Falling In Love The First Time

Chapter 7 - Am I That Boring?

After the mystified parting, Vegeta locked himself away in the GR for hours of, hopefully, mind numbing training. To say he was confused by the days events would have been an understatement. 'Blasted woman,' he thought after having wasted a solid morning of training dealing with the weak woman and her mood swings. First there was that sickeningly realistic dream, then there was the argument, which he still asserts she was clearly in the wrong about, and now he is dwelling on both events! He growled, wondering what could possibly possess him to stay there anymore. Why the hell did he not just take the damn ship and train out in space? Why did he instead stay and suffer through the emotional tirades of this woman that cannot seem to stop plaguing his thoughts?

Vegeta shot a furious ki blast from his palm as his mind shot back to that dream he had. He felt his body shake lightly as he remembered something Nappa had once explained to Radditz.

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"Kill the bitch." Nappa said with certainty.

"What?" Radditz roared, "But it was just a coincidence!"

Nappa shook his head. "There is no coincidence when it comes to Saiya-jin mating rituals. Kill her now before she becomes a weakness."

"No," Radditz objected passionately. "She is fun in bed. I'm not ending that because you think we are some sort of predestined mates."

"Did you learn nothing about your culture before its destruction?" Nappa growled as he grabbed the man by the collar and brought him to his eye level. "I had a formal mate once. I know the symptoms. Dreams are just an opening sign. You can still stop it at this stage before it becomes too severe."

"She's just a woman, Nappa! She can't hurt me! She is of a weaker race!" Radditz continued to protest.

"Yes she can! Physically, she can hurt you if you bond to her! You will no longer have the privilege of worrying for no one but yourself. You will be bound to keep her from danger for the sake of your own safety! When the female of a bonded pair dies, so does the male!" Nappa explained very clearly.

"You lie!" Radditz disagreed. "If that were true than why would any man bond to a female?"

"Because Saiya-jin females could protect themselves!" Nappa grunted, as though the truth was common sense. "You can not bond to a weakling--it's dangerous, foolish, and not to mention disgraceful! You will kill her tonight before it grows anymore serious!"

"All because of a dream?!" Radditz screamed furiously.

"Not just a dream." Nappa threw the man to the floor disgustedly. "A shared dream! It's a sign you have already begun to form a bond of-- 'Friendship'!" Nappa cringed as he said the word. "The fact that your dream was sexually oriented just proves the unspoken mutual interest in developing that bond further, into a more dangerous and permanent bond. Stop it now before you claim her!"

Nappa and Vegeta both watched as Radditz went deadly pale. "Tell me you haven't already marked her as your own!" Nappa demanded a rejection.

"So what if I have!?" Radditz shot back, "It just marks that she's mine!"

Nappa's fists tightened as he glared at the man angrily. "You're a disgrace," he hissed, "You will kill her tonight. Is that understood?"

"I will not! She takes my misery away! I have suffered a life without my desires fulfilled for long enough. I will not kill her!" Radditz objected defiantly.

"Fine," Nappa smirked, "then I'll kill her."

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Vegeta felt an almost regretful sigh escape his lips as he recalled how he failed to intervene in the situation. Nappa was right, the girl Radditz had become smitten with was a danger to their mission, and a disgrace to their people, but the woman's murder could have been handled better. Killing her before Radditz's eyes was probably not the best course of action, though on the plus side he became much less feeling after that. It certainly made more of a Saiya-jin out of him.

Vegeta continued with his attack as he repeatedly told himself he was not in the same situation. The dream he had had, though sexual, was certainly not a sign of a desire for a bond. After all, he hardly liked the woman, let alone considered her a friend. Besides, the dream could not have been shared; he had just blasted her hours before. What person in their right mind would dream of their attacker in that manner afterwards?

He frowned slightly as he remembered exactly whom he was dealing with. 'Ridiculous,' he shook his head. What happened to Radditz certainly would not happen to him. The dream was a fluke, a result of his impending rut, just as that kiss was. It clearly had to be the rut. Never would he touch a creature that hideous if it was not for his damned ultra sexually charged hormones. Again, not his fault.

Additionally, he rationalized, being pushed away was not his fault as the woman claimed. He wondered where she attained such nerve to dare reject him. The Saiya-jin prince! Who did she think she was? His fists tightened as he began attacking more furiously, remembering how she accepted him one second and rejected him the next. 'How dare she!' He thought as he considered her punishment for such an act. Who gave her the right to play with him in such a manner!?

Vegeta howled, his fury after all that had happened began to get the better of him. His ki began rising; he was in no mood too deal with any of this. His rut was sooner than he was prepared for, and he had no mate for the three days leaving him to do Kami knows what when his hormones become uncontainable. Vegeta hissed as he made a mental note not to kill Piccolo after he defeats Kakarrot. He'd much rather kill Kami instead.

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Bulma furiously dried the water out of her hair as she walked out her bedroom to find a clean set of clothing to put on. After an undetermined amount of time crying into her pillow she finally pulled herself out of bed to get a shower. She wished she could have known what made her so emotional about the situation. She assumed it had to be a mix of the physical pain that was burning her chest and the particularly harsh and illogical tone Vegeta was taking with her. All she wanted was to try and be nice to the bastard. She knew he was in a bad mood because of his rut, but did he have to take it out on her?

She took the time to try and find him a mate, and make up a drug that could help him control himself. What did he do in return? Blast her and then kiss her? She had to admit the last was more frightening. 'Hormones,' she tried to tell herself, as she knew Vegeta would never do something like that to her. Sure he could kill millions without regret, but she knew he had his honor. However sick and twisted it may be, he still had it.

She sighed as she realized perhaps she did over react some. Though it was not her fault she was overly emotional from the pain. Pain that he caused! Which, was another frightening point. He acted as though he had done nothing wrong, as if she had forced him to kiss her. 'I could know that man a lifetime, and never understand him!' She thought assuredly as she finished throwing on a pair of shorts and a tee. She then moved into her top drawer for a pair of socks when a light suddenly went off in her absent-minded brain. 'Senzu beans!" she cheered as she found her personal stash.

Any senzu beans that were in the house had long ago gone to the daily-injured Saiya-jin, save for her nearly forgotten private stash. She smiled as she found two left in the bag. "Fabulous," she giggled as she popped the healing bean into her mouth. She let out a relaxing sigh as she felt the pain drift away. She lifted up her shirt to take a better look at the injury. 'Completely healed,' she thought gratefully as she grabbed a bra out of her dresser. She would have felt awkward walking around free all day long.

She finished dressing and then headed downstairs to get something to eat. Since she did not get dinner last night or breakfast this morning, she thought a nice big lunch would be appropriate. She hoped the activity would clear her mind. Little did she know Vegeta had something different in mind as Bulma felt the house shake.

The explosive sound of the GR shook the house violently. Bulma's demeanor immediately switched to concern as she dropped what she was doing and ran outside. 'Not again,' was all her mind could think as she ran over to the pile of rubble. "VEGETA!" she screamed, she could not see the Saiya-jin in question immediately. After moving back some of the rubble, Vegeta decided to save Bulma the effort as he pushed himself out of the destruction. Bulma sighed as she saw he was alive. "Vegeta?" she tried to sound calm as she saw all of the blood covering his body. "Are you alright?" she asked as she hesitantly walked over to him and wrapped an arm around his waist. He responded thoughtlessly by wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"Of course I'm alright." Vegeta moaned unconvincingly. He allowed himself to lean on the woman for support as she slowly helped him walk back towards the house.

"Come on your majesty," Bulma spoke with heavy sarcasm. She did not need a scare like this after the hellish twenty-four hours she just had. She helped the injured Saiya-jin into the house and down to the medical room where she had been earlier. After helping him sit down on the bed, she gently pushed him onto his back.

Vegeta moaned as he did not enjoy the woman's assumption that he needed her help. "I do not need your med--"

"Look Vegeta, I don't want to fight with you yet again today, so why don't you just shut up and let me help you." Bulma demanded as she gathered some supplies. Vegeta felt himself drifting closer to unconsciousness, so he opted to let the woman win this one.

Bulma came back to the man with disinfectant to clean his wounds as she suddenly felt a creepy sense of role reversal. She took a long breath before she began her attention. For the most part he had cuts, bruises, and possibly a broken bone for two. The only worrisome injury was the one that resulted in blood running from his head. Judging by his almost drowsy demeanor, she assumed it could possibly stem from a head injury…a concussion at the very least, though too early to tell. However, whatever tired look he held did little to halt his questioning.

"Woman," she heard him mumble as he was drifting off.

"Sleep, Vegeta." Bulma told him. If it was a head injury, he should stay awake for observation, but she knew he'd be intolerable. As it was, she was in no mood to listen to his insults or whatever else he would spew at her now.

"Why did you push me away?" He asked, ignoring her demand. "You let me believe you wanted me," his speech sounded almost drunk, which she assumed to be delirium from the pain.

"Sleep, Vegeta." She repeated; she wasn't sure if even he knew what he was talking about.

"You accepted me," he continued, with the last thought weighing heavily on his mind before he lost focus on what he was doing and destroyed the GR. "Why would you toy with me?"

"Look Vegeta," Bulma said exasperatedly as she unconsciously began pressing harder angrily against his wounds. "I don't know what you are talking about. I didn't accept anything. I even bit you to try and get you to stop! How much clearer could I have been with you?"

"You bit me," he agreed, eyes still closed. "Your acceptance."

Bulma stopped her movements as she felt her face pale. She quickly grabbed Vegeta's face by the cheeks as she tried to get him to focus enough to look at her. "Vegeta, are you saying biting is a way Saiya-jins consent to having sex?"

"Baka," she could have sworn the man chuckled before he winced slightly in pain. "Not just consent… desire," he purred the last word lustfully.

Bulma felt her head drop slightly as she put the pieces together. "Under your customs, I led you on," Bulma whispered as she finally realized why he had acted so furiously, "Oh Vegeta, I'm so sorry."

Vegeta snorted at the apology, "You should be sorry for rejecting a man of my caliber. On Vegeta-sei," he paused for a groan, "you would have been killed for such a show of disrespect! You should have been honored that I allowed some consideration for your hideous body."

Bulma's sympathy soon passed as his arrogance came shining through. "Well, if you haven't noticed, 'oh high-and-mighty prince,' we aren't on Vegeta-sei. And even if we were," she shot him a smirk that could rival his, "your consideration or not, I wouldn't sleep with you if we were the last two compatible being in the universe!"

Vegeta failed to suppress his laughter as the woman spoke. "I suppose that's a good idea," he slowed his laughing as they were beginning to turn into coughs, "I'm sure a pathetic creature like you couldn't handle me anyway."

"Excuse me?!" Bulma roared as she slammed the cloth she was using to clean his wounds none too gently on to his chest. "Who the hell do you think you are making that kind of assumption? I'll have you know I'm amazing in bed--it's you, I'd imagine, who is grossly lacking in that area!"

Vegeta only continued to laugh at her response. "You know nothing of my abilities woman. I am more skilled than you can ever imagine."

Bulma rolled her eyes, "well, I'd hope so. I mean you couldn't possibly fail at everything you do."

Vegeta's eyes opened enough to narrow at her words. "Watch what you say woman," he snarled, "I might just have to teach you another lesson."

"Oh?" Bulma asked, as she was far from being ready to show him her fear. "Even with all the pain you're in from blowing up the GR? I doubt you have enough strength left to--"

Before she could finish her assumption he had her by the wrist, pressed up against his chest. "On my death bed woman, I'd be stronger than a pathetic creature such as you."

Bulma glared at him as she tried to twist her hands away. "Fine, you proved your point," she admitted reluctantly as she could have sworn he was enjoying this.

"You really need to learn to hold your tongue woman, it will get you killed one day." Vegeta continued in the same humorous tone.

"Right," Bulma forced a smile, "Can I have my hands back now?"

"Are you sure you want them back?" he whispered with a slight smirk.

Bulma was about to give him a very solid 'no' when she began to feel his thumbs stroking the insides of her palms. Normally she would have though nothing of such an innocent motion, but his caresses were moving to such a sensual rhythm she felt strangely weakened. Her body unconsciously drifted towards him as she suddenly felt he held some power over her that she found oddly irresistible.

"No answer?" He whispered in purring manner.

"Vegeta," she breathed heavily. 'It's the rut,' she kept telling herself. 'It's probably some pre-horny mindset that is kicking in,' she was determined to remain strong before they did something both would regret. "I want my hands back."

"You're not very convincing," Vegeta whispered as he separated her hands and then brought both towards his lips, he extended his tongue slowly and gently ran the tip over one wrist, and then the other.

Bulma felt herself shake as her eyes drifted shut. "Now you are playing with me," she whispered almost sadly, as she was beginning to think he was trying to pay her back for earlier. She wondered why she was falling for it.

"Yes, I am," he whispered, as he once again commenced with stroking her palms. "But not as you're suggesting."

By this point Bulma's face was mere inches from Vegeta's as her mind screamed for her to move away, all the while her body telling her differently. "I don't want this," she whispered.

"Then leave," he shot back challengingly.

Bulma felt his grip loosen enough so that if she wanted to, she could leave. She didn't however. She stayed frozen as she watched his eyes drift open and shut slowly. His weakened movements were almost hypnotic. She didn't feel any fear like the last time he held her trapped like this. She felt curiosity more than anything.

With fierce courage Bulma closed the gap between their mouths as she placed her gentle lips atop his own. She felt him immediately respond as he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Bulma's eyes slid shut as she moved her freed hands to his neck as she pressed her chest against his. She felt his arms wrap around her waist as the two locked together.

Their kiss was gentle in delivery, but the desire behind it was immense. It was so different than before. He wasn't demanding, but more appeasing, and she was far from afraid, she was wanting. The length in which they remained locked together was unclear, but Bulma soon felt Vegeta's response slip away to nothing as his grip on her loosened. Bulma smiled as she pulled away to look into his eyes, but was shocked to find them completely closed. "Vegeta?" Bulma asked, as she shook his shoulder.

After a few moments she heard a sound close to that of a snore. She gaped at his unconscious figure. "I don't believe this!" she voiced her shock as she angrily eyed the sleeping man. She could just imagine the smirk on his face when he would awaken, as she could almost hear the sarcastic remarks that would follow. 'I know I'm not that boring of a kisser!' she thought confidently.

Bulma huffed before she rose from the bed and reluctantly went to grab the rest of her supplies to finish dressing his wounds. She grumbled as she attended to the injured Saiya-jin, 'he wasn't that great himself.'

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Author's note: Ouch, that has to sting a little. Ok, so they made up… sorta. The next chapter is the dreaded rut. How will our pair deal with the events? Find out in the next chapter…