Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Majik ❯ The Storm ( Chapter 13 )

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ, however this plot and all subsequent original characters are my property and may not be used by other people without my consent (sorry it came to this but badly written knock-off's off this fic are starting to spring up.)

Author Note: Wow…this fic has got quite a following now, I mean the first time I wrote this fic people liked it, but this time around people seem to be really getting into the spirit of things. Thanks to everyone who has emailed me about this fic and to everyone who has offered up ideas. Originally this would have been the final chapter for this fic, however in this version the fic has been extended and the end is currently nowhere in sight!

Lyrics are from 'Eye' by the Smashing Pumpkins.

~*~

I lie, I wait

I stop, I hesitate

~*~

Vegeta ran a hand through his sweat drenched hair, groaning in the back of his throat as outside thunder crashed and the room was briefly illuminated by more then the dingy low watt bulb that flickered weakly overhead. The hotel room was hot, humid and oppressive. The storm outside was heating things up rather then cooling them down, the dense storm clouds acting as a blanket over the town, trapping the heat inside. It was horrible. Vegeta couldn't remember a night that had been this uncomfortable - it was truly an ominous sign. Obviously the child inside of Bulma was having an effect on the tangible world, there was no other explanation for the weather which wad changed so suddenly and become so unfriendly.

The angel collapsed onto one of the rickety wooden chairs beside the bed and watched as Bulma tossed in her sleep, her legs tangled up in the bed sheets. She tossed her head from side to side, clearly having a bad dream as she whimpered and jerked in her slumber. Abruptly her eyes snapped opened and she stared sightlessly ahead, her mouth moving as she whispered something under her breath over and over again.

"Bulma?" Vegeta leant forward and placed a concerned hand on her forehead; Bulma's skin was calmly and slick with sweat. "Bulma? Are you okay?" He repeated himself, hoping for a response.

The blue haired female didn't answer him; instead she pinched her lips together tightly and stayed quiet, her eyes widening with what could only be fear. Vegeta leaned closer still and watched her face, coming to the conclusion that Bulma was still asleep, possibly dreaming. She blinked rapidly and her eyes followed something that he couldn't see, something that evidently terrified her as she jerked again in her sleep and let out a small shriek as she suddenly scrambled back against the bed head.

"It's okay, Bulma." Vegeta put a calming hand on her shoulder and eased the human back into he bed, tucking her securely as she seemed to slip back into a deep sleep once more. The angel shook his head, wondering what could possibly frighten Bulma so much…

~*~

I am, I breathe

I meant, I think of me

~*~

Bulma could see the hotel room around her, but it was faded and distant and didn't seem to have any real substance to it. She could see the storm raging through the roof above them; she could see the car park through the door beside the bed. It was as though the room was made of see through plastic. The sky above was lit up from time to time with a greenish hue as lighting flashed in the inner regions of the turbulent clouds, the lightning also lit up the parking lot outside and in the occasionally cast light she could see something in the parking lot coming closer.

She didn't want to see that thing melting from shadow to shadow, nor did she want to see it getting closer and closer. Under her breath Bulma began to pray, something that was probably useless since she was fairly certain that God had long ago turned a deaf ear to her suffering. Nevertheless, she continued to murmur the Lord's Prayer under her breath, repeating it twice before she opened her eyes again, hoping the thing had hone away.

A bolt of twisted lightning lit up the car park again, and Bulma whimpered as she saw that the creature was still outside. It appeared to be hissing at her through the wall of the building, but it was still coming closer despite the pain that the Lord's Prayer has caused it. Bulma looked at it closely as it approached the building. The creature was thin and stick-like, it's limbs seemed elongated and it's fingers claw like. It scuttled through the parking lot, dodging cars and making it's way to their door. In another brilliant flash of light she saw that its skin was the colour of rotted fruit and as is came closer still and stretched to it's full height outside of their door it fixed copper coloured eyes on Bulma's face and opened it's mouth in a lecherous leering grin.

Bulma shrieked and turned her face away from the horrid thing that was lurking outside of their door. She hugged herself in protective gesture and caught site of her stomach, only just managing to swallow another scream as she saw that her stomach was also transparent and she could see what was inside of it. For the longest of moments she simply stared at the abomination inside of her…then it moved…and Bulma saw something that terrified her…

~*~

Is it any wonder I can't sleep?

All I have is all you gave to me

~*~

Bulma screamed over and over as she woke up and screamed even louder when she collided with a dark shape looming over her. She clawed at the thing above her and heard it curse and jerk away, whimpering she curled into a ball and pulled one of the twisted sheets up to her chin. Shivering with something other then cold she closed her eyes tight and waited for the demon to come and claim her, it was coming for her baby…she knew it now.

"Bloody Hell, Bulma! That hurt!"

Bulma's startled eyes flew open and she stared at Vegeta who was clasping his upper arm. He was standing across the room, staring at her with pained eyes as he continued to curse under his breath. Outside the storm raged loudly and the dim bulb overheard flickered dangerously.

"What did you dream that worked you up so much, huh?" He demanded, blood beginning to seep through his fingers. He took his hand away and Bulma saw the deep slashes in his skin that she'd done with her fingers in her panicked state. She stared down at her fingers and was shocked to see that they were longer then normal and pointed at the tip, stained pink from Vegeta's blood and with tiny bits of skin trapped under the nails. Swallowing convulsively Bulma staggered to her feet and lunged for the bathroom to be sick.

When she emerged, her hands washed clean and her nails no longer stained, she was trembling slightly. Vegeta was seated on a corner of the bed, watching her with narrowed eyes.

"I didn't…didn't mean to hurt you…" Bulma started to say, but Vegeta held up a hand and silenced her.

"I know. I'm sorry I got angry, it just surprised me that you got so violent." His dark eyes followed her as she crossed the room and sat down on the bed. "I take it you're feeling better?" He allowed a tone of concern to enter his voice.

Bulma glanced up at him then looked quickly away. "I had a bad dream…there was something in the parking lot that was stalking us. It was coming closer and closer and I knew it was going to do something awful." She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, her arms barely able to make it around her huge stomach. She looked up at Vegeta, her eyes watering. "What are you going to do to me?"

~*~

Is it any wonder I found peace through you?

Turn to the gates of heaven, to myself be damned

~*~

"Nothing. I'm not going to do anything to you." Vegeta closed his eyes and sighed, rubbing his hand over his eyes as though something that only he could see was troubling him. "I've told you already that I can't let your child live, however I'm going to make sure that no harm comes to you." He put a gentle hand on Bulma's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

Bulma glanced down o hide the intense ager that she could feel filling her eyes. How dare Vegeta take it upon himself to kill her child? How did he know that the child was going to be evil? Given the right upbringing and shown enough love her baby might grow into someone good and kind-hearted…only a monster would kill a newborn child because it mightbecome evil. Bulma clenched her teeth as a burning flame of hate for the man sitting beside her grew inside of her. She'd never felt this intense hatred for anyone before, but the thought of someone slaughtering her child aroused something primal and protective inside of her. Instinctively Bulma knew that she would do everything inside of her to protect her child.

Abruptly the light above them went out and the room was plunged into darkness, the only illumination coming from the occasionally flashes of thunder. Bulma swallowed as the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end a prickling sensation ran down her back. The baby shifted inside of her and she let out a gasp as an image shot through her mind - a vision of their room from outside. Someone - something - was coming towards the hotel room and momentarily she had been able to see through their eyes. Wether it was the baby within her or some dormant power that she had always possessed Bulma didn't know, all she knew for certain was that whoever was coming towards them wasn't friendly.

The baby shifted again and Bulma gasped as the vision washed over her again; she was standing out in the rain, her black stringy hair was wringing wet, her thin clothes were stuck to her body…but it didn't matter. All that mattered was getting to the people inside of the room, getting to the power that she could feel emanating from within. Lightning flashed and she hissed, cowering behind a raised, talon-like hand as the light blinded her…

~*~

Turn away from light

It's not enough, just a touch

It's not enough

~*~

"Bulma!" Vegeta shook her by her shoulders and Bulma was thrown back into her own body again. Through the darkness Bulma could feel that something wasn't right, even Vegeta had picked up on the un-earthly energy that was humming in the air. He kept an arm around her as something passed by the window by the door to their room. A low hissing laugh sounded through the air around them and Bulma whimpered as the child moved in her belly, kicking out painfully as though it could sense whatever was drawing nearer.

"We have to go…" She clutched Vegeta's shirt, bunching the material in her hands and dragging him with her as she began backing away from their door. "We have to go before she gets in…"

"Who?" Vegeta put an arm around her, not fighting to pull away as he backed towards the bathroom with Bulma, his angelic senses finally telling him that something very, very bad was coming. "Bulma? Who's coming?" Urgency filled his voice as something hit their door and the window rattled with the force of the blow.

"I don't know! I don't…" Bulma's breath was ripped from her throat as she felt the child within her seize control of her as it had done before, she froze, not bothering to back away as her eyes filled with fire and her entire demeanour changed. Bulma turned and looked at Vegeta, her lip curled into a snarl of distaste as her son recognised him as an angel. When he spoke, his voice showed not only his distaste, but also his contempt for the angel before him.

"She is Rimmon, the demoness of storms and lightning." The child smiled disdainfully at Vegeta as the angel abruptly stepped away from Bulma as though she had burnt him. "She was called forth by my growing power and summoned this storm as proof of her loyalty to me. When she catches you, angel filth, she will render you limb from limb and witness my entry into the world…"

Bulma, frozen within her soul, struggled in her sons grasp to throw him out of her mind. He was powerful, so powerful it made everything else seem weak and pointless, but finally with a mental scream she wrenched free of him and surfaced in her mind, forcing him out of her head and back into her womb. Bulma sobbed as her body sagged and Vegeta caught her, the red light leaving her eyes and the snarl bleeding off her face.

"Bulma…?" Vegeta looked into the depths of her eyes, searching for a sign that Bulma had returned to normal. Finding some glimmer of light he lifted her into his arms despite her great weight and carried her into the bathroom, closing the internal door just as the room door burst open with a howl of wind and the think rotted demon slunk through the door, crackling with electricity…

~*~

I taste, I love

I come, I bleed enough

I hate, I'm not

I was, I want too much

~*~

Goku opened his eyes, a crooked smile on his lips as he watched Vegeta flee before Rimmon through her eyes. The Archangel may have been a strong opponent but he faced a demoness who controlled the elements; escape would be impossible for the angel now. Beside him in the confines of the car sat a small girl child, her brown hair in two pigtails, her eyes a beautiful blue colour. However, despite her child-like appearance, she watched Goku with a look that was not childish in the least.

"Will Rimmon really kill him, Lord?" The child pouted heavily at the thought, her blue eyes darkening with displeasure at the thought. Her tiny arms crossed across her chest and she frowned fiercely when Goku did not immediately answer her. "Will she kill the angel?" The child frowned even harder, energy crackling around her.

"No, Proserpine." Goku smiled at the little girl fondly. "Rimmon is only there to make sure Vegeta doesn't go anywhere before we get there."

Proserpine merely nodded, her serpentine blue eyes glowing from the streetlights reflected glare. Goku looked back at the road that stretched ahead of them, smiling slightly as he felt his sons growing power even from this distance. It was good to have a demon of Proserpine's power on his side at this crucial hour, although it was a little down heartening that her current body was that of a small child. Her last possession had been that of a tall lanky blonde whose name Goku could no longer remember. He remembered Proserpine telling him that the woman had offered up her body in order to stay young until her death, of the course the foolish blonde hadn't counted on Proserpine getting her body killed. But as the demoness had pointed out at the time - she had kept the woman young for the short amount of time that she'd possessed her.

Humans were so stupid sometimes.

"I can't wait to taste that angels flesh." The little girl wriggled impatiently in her seat, flashing a smile that sent shivers up even Goku's spine. "It's been a very long time since I had a decent meal, and humans taste so boring after a while." She played with hr hair absent mindedly, smiling faintly as she remembered something of amusement.

Goku raised an eyebrow and left the odd demon to her memories. Proserpine was a strange woman to be sure; the reason for her love of death and destruction was a mystery to even Goku. All he knew was that the moment the war in Heaven had begun she had been their fighting, sometimes on God's side and sometimes on his, she didn't seem to care who she was fighting as long as she was destroying things. In a way it was almost fitting for her to be in a child's body - her blinds rages were similar to the mindless tantrums thrown by human children.

"How long until we get there?" She impatiently turned to Goku, the demon light in her eyes flickering to life as she sensed even more clearly the coming violence.

"Soon." Goku hit his indicator and turned off the freeway onto one of the smaller side roads. Somewhere up ahead was the motel where Vegeta had foolishly booked a room, clearly the man was too stupid or too blindly ignorant to realise that leaving the country would have been his hest bet for getting Bulma away. Still, Bulma's presence in his head was worrying - she still stank of pain and fear, the two feelings inseparable in her mind. However once he was back by her side he knew she would feel reassured again. It couldn't be helping her state of mind to have Vegeta raving about how evil their unborn child was.

~*~

Is it any wonder I can't sleep?

All I have is all you gave to me

~*~

Bulma was curled against Vegeta's chest, whimpering softly and muttering things to herself every now and again. It wasn't so much the demon that was pacing outside of the bathroom door growling viciously that was scaring her; it was the fright her child had given her when it had seized control of her body. Her child hadn't given a thought to what taking control of her might have done to her - it had simply acted upon a desire to frighten Vegeta. She wanted Goku so badly! He would hold her and tell her that everything was going to be all right…maybe he could even calm the baby down.

"We're going to be okay, you know." Vegeta ran a hand through Bulma's hair, his chest tightening when she flinched away from him. The sounds of the demoness Rimmon rampaging about the room were terrifying enough, but it was something more then terrifying to have Bulma pull away from him like that - as though he were the evil one. He swallowed convulsively as memories came rushing forth, memories from this life and from others - all of them happy memories of time he'd spent with Bulma.

"Do you remember the time when Marron spilt coffee on me before our big date?" Vegeta spoke hesitantly, not sure if Bulma would respond to him. However she looked up, her big blue eyes watching him emotionlessly. "Do you remember how frantic I was? Our first big date and your ditzy blonde house mate tripped and scalded me with coffee."

To his surprised Bulma smiled and a small sound of amusement came forth from her. "You couldn't have sex for a week afterwards because of the damage done to…little Vegeta." She smiled cheekily and lent back against the side of the tub. "We had fun together didn't we? Even after we broke up we were still good friends." Her voice was soft and her eyes were filled with a hundred laughing memories.

"Yeah…we had fun alright." Vegeta watched her for a moment longer. "I'd never do anything to hurt you. You're my best friend…God…you're more then my best friend. If things had been different you might have been with me in this life time instead of with Goku." He looked down; regret tightening his chest painfully as he inadvertently remembered the lifetime that he had spent with Bulma as his wife. She was so beautiful, inside and out. Someone like Bulma didn't deserve to have to go through something like this, she didn't deserve to have to choose between good and evil.

~*~

Is it any wonder I found peace through you?

Turn to the gates of heaven, to myself be damned

~*~

Bulma watched Vegeta, reading his thoughts as they crossed his face. She loved Vegeta…but it a love that dimmed in the light of what she felt for Goku. Being with Goku felt like coming home. He was the reason that she used to wake up crying at night, feeling alone and depressed. Nothing Vegeta could say or do would convince her that a life without Goku was a better life; after all she'd lived life with Goku and without Goku and she knew which life had made her happier. No matter how tough it was to face her destiny, she would do it; she'd face her demons and her past if it meant she could stay with Goku.

He was everything to her. She loved him so much it made her want to cry…it was…it was unexplainable how he made her feel. His eyes, his body, and the way he held he; it all felt right. How could it be wrong to love someone like that? How could God have been punishing her for such a long time simply for loving someone? Love wasn't an evil thing, love was glorious…love was beautiful. She just wanted to be with Goku again, no matter what the cost.

Vegeta was still stroking her hair, watching her with eyes that were sad - as though he knew what she was thinking, what she was feeling. He hugged her gently, closing his eyes and breathing in her scent.

"God punished you because you loved Goku more then you loved him." His voice was emotionless, blank. "Angels are made to feel love…but the love you felt for Goku went beyond that the Lord had intended." Regret tightened Vegeta's chest; regret that Bulma had chosen to walk a path that was forbidden to angels. He had always loved her - loved the deep blue of her eyes, the softness of her hair, the scent of her skin, but he knew deep down that he would never love Bulma more then he loved his father.

The Archangel hugged Bulma tighter, a suspicious prickling behind his eyes as he finally realised just how damned Bulma was. When the bathroom door finally burst open minutes later and Goku was framed in the doorway it didn't come to a surprise to Vegeta. The demon and Bulma were connected; they were linked together by something that was unbreakable. Not even the Lord in all his infinite power had been able to stop their love.

"Well, well." Goku surveyed them with blood red eyes. "Isn't this cosy?"

~*~

Turn away from light

It's not enough, just a touch

~*~

A/N - Hope this chapter was enjoyable. I found it hard to write…but that was only because I wanted to make it perfect and perfection is not one of my talents or qualities! Thanks for reading and if you feel like it, you can throw me a review letting me know what you think!