01-03-2009, 11:11 PM
The trio of warriors - Bra, Kirano, and Vegeta - had spent two full days in their respective rejuvenation chambers before the fluid finally started to drain. For the princess, the time didn’t seem to matter; she was awake for only minutes at a time, and she slept dreamlessly otherwise.
Her eyes snapped open as the sticky, greenish fluid started to exit the tank, though she still felt so tired. As soon as her head was above the surface, she pulled off the breathing mask, much to the chagrin of the medical staff, which had told her time and again not to do so until the draining process was complete.
What could possibly happen anyway? she always wondered. It wasn’t like she couldn’t just blow the door off if, suddenly, the fluid poured back into the chamber, something they assured couldn’t possibly happen anyway.
Soon, she sat, cold and damp, as the drains beneath her gurgled with the last remnants of the disgusting chemicals. A sharp hiss sounded, and almost simultaneously, the doors of all three rejuvenation tanks opened upward. Bra sighed, pulling off the various monitors as a doctor came up to assist with removing the IV tube.
Vegeta was the first to pull himself out of his chamber. Kirano came second, then Bra. The three of them looked so pathetic, covered in the thick liquid, shivering in the cold of the sterilized medical room.
“Clean yourself off, Bra. First we eat, and discuss the situation. Then you’ve got a speech to deliver,” the king growled. “I intend to see you in half an hour,” he glanced over at Kirano. “Bring this... friend, if you want.” he trudged away, heading for his quarters, obviously still upset at the sting of defeat. That would stay with him for a long time, Bra figured.
The princess gazed at Kirano as the medical staff took their leave. Soon, they were alone. She smiled, and suddenly she wasn’t cold anymore. “You saved me life,” she breathed, pulling him close.
“You said that already,” he replied, putting his arms around her. “And I already told you that if you’re with me then we’re in it together. So stop acting so surprised just because I decided to help you,” Kirano frowned. Bra was shivering again. “We gotta wash up and get changed. You’re freezing.”
“Okay, fine. Look, just... follow me,” the heiress sighed, leading Kirano elsewhere into the palace.
- - - - -
Much to the blond youth’s surprise, he found himself in Bra’s room. However, any lofty goals were quickly shot down as the girl suggested she shower first, and would therefore have time to go find a set of replacement clothes for Kirano while he took his shower afterward. There wasn’t much to do besides dejectedly agree, so he waited, sitting on the edge of Bra’s bed as she disappeared into the attached bathroom, taking in the objects that filled her room.
Surprisingly, there wasn’t much in it. A dresser, a desk, and a really nice bed. Not much else. No TV, no books, no decorations. She had a shelf but it was bare. Curiosity got the better of him, so he went to her desk. A quick rifle through the drawers, though, gave him nothing of interest. A few pens and a blank notepad.
Empty.
He’d heard once that a person’s room was often a reflection of the person who the room belonged to. If that was the case, what did a big room full of nothing mean? It was clean, he noticed that right away, but it was spartan. It felt... desolate. Barren.
Before he pondered his discovery too deeply, the cyan haired girl emerged, clad in a towel. “All yours, Kirano. I’ll get dressed and go look for some clothes, okay?”
He just nodded. “Okay,” he agreed, and then it was his turn to disappear into the bathroom. Bra considered the uncharacteristic coldness for a second, but she shrugged it off. A lot had happened in a short time, maybe he was just thinking.
Toweling off her hair, she was quick to choose a set of clothing, but she paused, frowning at her trademark red garb. It hardly seemed fitting for someone who would have to make a royal address right away. She sighed. Stuck in formal-wear for the rest of her life.
She moved to her closet, pushing the door open. With a frown, she withdrew a black sleeveless, one-piece gown, which came with matching shoes and arm-length gloves. A little jewelry and she’d look the part. She hoped.
A few minutes later, she was hobbling down the halls in heels. How women ever got stuck with these horrible contraptions, she’d never figure out. And the fucking dress was so constricting! She could never run or kick in this thing if she had to, but she did have to admit, as she cracked a smirk. She looked dead-sexy in it.
Finally, she made it to the room in question. The King’s Quarters. She rapped gently on his door, and in a moment, Vegeta was there, in the entrance. He looked the girl over, obviously surprised at her attire, and then raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“Look, I, uh... was hoping... do you have any earth-style clothes? Kirano needs-”
“Who?”
“The... blond guy I was with-”
“I know what he looks like. Who’s he to you?”
“A friend,”
“A friend?”
“Yeah. He’s my friend,” Bra retorted.
“Do you look at all your friends that way?” Vegeta shot back with a smirk.
“Wha-what do you mean?”
“Your ears turn red every time you look at him. I’m getting older, Bra. You can’t hide that sort of thing from me,” he grinned.
“You’re not mad?”
“Mad?”
“He’s... not a saiyan,”
“It’s your choice to make, girl. I chose a human once, myself, remember?” he snorted in amusement. Obviously Bra knew her mother. “Besides, I saw what he did for you in our fight. If he’s brave to put himself into the path of my anger, then he’s almost good enough to take care of you,”
“You... you mean you’re okay with it!?” Bra’s eyes shimmered, tears of joy welling up behind them. “I... don’t know what to say, dad. I came into this... I...”
“You hated me. I know. And I understand, too,” Vegeta replied. Bra embraced her father for the first time in years, and the king - wearing a frown - stiffly reciprocated, hesitantly putting a hand on her head.
“For so many years I resented you and mom...”
Bra looked up at her father, eyes shining with an innocence once thought lost forever. “Can you forgive me?”
“Only if you can forgive me,” came the reply.
“Deal,” Bra agreed. Vegeta held her for a moment, silenced by thought. His life was about to change forever, and it meant he had a lot to contemplate.
“Look, your... uh... Kirano... will be waiting for you. I suppose he’ll need some clothing...”
- - - - -
“A tux!?” Kirano angrily exclaimed, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s a formal event,” Bra replied.
“Yeah, but I don’t-”
“Look, I don’t exactly get dolled up all the time either,” the girl retorted, motioning to her own clothing.
“...Yeah, I guess,” he conceded, his eyes roving up and down her beautiful curves. “It looks good on you.”
“Can’t say you look so bad yourself,” Bra flashed a devilish smile. Kirano was wearing naught but a towel around his waist. “It’s almost too bad you’ll be stuffed into a suit like that.”
“I bet it drives you nuts,” the muscular blond declared, taking his formalwear into his arms and heading back to the bathroom.
“You’re so full of yourself!” Bra called after him.
“You know you like it,” came the reply as the door closed.
The princess sighed, and took a seat back on the bed. She dropped her head in her hand and smiled. Her fight with her father was finally over, which meant she could finally spend some real time with Kirano. Once she made her damn speech.
- - - - -
“Dun dun da daa!” Kirano announced as he burst out of the bathroom, sliding across the marble tile in a set of finely polished shoes. “Bet I’m the best looking guy at that dinner table. Your pops ain’t got nothin’ on me!”
Bra took in the sight. Kirano cleaned up very nicely in a suit. She bit her lip. “No, he doesn’t stand a chance,” she agreed, sliding her arms around him. She craned her neck up and leaned in for a kiss, closing her eyes. After a few moments, she pulled back, looking at him. “I’m so happy you’re here for me, Kirano.”
“Me too,” he replied, eliciting a smile from the lithe princess. “You’ve got a crown to take. Let’s go have dinner with the parents, huh?”
“Careful. His bite’s as bad as his bark,” Bra warned.
“I’m sure I’ll manage,” he grinned, and the two of them headed for the dining room.
Her eyes snapped open as the sticky, greenish fluid started to exit the tank, though she still felt so tired. As soon as her head was above the surface, she pulled off the breathing mask, much to the chagrin of the medical staff, which had told her time and again not to do so until the draining process was complete.
What could possibly happen anyway? she always wondered. It wasn’t like she couldn’t just blow the door off if, suddenly, the fluid poured back into the chamber, something they assured couldn’t possibly happen anyway.
Soon, she sat, cold and damp, as the drains beneath her gurgled with the last remnants of the disgusting chemicals. A sharp hiss sounded, and almost simultaneously, the doors of all three rejuvenation tanks opened upward. Bra sighed, pulling off the various monitors as a doctor came up to assist with removing the IV tube.
Vegeta was the first to pull himself out of his chamber. Kirano came second, then Bra. The three of them looked so pathetic, covered in the thick liquid, shivering in the cold of the sterilized medical room.
“Clean yourself off, Bra. First we eat, and discuss the situation. Then you’ve got a speech to deliver,” the king growled. “I intend to see you in half an hour,” he glanced over at Kirano. “Bring this... friend, if you want.” he trudged away, heading for his quarters, obviously still upset at the sting of defeat. That would stay with him for a long time, Bra figured.
The princess gazed at Kirano as the medical staff took their leave. Soon, they were alone. She smiled, and suddenly she wasn’t cold anymore. “You saved me life,” she breathed, pulling him close.
“You said that already,” he replied, putting his arms around her. “And I already told you that if you’re with me then we’re in it together. So stop acting so surprised just because I decided to help you,” Kirano frowned. Bra was shivering again. “We gotta wash up and get changed. You’re freezing.”
“Okay, fine. Look, just... follow me,” the heiress sighed, leading Kirano elsewhere into the palace.
- - - - -
Much to the blond youth’s surprise, he found himself in Bra’s room. However, any lofty goals were quickly shot down as the girl suggested she shower first, and would therefore have time to go find a set of replacement clothes for Kirano while he took his shower afterward. There wasn’t much to do besides dejectedly agree, so he waited, sitting on the edge of Bra’s bed as she disappeared into the attached bathroom, taking in the objects that filled her room.
Surprisingly, there wasn’t much in it. A dresser, a desk, and a really nice bed. Not much else. No TV, no books, no decorations. She had a shelf but it was bare. Curiosity got the better of him, so he went to her desk. A quick rifle through the drawers, though, gave him nothing of interest. A few pens and a blank notepad.
Empty.
He’d heard once that a person’s room was often a reflection of the person who the room belonged to. If that was the case, what did a big room full of nothing mean? It was clean, he noticed that right away, but it was spartan. It felt... desolate. Barren.
Before he pondered his discovery too deeply, the cyan haired girl emerged, clad in a towel. “All yours, Kirano. I’ll get dressed and go look for some clothes, okay?”
He just nodded. “Okay,” he agreed, and then it was his turn to disappear into the bathroom. Bra considered the uncharacteristic coldness for a second, but she shrugged it off. A lot had happened in a short time, maybe he was just thinking.
Toweling off her hair, she was quick to choose a set of clothing, but she paused, frowning at her trademark red garb. It hardly seemed fitting for someone who would have to make a royal address right away. She sighed. Stuck in formal-wear for the rest of her life.
She moved to her closet, pushing the door open. With a frown, she withdrew a black sleeveless, one-piece gown, which came with matching shoes and arm-length gloves. A little jewelry and she’d look the part. She hoped.
A few minutes later, she was hobbling down the halls in heels. How women ever got stuck with these horrible contraptions, she’d never figure out. And the fucking dress was so constricting! She could never run or kick in this thing if she had to, but she did have to admit, as she cracked a smirk. She looked dead-sexy in it.
Finally, she made it to the room in question. The King’s Quarters. She rapped gently on his door, and in a moment, Vegeta was there, in the entrance. He looked the girl over, obviously surprised at her attire, and then raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“Look, I, uh... was hoping... do you have any earth-style clothes? Kirano needs-”
“Who?”
“The... blond guy I was with-”
“I know what he looks like. Who’s he to you?”
“A friend,”
“A friend?”
“Yeah. He’s my friend,” Bra retorted.
“Do you look at all your friends that way?” Vegeta shot back with a smirk.
“Wha-what do you mean?”
“Your ears turn red every time you look at him. I’m getting older, Bra. You can’t hide that sort of thing from me,” he grinned.
“You’re not mad?”
“Mad?”
“He’s... not a saiyan,”
“It’s your choice to make, girl. I chose a human once, myself, remember?” he snorted in amusement. Obviously Bra knew her mother. “Besides, I saw what he did for you in our fight. If he’s brave to put himself into the path of my anger, then he’s almost good enough to take care of you,”
“You... you mean you’re okay with it!?” Bra’s eyes shimmered, tears of joy welling up behind them. “I... don’t know what to say, dad. I came into this... I...”
“You hated me. I know. And I understand, too,” Vegeta replied. Bra embraced her father for the first time in years, and the king - wearing a frown - stiffly reciprocated, hesitantly putting a hand on her head.
“For so many years I resented you and mom...”
Bra looked up at her father, eyes shining with an innocence once thought lost forever. “Can you forgive me?”
“Only if you can forgive me,” came the reply.
“Deal,” Bra agreed. Vegeta held her for a moment, silenced by thought. His life was about to change forever, and it meant he had a lot to contemplate.
“Look, your... uh... Kirano... will be waiting for you. I suppose he’ll need some clothing...”
- - - - -
“A tux!?” Kirano angrily exclaimed, raising an eyebrow.
“It’s a formal event,” Bra replied.
“Yeah, but I don’t-”
“Look, I don’t exactly get dolled up all the time either,” the girl retorted, motioning to her own clothing.
“...Yeah, I guess,” he conceded, his eyes roving up and down her beautiful curves. “It looks good on you.”
“Can’t say you look so bad yourself,” Bra flashed a devilish smile. Kirano was wearing naught but a towel around his waist. “It’s almost too bad you’ll be stuffed into a suit like that.”
“I bet it drives you nuts,” the muscular blond declared, taking his formalwear into his arms and heading back to the bathroom.
“You’re so full of yourself!” Bra called after him.
“You know you like it,” came the reply as the door closed.
The princess sighed, and took a seat back on the bed. She dropped her head in her hand and smiled. Her fight with her father was finally over, which meant she could finally spend some real time with Kirano. Once she made her damn speech.
- - - - -
“Dun dun da daa!” Kirano announced as he burst out of the bathroom, sliding across the marble tile in a set of finely polished shoes. “Bet I’m the best looking guy at that dinner table. Your pops ain’t got nothin’ on me!”
Bra took in the sight. Kirano cleaned up very nicely in a suit. She bit her lip. “No, he doesn’t stand a chance,” she agreed, sliding her arms around him. She craned her neck up and leaned in for a kiss, closing her eyes. After a few moments, she pulled back, looking at him. “I’m so happy you’re here for me, Kirano.”
“Me too,” he replied, eliciting a smile from the lithe princess. “You’ve got a crown to take. Let’s go have dinner with the parents, huh?”
“Careful. His bite’s as bad as his bark,” Bra warned.
“I’m sure I’ll manage,” he grinned, and the two of them headed for the dining room.
![[Image: Sage.jpg]](http://rebecca.florizone.com/sig/miscsig/Sage.jpg)