Hey guys! Finally after five years of waiting, the full release of Veggies and Carrots is here! It ended up being a lot so I figured I'd post it in chunks. If you read the teaser, not much has changed except a few details here and there but this chapter does have a lot extra added onto the end.

I hope you guys love it as much as I did working on it!

The black-haired man trudged through the woods, cursing Kakarot with every step. If the little idiot had just shut up about the missing sandwich, then that damned blue-haired woman wouldn't have screeched at him about it. It wasn't the first time that he had eaten the sandwiches that were mysteriously left out on the counter, but now that Bulma knew, he was banned from the gravity room for a week. Now, he was stuck walking through the woods to clear his head and find a place to train in the meantime. He stopped when he got to a clearing that looked promising. He began to power up and let his pent-up rage loose. Stupid goody two shoes Kakarot! He just told on him like they were children! Shooting kai blasts at the trees, Vegeta cackled at the birds as they flew up and away from the scene, screeching angrily.

The warrior was about to start again when he heard a sound. It was a small sound, not one that human ears could easily pick up. It sounded like a sob, which had the saiyan curious; it was much too quiet and delicate to be any woman he knew, more like a child's cry. He followed the sound deeper into the woods. The sobbing grew louder as he got farther and farther from his training space. When he finally turned into another small clearing, Vegeta froze.

She couldn't have been more than four, with long black hair and her face buried into her knees. The girl was curled into herself against the trunk of a huge willow tree, sobbing loudly. The crying child was not what left him frozen in his tracks; her tail was curled around herself. She was a saiyan child. Whether or not she was a whole or half didn't matter, she was there and, looking around, Vegeta confirmed that she was alone. The saiyan prince felt kind of bad to just leave a sobbing child in the middle of the woods alone, especially a saiyan child that could possibly continue the race one day. His pity or worry getting the best of him, he peered at her closer.

Other than the obvious tail, he noticed that her long black hair was spikey and laid in a mane-like fashion. She wore a pink sweater that looked like it had been through hell and back, leaves and dirt stuck to the fabric, turning it an ugly salmon color. Her pants were torn and dirty in places, no longer looking like the blue jeans they had originally been. She wore no shoes and her feet were cut and bruised from running in the forest, he supposed. As if sensing being watched, the girl's head poked up, revealing big green eyes bright with tears. Vegeta silently cursed that he had been seen; it was too late for him to leave now.

Sighing, he took a few steps towards her, very carefully to see what she would do. She just stared at him with wide eyes until he was halfway to the tree. It was then that her eyes hardened, and she learned forward, a growl erupting from her throat. He stopped and smirked, mildly impressed, "What is a little girl like you doing out here all by yourself?" Vegeta kept his voice soft, so as not to scare the poor thing.

The fur on her tail rose like hackles on a dog and she bared her teeth, growling once more; a warning. The man tilted his head and frowned, "Where are your parents?" He asked, watching as her scowl fell and she leant back against the tree, looking down. "I see…" He sighed, closing the distance between them and knelt down before her.

"Vegeta!" A loud voice called from above. The girl jumped and, like a scared animal, scampered up the trunk, disappearing into the leaves. Vegeta's eye twitched and he turned, "Dammit, Kakarot!" The confused saiyan landed just a couple feet from the willow, "What? Bulma sent me to find you, she was worried." The princes' eye twitched once more and a growl of his own ripped itself from his chest, "That woman has no right to be worried about me, it's you that she should be worried about! You told on me like a child, Kakarot!" He snarled, looking about ready to pounce onto the man. Kakarot shook his head and returned the glare, "It's not polite to steal someone's food, Vegeta!" The saiyan prince scoffed, "As if you're one to talk, you eat everything!" The warrior's glare increased but his retort froze on his tongue. He locked eyes with the girl, who was almost nose to nose with him. She was hanging from a high tree limb by her tail, "Carrot." She poked the man's nose lightly and then, without confirmation, she turned her gaze to Vegeta, "Veggie." Her voice was soft and musical. She pointed to herself, "Kumi."

The two warriors were quiet during the exchange and stared at the girl in amazement. Her green eyes were no longer sparkling with tears or fear, but curiosity and excitement that could only be found in the eyes of a child. Kakarot was the first to break the silence, "How old are you, Kumi?" he asked, gently removing her finger from pressing against his nose. The girl wore a thoughtful expression as she climbed down the branches. She seemed to have reached a conclusion, because she held up a hand, all her fingers splayed widely. "I'm four!" She proclaimed proudly, still holding those five fingers up as proud as could be. The man regarded her with curious onyx eyes; he opened his mouth to ask a question when the sound of tree limbs being hacked at reached their ears. Kumi's emerald eyes widened and a whimpering noise escaped her mouth as she attempted to rush back up the tree. Vegeta caught her arm and she tried desperately to pull away, "Come on, kid."

But once the slashing sound grew in volume, she allowed herself to get pulled into the air, "What are you so afraid of?" The man mused quietly, settling into the leaves, Kakarot beside him. Two small power levels were nearing them, and the girl shook, pressing her small face into Vegeta's neck. The saiyan ignored it but held her protectively as two forms appeared where they had been seconds ago.

Two men in black suits and hats looked around. The taller one had a strange beeping device in his hands, "It's close, but I don't see anything." He said in a gravelly voice. The shorter one scoffed, "It's hiding! You have to actually have to look for the stupid monkey." Vegeta bristled at the familiar insult, 'They're looking for her.' He glanced down at the shaking child in his arms, 'But, why?' He looked over at Kakarot, who nodded and touched the man's shoulder before putting two fingers to his forehead.

OoOoO

When they had arrived back at Bulma's place, Krillin was there training with Tien and Chiaotzu. Upon seen the child in Vegeta's grasp, they didn't know whether to laugh or be worried for the poor toddler. The saiyan prince growled at them when they came closer and received an angered look from Bulma. She was sitting on the couch as Goku explained their predicament. She agreed to do a quick checkup of the girl but as she went to reach for her, Kumi cowered and gripped Vegeta's shirt tighter with her tiny fingers.

He scowled at the girl but made no effort to remove her from his person, following the woman into the lab. Though, he told Kakarot to see if he could track those men from before. Bulma didn't miss the way his eyes softened when he looked at the girl, however minute it was, and she smiled softly to herself as she busied herself with getting everything ready for Kumi's checkup.

Bulma pointed to the cushioned examination table, "You can set her down there." The man nodded and sat the girl onto the table, but the girl's grasp didn't let up. Vegeta sighed, "Kid, you'll be fine, let go." The girl growled and held on tighter. Gently squeezing her hand away from his shirt, the man sighed again and motioned to the wall with his chin, "I'll be right over there." This seemed to calm the girl and she let go of him, allowing him to stand against the wall a few feet from her.

The girl sat warily watching the blue haired woman as she gathered instruments and readied machines. Kumi's tail swished back and forth in irritation and her muscles were tense as if ready to run at any moment. Bulma turned and smiled, holding up a stethoscope. The toddler growled and the fur on her tail rose. The woman's smile didn't falter, "I'm just going to check your heartbeat, see?" She motioned Vegeta forward, he seemed skeptical at first but obliged. She placed the ear tips in her ears and the diaphragm (the round bit) on his chest. Kumi watched, he didn't look like he was in pain or anything…she decided that since Veggie trusted the blue lady then so did she. The fur on her tail went down and her green eyes lit up. She pointed to her ears and then to Bulma, "Kumi try?" Her voice filled with curiosity.

Bulma smiled and removed the ear pieces and helped the girl put them in. The girl stood on the table to reach Vegeta's chest. She gently placed the diaphragm to his chest and giggled at the sound of his heartbeat, loud and strong in her ears. The man smirked and removed the medical instrument from her grasp, "Your turn." She nodded and sat still for Bulma to listen. The woman wrote something down on a clipboard, "Now, I need to listen to your lungs." The girl cocked her head to the side, confused. Bulma turned Vegeta around and placed the diaphragm on his back, "Breathe in." He grumbled but did as instructed, "Breathe out." Again, he did as he was told. Kumi jumped up, "My turn!" She turned around for the blue woman. Bulma giggled at the girl's eagerness and listened to Kumi's breathing.

Next, she had the toddler stand on the scale and took her height and weight. Then, demonstrated the hearing and vision test on Vegeta; she shinned the light into his eyes and ears. Again, Kumi decided to trust that Veggie was in no pain and allowed Bulma to check her eyes and ears. She wrote on her clipboard and smiled. The tests that followed went just as smoothly, if Kumi seemed hesitant, Vegeta demonstrated first and after deeming it safe, the toddler eagerly obliged.

It wasn't until Bulma had to take a blood sample that Kumi started to look scared. Vegeta understood, he didn't like needles either; hell, Kakarot screamed every time he even looked at one. He rolled up his sleeve and looked at the woman. She hesitated, "Are you sure?" He just nodded and sat on the table next to the girl. Bulma tied the tourniquet around his bicep and found a vein. She inserted the needle and drew the blood. He winced but only enough to show Kumi that it hurt a little, seeing no reason to lie to the girl. Bulma retrieved the needle and placed a square of gauze on his forearm before putting a bandage on it. She untied the tourniquet and put the sample in a vial.

When Bulma left to get another syringe, Kumi touched the bandage on Vegeta's arm, "Hurt?" The man nodded, "Only a little bit." He watched as she traced the bandage softly. She bent her head and kissed it, "All better?" She smiled up at him. He looked shocked, and then he smiled and patted her head, "Yeah, all better."

Bulma stepped back into the room with a fresh needle and looked at Vegeta, "You want to talk to her, so she'll be distracted?" She asked, tying the tourniquet around Kumi's much smaller bicep. The prince nodded, "Kid?" The girl looked up, "Do you want to hear a story?" She nodded excitedly, causing him to smirk, "Once there was a boy, a prince who lived in a castle with his father. The boy was spoiled and wanted everything for himself. His mother passed away before she could teach him how to care for others besides himself and his father only taught him to rule with fear and without mercy-"

"Was there a princess?"

Her question had caught Vegeta off guard and for a moment, he forgot who he was talking to. He looked at Kumi who was looking up at him expectantly, her green eyes full of wonder and delight at the story. He nodded and looked up, "Of course there was. She was a beautiful princess with long and flowing blue hair. She taught the spoiled prince how to be kind to others and that to be a good ruler did not necessarily mean that you had to be feared."

"Oh! Did they get married?" Kumi asked excitedly. The man grunted, "No, they didn't but-"

"Alright, all done." A flustered Bulma almost shouted, breaking the calm that had descended upon the room during Vegeta's story. She turned, "I'll let you know the results of her blood tests as soon as they're done." And with that, she left the two saiyans sitting on the examination table, staring after her in confusion.

OoOoO

It didn't escape Vegeta's notice that Kumi was only shy around the humans. Even though none of the z fighters were threatening towards her, Kumi was very weary of them. He knew that she noticed the different smell that each person had and seemed to like the smell of saiyans best. She sat in a tree for most of the afternoon, watching them train. It wasn't until Gohan and Piccolo arrived that she began to interact with anyone, though she stayed as close to Gohan as possible. She watched him train for a while and then immediately demanded to try too. Vegeta smirked at her determination; she was a saiyan after all.

The prince sat on the back porch watching them play in the dying sunlight. Kumi chased after Gohan, her long black hair no longer tangled and matted; instead it was shiny and silky. Bulma's mother had jumped at the opportunity to bathe the young saiyan and though she didn't like the idea at first, Vegeta told her that he couldn't do it and she would just have to deal. Surprisingly, she didn't argue and allowed herself to be washed and dressed in clean, untorn clothing. Now she wore a green t-shirt and a pair of jeans that were Bulma's once upon a time, Mrs. Brief had told him, and they would fit the girl until she got her clothes of her own.

Vegeta watched the two chase after each other a while longer, deep in thought. What was going to happen to this girl? They didn't know who was after her nor did they know where she came from. Once they knew these things and/or defeated those who were looking for her, where would she go? She seemed to be more attached to him than anyone else, save maybe Kakarot's boy, but he didn't think he could raise a child…he had to train to defeat the androids that the boy from the future had warned them about. But he'd be dammed if a member of his race were sent off anywhere where he couldn't keep an eye on them, especially one as young as she. These thoughts attacked him all at once and he had to close his eyes to process it all.

The saiyan was still deep in thought, when a sweet scent caught his nose. A second later, Bulma tapped him on the shoulder, "I got the results analyzed." She held up a pale green folder. He looked up at her sharply, "And?" he prompted, "Goku's in the kitchen, I figured that I'd tell both of you at the same time." Vegeta nodded and followed her inside.

He nodded to the man sitting at the table when the two arrived and sat next to him. Bulma took a shaky breath and sat down on the other side, placing the folder in front of her. She cleared her throat and opened the folder, "Kumi is pretty healthy for a four-year-old; perfect hearing and vision, blood pressure was normal, and her lungs seem fine, but she's a bit underweight." Goku chuckled, "Well, if she's a saiyan then that'll change quick." The blue haired scientist gave a weak smile, "That's what I found interesting, her heartbeat is too slow to be a pureblooded saiyan's heartbeat, though it's normal for a human child." Vegeta frowned, "So she's a demi saiyan, like Kakarot's brat. That explains her eye color then."

Bulma shrugged, "Most likely. I looked at her cells and they looked similar to Gohan's." She frowned, "But, where did she come from?" It was a question that had bothered the two saiyans since Kumi had arrived. Vegeta narrowed his eyes, "Kakarot, were you able to track those men?" Goku glared at the tabletop, "I did, but their power levels were gone before I could instant transmission there." The saiyan prince pinched the bridge of his nose, "Damn, they may be the only lead we have of where she came from." The other saiyan suddenly grinned, "Why don't we just ask her? She has to know something." Vegeta nodded and was about to speak but was interrupted.

The glass door slid open.

Gohan walked in quietly, a sleeping Kumi in his arms, "She fell asleep on our break." He smiled. Bulma returned his smile, "You can put her in one of the guest bedrooms, Gohan." The boy nodded and took the girl up the stairs.

OoOoO

Kumi awoke in a strange room, the late afternoon sunlight pouring in through the French doors that led out onto the balcony. She rubbed at her eyes and yawned widely. She sat up and pulled back the purple polka dotted bed sheets, letting her gaze run around her surroundings. The room was bare except for a chest of drawers against the far wall, a small vase of daisies atop it, and a small nightstand next to the large bed she laid in. It was bigger than the room she had with her momma. At this thought, her chest began to ache, and her eyes began to water. However, she willed herself not to cry in favor of her growling stomach and decided to venture for food.

She stepped out of the warm covers, hissing when her bare feet touched the cool hard wood floor. Carefully, Kumi tiptoed to the door and opened it, looking to and fro down the hallway. Once she deemed it safe, the girl crept down the hall and to the stairs. Peeking through the slits in the railing, she saw the blue haired woman from before sitting on the couch with Veggie and Carrot, speaking in hushed tones. Veggie's brows were furrowed, and he looked troubled; Carrot look just as worried. The blue haired woman was holding a pale green folder in her hand and her blue eyes were alight with excitement and just a little bit of fear.

Kumi walked the rest of the way down the stairs, not bothering to be quiet about it. The group on the couch quickly changed the subject, faking happy looks and laughter. At least the blue haired woman and Carrot did, Veggie still looked troubled and gave her a look that said he knew she had been listening. The young saiyan toddled her way to the prince, her tail dragging against the carpet. Said prince addressed her as she walked up, "What's wrong, kid? Why are you up?" Her stomach growled loudly in response, causing both saiyans and the woman to laugh. Carrot smiled, "Come on, Kumi. I think there's still a little food left for you." At his words, Kumi cheered and jumped into his arms, "Yay! Thanks, Carrot!"

The small group began to move into the kitchen to rummage for food. Vegeta hung back and watched the two as they laughed and made up a few plates. Bulma excused herself to go and do some more tests on her cells and the prince watched her go. He sighed but shook his head; he needed to focus on the girl! Yes, Kakarot was right! She had to have some thought about where she had come from or who was after her.

He looked back to where the two were sitting at the table, stuffing their faces. She seemed comfortable and content, just as he had deduced before; she was more relaxed around those of her own race. She had had a very long day and she seemed happy, Vegeta didn't want to be the one to ruin that feeling for her; he'd just have to wait for another time to ask.

OoOoO

The night was calm and the air cool. The stars were twinkling bright as if it were any other night. Snuggled under the purple polka dotted bed sheets, slept a toddler. Her spikey coal hair splayed out onto the pillow and she snored quietly. Her tail curled and uncurled around the stuffed bear that had been tucked in with her. Her breathing was soft and even. All was well.

Then, her calm face became screwed up and a small whimper escaped her. She tossed and turned, her tail flung the bear into the far wall, knocking over the flower vase in the process. She cried out louder and sat up in bed, tears rolling down her cheeks. At that same moment, her door opened and a rather disheveled Vegeta walked in. Without knowing who it was, Kumi dove under the covers, shaking.

The man sighed, made his way across the room to her bed, and sat on the edge, ignoring her quiet growls, "Kid." At his voice, she threw off the covers and flung herself at his chest, sobbing, "Don't make me go back!" she cried, "Momma promised that I wouldn't have to go back!" He wrapped his arms around her, smoothing out her hair, "Go back where, kid? Where is your mother?" He asked softly. She hiccuped into his chest and pulled away to look up at him with reddened emerald eyes, "The scary place, with the mean doctors and the needles and the bad people!" She began to sob once again.

He shushed her and drew her into his chest, drawing circles on the back of her lavender nightgown. Scary place? Mean doctors, needles, bad people. Everything she had said only confirmed Vegeta's fears and had him tightening his hold on the child.

Once Kumi's sobs had turned to hiccups and light snores, the saiyan prince gently pried the girl's arms from around his neck and laid her underneath the comforter. After retrieving the stuffed bear from the floor, Vegeta tucked it in next to her and smoothed her hair from her face, his thumb wiping the tear tracks from her cheeks.

The warrior looked down at her with tired eyes; the poor girl had been through hell as it seemed and at such a young age too. He sighed, he had gone through hell at her age also, thinking back to the story he had told Kumi just hours before. However, being on Earth and seeing how the children here were raised (mostly Kakarot's kid, not like Vegeta even liked humans), not with brutality or malice, but with kindness to preserve their innocence rather than rid them of it, changed the way the prince viewed the girl. He wanted to protect her, and he wasn't sure if that fact scared him or not.

The prince stood from the bed and silently walked out of her room, shutting the door softly behind him. He wasn't surprised to see Bulma wrapped in a pink robe just outside the room, her blue hair in ruffled from sleep, "What happened?" she yawned, rubbing her eye tiredly. Vegeta just shook his head, "Nightmare. We'll talk about it in the morning." He walked passed her and retired to his room a little ways down the hall, leaving the blue-haired woman to stare after him in sleepy confusion.

I hope you all enjoyed! Kumi has been so much fun to write and develop!
I'll post the rest soon, probably sometime next week!

Until next time lovelies,

~Shikamaru'sLove