never known such a bond with his fellow Saiyajins, of all but the Prince; his unusual power level and abilities had brought only contempt and alienation. What irony that he would find such bonds with aliens, had found what he had always wanted and was yet now hunting down one of the most important, not that she was making it difficult for him. Having lived in these woods and learning the defensibility of the area, she should know the lay of it much better than to just run through it with no care, probably the fear driving her move than instinct, unless. Focusing on nothing but what his sense could detect he allowed his mind to pick up on everything he could. The brisk wind that had been blowing since he had waited in the courtyard that not stopped but, the smell, the temperature was warmer, smelling more of leaves and dirt, well seeing where he was that wasn't much of a shock. After that was her smell, faint but there, as strong a homing beacon as the odd broken branch, the smell taking on a metallic essence as he turned to the Northeast, almost like blood. A cold chill travelled down the Saiyajin's spine as he thought of her injured, if that boy had been lurking in these woods, what else could be here, any number of mercenaries and murderers could be here looking for someone like ChiChi. The thought of her in danger, and he as the cause turned his blood cold and he ran towards the smell, praying that it was just his senses playing tricks on him. Even with the light filtered and distorted through the canopy of leaves he could still see the forest floor, the brown pine needles and dead leaves clearly showing his prey's progress through the brush, but it was only her prints that he could see. Jumping over a fallen tree, he caught sight of a cleared patch of earth, the pine needles and leaves pushed to the side revealing the bare dark earth beneath and the grey and red stones underneath. Red; picking up one of the rocks, he first sniffed and tasted the pebble. The taste and aroma lingered on his tongue and in his nose, the memory of this liquid flooding his mouth that first night came back to him. It was hers, but very small amounts; she must have just tripped, most likely scenario considering the pushed aside leaves. Well, even if is only minor she has been injured and that would definitely slow her down, but then again, a wounded animal is by far more dangerous. Best to deal with that thought when he had more information; the important thing was finding her now. She's headed Northeast, towards the mountains and if he remembered from his flybys around the area, there was a river that cut through the land, originating in the mountains and flowing down to the meadow lands near where Modulus, as he had understood it. Noting the direction of her footsteps, the path much weaker than before, she's covering her tracks now. Smirking at her the renewed vigour apparent in her footprints, yet at the caution that she finally showed, she would make good sport, if only for a little while. Finally noticing the rushing of water over the rustling of leaves, so that's where she's headed, no doubt to try to get me to lose her scent. Running after the faint trail of her footprints, he couldn't wait to finally get out in the open, the enclosed space of the forest starting to get to him. The thought of being in the open air again, taking this hunt to the air, of swoop her right off the ground was definitely not unpleasant. The trees becoming sparser and sparser as he went, the sound of the river now thundering in his ears as he broke out of the stale thickness of the forest to the clean wet air of the river bank. Taking to the sky, he began to fly upstream; now that he was airborne it wouldn't take him long to find her.

~~~~~

Grabbing another morsel of food, the Saiyajin Prince looked over the tiny war before him; the combat, albeit of the mental variety, was getting very interesting. His dark eyes sparing a glance to the down turned head of his opponent, he smiled at the look of concentration and determination in those intense blue eyes. Turning his sights lower, he looked over her soft voluptuous body, well what could be seen above the table. The translucent material of the gown clung to the curves of her breasts, the texture of her skin almost discernible through the purple silks. Holding her in his arms, she felt so soft, smooth, warm, delicate, nothing at all like a Saiyajin woman. She was such a mystery to him, great fire burned from those endless blue eyes, inner strength that had nothing to do with a power level. Looking at her through the dress, it sparked the memory of his first encounter with her, anger and arrogance coming with it. That was the first great humiliation he had faced at her hands, the first time he caught glimpse of the bringer of all his pain, all in the name of the Mistress they had told him. It was like an eternity and yesterday since he was in that throne room, the tables finally turning as she sat across from him, nothing more than a slave for his enjoyment.

"If I win, do I get any wish I desire?" The contempt in her voice rang through his conscious, in his brooding he had forgotten the game, his means of revenge and enjoyment at her expense and it had cost him, a high price than one of those damn foot soldiers too. Holding a black Initiate between her delicate digits, that intent, determined look now staring directly at him, the piercing icy blue gaze such a contrast to the worried look of before. That fire stared at him again, always that fire, it had been there when she demanded him to pleasure her, wearing that dress. Kami, why had he chosen that dress? When she had slipped it off her shoulders it had been his undoing that first time, he had wanted it to be the garment she had been wearing at her worst defeat.

"If I win, do I get any wish I desire?" she asked again, inner strength and moral indignation making her voice more forceful than the last time. Cursing himself for his weakness, he growled low in his throat before replying.

"I thought I had made it clear at the beginning of this little exercise why we here, unless you are so fickle that you don’t see those people as worth it. If you so wish we can play for something else and I can kill them for my own amusement." He sneered at her lack of emotion at his words, hoping to bait her into another argument and get her eyes to start flashing. Instead, she was the very image of calm, arms crossed over her chest, her favourite stance when she wished to mock him.

"Not fickle, 'My Lord', only practical. You said if I were to win you would spare the lives of everyone here, why not by my means than by yours?" So she had a plan against him, as if he would grant as wish she desired. Probably something idiotic, like him leaving her in peace. Such silliness, did she truly think he would give her anything he wished for? It was his game, and his rules, and he would give out favours as he wished, he thought, asserting his position. All the while he watched her, that stare not backing away, such confidence in her eyes, only to slip away into sudden awareness and back to mockery again.

"Your move." she chided out, all in an attempt to copy his smug tone. Not this time, he thought, curbing his temper to keep his head. She had revealed more than she wished with that look, probably thinks I didn't even notice it. Watching her sip from her own goblet, her eyes once more returning to the board, he stared down at her formations; good but certainly not invincible. Taking his Scribe, he moved it in position to threaten her Rider and Home Stone. As if she had foreseen his move three moves ago she block with a quar, that determination in her eyes once more while she tapped her finger on the head of one of his captured pieces. He would never fulfil some stupid wish for her, all the while wondering how one so weak could massage and rub out the knots in his back so well.

~~~~~

Only four more miles, the words swinging through her head, her body moving on nothing more than the hope of that one thought. The cold soaked through her clothes as she ran through the river, fighting against a current that was pulling her down like quick sand, wading through the water was like running through tar. The river weeds and grass rubbed up against her skin; when had this become a good idea? Originally jumping into the river to wash away the scent of her trail, the usefulness of the plan was now a liability in the wasted time and her depleted energy. Should she return to the seclusion of the river bank and give him a clear trail or continue in the river, she questioned herself, only to jump from the cold water when something cold and slippery wiggled against her leg, onto the bank, holding her hand over her mouth to keep from screaming out.

"Stupid fish." she spat out, and shivered at the breeze that brushed against her wet clothes, the icy chill not leaving her even in the heat of the day. Catching her breath from the slight scare and the long run, the noon day sun beat down against her black clothing, yet another strike against her; at least the cold water had numbed the pain in her leg. Venturing back towards the river to sip a few handfuls of the clean water, her trek began again; he must be on her track now and with the clear path she had left in her attempt to get away, it was sure that he was close. Her only hope now was that she would find Grigno gorge before he found her. Why was he doing this to her, what did he want from her, she felt the urge to scream at him, her punishment definitely did not fit the crime; always she was being punishment for things beyond her control and understanding. Why did it have to be him, why did he have to beat her, defeat her? At one moment it was like looking back on her mother and father again, the closeness of their relationship mirrored in something in her own life, all to be taken away again. It wasn't fair, what had she done, was survival so wrong? Stupid question, she berated herself, you're forgoing your own survival to ponder the mysteries of life, you should be more worried about living to see another day. Just survive; think of your safety and wonder about the majesty of Gaia later. Slipping under the cover of the trees once more, she ran, the rustling of a bush catching her attention before quickly being dismissed. Careful to avoid the rocks and skim past the low lying branches, she once again brought the mantra into her head; only three more miles.

~~~~~

When she went from sipping to gulping she didn't know, but, as her unsteady hands held the pewter goblet close to her chest, she revelled in the sweet burning sensation that slid down her throat and the warmth that found life in her stomach. The thought of food almost made her ill, her stomach tossing and turning with anxiety and the quantity of wine she had consumed. Only three moves to go, just place her Scribe to guard any escape, remove his guarding Tarnsmen from in front of Home Stone with her Rider and get her quar to the other side. It had now changed from a game of Kaissa to that of poker, keeping that straight cool countenance, the slightest slip-up costing everything. She wouldn't doubt he would do it, since freed from the collar, he'd become the cold hard Prince, like the one he had described that killed ten grown guards in ten minutes, the space pirate and killer. Well, he was all of those things before she had placed the collar on him, but there had been so much more to him, a depth to his personality beyond a killing machine. How often had she glimpsed it, during these games, the never-ending battle of words between them, the fire between them when they made love? What happened to that man, the better half of the one so horribly moulded at so young an age, or maybe it was her, with her fear and lust? There was always fear with him, the very aura around him spoke of immense anger and power, of ruthlessness and pride, but she feared him on a level deeper than that; on a level so deep and buried inside of her from all the years and loss, she dared not think of it. He could only bring her pain, more than all those before him, could rip her apart, was ripping her apart. The images of her dream swirled around her head, aided by the wine and her anxiety, of the pain he had wrought, mixed with pleasure and that whole other reality, so foreign and yet familiar. Sweeping her eyes to stare unexpressively into his, she picked up the tiny quar and with moves practised a million times in her head, she placed the piece in position for her final phase, praying that he wouldn't noticed the move. The view of her ultimate prise was in sight, off those lives she tried to convince herself. Yet, instead of all of the people who had given their loyalty, and in some cases, lives for her, she thought of him that threatened them. He was nothing but a creature of evil, a lover of pain, torture and power; that is why he's doing this. Every time she spoke those words, her heart would ache, and she would see him in pain at her hand, brushing the blood from his cracked lip, eyes clenched shut at the clawing of her nails against his wounded back. Draining her cup of the wine, her eyes followed that white gloved hand move a piece along the board, praying that he didn't see. As if in a dream, she grasped her Scribe and slid it across the board to guard as flank.

~~~~~

He had to admit, there were sometimes when this planet took his breath away, the raw natural beauty around him was a thing non-existent on the automated surface of Vegitasei. The simplicity of the mechanics and technology of the indigenous species was laughable to the standards he had seen in the Saiyajins' and even Freeza's empire, obviously they had not gotten to the point where they could destroy their planet. It a wonder this planet has remained unconquered for so long. Before him was a truly beautiful sight, of the power of the forces of nature. A huge lake, born of the melting of the yearly snow fall from the mountains, being drained slowly by a mighty river that long ago split into two, the larger flowing down to the low lands, watering the valleys and farm lands. The other, through centuries of toil against the bare rock, forged out a huge rift that cracked across the land, the sparsest of vegetation growing at the bottom and along the side, nurtured by the waterfall that now fell over the edge of the precipice. He had found this place after that first spar with Vegita, deciding not to go back to Bushi immediately and have to explain why he was in such a beaten state. And again now, it drew him, this place, and in the back of his mind, she did. He had not found hide nor hair of her since he encountered the river, but he knew, felt her energy close by. She was here, so close, he thought as the thundering rush of the falls roared in his ears.

~~~~~

So, the woman had a plan. Looking over the board, he could not for the life of him see what she had planned, she had the one in flank and two or three other moves that could cause damage but that was it. Her bare arm swept across the board, a horse shaped oak piece in hand and his Tarnsman fell. That was the last of her moves, all she had left that was even usable was one quar. Sentimental human, thinking a quar, a nothing piece, could do anything. It did matter; his goal was within his sights. He need only to topple her Initiate and bring in his Scribe to strike and the victory would be his. The silly wench, thinking she could match him; all part of his revenge. After he killed her people he would begin the task of crushing her will, extinguishing that fire. What a shame, it was so rare to see such will in one such as her; never had he seen a woman, seen one so weak hold so much authority, have the gaol to tell him to pleasure her. In all of his previous experiences with females, it had always been member of the royal harem; mindless, fools, nothing more than empty shells after the lobotomy and sterilisation. Nothing at all like her, with her demands, her playful nature, her temper, her passion. Nothing said he had to destroy her right away, the thought of her as one of those mindless slave sickening him. Must be the curious part of his nature, wishing to keep so rare a find, see what other feats she was capable of. Besides, it would be counter-productive to destroy her before he had at least had a gravity chamber out of her.

~~~~~

Only one more mile, ChiChi repeated; she almost wanted to yell out in happiness as the thunder of the waterfall pounded in her ears and her eyes took glimpse of the beautiful sight. Survival first, planning second, survival first and it was getting closer. Looking back up into the sky, her eyes widened in horror, a speck in the sky grew larger, and humanoid shaped, or maybe she should say Saiyajin shaped. He had found her, so close to her goal and he was going to find her, there was no way she could escape, he meant to kill her and she had no doubt he would. He cared nothing for the house, for her men, of honour and loyalty and obligation. The adrenaline and fear was twisting her thoughts, her reason and instinct giving way to stubbornness. Can't give up, I'd rather kill myself than go through whatever agony he has planned for me. Surging forward, she ran for the falls and her fate.

~~~~~

One more move and she'll save her house, but for how long and to bring them to what? The uncertainty twisted her thoughts fuelled by the wine and guilt, this was my fault, I brought them to this point, I risked all of our lives. Kayra was wrong, I was the one who brought the evil, I didn't keep it at bay. That is all he is, evil, a monster from a race of monster, knows of nothing else; he would have killed us all. What I did was right, an unknown threat is something that can be toyed with. I wonder if that was what Gero thought when he ordered me whipped? Did you fear so much that he would break through, do what even Gero and ten years of subservience could not, or did you know that he already had? I'm so unworthy of such sacrifice, or such emotions. Grabbing at her last resort, she placed it in the empty space at the very edge of the board.

"Give me my Tharlarion."

~~~~~

Swooping a little lower, he smelt it, so distinct he could have, and in truth had, tracked it for kilometres, through all of space if necessary. She was close, he could smell her, above the spray of the falls and the cold biting breeze. His eyes picked up the slight rustling of the brush under his eyes, but a few metres from the edge of the cliff face. You were a good chase, Amazon, but not good enough.

~~~~~

"Give me my Tharlarion." If a scouter were present he would have been sure that he would have broken it with his power up. That he could lose, to a woman, to a, a human woman, by such an insignificant move; Kami was truly laughing at him. He shook with rage as his eyes bore into hers, regarding her face as her lips parted and spoke.

"Scacco Matto." The words continued to echo in his ears, even as the table splintered apart under the force of his aura.

~~~~~

Oh Fates, she didn't want to die, she didn't want it to end her, how had it ended up like this? The open air of the cliff beckoned to her, there was no way out, nothing she could do. Mother, Father, I'm so sorry; ChiChi prayed, the expanse of the land filling her vision.

~~~~~

As soon as the words of victory left her mouth, she saw it, that beautiful blue-white light surrounding his entire body and all at once the board and table were ripped apart, caught in the power of his aura. Thrown from her chair in the blast, she braced herself for her fall, the pain of impact spared for but a second as a strong hand grabbed at her neck and hauled her up against a body made of granite. Caught in the glow of his light, she looked up into the black eyes of death himself.

~~~~~

This was it, the end had come and all his instinct melded into one as he neared his prey, the rustle of the leaves, the roar of the falls, the chill of the air now heavy with her bewitching scent. The air whooshed past his ears as he dove towards the ground, his senses overwhelmed with the prospect of hunt, when his eyes caught sight of a noble light brown head, and he felt Vegita's power level rise.

~~~~~

She dared, she dared defeat him, to stare him in the eyes as if she was his equal. Her eyes burned through his, bright with pride and anger.

"You might have saved their lives but you just cursed your own."

"According to you, I cursed it long ago." she bit back and his aura rippled more violently around them, his arm raised to strike her down. Pressing her neck, his hand grabbed at the bit mark and the flash of a knife and the screams of a young girl pounded through his head.

~~~~~

Everything slowed, shifted and blurred in and out of reality. For the briefest of moments she was flying, the air holding up her body before the rush of the wind and the water mixed, pulling down towards the hard earth below. She couldn't even scream, the world had lost all occurrence of sound, somewhere in the back of her mind she just wished for Kakarott to come and save her.

~~~~~

She would not tremble; she would not fear him. That deadly stare even harder into her own steady blue one and she held herself firm. The warmth of his body flowed through her own slight one and his hands shifted, one to the crook of her shoulder and pressed down on the bite. For the briefest of seconds, she felt like she was drowning, chains pulling her down, her body beaten and weak. Her thoughts cleared as she observed his hand rise up to strike her for her insolence. Staring forward, the glimpsed image still in her mind, as she prepared herself for her fate.

~~~~~

His aura flared suddenly as he forced himself to slow and stop in front of the strong buck that stood before him. How he could be so stupid to have been following a deer, thinking it was a human. A black object moved in front of his vision for but a moment; probably a raven, he thought. Taking to the air once more he looked over the falls to search; he couldn't have been that far off track, could he?

~~~~~

Why was she staring at him like that, she should be crying, trembling, fearing him and death. Pressing her body harder into his own, her curves and sloped against him; that fire looking into him, waiting for him to strike. His raised hand tightened into a fist, what was the matter, kill her, his mind screamed, his eyes drowning in those blue pools.

~~~~~

Never a religious person by nature, she prayed to every spirit in the pantheon when her hand grabbed at the thick root, holding on for dear life and the cold water pounded down on her body, freezing her muscles and loosening her grip. Swinging the root in the hope of escaping the water wall, her legs faltered against the wall that was not there. The cave, she'd found the cave, she was going to be okay. Breathing the first easy breath into her lungs since she had started this horrible waking nightmare, she laid her head back against the cold wet rocks. Survival secured, now for the planning, well the first order will be to get out of here and find some food and try to dry these clothes. Wringing out her soaked hair, she wrapped her arms around her chest to ward off the chill and walked deeper into the dark centre of the cave and the path of tunnels and led to the bottom of the cliffs. Good thing those guards forgot to remove the dagger from the hidden pocket sown into every uniform.

~~~~~

Feeling a painful pinch on the bite mark on her neck, Bulma winced every so slightly, the wince turning into a full-blown curse as she hit the floor, butt first. Getting to her feet as fast as her jangled nerves would allow her, she rubbed the sore area of her body and looked over now at the back of her attacker.

"Know that you have only delayed the inevitable, woman, soon enough I'll grow tired of these games and just destroy this planet outright. Be happy that you are still breathing, a lesser warrior would have beaten you within an inch of your life for such insolence. Now go, one of the guards will escort you to your lab; and I want a progress report on likelihood of producing a gravity room. I will expect it by tonight in my chambers. Now get out of my sight." His hands were clenched in barely contained rage and his back was a wall of taunt muscle. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to keep her head up and her body from shaking while she made her way to the door, her good sense telling her that silence now was imperative to her survival. Once past the door, her body shook with all the nervousness and fear she had bottled up inside her since she had walked into that room. Finally noticing the guard a few doors down waiting for her to approach, she straightened herself and marched through halls to her lab, a smile could not help but escape her lips as she saw the people of her house walking about, and her victory which had kept them alive.

~~~~~

Nothing, nothing; he had searched the gorge, the woods and river bank near the waterfall and apart from the lingering scent that could have been her in the air his searching had been for not. Was he so wrong, he had remembered that smell from the forest as he was following the clearly laid path, a deer had definitely not done that; and if he was not mistaken, that deer was not wearing ChiChi's clothes so that wasn't it. Could it be, that he, he was, wrong? Extending out his senses one more time he felt the barely flickering power of the deer, the slowly receding pull of Vegita's rage, and, possibly, but it was faint, and moving away from him, back towards the South. Could she have been headed that way all along? Taking the long way to confuse him, sending him up stream while she went down. He had not found her path after meeting the river so chances were that she washed away her scent in the river and emerged somewhere else; she could all the way back at Bushi by now, not that it would do her much good. She might win this little game but he still had the oaths and if it can to another fight, there was little to nothing she could do to him, even if she had learned about the weakness of the tail. No, she would not go back; even she understood that she had lost that fight but she might every well win this one. Damn it, he was sure he had felt her, the signature stronger only a few moments ago, she couldn't have faded into thin air, maybe these humans had more powers than they were letting on. Or maybe it was just the planet getting to him, the frequent crack he and Vegita had made about the effects of low gravity coming to mind. Good thing the Prince wasn't here right now, Kakarott thought, he would never hear the end of this one, losing to a woman. The light of the sun warmed his back, reminding him that it was still early in the day with eight hours left of sunlight. Doubling back, he began his search again for the woman, within a few moments returning to the spot where he had broken through the forest and started this seemingly blind search. Touching down on the opposite bank, he trained his eyes for the tell-tale signs of a track only to come up empty. If she was injured she might look for help; maybe she thinks she can hide amongst those of her race, which would mean she would have turned Southwest and the clusters of small powers that barely registered on his senses. Taking to the air once more, he planned a grand entrance, better to inspire fear in the locals, it helps so much with earning their co-operation.

~~~~~

At first it was faint, a noise he would normally not have paid any mind to, sounds like that of animals of fighting, or one killing another and he would have left it if he hadn't heard a high pitched voice call out a clear scream of distress. Kami, ChiChi; every muscles in the Saiyajin's body tensed at the sound, images of finding her body, raped, murdered or worse drove him forwards, beyond all reason and prudence that he'd acquired in his years as a fighter. The cries grew louder, more pleading, terror evident in the voice. A loud scream followed, the sound stopping Kakarott in his tracks; it wasn't ChiChi, the voice was younger, higher pitched than he was sure she could ever muster. Dropping from the sky, the magnitude of his stupidity forcing him to the ground to observe the situation. He was truly losing it, first he loses his prey, then he goes jumping into an unknown situation, fists cocked without a plan or any common sense; dear Kami, this planet was dangerous, it was turning him into Nappa. As before, the woods were silent of the chattering of animals for his passage, undoubtedly scared off by the yells of the humans. This close to the ground and the fray, the voices grew clearer and louder, the high pitched pleading of a woman mixing with that of the grumbled threats of a man. Seeing a break in the trees, an expanse of the forest had been cleared for a road and on it stood two people; a third, a man lay near the woman, unconscious, and from the blood that was pooling by his head, badly injured. The other man, a small stout figure, lorded over the woman, a weapon in hand, a smug look on his impish face.

"Listen, you little bitch, I'm only going to say this one more time; if you don't give me the tax money, I'll just take you as reparation. I'm sure the Lord Enleo wouldn't mind."

"You bastard, how dare you; this is Bushi land and your hells spawned master has no claim to our land or our taxes. When the Lady of Bushi hears of this…" Her tirade was quickly silenced by the back of the man's hand, the observing Saiyajin taking a step forward and clenching his teeth to contain his rage.

"There is no 'Lady of Bushi', nothing more than a bitch that doesn't know her place, much like yourself. It's only a matter of time before Enleo conquers this worthless shit hole. You can co-operate now or later, not that it would save you anything." Grabbing the woman's arm, the obviously untrained lummox was left completely opened for the knee that connected with his groin. Gulping in air at the sudden wave of pain and the nausea that came as a result, he threw the woman to the ground with as much strength as he could muster.

"You fucking whore." If the situation had been less serious, Kakarott might have laughed out at the high pitched, squeaky tone of the man's words. Raising the spiky headed weapon above his head, the weakling snarled and prepared to strike, only to scream in agony as the weapon, and most of his arm, fell behind his back.

"Who's there; show yourself." he shouted out again, the squeaky voice now laced with pain. The woman, having gotten back to her feet, now that the attention of her attacker had switched to someone else she returned herself to trying to revive the injured man.

"Coward, meddling in business that is not your own, when the Lord Enleo hears of this he will…"

"He will nothing, you are the one trespassing on my land and terrorising my people. Of course, if I kill you now, he will never hear of it, now will he. Not that he would go out of his way to avenge a simple tax collector, a cowardly one at that." Kakarott replied, emerging from the cover of the trees to stand before the man, staring down his nose at him as a giant would do to a troll. Upon seeing his new opponent, the smugness melted away, replaced by mindless blubbering and pleas for leniency.

"Please, spare my life, I was only following orders. These people owned me money; they bought supplies and weapons from me and had not paid back their debt. It was by the very laws of Bushi that I was fairly collecting taxes."

"Is that so? Must think I'm either deaf or have the shortest memory span on this planet, as I believe you told that woman and in fact myself that you worked for the Lord Enleo, and, if my ears did not deceive me, you were collecting taxes, taking my people as reparations? I should ask you why the hell you are on my property, but will spare you the breath to just tell you to get off them."

"Now who is lying; your property, isn't this all the land of that Amazon half breed, unless a half breed is a mutant as well, you are not the owner of this land." In the face of the insult, the Saiyajin merely smirked, tiny at first but soon widening. Chuckling lightly, Kakarott let out a hard scream and let his aura flow around his body, the girl cowering in fear at the sight before her, the armless man paralysed to the spot.

"Oh, this is my property, I won it off that, 'bitch who doesn't know her place', though she faired ten times better against me than you ever could. Even if I was lying, you aren't exactly in a position to argue and since you didn't go when I asked, I do hope you enjoy the afterlife." Kakarott said, forming a tiny ki ball in his clenched fist and flicked it at the man. His eyes wide, the fat heavy head of the man lulled backwards and his body went with it, a tiny scorch mark burned right between his eyes. Lower his aura, a low whimper caught his ear and the Saiyajin turned, stared down at the terrified girl, her cheeks stained with tears, her brown eyes red rimmed and her black hair a tangled mess around her head. By the grace of Kami, from a distance she did look like his ChiChi, could very likely have been his ChiChi; though he doubted his Amazon would have let such a man get the drop on her.

"Please, I'll give you anything, own house, our money, anything you want just please don't, don't, like you did…" Her pleas turned to weeping as she eyed the dead man, returning the gaze to the face of the man whose head laid in her lap.

"Silly girl, why would I attack the one I just saved? I meant what I said, I will not allow anyone to terrorise my people. Just go, whatever reason he might have been attacking you and your mate is no concern of mine."

"Please, sir, could you please help me? That bastard attacked my husband when his back was turned, I must get him home but I can't carry him. Please, can you help me, he'll, he'll die if I can't bandage his wounds." By the grace of Kami, that could have been ChiChi, Kakarott thought, nodding to the girl and bending down, he heft the unconscious man onto his shoulder.

~~~~~

"Is it true what you said, about being the new master of Bushi?" After her initial shock had worn off and her brain began to compute what had occurred, she finally asked the question that had, no doubt been burning through her mind.

"Yes, I defeated her in one-on-one combat and won the rights to all her properties and possessions. I have been the master here for; it has not even been a week. If you might, answer me this, what did that man mean about this land soon all being Enleo's?" Grasping her arms around herself; that attack a short while ago bringing on the reality of the situation that she didn't wish to face.

"This land, Bushi and Modulus and a few other houses in the Northeast sector of the Central continent are about the only last vestiges of free land not under the control of Enleo, more for lack of interest and a waste of resources than anything else. For years this area has become the refuge of those fleeing the tyranny of the Scourge's regime, but this is a land of farmers, ones who wish for peace, trying to escape war and bloodshed; my husband and I barely escaped with our lives. Those who wish to fight, were part of the defeated armies, went to the house of Bushi, but even with all of their numbers they could never hope to contend with the sheer number and ferocity of Enleo's armies. Even if Enleo did try to invade it would not be worth his while, the weaponry of Modulus makes Bushi a deadly target. Some say that it is his pride that has saved this place; he is too proud to send an entire army to destroy so small a threat but to send a battalion and have them defeated is too humiliating an event to even contemplate. Yet, that his men would attack civilians, even this far into Bushi territory is a sign, the end is coming soon. I'm sorry, my Lord, I'm sure this means nothing to you." The Saiyajin remained silent, caught in the middle of emotions he had never felt or known; it was never like this on Vegitasei. The rest of the trip was quiet, and mercifully so, Kakarott did not think his mind could take much more today. Finally reaching the tiny, thatched roof house, he relinquished his burden and allowed the girl to give him a few coins that she had in the house, taxes for the next month, and thanks for everything he had done for her that day. Placing the three smooth silver disks on the bare wooden table, he took his leave and took to the air again. Not knowing where he was going, and not really caring, Kakarott flew aimlessly, following the river back to the mountain lake and the valley forged by the force of the water. There he sat, minutes stretching on into hours, sorting out the events and emotions and realities he had faced in this day. The words of the boy early this morning, the urgency of his message, echoed in the words of the girl this afternoon; the end is near, it's coming. Caught up in his own little world, he finally became aware of his surroundings at the drop in temperature; while his keen noise picked up on the soft aroma of roasting meat, burning wood and, and that sweet warm smell he had followed to get here the first time. Searching the cliffs once more, a flicker of firelight drew his attention to a cave, near the base of the gorge; the smells growing stronger the closer he came. Peeking inside, he saw his prise curled before the fire and a make shift spit, asleep. Sparing a glance at the sky, he almost smiled at his timing, the blue sky soon streaked orange and pink from the refracted light of the setting sun; she had made it to the end of the day and had won. Ducking down under the low entrance, he quietly walked to her side as not to disturb her slumber. What you must have went through today, little Amazon, his eyes resting on her damp, rumpled clothes and slight redness of her skin, along with the various purple bruise forming on her skin. Wrapping his arms gently around her body, he cradled her against his body, smiling outright as she nuzzled her face into his warm neck and sighed contentedly in her sleep. The tiny cave soon flooded with light as he allowed his aura to come to life around him, his energy a barrier between his bundle and the cold of Northern wind. Rising up out of the mighty rift, the now glowing Saiyajin flew home.

~~~~~

"Please my Lord, let me explain, there really is nothing for you do upset yourself over…"

"SILENCE!!!" The figure on the comlink screamed, slamming their fist down in anger, the force so great it shook the screen and blanked out the signal for a moment.

"I have given you more chances, Gero, but I am quickly nearly the end of my patience. What new excuse have you for me this time?" The white haired slaver quaked in fear, the weakness only currying more distant in the eyes of his employer. No matter how he broke the news it would still blow up in his face, but a delay of the inevitable was still a few more days at life.

"My Lord, I'm regretful to report that our specimen has escaped."

"Escaped? Are you telling me this little invention of yours is worthless, that it can't even control some weak Saiyajin?" Every syllable grew louder in volume, the echo off the shadowy walls of the secret chamber made even the reinforced concrete shake.

"Please, there were circumstances beyond our control, there was a full moon and the collar broke under the undo stress of the Saiyajin's transformation." Gero squeaked out, relaying all he could remember of the fried vampyre's story about the giant monkeys. The information finally prove accurate, or at least useful, as the enraged tirade stopped and the master turned from the screen; the highly sensitive instrument picking up the hurried whispers of a separate conversation. Looking from the projected back of the chair to the other occupant of the room, Gero smiled cruelly at the fear plastered to that arrogant face. Swinging back to the glowing square, he waited in hope and dread for the return of his master's attention; this message finally proving to be the coming of his fate.

"It would seem, Gero, that your usefulness has outlived itself, unless, of course, you can give me one reason why I should spare you and that miserable little shit hole."

"Would you, oh gracious lord, be interested in the Saiyajin?" the hidden third party asked, removing themselves from the shadow and allowed their face to be revealed in the light of the comlink screen.

"You play games with me, maggot? What would one Saiyajin matter to me?"

"Even if it had the name of Vegita, and had possession of royal blood?" The normally cold, slanted eyes widened in amazement, a look Gero had not seen in all his ten plus years of dealing with the old monster.

"It would seem that you have not outlived your usefulness after all, human, well I won't kill you anyway. I'm sending two lieutenants on before me; I won't have you messing this one up. Make sure that Saiyajin doesn't leave the surface until I arrive." With that, the screen filled with static and the soft buzz of the machinery as the signal bleeped out.

~~~~~

Figures, Bulma scowled the closer they came to the 'Master's' chamber, nearing the door of her old room; he's already taken my study and my house, might as well enter my final sanctuary, I wonder if he likes wearing my clothes too? The mental image of the Saiyajin Prince trying on her gown brought a warm smile to her face and the shaking of her shoulders with contained laughter, a happiness that had been absent for too long. A tiny chuckle shattered the uncomfortable silence of the hallway, the suddenness of the outburst startling the poor guard, making him almost jump a whole foot off the ground but this time, she couldn't contain it as she laughed out.

"So sorry, I did not mean you any ill." she replied to the wordless question of the guard's stare, her apology combined with soft giggles, all to try to compose herself. The tension from both her own and the guard's bodies lessen with the jest and the silence became a little more bearable before her eyes closed in on the single massive door, the low torch light shimmering against the oak door. Immediately, her sharp eyes discerned how the Prince had gained access to her room, the loose wires poking out of the hole of the finger print scan giving her a very good indication. Waiting for the guard to announce her presence, the door swung open before either she or her companion could knock. Bowing to her, her guard made his way quickly out of the hall, leaving her alone to face her fate. She would not be nervous, she would not be weak, he might be strong but he was only a man, and she had never met a man she could not beat.

Walking confidently into the room, she was taken aback for but a moment by the emptiness of the room; the Saiyajin Prince no where to be found. Unless, she pondered, and turned back to the door, not fast enough as he was right behind her, his battle suit clothed body inches away from her own. For a second, it was like all the times before in his room, the sexual tension so strong and thick between them, it would make the air heavy. Regaining his smugness before she could regain her composure, Vegita allowed his head to dip and stared unabashed at her clothed body, the sheer purple silk not offering much of a barrier against his gaze. Those dark, deep pools travelled up the length of her slim legs and over the curve of her hips, her body growing warm where ever his vision touched. Stopping at the junction of her thighs, he lingered longer in his gaze, Bulma sure he could knew what kind of effect his stare was having on her, and it made the situation all the more infuriating. Making their way up her body again, his eyes caressed the soft smooth skin of her sides and stomach, warming to scalding hot as they devoured her breasts, his tongue coming out to wet his now dry lips. Tracing over the contours of her shoulder and neck, he stopped at her face and that inviting, enticing look morphed once more to an icy glare.

"What news of my gravity chamber, wench?" That deep, masculine baritone lilted in her ears, and she raised her guard against him, slipping into her business façade.

"The job is definitely feasible with our equipment and how know, it's just a question of materials and labour at this point. We have to ensure structural stability under such heavy gravity but even beyond that we're thinking of problems with the transportation of the thing from one location to another. I mean, you would not want it in my labs and I know I would not want it there either. A thought has occurred to me of trying to shrink the object, by way of a new technique the chemical engineering branch has been developing, being able to reduce the mass and size of an object and…"

"I asked you, wench, if you could build a gravity room. Think you I care about your stupid little machines and gadgets. You said you can do it, how long?"

"With my entire staff working on it, a week."

"That's not good enough, I want it in four days."

"Four days, that's insane! We could never build it in that amount of time."

"Four day, woman, and every day longer I have to wait will mean one less weakling working with you."

"What's the matter, Vegita, so shamed by the fact that you lost to a woman that you will do anything to mend your wounded pride. You can't take it, can you, that you were defeated, that there is someone in the universe that is weaker than you but not afraid of you. There is nothing you can do to me, Vegita, you can never hurt me." Her harsh tone grew louder and sharper in volume as the events of the last week came crashing down on her, crescendoing in her tirade against the arrogant Saiyajin Prince. Not knowing what she had done with her taunting, her body slammed against the wall, propelled by the Saiyajin's momentum, the sudden force knocking the air from her lungs.

"Can't hurt you, think you can defeat me, that you are as strong as me. Have you forgotten, bitch?" he hissed back at her, gripping her hair and pulling her face up to his, his other hand grabbing at her neck and squeezing the tender nerves, just short of crushing her fragile bones. She tried to flail against him, using whatever puny strength she had to hit the hard body pressed strongly against her own. Laughing at her feeble attempts to hurt him, he lowered his head to her shoulder, his sharp teeth nipping at her soft skin. She squirmed even more frantically against him, fighting off the warm feeling in her stomach as his breath made her flesh go goose bumpy. Centring on the pain caused by his hand on her neck, she tried to fight back, freeing her arm from his vice grip and grabbing at the furry tail around his waist, pulling the length. She gasped out in pain as he bit down on her shoulder, her body vibrating with the tremors of his low moans and growls, his pleasured sounds soon mixing with her own at the light sucking of his lips on the mark on her shoulder. Against her will and her better sense, her body, so long starved of satisfaction, reacted to his touch, her hand stroking the fur of his tail. All thoughts of hate and revenge, of the pain he could cause her and the threats he had made melted away as his hand ripped the filmy violet silk off her body and the hand that had once secured her neck smoothed over the warm flesh of her breast.

The second her hand had touched his tail, Vegita knew he had lost, the line between anger and desire paper thin, that line slowly being burned away when her hands grabbed his tail, in a weak attempt to hurt him. Could have worked, if he had not been of such high blood, it could still prove to be his undoing, the tremors of his body wiping away all reason, of thought, but that of the creature in his arms. His hand massaging her soft warm breasts, he smirked at the hardness of her nipples, she was just as affected as he was, possibly more so. Removing himself slightly from the wall, he groaned into her shoulder as her slim legs wrapped around his hips, one hand exploring the terrain of his back while the other the texture of his hair. Suckling a bit more on the puncture mark, the taste and the smell and the feel of her inundating him; her soft moans filling his ears and he sucked a little harder, rewarded with an even louder erotic moan. Thoughts of her as one of the mindless, destroyed females of his father's harem filled his mind, the thought of every thing unique about her ripped away tugged at him for a moment, the thought gone as her lips and tongue tasted the corded muscles of his neck. Taking his flesh in her teeth, she bit down hard on his skin, Vegita grunting at the sudden pain and pinched her breasts in retaliation, enjoying her whimpers and movements as she arched her back against him. Biting down harder, the Prince could feel the indentation of her teeth on his neck and the warning bell went off inside his head. Stop this; you aren't in control, can't let her continue. What of your revenge, what of your plans, what of…, his thoughts died in his head when those wandering lips kissed the sensitive skin under this ear and her teeth came up to nip at his lobe. His excitement pushed against his pants, his will and control slipping away too quickly for him to regain it. She would not win, but he couldn't hold out much longer with the hand on his back pinching the back of his tail. A sudden plan came to his mind and with all the balance he had left in his legs, he walked towards the bed, placing the woman wrapped in his arms on the sheets. She whimpered and gasped at the loss of his presence, that wonderful heat, and she opened her arms, her eyes burning for him. Looking down at her, he allowed his hand to slide up the skin of her leg, watching her eyes fall shut and her leg rise to allow him greater access.

"What's the matter, little one, what happened to your great anger?" he asked, his voice as steady as he could make it, but his control growing as he held onto his rage. Reaching her knees, he stroked then pinched the skin behind her knee, a pained whimper meeting his ears at the none too gentle touch. Stroking up her thigh, he stopped again, this time cupping her mons, his fingers rubbing her wet womanhood. Opening her legs wider for him, she gasped as he removed his hand, her eyes opening to watch him remove his battle suit. Getting to her knees, she helped him shed his shirt and traced the muscles of his chest with her fingertip, only to be pushed back down to the bed, the Saiyajin pushing her into the soft mattress and held her wrists.

"So easy to manipulate, aren't you? After all your yelling and promises you give up at the first sign that you might get laid. Is that all you want, woman, I'll be happy to give it to you, if you beg." Nudging the tip of himself against her, he lightly pushed his hips against hers, he smiled as she trembled under him, the motion of his hips doing what all of his threats and show of fighting power could not. Nuzzling her breasts, he nipped and suckled at her nipples, still lightly thrusting into her, enjoying how she writhed and arched up against her. Forcing down his own shutters from her wet warmth, he squeezed the nerve that ran along her radius. Crying out in pain, she whimpered and tried once more to fight against him, the sudden rush of pain bring her back to a semblance of coherence. Removing his head from her breasts, Vegita nipped his way up to her neck and back to her wound, all the while nudging himself into her.

"Just say the word, and I'll give it to you," he whispered into her ear, "Give in; say it." She couldn't think, she couldn't fight, she could hardly breath, it was too much, she couldn't take it. The tension was slowly building in her body, the waves of pleasure bordering on pain, he was going to win, and she was going to let him. NO, you can't let him, Bulma cried out, can't give in, but it was just too much, all of other times with him, the beautiful feelings he had given birth to in her body, they were calling to her, reminding her, weakening her resolve. He only wants me, why can't I just do it, I can't fight an empire, I can't fight forever, just give up and maybe he'll let the others live, will just take me and leave. But what about her, losing everything about herself, if she gave up now, she would have failed. No, I can't, I can't, please Vegita, why are you doing this to me? Moaning as his lips found the wound once more, she fought the ecstasy at his touch.

"Say it, woman, tell me."

"No, I can't. Please, stop, I beg you please." She screamed out, low and hoarsely when his teeth bit down deep into her shoulder in anger; Oh Fates, he was going to rape her. Fighting him with all the strength she had, she raised herself off the bed and bit down at his neck, thinking only of returning the pain he caused her, marvelling at the sweetness of the blood that flowed into her mouth. Too late did she remember the images of the morning, before her mind filled with sights, sounds, images, memories, and realisations that were not her own. She was on a world, a glowing white sterile world, the pull of gravity beyond anything she had ever felt and yet was nothing at all. Dragged out of a wonderful warm liquid, she was held high in the air, her eyes beholding the harsh red sky. Words pounded in her ears that were not of her own language and yet, she knew what was being said by an understanding beyond her own.

"You are my son, and you shall be King."

~~~~~

There's so much pain, I don't want to leave. It's all screaming, blood and pain. The light stinging his eyes, everyone was looking at him. So many faces, so many colours, nothing like Saiyajins. A weakling man holds him, wraps him in blanket and gives him over to a woman, his mother; but he never knew his mother.

"Hello, Bulma."

~~~~~

Again the scene changed to a room, ten guards surrounding her, they jumped, they attacked, she attacked back, weaving, dodging, striking killing. Finally stopping and falling to her knees, that voice and those words she didn't know and yet understood again.

"You are my son, Vegita."

~~~~~

" Scacco Matto, Tousan."

"You won again, Bulma; your brother taught you very well." Even now he could tell they are fighting again. Why do they have to fight, it hurts mom; all over power. Don't we have enough? His brother wanted him to marry into a wealthy family, become a more important member of court than just some crackpot inventor. But he didn't want that; he wanted to marry for love, like Tousan and Kaasan did. Maybe he might even be as good an inventor as his father.

~~~~~

The scenes flashed faster and faster before her eyes, she was fighting, always fighting, must get stronger. Strength was all she had, it was all that mattered, and yet it still was not enough, her father still hated her, the King beating her over again. What the king did to her, she did to the trainers, beating out all emotions. She was the Prince, she couldn't be weak. The first child she met that was her age, they fought and sparred, he got a lucky shot. The King heard and beat her again, how could a father do this do his son? The boy was dead after that, all weakness must be culled, that's why there are infant purging squads, Nappa tells her. The childhood that never was passing away, with it comes strength and cruelty, the first tournament, and the second and the third, and again and again and again. The first major killing of an opponent, and the second and the third, those who cannot stand must fall. Meeting Freeza, knowing instantly that she hates him, or it. It even orders the King around, who's the weakling now? Ordered to the royal harem, sickened by the half living things around her, it feels terrible the first time but she is goes again, and again, until she learns to enjoy it. But it is nothing to fighting, there is no fire or passion in that, not like that burning desire for combat. Must get stronger, must get stronger, she soon surpasses the king. What is the Legendary?

~~~~~

He couldn't contain himself, after all that time it's finally here, his birthday finally came. Tousan promised a big party but why does Lord Gero have to be here, he's scary. All the people, even Trousse came, his old friend wanted to bring his wife but she couldn't make it, they have a young girl right now, three years younger than himself. Trousse did bring another lady though, she looked at him funny, why does everyone do that? My brother says it's because he was beautiful, saying he going to grow up to look like Kaasan, but why do they look like they fear him? That night he can hear that weird lady talking, what's the sight? Getting so sleepy, something is coming, evil is coming, he could feel it. Don't have any strength, why am I so weak? Wake up in the night; smoke, it's a fire. Tousan, Kaasan, brother, where are you? That's when he saw, the knife covered in blood, Fates no. They grab his arm and hit his head, it goes black again. Waking up in a cage, he was sore all over; he can't help it, he cried. They take me to my fate, staring into those cold soulless eyes, he always hated Gero. They beat him, hurt him, but he couldn't cry, it would only make them hurt him more. He drops an invention and Gero beats him, he almost dies, it would be better, he could be with Tousan and Kaasan again and beat his brother at Kaissa again. Then he finds it, Tousan's collar, all that pain and death for a piece of metal. One night, after everyone is asleep, he runs away, but not before he takes Toussan's collar.

~~~~~

For the first time, she meets someone like herself, a third class no less. But he loves to fight, he can see it in the other warrior's eyes. Against all odds, the man wins, much to father's and Nappa's displeasure. Let's see how you fair against me, third class. Find a sparring partner that I can't kill, for the first time I'm content. Finally go off world, again another tournament, and another and another. Kakarott by my side, we fight, I fight and win, growing stronger, ever stronger, I'll defeat Father, I'll defeat Freeza. I am the strongest, I will be the Legendary. I'm strong, but it's not enough, the humming of the rejuvenation tank and my father screaming at me once more. Then the unthinkable, defeated by Kakarott, sent off world in disgrace; I am the greatest do you hear. First taste of purging, there is nothing more intoxicating that fear. Flying through the woods, the old crone, it is a curse or an omen; doesn't really matter but it never leaves, echoes over and over in my head. Then, it happened; drowning, drowning in the bluest water I've ever seen, chains pulling me down farther and farther too strong, can't fight, can't breath. By Kami, she's beautiful.

~~~~~

He's found, so far away but someone finds him and takes him in. They feed him, cloth him, nurse him back to health. Some how they know, they know who he is, the girl genius of Modulus, the nice old man calls him. It's not long before he becomes a part of the household, a chatelaine, the head of the female servants. He grows to like his new position, until one night, the young master calls on him, why did he do that, it hurt so much. The old woman tells him it's okay, tell him how to avoid getting pregnant. He calls for him again, it doesn't hurt as much but he still doesn't like it, it doesn't feel right, it's like he's being used. The call to arms comes and the men all go off, all but a few guards. We learn that the master and his son are dead, he cries for his master but not for the son. The will is read, the master gave him everything, but this place held no meaning for him. Selling the land, he moves, some of the other servants and guards coming with him. He buys a new house, so beautiful, Tousan would be proud; he calls it Modulus. Finally he makes his own life, finds his own allies, meets the Lady of Bushi, he likes her, she understands what kind of life he has led. He finds his happiness, but it still hurt. It gets better, feels good, but it's not right. He doesn't believe in that kind of happiness anymore, like he was when he was a little kid, what's the point any more, maybe he should just be with Yamcha. But he knows that won't make him happy, after all this time, he looks to the stars, just wishing for something.

The memories finally stop, he was in is body again, curled up against her, his head in the crook of her neck, and hers in his. Oh Kami, the pain, he didn't think he could ever feel so much pain; what the hell was that? The words of the old crone came back; no, it can't be.

"Cuibhreach." he whispered, shaken to the core and he raised himself up to stare down into that face. He smiled against his better nature at the state his little blue-haired human was in, her body shuttering as if getting over the throes of a release, an intensely powerful release. Maybe he had been hallucinating, there was no other explanation. It couldn't have been, that, it had been breed out of the royal line. It's couldn't be, she was just a human, she couldn't.

"Fiubhas Vegita?"

At the sound of his native language passing through her lips, he froze; no, NO. Staring down at her, his mind was in turmoil; by Kami, she was so beautiful. Raising up his hand to her neck once more, he pressed gently into a nerve and watched as her body relaxed and her mind fill with sleep, her eyelids closing over those perfect blue eyes. He had to get out of here, as far away from her as he could. Throwing on his clothes as fast as he could, he opened the window preparing the jump and fly, go, to flee. Looking back to the bed, she saw the sleeping woman shiver as the cold air from the window blew across her naked body. Feeling out, he sensed the faintest of links established but not completed, he could still get out, wait long enough and it would sever. Walking back to the bed, he pulled the sheets over her body, her shivering calm until she was slept undisturbed. There was too much at stake, he could not let this happen, and stroking her cheek one last time, he walked to the window and jumped out, his aura burning around him as he flew through the star filled sky.

* * * * *