Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Branded ❯ Chapter 8

Laughter echoed off the cliffs and down to the slow moving river between them. From between rocks and bushes, two small figures moved in a game of cat and mouse. The mouse, a thin, blonde girl in a simple dress. The cat, a short, black-haired boy in clothes made of the finest material.

The girl crawled between two thick bushes. She was completely hidden from sight and lay as quiet as she could, covering her mouth with her hands to hold her laughter in. Between the leaves, she watched and listened for any sign of her pursuer.

"Got you!"

Suddenly, the girl was lifted straight into the air. Strong hands held her waist as they floated several feet above the ground. She uncovered her mouth and let the laughter bubble forth.

"Hold still, Beli! I don't want to drop you!"

"Sorry, Vegeta," she said, but couldn't contain her giggles for long. Vegeta sighed and easily hoisted her up into his arms.

"So now that I've caught you," he said, smiling down at her, "what should I do with you?"

Beli threw her arms around his neck and looked down at the ground far below them. "How about setting us back down," she suggested. "You know how much I hate heights."

"Hmmm," Vegeta considered as they floated down nearer the rocky ground. "Nope. You'll just run off again, and I'm tired of chasing you." He changed directions and hovered just above the river. Beli screamed and clung tighter to Vegeta.

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, wouldn't I?" He tried to pry her arms from his neck, but she just wiggled around until she was able to also wrap her legs around his waist. Finally, he gave up. Taking a deep breath, he dropped both of them into the middle of the chilly water.

Underwater, Beli's long hair floated around them, enclosing them in their own private world. She unwound her legs and eased herself down until they were nose to nose. His black eyes stared into her green ones as long as their lungs would allow. Then, reluctantly, they kicked for the surface.

"You're crazy!" Beli laughed, gasping for air.

"You noticed!" Vegeta laughed back. "And here I was trying to keep it a secret from you all this time."

"A secret? If you keep all your secrets this badly, I'm in big trouble!" Beli laughed, but he could tell, behind her smile, she was truly worried.

He tenderly brushed her wet hair from her face and kissed her forehead. "I would never let this secret out and risk losing you," he vowed. "I'm never going to let you go!"

Beli hugged him tightly, but the cold water had become too much for her and she shivered. Without breaking their embrace, Vegeta lifted them out of the water and flew them back to their picnic blanket. He drew the blanket around her and picked up the half empty food basket.

"I'd better get you dried off before you get sick," Vegeta said and led her into the small, hidden cave they used as their secret meeting place. He stacked an armload of wood and used an energy blast to set them on fire. Soon, the cave glowed with warmth and flickering light.

"I wish I could learn how to do that," Beli said, moving as close to the fire as she dared and wringing the water from her hair. "It sure would make cooking go faster."

"Let me help you." Vegeta stood close behind Beli and carefully worked his hands through her hair, the water running down his arm and dripping to the ground. When he finished, he lifted her hair up and kissed the back of her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

"Vegeta," Beli began, leaning back against him, "I'm scared. I'm just a servant in your father's house. You are a prince! If anyone finds out about us ..."

"I won't let that happen," he whispered in her ear. "And when father goes off to fight with Frieza, we'll be free to be together without having to hide. I promise."

Beli turned in Vegeta's arms and cupped his face in her hands. "I have been branded into your service, so I will always be with you. But what if you have to go off to fight? Will you forget all about me?"

"Never!" he protested. With one finger, he pulled the neck of her dress down until he uncovered the symbol burned into her skin just above her heart. Tenderly, he placed his lips on his royal symbol, relishing her sharp intake of breath. "I could never forget you. You may have my symbol branded on your skin," he opened his shirt and placed her hand on his chest, "but I have yours on my heart."

The lovers curled up together in the blanket next to the fire, unaware that their secret nest was being watched. Their observer was well hidden behind the many thick bushes on the cliffside, his telescope locked in on the entrance to the cave. A cruel smile spread across his face as he watched them in the firelight.