Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Attachments Detached ❯ Chapter 18 ( Chapter 18 )

Chapter 18

Vegeta gazed down at the blue head once again pillowed on his chest. If he didn't know better he'd say he was becoming quite attached to the girl. Why did that remind him of something that had sent true fear through him? Words came unbidden and unwanted from his memory: 'Do not form attachments. Lord Frieza knows all attachments and exploits them as the weaknesses they are'.

He scowled and unconsciously clutched the girl closer. He would die before he saw Frieza take her. Unfortunately, the odds were a bit against them. They had two days now and Frieza was immensely more powerful than he, though he could feel that his power had indeed improved. He might be able to take him on.

Kakarott was dead-his throat clenched at the thought and reminded him of the last two problems. He was powerful enough to possibly defeat Frieza, but his hand-

He looked down at the appendage that lay on the girl's back, bent and mangled-looking, as if some wild animal had used it for a chew-toy. The girl chose that time to move and again he felt that uncomfortable warm sensation run through his body, like a heating blanket. He resisted the urge to squirm this time as two blue eyes looked up at him.

Bulma smiled and squeezed her arms, giving Vegeta a silent hug. His face did not change expression but his eyes lightened from the darkness they had been in. Her smile widened tremulously. "Vegeta, I'm sorry."

He cocked his head to one side and looked confused. Bulma answered the obvious question. "For what I said. I like having you around and-I missed you."

He looked at her for a long moment, seeming to struggle with something, then raised his hand and brushed her hair from her face, placing it behind her ear. His fingers lingered on the ear, tracing the shell shape, and she felt a shiver run through her.

"Vegeta…."

He stopped and withdrew the hand, but watched in wide-eyed shock as she took the hand and placed it to her mouth, kissing it gently on the fingers. She giggled at his expression and brought the hand close to her, placing it under her chin and resting her head on it while still keeping a hold.

Her other hand reached up to his wound and he practically flinched, grabbing it with his free hand to stop her. He shook his head, a grimace on his face.

"Would you stop that? I've told you before that I'm just worried. I don't pity you or anything. I know you're completely capable of surviving this."

He let go of her hand, but still kept his hand in front of his throat to ward her off. She somehow managed to brush it aside and carefully removed the bandage, wincing again as she looked over the wound. From this close she could see how deep the slash was.

His eyes read her own and he gritted his teeth in anger. If it were possible, he'd bring Radditz back to life just to torture him for this. A mangled hand would certainly give him a disadvantage, but a useless voice would take away what had become under Frieza his greatest weapon.

A hand caressed his face and he was brought out of his thoughts and into shock. He tried to jerk back, but they were so close at the moment with her lying next to him that the movement was really pointless.

She frowned. "Vegeta, I'm not hurting you."

He shook his head, brows drawn down, and Bulma tried to translate the look in his eyes. "What is it then?"

Again he shook his head. Bulma's frown deepened and she released his hand, rising slightly and making Vegeta frown. Instead of getting up as he thought she would, she reached behind her and grabbed the pen and pad. She thrust it out to him. "Write it down."

He did not take the offering, shaking his head and folding his arms across his chest like a stubborn child. Bulma shook the pad and pen practically under his nose. "Write it down, Vegeta! I want to know why you think I'm going to hurt you! I'd never hurt you."

He looked bewildered and understanding came in the form of widened eyes. He took the pad and paper from her, but not to write his explanation.

'You like me?'

She looked up at his black eyes. "I do. Maybe as much as Kakarott liked ChiChi." She bit her lower lip, watching him closely with more than slight fear. She hadn't meant to say that last, but it was true….

Vegeta was the picture-perfect model for shock. His pupils were dilated and his tail tightened around his waist almost painfully. He looked to be having trouble breathing. Bulma shifted nervously as his eyes seemed to pin her where she was, even though he didn't appear to be seeing her.

Vegeta suddenly shook his head, moving his arms to her shoulders and pushing back. Bulma felt as if her heart was breaking as Vegeta's face took on a hint of anger, but he was not looking at her. Instead he looked down at the bed. In fact he was looking anywhere but at her.

Bulma resisted his pushing. "No, Vegeta! You can't just push me away! If you don't like me then you'll have to just say it. And if you do than I need to know why you keep shoving me away." She pointed to the pad and paper, her face set so determinedly she might as well have been Saiyan.

Vegeta stopped pushing her but his head remained bowed. He scribbled something on the paper. 'I can't explain.'

"But, do you like me?"

Vegeta heaved a sigh and nodded, glancing off the side. He was again surprised when Bulma lay down beside him again, wrapping her arms around him. "That's all I need to know, Vegeta."

Vegeta nodded stiffly, wondering if it would be easier to say if he could speak. His head came up as he heard the sound of talking. Two male voices and ChiChi answering.

Black orbs narrowed as the door opened and Yamcha poked his head in. His grin seemed a bit too open and his eyes widened in delight at seeing the couple. He turned to someone unseen behind him, smugly sneering. "Told you so."

Bulma wisely rose, frankly not liking the knowing tone Yamcha's voice had taken. She folded her arms across her chest and assumed the angry position she knew Vegeta would have if he could speak. "Have you ever heard of knocking?"

Yamcha's grin faltered and he chuckled slightly. "Oh, sorry." He raised his hand and knocked on the door, grin returning.

Someone behind him grumbled and Yamcha was suddenly shoved forward. Yamcha turned and glared at the newcomer as he calmly entered. Both Bulma and Vegeta evaluated him as Piccolo evaluated them.

Yamcha cleared his throat. "Well, are you feeling better now, Vegeta?"

Vegeta glared and Bulma cleared her own throat. "What are you, King of Stupid Questions?"

Yamcha chuckled, not answering her but turning to Vegeta. "Well, we can change that. We have something that'll take care of that hand, that throat, and anything else you're having problems with, pain-wise."

Yamcha blinked as he suddenly found himself thrust into the wall behind him, held there by the twisted collar of his shirt. Instead of Vegeta's angry visage breathing down his neck, it was Bulma that was holding him so. "You mean you've had something to heal him with all along and you waited a whole FREAKING day to give it to him? You IDIOT! If we didn't need you, I'd skin you myself and THEN hand you over to Vegeta!" She stopped her tirade when she heard a strange wheezing sound behind her and turned, releasing Yamcha.

Vegeta was vainly trying to hold in his hilarity, as it was hurting to not be able to voice it. He waved a hand at her and then at Yamcha, trying to explain the reason for his laughter, finally picking up the pad and handing what he had wrote to Yamcha, shaking it when the man hesitated to take it.

Yamcha frowned as he read the one word that had been written. "What do you mean 'pathetic'?"

Yamcha whirled at yet another chuckle and glared at Piccolo. "Thank you! I so needed you on my side."

Piccolo shrugged. "Give him the bean. We don't have all day."

Yamcha held up a finger to argue his point; then his eyes went blank, as if he'd forgotten what he was going to say. "You're right." The finger fell and he reached to his side, pulling a small bag out and reaching inside, pulling out a small, bean-like object. He held it up for Vegeta and approached him only to have Bulma snatch the thing out of his hand.

"What is it?"

From the glare he was receiving Vegeta's way, he supposed the man wouldn't have taken it from him. "It's called a senzu bean. It'll heal all his wounds. He has to eat it."

Bulma looked up at Yamcha then Piccolo, assessing their credibility, and nodded, turning to Vegeta and handing it out to him.

Vegeta met her own eyes for a long time before taking the bean. He studied it curiously, even going so far as to sniff it. Yamcha made a little scoffing sound at the notion that the man didn't trust him and was met with two glares. He swallowed and looked away to see Piccolo shaking his head at him as if to say 'you should know better'.

Vegeta finally threw the thing back into his throat, chewing for a moment before managing to painfully swallow it. A jolt ran through his body and his eyes widened as he felt a million little pinpricks on every one of his wounds.

Bulma made a soft gasping sound at the sudden shake and the wide-eyed look on his face and moved toward him. She stopped as he raised the once-crippled hand and moved it as if it had never been broken, the hand whole and smooth once again. There was a smirk on his face as he met her eyes and ripped the bandage from his neck off to show unmarred skin. Now-to say something profound!

"Well, woman? I'm hungry!"

Bulma's mouth gaped open and her face turned an interesting shade of red. "Why you-You get back your voice and that's the first thing you can say?" She turned to Yamcha with again folded arms. "Is there any way to reverse it?"

Yamcha shrugged and was saved from having to respond when Piccolo's deep voice cut in. "We have no time for this. According to you two, Frieza's here in two days starting tomorrow morning." He looked pointedly at Yamcha. "Tell him about the other."

Yamcha grinned. "Uh, yeah." He looked at Vegeta nervously, nervously because the man was rising and looking at him none-too-friendly. "How would you like a year's worth of training in one day?"

Vegeta raised a brow. "Magical beans and time machines? What kind of operation are you humans running?"

Piccolo smirked. "The kind that will defeat Frieza."

Vegeta folded his arms across his chest and approached Yamcha, not stopping until he was nose to nose-um, nose to chest with the other man. Yamcha gulped audibly at the look in the man's eyes, pure pleasure running through Vegeta that he caused such fear in the Z fighter's leader. "Oh, I get it. You want me to fight your battle for you? You heal me, feed me, give me some training, and let me go like a trained killer? Nice. Exactly what Frieza would do. Give me one good reason to do so."

Yamcha nodded toward Bulma. "I think you know the reason. Besides, you want him dead as much as we do. He'll kill you if you don't kill him and he'll kill us if you don't kill him. Win-win situation."

Vegeta cocked a brow again. "Unless I lose. Which I suspect I won't do if I take up your offer, right?"

Yamcha nodded, finally grinning. "Right. In order to get out before Frieza gets here you'd have to go in tonight."

Vegeta tilted his head to one side before nodding. "Once you're in you can't get out?"

Yamcha nodded. "Yep."

Vegeta scowled. "Fine. But my reasons for doing this are not to save this pathetic planet or its people," he ignored the gasp from the girl, "so if I come back after this 'day' and find things-missing, I'm not fighting for you. I'll leave you to his mercy, and he has none."

Piccolo snorted, arms folded across chest. "You do realize he'll chase you wherever you may go? Frieza seems the type to want to keep what he believes to be his."

Vegeta nodded, locking eyes with the Namek. At least this one wasn't held back by petty emotions. "Yes, but I will have had enough time to train as needed. I will be ready for him, not taking a gamble." He raised one arched brow at the green being and smirked. "Besides, I'm quite possessive myself."

Yamcha nodded. "Be assured that things will be the same as you left. Your items won't fall into the wrong hands. Right, Piccolo?"

Piccolo nodded. "You'll want to start now."

Bulma broke in then, not liking the overtones flying around the room. "Give him an hour. We need to talk."

Yamcha grinned devilishly. "We'll give you an hour and a half."

Vegeta's sharp gaze turned from Bulma to Yamcha, and Bulma joined him in a nice glare Yamcha's way.

Yamcha laughed nervously. "Not that I meant anything by that. I just meant that I'm sure you two will need time," the glares darkened, "Um, wait! Now that came out wrong. What I really meant was-"

"Come on, human. Before you shove your foot any further into your mouth."

Yamcha chuckled. "Yeah, what he said. And we'll have ChiChi bring in some food." Both warriors left the same way they had entered, their voices clearly heard after the door had closed; one lecturing, the other whining.

Vegeta turned fully to the girl, folding his arms across his chest. "Now what do you want?"

Bulma rolled her eyes. "You're 'possessive'? 'Things' better be where you left them? 'Items'? Now you're treating me like I'm the invalid. Who exactly got you out of that prison anyway?"

Vegeta's eyes narrowed and he closed the distance between them. "You will not underestimate our opponents and neither will I. We are surrounded on all fronts and I will not allow myself to be flanked and crippled. You pulled the wool over Ribery's eyes once; he won't allow you to again.

"You will not stay here. You and ChiChi will go back to Krillin's with Yamcha as escort. You shall collect him and all of you shall find a secure place to stay while you wait. You will only tell Piccolo where you are. He, in turn, shall inform me when I get out of this 'room'."

Bulma scowled. "Now listen here, mister! I will not be dictated to! Especially by someone who is always telling me not to do so to him! I am not something you own! I am Bulma Briefs and I will not be thrust to the side while everyone else does something." She suddenly bit her lip, glancing away as their earlier fight came to her.

Vegeta frowned, as he could guess where her thoughts were. He watched her jump as he put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing slightly. "You don't realize how much of a help you are already. With Kakarott gone-" Emotion had never been a comfortable thing for Vegeta, and his throat closed up as if it was still torn. His hand fell from her shoulder and he quickly turned away from her, walking toward the window to watch the setting sun. "I have no idea why you asked for an hour. This discussion is over with! You will do as I have said! I will not risk you to the hands of your own people or Frieza's men."

Bulma felt sorrow and anger warring inside her. Vegeta was more shook up from Kakarott's death then he was allowing himself to feel. But still, he had no right to order her! She took a place beside him, thinking as she watched the colors of the sky bleed and blend together, one minute bright enough to blind, the next soothing colors that felt cool.

"If it makes you feel any better, I'll do as you wish. But you owe me big once this is over! I don't like or appreciate being ordered around like a servant, no matter the reasons. However, I'm going to want to do something, maybe figure out some kind of weapon that'll throw those ki blockers right back at Frieza's men."

She paused and gathered her thoughts for her assault. "You know, not all of Frieza's men were scum, and not all of my people are either." She glanced at him from the corner of her eye to see him gazing at her speculatively.

He noticed her look and nodded at her in agreement before turning to watch the stars appear one by one. "Kakarott and I were never Frieza's 'men'. He never fell for Frieza's lies and his personality kept Frieza from molding him."

Bulma turned, watching him intently. "And you?"

His jaw clenched at her intuitiveness. Was Kakarott whispering in her ear? "I knew the lie for what it was. I knew he destroyed my planet. As if my people couldn't have destroyed a measly meteorite."

She tilted her head to one side and he correctly guessed the next question. "But what about that one year between Nappa's death and Kakarott's arrival? Before Vegetasei was destroyed?"

He cursed under his breath and turned his head slightly to glare at her. "We don't have time for-"

His eyes widened in shock as her lips pressed against his softly and he found himself closing his eyes and leaning into it, deepening the gentle touch and uncrossing his arms to lightly brush her arms, which encircled his waist.

All thoughts fled his mind at the sensation of flesh on flesh and his tail unfurled, flicking the air behind him as she broke off and leaned back, grinning evilly. "-For that?"

He blinked a couple times at the human, coming back to the present, and quickly moved away, tail wrapping around his waist with an audible snap. "What do you think you're doing?"

Bulma looked more than a little shocked at his reaction. "What did it look like I was doing, Vegeta? You seemed to know when I was doing it!"

He shook his head almost violently, eyes closed as he spoke, words ground out through gritted teeth. "Never touch me like that again!"

Her eyes widened. Luckily, instead of the hurt he expected to see in them, there was comprehension, and they narrowed. "Is this that thing you couldn't explain?"

He scowled, actually lifting his lips in a growl that reached her ears. "It's none of your concern, human!"

She flinched at the tone. "I'm sorry, Vegeta. I thought-that you liked me."

He shook his head, sighing. These humans and their emotions. Next she would start bawling! "I do. But-I can't like you like that. And I can't explain it."

Bulma nodded, switching moods so completely he wondered angrily if she had been merely baiting him. "Have anything to do with what was on that paper about you?"

He blinked, shocked once again. "What do you mean?"

"Well, there was one part that said something about a mission when you were six, but there was no mention of a planet being purged or anything you normally would've done at that time when I back-checked. In fact, it seemed your calendar was cleared for that entire year."

Vegeta's eyes narrowed. "So?"

"So, Frieza was preparing for something. With Nappa out of the way you had only Frieza to look to I'm betting, and that's exactly the way he wanted it." She walked to him, knowing he wouldn't want to seem to be retreating before her. He tensed as she continued until she was close enough to see the hint of trepidation in his eyes. "What did he do to you, Vegeta?"

Vegeta flinched, turning his face away from her. He turned back; rage masking the flicker in his eyes. "He did nothing to me! All that happened was what I did to myself!"

She did not back down from his anger this time. She was blocking the way to the window and she had the back of his legs pressed against the bed. He had to go around the bed to get to the door.

She put one hand on his shoulder, as he had done not five minutes earlier, and squeezed softly. "That's not true, because I like who you've made yourself, Vegeta. But I guarantee I wouldn't like what Frieza would have made. Whatever he did try to do didn't work or you would not be standing here before me." Her hand fell as she stood there, waiting for his next move.

What bad timing it was then, that ChiChi decided at that moment to knock on the door, poking her head and widening her eyes at the obviously private moment she had interrupted. "I'm sorry. I'll come back a little later."

"No. I want that food I know you're bringing in here. And it had better be solid foods; meats. I'm sick of that soup crap."

ChiChi's face flushed with anger as she came in all the way, dragging a cart behind her. "Well if the soup was such 'crap', why were you eating it as if there would be no tomorrow?"

Vegeta scoffed and folded his arms across his chest, using the excuse of confronting ChiChi and getting food to walk around Bulma, who didn't look too happy. "I never said it didn't taste good. I just said it was crap, meaning I don't like soup period. You'd be best to calm down. It isn't good for the brat."

ChiChi put a hand instinctively on her stomach. "It is not a brat so don't you dare call it that!"

Vegeta smirked, lifting one of the lids off a pot to take in the delicious aroma. "I'll call it whatever I want, harpy. Now, can we eat?"

ChiChi rolled her eyes and shared a meaningful gaze with Bulma. "I don't know how you put up with him all the way here! I would've drugged him or something."

Bulma nodded, scowling at the glaring man. "I would've, but I couldn't find anything strong enough. The last thing I want is Vegeta on a buzz."

Vegeta grunted, turning back to the pots and pans to avoid her accusing stare. "Will you two shut up? I don't want my stomach to go sour from your harping." He picked up a plate and began to heap it with food.

Bulma rolled her eyes and joined him in getting her own food. "We aren't done talking."

Vegeta did not look at her as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Don't have time to talk. I'm going to eat. I do not eat and talk at the same time like-" He cut off the last word and quickly stuffed his mouth full of food to prove his point.

ChiChi decided that leaving the couple to themselves would be a good thing. She hurriedly filled her own plate and left on the pretense of making sure Yamcha and Piccolo were comfortable while they waited.

Bulma glanced at Vegeta, sitting down almost too close for comfort to him. He frowned and tried to shoot a scowl at her, but his cheeks puffed out with food like a chipmunk ruined the effect.

Bulma waited, not touching her own food, until Vegeta was done with his first plate. She moved swiftly then, grabbing his plate out of his hand, faintly amused by his astonished look. She did love throwing him off.

"No more food until we talk, since you can't do both at the same time."

Vegeta scowled and folded his arms across his chest, irked by her smirking face. Fine. He wasn't going to say anything then.

Bulma sighed, rising from her seat and placing her and his plate on the floor. She approached him, giving him a broad smile. Stifling a chuckle at the completely trapped look on his face, she retook her seat inches from him and wrapped him in a hug, laying her head on his chest.

Vegeta kept his arms folded as they afforded him some protection from the girl's attack as he sat there in absolute shock. Hadn't he told her not to touch him…? Was she dense? Well, that was obviously a stupid question.

He tried to shrug her off and realized with mounting dread that his need to get away only caused her to squeeze him tighter. He felt like he would burst from his own state of tension and tried to unfold his arms to push her away. Surprisingly, she had them trapped underneath her. He let out a growl, determined not to break his silence.

Bulma grinned devilishly. Vegeta could say he didn't like her that way all he wanted, but he had returned the kiss, making it more than she had started it in fact. "You're so tense, Vegeta." She rubbed his arms with the hands wrapped around them and brought them behind him to repeat the motions on his back, grappling with the stone-like muscles underneath her fingers. She was going to get a response out of him.

Vegeta bit back a moan at the numbing yet warm sensation that was slowly spreading where her hands touched and again squirmed at the dual sensation of her head on his chest and her hands at his back.

Did she know what she was doing to him? Gods, he had never, never been touched like this. He felt the need to throw his head back in absolute pleasure. He tried, gods he tried to resist, but when the hands trailed down his backside, not letting up their assault; he couldn't help the shudder that passed through him.

A/N: So, will Vegeta be able to resist the temptress Bulma, or will he fall under her spell…? O.o; Okay, that line gets a 10 for cheesiness…. Will there be a lime next chapter, or will I continue the torture…? (shrugs) Maybe, maybe not. Hard to tell…. I love quoting myself! ^_^

BTW, thank you NAME for mentioning the RoTaS. I had completely forgotten about it! (hits self on head) OW! Anyways, that idea is all yours, not mine! Yes, you can beam in pride, Vegeta does it all the time! Lol

JadedBest: Jeez! Calm down girl! I happen to agree with Vegeta's maniacal laughter there…. Oh, you know I can't keep the darn Saiyan dead! He's like, intuitive and stuffs. So, you had Yamcha review a fic where he was dead, Kakarott review a fic where he was dead…. Why didn't Goten review S:WW? Lol ~_^ BTW, you are getting it for putting them in the reviews…. Heehee. Pleading Truths shall be dedicated to you…. Dear, I have 'new stories' I haven't even posted yet! Cool! You reviewed twice! Coolbeans…. Good luck on the boyfriend. I've got one at the place my dad works…. Whew, is it hot in here, or is it just me?

Susan: Sadistic and masochistic…. Though not as much as Frieza…. O.o; I'm watching the Frieza Saga now…. That scene where he said he hasn't felt pain in awhile, he forgot what it felt like…. I kept waiting for him to run his finger through his own blood and lick it or something…. (shudder) Deadite…. (light bulb lights up) SHOOT! Wonderful idea! Thanks Susan! ^_^

SkittleKicks: Heehee. I like how you reacted…. Heehee Yes, I'm told that is a good one by a non-DBZ person…. (shrugs) Who knew Yamcha, of all people, could be witty?