Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Inappropriate Behavior ❯ Conflicting Choices ( Chapter 3 )

Inappropriate Behavior

by Ginia

Part 3 ~ Conflicting Choices

After a night of tossing and turning, Bulma realized she would get no peace until she settled a few things in her own mind. ~'OK, Girl, snap out of it! You can't possibly be attracted to Vegeta! He's a homicidal, egotistical jerk - who just happens to be absolutely gorgeous!'

"ARGH!! I must be insane!" she shouted to the empty room. Just the thought of Vegeta's dark eyes sent another wave of heat through Bulma's body. As much as she might have wished otherwise, there was no avoiding the simple fact that Vegeta turned her on - big time.

As Bulma dressed for the day, she found herself leaving an extra button open on her shirt to better display her ample cleavage. ~'Well, why not? I'm definitely going to be looking at him, it can't hurt to give him something to look back at now, can it?' With a last check in the mirror, Bulma adjusted the position of her hip hugging shorts and headed to the kitchen for breakfast and maybe an accidental encounter with Vegeta.

Mrs. Briefs was alone in the kitchen, just finishing up the dishes from Vegeta's enormous morning meal. "Good morning, sweetheart," chirped the ever-chipper woman, "Would you like some pancakes?"

"Morning, mom, no thanks - Vegeta's already training, huh?" Her mom nodded as Bulma dug through the refrigerator. Selecting some yogurt and fruit, Bulma sat at the table to eat. She momentarily considered discussing her dilemma with her mom, then realized how useless that would be. Her most reliable choice to talk over problems with was Yamcha - but that was definitely out! She hadn't heard a word from Yamcha since they'd broken up and now would not be a good time to meet. Yamcha somehow always knew when she was aroused and she had no doubt that he would try to exploit the situation, broken up or not! Sighing heavily, she decided this was one problem she would just have to work out alone and she headed out to begin the day's session of repairs.

Bulma's mother watched her leave, a knowing smile and a surprisingly sneaky glint in her normally innocent eyes. ~'Now, what tempting snack can I send with Bulma for delivery to Vegeta? After all,' she giggled, 'there's no sense wasting all Bulma's effort at attracting attention on a bunch of machines!' Mrs. Briefs happily set about her task of what could not possibly be considered matchmaking! Why, of course not! She was just assisting nature!

Reaching the grounded craft, Bulma was surprised to find Vegeta inside pacing next to Professor Briefs. "Well, yes - of course Vegeta. Hmm, how about we ask Bulma to focus on the chamber's structural integrity and then get the gravity control unit rebuilt? That way you'll at least have use of the gravity chamber until the propulsion system is ready."

Vegeta just growled.

"I'm afraid that's the best I can offer, young fellow, it'll be at least 3 weeks before she's ready for space again." Professor Briefs patted the wall of the ship lovingly.

Vegeta angrily spun on his heel to storm from the ship, but as he turned he plowed smack into Bulma instead. His arms came up reflexively, catching Bulma against him before she could fall. Vegeta felt the bare skin of her waist and back under his hands. Her body was so soft and firm… abruptly Vegeta pushed Bulma away from him, dropping her onto her butt.

"Watch where you're going, woman!" he yelled as he continued out of the ship.

Bulma sat there stunned; not because of Vegeta's actions but because of the sudden firm growth she had felt pressed between their bodies in those few seconds that he had held her to him. Professor Briefs helped Bulma to her feet as anger began to take charge of her emotions.

"Who the hell does he think he is! Oooo, that - that JERK!" she screamed to her father.

"Now, Bulma - " he began, but she was already charging in the direction Vegeta had gone.

Shouting his name, Bulma found Vegeta only a short distance away, stretching in preparation for his workout. As she approached, Vegeta quickly dropped to the ground and began a set of pushups. He cursed himself silently for not having left Capsule Corp immediately after he emerged from the ship. He hadn't thought the idiotic woman would follow him and now he was stuck. Doing pushups may have been the simplest way to conceal his obvious erection, but it also left his mind open for some vivid mental pictures!

"All right, Vegeta! What's with you lately? And what's the big idea of knocking me down?" she demanded.

"Can't you see I'm training, Woman?! Get away from me!" Vegeta growled, not even glancing at Bulma.

"I can see a lot of things, Vegeta," smirked an angry Bulma. "Care to discuss a few of them?"

Vegeta's eyes flashed toward Bulma for only an instant before he continued his workout. "Baka! I have nothing to discuss with you!" Bulma just crossed her arms and stood there smiling smugly at Vegeta, awaiting the outburst she knew must come. In one fluid movement Vegeta was on his feet, surrounded by a blue glow, his back coldly toward Bulma.

"I've had enough of your fool distractions, Woman! Just repair that gravity chamber so I can train in peace!"

In a rush of air, Bulma was left alone. "I'm a distraction, huh?" whispered the grinning woman. "You have no idea of just how distracting I can be."

* * * * * *

Bulma's mind was surprisingly settled after her encounter with Vegeta. His was not.

Vegeta flew in the icy chill of high altitude, deliberately letting the cold penetrate deep into his bones. The idea that Bulma might be aware of his dishonorable attraction to her was deeply disturbing. He had previously accepted that with her fiery temper and burning tongue, Bulma was about the closest thing to a Saiyan female on this pitiful planet. Although physically weak, she was undeniably beautiful. She would have made him a most desirable Mate - if she were not already Mated, her soul already bound for eternity to another.

His decision to ignore his body's reaction to her was based on both his pride and his honor. She belonged to another. He would not degrade himself by approaching her - he couldn't. But neither could he continue to flee the area whenever she confronted him. From here on he would stand his ground. He controlled his choices, not some blasted female!

* * * * *

Later that afternoon, Yamcha came to visit Bulma. Sitting on the grass under a shady tree, Yamcha tried to apologize for his outburst earlier in the week. Bulma listened silently as he explained that he had no idea why he'd said such things to her. Finally, she spoke up.

"It's because, in the same situation, you would have fooled around," she said quietly. "No - Yamcha, wait," she interrupted when Yamcha tried to speak. "You know it's true and you also know it's been that way for a long time." They each dwelled within their own thoughts for several minutes.

"I'm sorry, Bulma, I'm so sorry," Yamcha eventually murmured in reply. They continued to sit quietly for a time until Yamcha spoke again. "This is it, then? It's really over after so many years?"

Staring into the cloudless blue sky, Bulma whispered her answer. "I think it's time, Yamcha, don't you?"

She laid her head onto his shoulder, and his arm wrapped around her waist. "You know, Bulma, you're the best friend I've ever had -" he began, his voice fading.

"That hasn't changed, Yamcha." The two friends stood, embracing each other tenderly. Yamcha stepped back and kissed Bulma's forehead before walking away.

"Don't be a stranger, Yamcha," she said. He just smiled and left.

From across the compound Vegeta glared at the seemingly cozy pair before turning his back and resuming his workout.

* * * * *

Bulma sat alone on the grass feeling sad but satisfied. This was as it should be. She sighed, then looked up, hearing her mom's voice. "Oh, Bulma!" Mrs. Briefs tittered from the kitchen window, "Can you give me a hand with something, sweetheart?" Bulma went to lend a hand.

Entering the kitchen, Bulma found her mother in the process of loading dish after dish into a large picnic basket. "What's up, mom?" she asked. "Well, honey, I thought that nice Vegeta would have come in for lunch quite a while ago. The dear man must be simply starved by now! If you have time, would you mind taking this out to him for me?" Mrs. Briefs asked sweetly.

Bulma's first impulse was that Vegeta was welcome to starve - but then she remembered his rather obvious discomfort around her, and her private decision to be absolutely the best distraction Vegeta had ever encountered.

With a huge smile, Bulma answered her mom, "Sure, no problem! Umm, did you happen to put a dessert in there for him?" she asked, looking into the basket, "Or how about some chocolate?" Ideas on how to torment Vegeta into admitting he was attracted to her danced through her mind.

Minutes later, Bulma was on her way to locate Vegeta with the basket, a box of chocolates, and a plan.

* * * * *

Vegeta had returned to his workout on the far side of the ship seething at the twist of fate that decreed once he finally desired a true mate, his perfect choice would already be united with another.

It never occurred to Vegeta how drastically his attitude had altered from that first morning he had realized his need for a mate. His view of Bulma had gradually changed from the cause of an annoying hormonal reflex, to a delicate treasure forever forbidden to him.

That very treasure approached him now, smiling and bearing a basket that smelled very interesting. Vegeta tried to ignore her as she stopped nearby spreading a large blanket which she quickly covered with a mouth-watering assortment of dishes. Even as Vegeta continued his workout, his growling stomach and quick glances betrayed his interest.

"Vegeta? I brought you some lunch, can you take a short break?" Bulma asked while filling a large plate for him. Vegeta concentrated, reminding himself that he would treat the woman no differently than her father - she was just another worker assigned to repair his ship. Completing a few more exercises Vegeta felt he was ready to face Bulma and walked toward the meal awaiting him.

Bulma reclined comfortably along one side of the blanket and smiled sweetly at Vegeta. "I even have a special treat for you after lunch," she purred as she stretched out onto her side.

Vegeta looked at her coldly and sat down to eat with one knee drawn up in front of him, the other leg bent 'Indian' style. He kept his eyes and his mind focused on the meal quickly disappearing from his plate, only to have Bulma rise and lean forward to refill his dish and also place her cleavage front and center in Vegeta's view. Filling Vegeta's plate for a third time, Bulma took special delight in noticing a bulge had begun to press outward from Vegeta's snug shorts.

With Vegeta's meal nearly complete, Bulma kneeled before him to whisper provocatively, "I have something I know you want, Vegeta." Before he had a chance to answer, Bulma brought out the box of chocolates, opened them and held them pressed to her chest level with the low opening of her shirt.

Without his expression ever changing, Vegeta reached forward and took a sweet morsel, popping it into his mouth. Bulma smiled and held the box still. Vegeta's expression may have been steady but his hand was not; the slightest tremor betrayed his unease as his eyes flicked back and forth between Bulma's soft mounds and the rich chocolate treats snuggled so close together.

When Vegeta had consumed the last of his dessert, he stood and returned to his workout without any comment. As she watched Vegeta resume his training, there was no doubt that he was aroused even though he was ignoring that rather prominent fact. Smiling, Bulma packed up the dishes and decided this round of distraction had gone quite well.

* * * * *

As the days went by, Vegeta's physical frustrations grew. He found himself watching Bulma every chance he could. She seemed to be fully aware of his observation and delighted in provoking his need any chance she had. Even with as much determination as Vegeta had, he began to fear that if the ship wasn't ready soon to free him from Bulma's torments, he would eventually fail in his resolve and betray his honor.

* * * * *

Progress was gradually being made on the gravity chamber. The structural integrity was at 100% and Bulma's repair work could now shift from within the ship to her lab for the design improvement on the control unit.

Bulma felt that progress of sorts was also being made with Vegeta. She'd found hundreds of tiny ways to flirt with him and Bulma could usually count on getting at least some form of physical response but she felt no closer to getting any kind of emotional response. Turning to catch sight of Vegeta in her lab doorway again, she decided that perhaps a bit more intensive flirting was what he needed.

Bulma felt that she had to get through to him, and soon. Constantly trying to entice Vegeta was taking its toll on her as well. Her body now ached for his attention during most of her waking hours.

Approaching him, she declared quietly, "I'm tired, Vegeta, I'm going to bed early tonight." As she passed him, she boldly let her hand drift slowly across his abdomen; she heard his breath catch but he didn't move away from her. "Care to walk me home?" she whispered in his ear.

Vegeta stood for a moment without moving, then looked her in the eyes and snarled, "If you're too stupid to find your own room, that's your problem." Abruptly he turned and walked away.

A tear slowly slipped down Bulma's cheek; briskly wiping it away she told herself, ~'Steady, Girl, just hang in there, he'll lose it soon. He has to.'

With renewed determination, Bulma retired for the night.

* * * * *

Work on the damaged ship was going far slower than Bulma would have liked. Nearly two weeks after her father had begun his modifications, the propulsion system was still scattered around his workroom. At least her task had gone a bit quicker. Bulma sighed as she finished the adjustments on the improved gravity unit. Bulma reminded herself to put an auto lock on the ship's hatch so no one could wander in while it was in use and wind up as two-dimensional art on the floor.

Without turning, she knew that her "audience" had returned yet again. Vegeta paced back and forth across the open hatchway as if trapped in a narrow cage. Sometimes he would make derogatory comments, at other times he remained silent, as he was now.

"In or out, Vegeta, you're creating a draft," stated Bulma with a hidden smile.

"Humph! How much longer must I wait, Woman! I need a hard workout!"

As Vegeta spoke, she kept her back to him, smiling and thinking of how she could use a hard workout too, but probably not the type he had in mind… or maybe it was. Turning toward Vegeta, Bulma had noticed two interesting things: first, that a 'woodie' in bike shorts is really hard to hide, and second, that if she didn't stop smiling at his discomfort, Vegeta would probably kill her.

"Don't worry, Vegeta," she seductively murmured, as she moved to stand beside him in the narrow hatchway, partically blocking his entry. "The gravity unit repairs are finished. So unless you'd like a different kind..." Bulma didn't even get to finish her proposition as Vegeta's body brushed against hers in his rush to enter the chamber. She stared after him, her body tingling from their brief contact.

I'm starting this thing up, so unless you want to find out how it works with the door open -- LEAVE!" Once the hatch was sealed he tried to calm his thoughts. There was no doubt that Bulma was deliberately inflaming his desire. Even now his body screamed for relief, but he would not yield to that weakness. He quickly adjusted the gravity control unit to 150 times normal gravity and began a virgorous training session

*****

End Part 3