| Finding Hope Prologue |
| Author: Selenity Jade Rating: R (Rated by Chapters) Disclaimer: Don’t own. Don’t sue. Isn’t worth it. Gone. Everything she’s ever known, gone. In only a few short days, her planet has been purged. She was only one of the few humans in existence now. Her friends, family, everyone was gone. Her sweet, ditzy mother, her neck snapped cruelly by a bulky bald monstrosity. Her genius father, her daddy, had been blasted through the heart by a ki blast. A ki disk had decapitated Yamucha, her sweet boyfriend, as he fought to protect her and their planet. Kuririn, her short humorous friend, had been ripped in half by one of those monsters’ hands as he fought to protect us. Kame-sennin, the old pervert she had known forever, his head blown off by a ki blast from one of those beasts. Oolong, the hentai pig, burned alive and eaten. Eaten like a worthless animal. Puar, sweet little Puar, had been mutilated and dissected all because of her shape changing abilities. Tenshinhan, his limbs ripped off and left to bleed to death after being beaten by an overly large ape. Chaotzu had been strangled, as he tried to protect his best friend’s body. Turtle, crushed underneath their boots. For fun. Lunch, raped and beaten to death by one of the bastards. Even Piccolo, evil Piccolo blasted into oblivion after attempting to fight the largest one of those beasts, and with him went Kami. Mr. Popo killed with a simple punch through his chest. And he wasn’t even fighting. Yajirobe had been shot in the back as he ran away. Korin had been ripped apart at his own tower. The Ox King killed by a sword-wielding beast who decided it would be humorous to disembowel an older man. Poor, dear Chichi had been raped and beaten in front of their four-year-old son. She died from a swift kick to the head. Little Gohan, sweet and innocent as only a child could be, tortured and maimed, before they put the ‘hybrid out of its misery’. And dear Son-kun, Goku had fought until the very end, to protect everything he loved, to protect his home. Until his own body gave up on him and he was executed. As a traitor to *them*. She alone survived. And she didn’t even know why. Buruma sobbed helplessly against the stone wall. She had been locked in the same small stone room for the gods know how long. She couldn’t see anything or hear anything but her soft cries. She hadn’t eaten since she was captured and her stomach hurt from lack of food. She was thirsty, hungry, dirty, cold and so very tired. She was alone and scared. Never before had she known such terror. What was to be done with her? Why her? She wished that she had been killed with her parents, her friends, with Son-kun. She prayed every minute for death to overtake her. She didn’t want to survive any longer. She just wanted to die. ~~~~~~~~~~ Buruma woke to a bright light. She squinted her eyes against the brightness and curled up tighter. What did it matter if they came to get her now? Who cares any more? Footsteps plodded towards her shaking form. She whimpered as she was roughly kicked in the side. When she didn’t move, the kick happened again. A third kick caused her to scream out in pain and a dull crack sounded as one of her ribs broke. She attempted to sit up but screamed as pain surged through her. “Idiotic human,” a voice gruff sneered above her in an atrocious Japanese accent. She looked up, unable to see more than a shadow. “Get up,” he ordered sharply. She sobbed faintly. She tried to sit up, only to fall back unconscious as pain overrode her senses. ~~~~~~~~~~ Vejiita no Ouji looked up as the large doors to his chambers opened. He scowled at the large man who entered. “Nappa,” he addressed harshly. “Did you bring her?” “Hai, my Prince,” the tall, bald man said with a slight bow. He motioned behind him and two guards entered, carrying an unconscious blue-haired woman between them. “What happened to her? I thought I warned you not to hurt her!” Vejiita growled angrily. “I apologize, Your Highness. She refused to move and the guard kicked her too hard. A few of her ribs are broken and she passed out,” Nappa explained quickly. Vejiita glared at his guard. “She is very important, Nappa. Did you forget the human frailty or did you simply forget why we captured her?” Nappa looked at his Prince nervously. “Iie, my Prince,” he said softly. “And what was that reason?” Vejiita asked with mock sweetness. “She is a scientific genius, Highness,” Nappa replied nervously. “Yes, she is, Nappa. Now, how can she work for us if she’s injured and beaten out of her mind?” “I don’t know, Sire.” “Well then I suggest you don’t let it happen again, understand? I will be very angry, Nappa,” Vejiita warned softly. “Hai, Sire.” “Take her to the medical bay, get her fixed up, and move her into one of the rooms in this side of the ship. Set one of the stronger Saiyajin as her guard. If she is to work for us, she must be well treated. Dismissed,” Vejiita ordered and turned back to his desk. Noticing his guard hadn’t left, he looked up and glared at him. “I dismissed you.” “Hai, Sire. Permission to ask a question, sire?” He grunted. “Why not put her in the scientific section?” “Are you questioning me, Nappa?” Vejiita hissed. Nappa visibly paled. “No, Sire, I just thought it would be more logical.” Vejiita snorted. “Do you even know the meaning of the word ‘logical’? She must not come to harm, Nappa. She is of great use to us and if she is in this side of the ship, I can keep an eye on her myself. Is that enough questions? I suggest you report to my weakling otousama now, Nappa,” he snapped. Nappa gulped. “Sire, I would never-” “Don’t lie to your prince, baka. I know my otousama sent you to spy on me. Don’t insult my intelligence. I can kill you,” he snarled. “Now, get out!” Nappa scurried away from the prince and Vejiita scowled. Idiot. Vejiita turned back towards his paper work. His father was seriously getting on his nerves. Ordering him to purge planets for him. It was beneath his royal station and his father knew it! Yet, Furiza ordered the King to send him out on these worthless missions. He clenched his fists. Soon, he will be king. That was what the human onna was for. He smirked. I’m brilliant. ~~~~~~~~~~ Buruma slowly opened her eyes, sitting up quickly. Where in the hell am I? She glanced around and spotted a tall woman walking towards her. Buruma shrank away from the approaching female. She sneered at Buruma and quickly picked her up, swung her over her shoulder and walked out of the room. Where is she taking me? I can’t see, damn it. She decided not to struggle, however, as it might just cause her further injury. Biding her time, Buruma watched the floor streak by, having given up on trying to see where they were going. Soon, the woman carrying her stopped, opened a door and walked into another room. She roughly dropped Buruma, who let a small shriek escape, on a soft bed and swiftly left. She glanced around curiously and got up. Walking around the well-furnished room, she nearly gaped. A large king-sized bed, a small nightstand beside it, and a large trunk at the end of the bed. A fairly large dresser sat near the bed, a quick glance in the drawers revealed it to be empty. A desk lay beside the far wall, a nice comfortable chair pushed in neatly. A couch beside the desk, a parlor table in front of it, and a large plush chair beside that. A large table on the far end of the room, possibly some sort of dining table. She walked towards the open door on the far side of the large room, seeing a fairly large bathroom, complete with bathtub, toilet, sink, mirrors galore. Another door revealed a large, but empty, closet. She walked back towards the bed and sat down. What the hell? First my friends are tortured and killed, I’m captured, and my home is destroyed, and then kept in a small concrete room for what seems like days. Then some baka breaks my ribs. Her eyes widened and she quickly felt her chest, tenderly at first and then with more pressure. Wait, my ribs aren’t broken! Maybe they healed them and I was in the medical bay. She glances around the room again. Now I’m treated as an honored guest. What is up with these people? She didn’t know what she was expecting but began to debate whether to take a long bath or not. She shrugged. This room was apparently for her. No one was staying here. Why not? It’ll hopefully get rid of the stench of death and blood off of me. She walked over to the bathroom and turned on the hot water. Quickly stripping, she stepped daintily into the large bathtub with a sigh. Kami, this feels wonderful. She glanced around the tub and found, to her delight, shampoo, some weird kind of conditioner, she assumed, and a bar of what appeared to be soap. She quickly scrubbed herself clean, before relaxing back into the water and sighing. “Enjoying yourself?” a gruff voice asked sardonically. Buruma jumped and snapped her head towards the door, nearly shrieking. She covered her exposed body quickly and glared at the intruder. He was shorter than the men who attacked her home and captured her, but appeared infinitely more dangerous. His black hair swung up to stand completely straight in the air. He had his arms crossed over his chest and was leaning comfortably against the doorframe to the bathroom. A brown furry tail swung lazily behind him as he watched her. Wow, muscles. The man may be evil, but what a body! “Do you mind?” she snapped. The man glared at the naked woman. “Do not speak to me that way, Onna. Do you realize who I am?” Buruma bristled. “That’s it!” she shrieked and stood up, ignoring the smirk the man gave her at her now completely exposed form. She decided to let him look; she knew she was hot, besides she was always taught to use everything she had. Even her looks. She glowered at him. “Listen, whoever the hell you are, I’ve been captured and shut in a dark room for Kami knows how long, had my ribs broken by some brute, and carried like a sack of potatoes! And that’s just on this fucking shit hole you call a ship! I had my home fucking destroyed, my friends raped, tortured and murdered before my eyes and then you capture me alone out of all them! I would have rather been killed, thank you! You took away everything from me and I don’t give a hot damn who the fuck you *think* you are, bastard! Just get the fuck out of this bathroom and give me some goddamn privacy since you monsters took everything else away from me!” Vejiita blinked at her audacity. The onna has spunk. Not to mention she’s gorgeous. He eyed her perfect figure openly before something she said triggered him. He glowered. “Your friends were raped, tortured and killed? Your home was destroyed?” Buruma glared at the man and crossed her arms. “That’s what I said! Two of my friends were raped as I watched! I had to watch my friends suffer because they fucking tried to protect me, you bastard!” He growled. I ordered nothing like this. Who would have the audacity to commit rape and go against my orders? I specifically ordered her captured and no one harmed unless absolutely necessary! Nappa has some explaining to do. “That was not supposed to happen. They were ordered to capture you unharmed.” He hissed in annoyance. “You wouldn’t know those who did this?” Buruma gaped at the man who continued to have a conversation with her, while she stood there in the buff. “All of them. Only one of you monsters didn’t participate and he was killed by his own.” Vejiita scowled. “Do you know who was in charge?” “Big, tall, bald guy. Has a mustache,” Buruma answered, still shocked. This keeps getting weirder. “Nappa,” he hissed. “Again, I regret your loss. This was never our intention. We only wished your services, not to break you or hurt your friends and family. Nappa will be killed, of course, for insubordination. The others who went with him shall be also. Who killed the one who didn’t participate?” “The same guy.” “Good, Nappa will be killed as a traitor then.” Vejiita grinned wolfishly. “Very painful. I didn’t like him anyway. Spies annoy me.” He glanced at the still naked onna. “Get dressed,” he ordered. She placed her hands on her shapely hips, still standing in the bath. “Do you mind? I would like some privacy!” Before she could blink, Vejiita had her pinned to the bathtub wall by her throat. He didn’t seem to mind that he was standing in water with her, nor did he seem to be paying attention to her state of undress either. His face was only inches from hers and his eyes glaring into hers menacingly. “Do not push your luck, Onna. You don’t know whom you are dealing with. I have killed men for much less.” She struggled against his iron grip. He tightened his hold slightly cutting off her air. If I die, at least I won’t be alone any more. She glared at the man contemptuously. Daring him to kill her. Hoping he’d kill her. He laughed cruelly. “So eager to die? No, Onna. I won’t kill you. Not yet. You are too useful right now. I need your services, as I stated earlier. If you agree, no harm will come to you and you will be treated with the utmost respect. However, if you choose to fight me, I will have to resort to other means.” He released her and she slumped into the bath water. Rubbing her throat she looked up at the man. “What do you want of me?” “Get dressed, little ningen. We’ll talk then.” He stepped out of the water, flared his ki to dry off, and walked towards the bathroom door. He turned back to look at her. “I brought some clothing, it’s on the bed. Oh, and my name is Vejiita no Ouji of the Saiyajin Empire,” he stated and disappeared. Buruma stared at the door nervously. A prince? ~~~~~~~~~~ Buruma had just finished donning the flamboyant clothing the arrogant prince had brought her, which made her feel a bit like a warrior princess, when her door opened. She stood up and watched as that same proud princeling entered. He gave her a once over before seating himself in her large chair. “Sit down, ningen,” he ordered, his voice dull. She did as he commanded. He looks a little pissed off. Better not aggravate him. He looked at her a moment before speaking. “The reason I ordered your capture is I need your mechanical and scientific genius. My otousama is a coward and a weakling. He needs to be disposed of and quickly. He’s also a tyrant and my people have suffered under him for the past ninety years. I would just kill him as is proper of a Saiyajin no Ouji, however, he has certain alliances with beings far superior to my power,” he said angrily. “He has made my people the slave of a powerful tyrant by the name of Furiza. I have been under Furiza’s orders since I was five. Breaking with him ensures my destruction. The Saiyajin are direct and bloodthirsty. We face our battles head on. However, I know that would doom my planet to destruction. That is why I need your help. I had spies searching the galaxy for someone like you.” He sat back a little and looked her in the eyes. “I did not order your family and friends murdered because I would have rather had your cooperation willingly and I knew the fastest way to have you oppose me would be to kill those you care for. Although the Saiyajin aren’t known for their mercy or lenience, I made an exception in your case, having studied you ningen. I do hope the unfortunate deaths of your friends and family do not cloud your judgment. Nappa has been executed for his insurrection as well as those who participated in the rape of your two friends. My otousama will be quite angry at the death of his spy and probably going to plan some sort of compensation, but that does not concern you. I hope you could be open enough to help me. Asking for help is very difficult for any Saiyajin, especially for me, but I am willing to put aside enough of my pride enough to do this.” He watched her face carefully. “I’m asking if will you lend me your aid?” Buruma watched the prince before sighing. “Why didn’t you just ask for my help without trying to capture me?” “I couldn’t be sure you would give it to us. I needed as much a guarantee as I could. I was hoping to capture you and have you aid me, returning you to your home afterwards. However, Nappa jeopardized that with his stupidity. He didn’t know the real reason I wanted you. He thought it was to gain your help in purging planets faster for my otousama and for Furiza. In all actuality it was to rid the Saiyajin of a worthless king and a slave driving abomination. Nappa is like most Saiyajin elites. Violent, ruthless, and completely stupid.” “I see.” She chewed on a nail thoughtfully. “Can I go back after I help you?” “Yes,” he said quietly. “There is one problem. Furiza’s spies and sympathizers will target you. Maybe some of my otousama’s also. You’re presence here is known openly now, thanks to that idiot, but, there are ways to get around this. They don’t know why I wanted you captured.” He stood up and walked towards the window in her quarters, looking out at the void of space. “I regret having to do this, but you are going to have to work very secretly. To everyone aboard this ship, you are going to be my mistress.” “Nani!?” she shrieked in shock. “That is the only way. I suppose it helps me in ways. There have been rumors lately that I wasn’t Saiyajin enough to find a mate, considering I have no time for them. I don’t care for females one way or another. When the time comes, I’ll choose a mate on my own and as of yet, no female has met my expectations, so the soldiers have been talking.” Vejiita laughed suddenly. “It’ll help raise their loyalty to me, knowing I have urges. Ridiculous. I have no need for a woman; I use battle to rid myself of stress and frustration. What need do I have for a weak female? But that doesn’t matter right now.” He turned to look at her. “You are an exotic beauty and therefore it is believable that I would seek to capture you as my mistress. I’m not known to be attracted to the normal Saiyajin females, so why not? You’ll be protected this way, as I am more powerful than any other Saiyajin. Only Furiza can beat me and I will surpass him one day. Very soon,” Vejiita said with a snarl. “I will not lower myself to being your whore!” Buruma screeched angrily. Glaring at the fragile woman, he snarled. “You won’t be my whore, Onna. You’ll be pretending to be my whore. I will not ruin my plans to satisfy your pride nor will I sacrifice your safety. I need your help, as much as I hate it, and I will not jeopardize it on your stubborn pride!” She snapped her mouth shut and fumed. The nerve of the bastard! Assuming I’d just willingly subject myself to a humiliating situation as that one. I’d rather die! “Another little bonus of this charade is that no one would dare touch you for fear of my wrath. In Saiyajin society, females are fair game for any male who wishes them. As long as they can catch and defeat them. You are only a weak ningen and with your exotic looks will attract many males.” “I’d rather die!” she hissed. “I don’t want to be anyone’s whore, pretend or otherwise!” He growled and approached her slowly. “If I could come up with another scenario where I would have a reason to capture you and to protect you from the warriors, I’d be happy to hear it. Aside from being my mate, this is the closest I can come up with! You cannot pretend to be my mate for a few reasons! One, you can’t fake the mark. Two, a non-Saiyajin is not worthy to be the mate of the Crown Prince of Vejiita-sei. Three, you are too weak to survive a Saiyajin mating and everyone would know that. So, this is the next best thing! I can take an alien concubine but never an alien mate.” “Mark?” she asked confused. “A bite mark on your neck. When a Saiyajin takes a mate, he bites her when he’s captured her, right on the neck. If the bond were accepted the mark scars there and I would be given one by my mate also, as she accepted me. Otherwise, it disappears. Even if I would have decided to pretend you were my mate and bite you to counterfeit it, there are some problems with that as well. The mark could fade and I’d have to bite you again, which is painful unless it’s done when mating. Or I could actually bond to you and suffer from a one-sided bond that would kill me, or we would actually do a full-bond and jeopardize my entire future. So, no thank you. Besides, I know the consequences of marking one’s mate before the actual mating. I do not want to go through that.” “Huh?” He snarled at her. “Normally, I wouldn’t explain anything to anyone! You are lucky, Onna, that I need your cooperation willingly! If I marked you before the actual mating and without having performed the hunt, it leads to some very disastrous consequences. One, I’d go half insane from lust. Meaning, if I bond you with a one-sided bond and you wanted nothing to do with me, I’d end up raping you to complete the one-sided bond that would end up killing me. And because you are as weak as you are, it would most likely kill you. If it was a full-bond we both would end up half insane and again, it would kill you. Posing as my mistress is the *only* way. It is for your safety as well as keeping my plans secret.” She sighed. “Fine. What do I need to do?” “This room is right beside mine, as is befitting a Saiyajin concubine. Guards will be place outside your doors. I will end up visiting this room quite often, especially in the evenings, as is expected. You will be called to my rooms a few times also. As my mistress you will have a lot of leeway. You will be a small step below my mate and as Prince, which basically means you’ll be outranking all on this ship but me. I’ll probably have you work in the scientific wing as a diversion. That way when you request supplies from your quarters they’ll believe it’s nothing more than a project you are working on. Although, having you work at doing something other than just being my mistress is a little odd, it won’t make a difference. They’ll think I’m humoring you, keeping you happy so that you please me. I’m not your average Saiyajin and they’ll probably brush it off as my peculiar taste. The rare social event I attend will probably have you in attendance and possibly some political ones also. Any questions?” She shook her head. “Good. We’ll be stopping at Arlia shortly and I’ll have someone get you a wardrobe there. You might want to sleep now.” He padded towards the door, turning to look at her before he opened it. He watched her a few moments before disappearing out the door. ~~~~~~~~~~ Blinking, Buruma slowly woke up, taking in her surroundings. Damn. And here I was hoping it was all some sort of bad nightmare. She stumbled her way into the bathroom, taking a long bath and fixing her appearance. Taking extra special care in it today. I’ll show that arrogant bastard Prince. She wore a tight gown that fell over her like water, aquamarine in color. Simple but elegant. She checked herself over in the mirror, satisfied with her appearance and wandered out of the room. As soon as she went to sit in the large chair, a knock appeared at the door. Walking over to open it, Buruma found her heart pounding. What the hell? Could I possibly be nervous? She shook her head irritated and quickly opened the door. “Yes?” “Sorry to disturb you, my Lady, however, Vejiita no Ouji wishes your presence in his chambers,” a large Saiyajin soldier related to her. She blinked. 'A polite Saiyajin?' “Thank you,” she said and followed the man next door. He opened the door and motioned for her to enter the grand chamber. He shut it as he left but Buruma was too busy looking over the room to notice. It was almost exactly like her room, only a little more masculine with a more lived in look. Armor thrown carelessly over the chair, papers scattered over the table in front of the couch. She walked in, noticing Vejiita’s absence. Where is he? She walked around curiously, eyeing the few personal items the prince had out. Some clothing, a pair of white gloves, white boots, a book, and some paper work. Nothing too personal. No family photos or knickknacks. “Nice of you to come,” Vejiita said gruffly from the shadows. Buruma jumped and swung around, watching as Vejiita walked towards her from the window. “You scared me! Do you always creep around like that?” “Respect, Onna,” he chided sharply. “And yes, I do. It keeps people on their toes.” She glared at him. “I needed to discuss some things with you. Sit down,” he ordered tiredly. When she complied he continued. “First, you need to address me as Vejiita no Ouji or Vejiita-sama, especially in public. My warriors know me well enough to know I wouldn’t pick a mistress who disrespects me so. Understand?” She nodded. “Good, secondly don’t worry about me groping you in public.” He smirked as she sighed in relief. “I’m known as being very cold so they won’t expect me to be affectionate. I have, on numerous occasions, made my disgust known with regards to mistresses. I have stated that any warrior that takes someone as a relief from sexual energy is weak. Hell, I scorn the need to take a mate also. I am humbling myself for this. It isn’t really unbelievable that I took you, as exotic looking as you are, and they will probably think that is why. However, to make this work, I am going to have to act halfway tolerant and drawn to you. After all, there has got to be a reason I took you, ne?” He paused and walked over to her. “There is one other thing and you won’t like it.” He stopped in front of her and looked down at her. “It is common practice to mark your mistress among the Saiyajin, that way it is known that the woman is spoken for. Normally, I would forgo that as I’m not your usual Saiyajin, however, I am known to be very possessive of that which belongs to me. And technically, my mistress belongs to me and if I actually take one it will be assumed that I will be extremely possessive of you.” She glared at him. “What kind of mark?” “It would be like a small tattoo here,” he said bending over to tap her lightly on her chest, above her heart. “It would be my symbol.” “I will not be branded!” “You will have to be.” He knelt down in front of her. “Open your shirt a little.” She covered it. “No!” “Listen, Onna, I have to! I don’t really have much choice in that matter. Besides, any fool who doesn’t know you’re my mistress and attempts to take you will take one look at that mark and babble his apologizes and beg you to spare his life. It will protect you. Open your shirt or I will do it for you.” She sighed and opened her shirt a little. Vejiita glared at her and moved his hand, exposing her chest more. The top of a creamy breast greeted his eyes. He growled and pressed his hand on her, right above her heart. “This will hurt,” he warned before he raised his ki. Buruma screamed as she felt her skin on fire from his touch. Vejiita clamped his other hand over her mouth and quickly brought her into his lap, her back facing his chest. “Hush, Onna,” he gruffly ordered. He continued to hold her to him as he branded her, feeling a twinge of regret that he had to hurt her so. Too bad she’s not Saiyajin. “Little Onna, hush, it’s almost done,” he whispered in his native language. He could feel her tears through his glove. I’m sorry, little one. He quickly released her breast having finished. Great, now I’m caring about her. Damn frail ningen. Next thing you know I’ll fall prey to lust like a third-class baka and actually take her as my mistress. Pah! He continued to hold her as she sobbed, not yet having removed his hand from her mouth. Standing up, he cradled her in his arms. “I regret the necessity of that,” he said suddenly, the closest thing to an apology he’s ever said. He removed his hand from her mouth and watched as she struggled to overcome her tears. “Why do you cry so easily?” She glared at him, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “It hurt!” she snapped. He gently walked towards the door, still carrying her. “I have had clothing placed into your room while you were here. Do you wish for anything else?” “I would like my laptop,” she grumbled. Her head snapped up. “Do you happen to know where my clothing I wore when I came here is?” He thought for a moment and paused before setting her down. “Yes.” “I have a little box in the pocket of my jeans, I need that.” He shrugged. “Fine. What’s in it?” “It houses my capsules. It contains my air car, my computer, notes, some clothing, a capsule house, some food, my projects, and my notes. Pictures of my family,” she murmured looking down. “All that in a little box?” “Hai.” “I’ll have someone get it now. I need to go down to the planet now, I’ll have someone come get you later.” He opened the door and stepped out, followed closely by Buruma. “Be ready at 1400 hours and wear one of the formal gowns,” he told her before walking down the hall, leaving Buruma to stare after him. She shrugged and entered her new apartment. |