Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Potential ❯ Rabbits Chasing Lions ( Chapter 13 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Potential

Chapter 13: Rabbits chasing Lions

Hey kids. Chapter 13 is here (finally!) and as you know, I aim to please. I received a lot of wonderful reviews and emails on the previous two chapters (THANK YOU!) and ran to the computer as soon as I could to post. Yet again, this will be almost like a mini-chapter, and the next one will be up ASAP. Be sure to keep checking for it.

Well, to make a long story short (oh no! A pun!) Here it is!

Remember….Strong R rating for adult situations!

Standard disclaimers apply. I do not own DBZ or any of its characters, nor do I own the rights to any work by Mary Ellen Gronau.

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Chapter 13: Rabbits chasing Lions

Sitting in her room was worse than prison.

Bulma had decided that long ago. But the waiting was what made it so bad. As the evening came, Bulma stared at the door, half expecting Vegeta to open it and in his typical snobby manner, remind her that she was to join him for dinner.

Her hopes were soon dashed when her door opened at that time with none other than Tamahome carrying a large tray of food.

“My Lady,” he bowed.

Bulma returned the gesture and sat down on the bed, her disappointment getting the best of her.

Tamahome could not help but notice her unfortunate disposition, and felt a pang of guilt at the thought that he was somehow responsible for all of this.

“My Lady, Lord Vegeta told me to apologize for his absence, but that he and some of his commanders are using the dining area as a conference room.”

Bulma's head jerked up slightly at the mention of Vegeta's name. Conference room?

“What are they discussing, Tamahome?”

The young soldier stared at the princess for a moment before giving her an answer. It was the first time she had called him by his name.

“They are trying to figure out a way to use your identity to their advantage, My Lady,” he said dejectedly.

Bulma could feel the tears that were now dangerously close to spilling over. So the reason Vegeta had kept her was just to use her as a tool against his uncle? Bulma tried her best to ignore the knot in her stomach at the thought of his motives being anything else.

Tamahome immediately regretted telling her the lie, but he had no choice. He was only doing as Vegeta had told him to do. Tamahome knew very well that at that moment, Vegeta was sitting in his private study, drinking a large goblet of strong wine as he tried to wash down his immediate troubles. The princess's deception had taken a large toll on the prince.

“You know, Princess,” Tamahome whispered cheerfully as he sat next to her on the bed, “Prince Vegeta is not a bad man.”

Bulma lifted her tear-streaked face to Tamahome and gave him a weak smile.

“I know, Tamahome.”

“With all do respect, Princess, there is still much about him that you don't know, that most of us do not know.”

Once again, Bulma gave the soldier, who was perhaps a year or so younger than herself a strange look.

“Are you trying to tell me something, Tamahome?” she asked slowly, unsure of the man's motives.

Tamahome flashed her a grand smile and moved himself closer.

“What I am going to tell you, I never told anyone before, Princess. Please do the same and say nothing, not even to my Lord?”

Bulma nodded her head in agreement.

“When I was a boy of about 11, I lived with my father and six brothers and sisters on a small farm. We were very poor, but we were happy.

One day, my father became very ill, and could not leave his bed. Myself being the eldest, I was forced to go out and find food. After many days of searching, I came upon a camp full of soldiers. Knowing that this could be my only chance, I snuck into the camp and tried to steal a bag of food rations to bring home to my family.

I was nearly out of the camp when I was caught by a wicked soldier who felt it was his `responsibility' to teach me a lesson. He beat me until I couldn't walk.”

Bulma brought a hand to her face in horror at this point in the story. She could not understand how a man could come to harm a child who just wanted food for his family.

“The soldier was about to kill me when another man came along and saved me. This man was much smaller than the other man, but much deadlier. He killed my tormentor, and took me in, allowing me to take whatever food I wanted to give to my family. I owe this man my life, and intend to give it at any time for any cost. Prince Vegeta was that man.”

Bulma looked at him disbelievingly. She had never known Vegeta to be cruel towards children, but she had never known him to show kindness either. For some reason she felt goose bumps all over her skin at the thought of him doing such a noble deed.

“Do you see, your highness? This is why his soldiers love him so. He may be a man of steel and fire, but underneath his shell he does care for his people.”

Bulma nodded her head in understanding. The soldier was right. Vegeta had done almost the same for her in taking her hand in marriage, even though he had nothing to gain from marrying a commoner, or so he had thought.

For the first time, Bulma felt the weight of true guilt on her shoulders at the thought that Vegeta had not once deceived her in all this time.

Tamahome stood and headed for the door.

“Remember, Princess. He is only a man.”

With this he walked out the door and left Bulma to her thoughts.

Tamahome was not the only visitor Bulma received that night.

Launch had come by to tell her of Radditz's attack on Frieza, and how Vegeta had stopped him. Radditz also came by to check on her, followed by a visit from young Gohan, who had heard the news and snuck past the guards to visit his close friend, the princess.

Then, at close to midnight, Prince Vegeta quietly opened the door.

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All night long, the Saiyan Prince had been brooding over his next challenge.

He was not so concerned about Frieza, not yet. Right now, he knew his greatest challenge would be to lie in bed with his wife, without laying a finger upon her.

Vegeta dreaded the idea, but he knew that his comrade had been right. The only way to win the loving ministrations and trust of the Princess was to let her come to him.

The Prince slammed down his goblet of wine, and stood up defiantly. He may not like the idea, but he would have to carry through with it if he ever wanted to make his marriage to Bulma work.

He had consumed a bit of wine, but had been sure to stop so that he had enough sense to carry out his strategy. Vegeta knew this would be difficult enough sober.

When he had finally mustered enough sense to go to his room, he did so, opening the door as quietly as possible, praying that Bulma was asleep.

It seemed his prayers were answered. The Princess lay motionless on her side of the bed. It was too dark to see if her eyes were open, but in his state of mind, it was better to assume they were.

Carefully removing his clothes down to a pair of training shorts, he slowly lifted the covers and slid into the bed, making extra care not to make even the slightest bit of physical contact with the princess.

When he finally nestled his way in, he found that sleep did not come easily, no matter what state of mind you're in when a woman so beautiful is laying next to you. He turned on his side to try to get more comfortable, but in doing so, accidentally came face to face with his wife.

If she was sleeping, she was very quiet. Vegeta could not tell if her eyes were open or not, but the moonlight that shone through the window did a good job of reminding him how perfectly her skin shimmered in any light.

Even her nightgown betrayed the serenity of the room in garnering all of the attention to the curvature of cleavage exposed. Vegeta was certain he was going to have to tie his hands together to keep from reaching out towards her.

The situation became worse when Bulma switched sleeping positions and wound up with her leg on top of his, stoking it innocently, or when her hand found its way to his chest…accidentally of course.

It was pure torture for the prince.

Little did he know, his bedmate was very, very awake.

Bulma had tried to feign sleep as her husband snuck into the room, afraid of his reaction if she had tried to speak to him. At first she had tried to keep her eyes squeezed shut, so as not to be tempted to speak to him.

That plan didn't last very long. When she lost her war with her conscience and allowed a quick peek, she caught a glimpse of the well-sculpted bronze chest of her husband as he pulled his shirt over his head. Instantly, memories of his body melting with hers came to mind, and she could scarcely contain her desire for him to get into bed and let his hands explore her entire body.

She was sorely disappointed when that moment didn't come.

Vegeta had merely climbed into bed and gone to sleep.

Bulma for some reason felt dissatisfied with this and tried to innocently remind him that his wife was laying in bed next to him. Bulma tried everything, from rubbing her leg against his, placing her palm on his chest, even going so far as nestling her face in the crook of his neck.

Nothing.

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The next day was no better. It seemed that now Vegeta not only ignored her, he went out of his way to avoid her.

When Bulma had awakened, Vegeta was already gone. Slamming her body down on the bed in utter frustration, her emotions were strained even more as his scent rose up from the pillows and sheets. Her husband was driving her mad.

Bulma got up and went to her dresser to prepare for the day, and was surprised to find a note left for her from Vegeta. It read:

Princess,

Your room is unlocked and you may now move to and fro throughout the castle grounds. If you need anything, be sure to ask Radditz or one of the servants, I will be away.

Vegeta

To say the least, Bulma was very surprised. She had never pictured Vegeta to be the type to leave notes, but then again, she had never pictured anyone like Vegeta.

Bulma was glad to be freed from the solitude of her room, but was utterly devastated to learn that Vegeta was going to be gone for nearly a month on a campaign through the eastern lands.

Bulma shook her head dejectedly as she went about her daily routine. Now she felt that she understood. Vegeta hated her.

END OF CHAPTER 13

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Okay, so this chapter wasn't full of action, I'm sorry. If you just want action, you're reading the wrong fic! LOL, I know you will be bummed and I will get posts like “poor Vegeta, poor Bulma!” I know, I know, but without a little suffering, there is no joy! Don't worry, chapter 14 will fix everything and I'll get happy posts again! LOL