Shadows of the Heart: A Love Reborn

Unexpected Truths

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Karia lay on the medical bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind a swirl of confusion. The quiet hum of the ship's medical systems was the only sound in the room, but it did little to soothe her. Her body was healing, but her mind was still reeling from the events that had just unfolded. Broly. The way he had appeared out of nowhere and fought her with such intensity. And then-that bite. She could still feel it, the mark he left on her neck, both physically and emotionally.

Her fingers traced the spot where he had bitten her, but the sting wasn't the only thing that lingered. A sense of unease had settled in her chest, a feeling she couldn't shake. Why had Broly done that? Why her? The question echoed in her mind with every passing moment.

There was a soft chime from the ship's control panel, and the door slid open. Karia looked up to see Goku and Vegeta walking in. Goku's usually carefree expression was replaced by something more serious, while Vegeta's face was as unreadable as ever.

"Hey, Karia," Goku said with a small smile, trying to sound reassuring. "How are you feeling?"

Karia gave him a weak smile in return, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Better. The ship's systems did their job, but..." She trailed off, her mind drifting back to Broly. "What happened out there? Why did Broly do that? What did he mean by... marking me?"

Vegeta stepped forward, his arms crossed as he looked at Karia with a seriousness that was hard to ignore. "You don't know what it means, do you?" His voice was low, his tone filled with understanding. "When a Saiyan marks someone, it's not just a fight. It's a claim."

Karia's eyes widened as she processed his words. "A claim? Like... what does that mean?"

Goku looked between them, clearly not understanding the full depth of what Vegeta was saying. "Yeah, Vegeta, what do you mean? We've fought Broly before, but he's never done anything like this. What's going on?"

Vegeta let out a frustrated sigh. "It means that Broly has laid claim to you. He's marked you, Karia. It's a Saiyan thing-when one Saiyan bites another, it's a declaration of ownership. A claim of dominance."

Karia took a step back, her hand instinctively going to her neck again. "W-What? He... he owns me now?"

"Not exactly," Vegeta corrected, his voice sharp but not unkind. "It's not about owning you. It's about control. Broly's... different. You're a prize to him, Karia. He won't just let you go now that he's marked you."

Karia shook her head, confusion and anger filling her chest. "I don't want to be marked. I don't even know why he did it. I didn't ask for this!"

"I know," Goku said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. "But we don't know what Broly's thinking. He's never been like this before. He's unpredictable. We just have to figure out what to do next."

Karia looked between Goku and Vegeta, feeling like she was drowning in a sea of uncertainty. "But what if I don't want to be a part of whatever this is? I don't know what Broly wants from me, but I don't want to be his property."

Vegeta's eyes softened ever so slightly, though the hardness never fully left his gaze. "It's not about you being his property, Karia. It's about him being a Saiyan. When he bites, when he marks someone, it's a way of saying, I won't let you go. You're not just some random person to him. You've become... important. But what happens next, we don't know. Broly's never acted like this before."

Karia's mind was spinning. She had never considered herself to be involved in Saiyan customs. She'd always been focused on her path, her purpose. But now, here she was, caught in the middle of something she didn't understand.

"I don't care about Saiyan customs," Karia snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't ask for any of it."

Goku sighed, his usual calm demeanour slipping just a little as he tried to comfort her. "I know, Karia. But we'll figure this out. Broly won't take you from us. We won't let him."

Karia shook her head, but there was something in her chest-a burning determination that wasn't going to let her give in. "You don't understand, Goku. Broly's not just going to let me go. If he's claiming me, then I'm going to have to fight back. I won't let him control me."

Vegeta's voice was stern but filled with caution. "You're going to have to be careful, Karia. Broly doesn't think the way we do. He's strong, and he's unpredictable. If you challenge him head-on, things could get worse."

Karia clenched her fists, her eyes narrowing with determination. "I don't care. I won't just let him have me like that. I'll fight him until the end."

There was a long pause as Vegeta studied her, his eyes calculating. He seemed to understand something Karia didn't. "If you fight him, Karia, it'll be a war you can't win easily. But if you are going to fight, you better be ready for what comes next."

Karia nodded, her resolve hardening. She wasn't going to be anyone's prize. She would find a way to break free from whatever claim Broly had over her.

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