Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Princess WHO of WHERE?!? ❯ A Real Kylarian Woman ( Chapter 27 )

Bulma took special care with her appearance that day. She took a long, leisurely bath alone, since Eighteen and Chi Chi were nowhere around. The soap she used was scented with jasmine and the fragrance wreathed her like a warm embrace. She also took the time to wash her hair and have one of the servant brush her hair until it was nearly dry, before indulging in a massage with jasmine scented oil.

She ignored all the talk around her, thought she was more than capable of listening to each and every conversation. Mostly they all speculated on how Bulma had managed to snare Vegeta and why `they', who had been in the harem much longer, hadn't been able to do so.

Bulma briefly wondered if she should attire herself in the clothing she was first given when she arrived here, but decided against it.

`If Vegeta wanted me dressed like that, I'm sure he wouldn't have replaced my original clothing.'

She did make sure her regular clothing was neat and spotless, with time to make her walk to Vegeta's tower just as leisurely as her bath.

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Vegeta was standing on the balcony of his sitting room staring into the red and gold streaked sky when Bulma arrived. He had gotten some other servants to clean his rooms and have anything that was broken replaced, as well as having his cleaned clothing brought up.

His mind was reeling furiously at the events of the past couple of days. Never in his wildest dreams would he have imagined that a female would have such an impact on his life. On one day, he imagined himself a bachelor, not chained to any female, spending all of his time training legions of men, loyal only to him, his undefeatable fighting techniques. And the next, he was wondering how long she would take to agree to be his mate and what their pups would look like. He growled in frustration. There was no one to blame.

`So this is what falling in love is all about. I wonder if this is what Father felt for Mother? Or even the Queen?' he thought.

"Vegeta?" he heard Bulma call from inside.

He turned to see his future mate waiting inside. She stood with her hands clasped in front of her in her usual clothing, but her hair was perfectly coiffed into a single tail high atop her head and shone with a light all its own. Her natural scent mingled with something pleasant and flowery; a combination that made Vegeta promise himself that she would have an endless supply of the soap she bathed with.

Bulma couldn't tell what Vegeta was thinking, but she knew he wasn't displeased because his brow was smooth rather than furrowed. She offered him a shy smile while her tail swished back and forth, betraying her obvious happiness.

"I'm here as you requested," she said with a sweetness she had forgotten she possessed.

"I had no doubts," he responded.

He went inside to stand before her, WAY into her personal space, their chests nearly touching. Bulma met his eyes without a bit of shyness or hesitation. What one must have seen in the other's eyes must have been fascinating as they both remained that way for quite some time. Vegeta was the first to break away, walking to the door.

"Come. There is something we must do."

Bulma followed without question and they quickly descended from his tower. At first, Bulma wasn't sure where he was leading her, but soon the path was becoming familiar.

"We're going to see your Father?" she asked nervously.

"Yes."

Bulma reddened a little before she could manage to say anything else. "You….you aren't going to tell him about us, are you?"

"Of course. Why shouldn't I?" he said over his shoulder, not slowing at all from his usual brisk pace. Had he glanced back at her he would have seen the thoroughly mortified look on her face.

"But doesn't he already think that we're, um, `sharing covers'?" she asked, tying to come up with an excuse, ANY excuse, to not go before Vegeta's father and announce that they were sleeping together.

"Perhaps," Vegeta responded. "I already know that's what he's assuming."

Bulma grabbed Vegeta's arm, stopping them both in the corridor that led to the harem. "Then why say anything? Vegeta, it may be okay with you, but this isn't the kind of life I was brought up to live! I won't be thought of as you personal whore!"

Vegeta's eyes narrowed. "Who said that you were?"

"No one's said it, but I know that's what they're thinking."

"Woman," he used the arm Bulma gripped tightly to pull her into his arms, "who cares what anyone thinks. Are you suddenly so concerned about everyone's opinions on your habits?"

"No, but -," she began.

"No buts!" he snapped. "Either you do or you don't."

Bulma couldn't come up with a sure answer, while deep down, she knew she didn't care what other people thought about her. She would snap her fingers in the face of anyone who tried to talk down to her. Bulma's problem was the circumstances of the relationship, though she couldn't exactly tell Vegeta that. She had always imagined that when she found someone, that they would have a normal relationship. You know they would meet and after learning that they shared many similar interests, he would ask her parents permission to court her. He would then sweep her off her feet with charming compliments and gifts, not to mention impress her with his fighting prowess. Then if everything went well, they would marry, have many children and live happily ever after.

So much for preconceived plans.

Vegeta had already walked off, continuing his previous course, not waiting for an answer. From her actions, he knew what she wanted even if she herself wasn't sure. Hopefully, what he was about to do would convince her of his sincerity of cementing her relationship.

He felt, rather than heard, her rejoin him. Her movements were always silent. He practical and more primal side appreciated that quality and he subconsciously congratulated himself on choosing such an excellent mate. He figured she had finally come to terms with her ridiculous ideas of propriety.

They arrived at a set if dark double doors of average height. Vegeta went in without pausing to knock and Bulma followed behind. Lord Vegeta's estate room was one of the few places that gave evidence that a man of great intelligence resided here. The room was rectangular shaped with the walls of the two longest parallel to each other and packed with books from floor to ceiling and that was no small amount considering that the room was two storied. The shelving and walls not filled with books were dark paneled and those were covered with artwork from their native land.

"So, this is the choice you've finally come to, my son?" came a deep, disembodied voice out of nowhere, surprising the two.

Vegeta and Bulma looked around, not finding a soul in evidence.

"Father?" Vegeta called.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," it came again.

This time Bulma was able to discern a location. Her eyes darted upward and along the wall to the left and behind finally locating Vegeta's father. How they had missed him, she didn't know. Maybe because she hadn't expected to see a grown man clinging to a second story wall like a fly, perusing a volume from the shelves. Bulma gasped and Vegeta, hearing her gasp, followed her line of sight. Once he saw his father, he clapped his hand over his eyes in embarrassment.

"Father would you mind coming down?" he growled out.

"I was wondering how long it would take before anyone noticed me," said Lord Vegeta. He then released the wall, somersaulted in the air and landed on his feet gracefully.

Bulma was impressed. He was quite agile for someone who appeared so physically mature. She could see where Vegeta got it form and hoped he would retain his as well as he got older.

"Your female there has some quick senses," he said gesturing at Bulma. "Always a good sign. She'll give you strong pups, my son," he patted his son approvingly on the shoulder as he walked by and continues on to his desk.

Vegeta was now shaking his head, not believing his Father's behavior. Normally, his Father saved his peculiar vagaries for private company, but here he was showing out in front of an unknown servant (well at least that's how his Father should have seen her).

Bulma could only blush. This wasn't the impression of Lord Vegeta she had maintained in his absence. He was acting like an elder losing his wits. Only mortification at implied procreation kept her from laughing.

"So, pup," Lord Vegeta said, referring to his son with a name he hadn't heard in years, "what brings you here?"

"If you don't mind, `Father', you can cease the childish name-calling. I'm here to make sure you fulfill a previous request."

"Previous request?"

Vegeta placed a hand on Bulma's back, ushering her forward between himself and his father's desk. "I asked you to remove the collar from this female's neck well over a fortnight ago, yet you've done nothing."

Bulma's jaw nearly dropped to her chest. She turned to look at Vegeta, but his eyes were focused on his father. She turned back to face Lord Vegeta who also didn't seem to be paying her any attention. Her eyes dropped to stare at the top of her boots, her mind working furiously to clear itself.

`Is this true? He really wants his father to remove the collar? Why did he change his mind? It can't be just because we slept together because he just said he had asked him to remove it before. Maybe he's just tired of carrying me to his training sessions, but if it was that why take me at all or why not come up with an alternate means of transportation?'

"Yes, you did," Lord Vegeta said, breaking Bulma's train of thought. "However, when I did find the time, neither of you were to be found and I was not going to go out of my way."

Vegeta nodded in agreement.

"So," Lord Vegeta began while stroking his bearded chin, an odd gleam in his eye, "is this the one?"

"Perhaps," his son answered vaguely.

Lord Vegeta laughed at that. "You can lie to yourself, my son, but not to me!"

Bulma, not catching the meaning of the conversation just listened to the father and son. Once Lord Vegeta contained his amusement, he folded his hands over his stomach to consider the pair. After watching her for so long, there was no doubt in his mind that this was the daughter of his dear friends. Her appearance had at first startled and then angered him over the loss of the fair Kalyndra's hand, but he ignored it as mere coincidence. Soon after observing subtle gestures and mannerisms, he knew that her mother could only be one female. He wondered how she had gotten here. He had heard of the cub's disappearance, but never in his wildest dreams have imagined that she would turn up in HIS harem, wanted to be taken to mate by HIS son!

He nearly began laughing again; Boy, would that drive Zotian mad! He had lost Kalyndra to Zotian and now Zotian was going to lose his only girl cub to his son! A small chuckle finally did escape.

"Well?" Vegeta asked impatiently.

Lord Vegeta wondered briefly if he should tell his son who she was, but decided against it. There was no point in him knowing he was mating with the Heir to the Kylarian throne. They would never return to Kylaria.

"Very well, then," he rose from his seat and rounded his desk.

He stood before Bulma and for the first time she noticed the very significant height difference between Vegeta and his father. The top of her head only came to the top of his shoulder; she had to look up, straining her neck, to look him in the face. He was looking return with the most unfathomable look in his eye.

"Are you ready?" he asked, placing his hands around her neck, though about two or three inches away.

Bulma nodded and was now, for the first time, nervous.

"Boy, come steady her," he commanded Vegeta, who quickly complied by standing behind her and clasping her waist firmly. "You may experience some discomfort," Lord Vegeta warned her before he began mumbling the incantations.

The words didn't seem to be Kylarian so Bulma had no clue as to what he was saying. A humming noise quickly filled her ears and it increased quickly. Had she been able to watch, she would have seen Lord Vegeta's hands glowing, but in any case, her eyes were closed and she couldn't see anything. Her ears were laid back against her skull trying to shut out the noise that was now becoming an increasingly unbearable screech, but it didn't help because the noise was actually in her mind. The urge to fall to the ground and bury her entire head was hard to ignore and only Vegeta's strong hands kept her from doing so. Her neck then began to burn and the feeling spread throughout her entire body, so she instinctually began to thrash, trying to shake away whatever was causing it.

Had she been able to hear anything other than that incessant screeching, she would have heard Lord Vegeta yell, "HOLD HER, BOY!" over the torrential winds that battered his study. Books and papers flew about everywhere as if the room was besieged by a heinous storm. This was created by Bulma's own innate magic power, fighting its way free after being caged for so long. This power was completely unknown to Bulma who was doing all of this instinctually and not really aware of anything going on around her.

Vegeta did as his father bade by wrapping one arm around her chest under her arms and his other hand to steady her head. He had been present when his father had uncollared slaves before, but nothing like this had ever happened. He felt books pelting him and protected Bulma from as many as he could, but most seemed to avoid her anyway. She had never told him that she possessed any magical ability. Had she been holding back? Or maybe she herself hadn't known? After all, she had been raised by humans.

The winds continued to whip even as he noticed the first signs that his father was nearly complete. He felt her body mass changing: musculature developing or receding, the faint tickle of emerging body hair, not to mention her trying to bow over to take a more natural four footed stance. Suddenly, the collar released with a tiny click, falling apart into two halves into his father's waiting hands. The winds stopped as well, dropping whatever they carried abruptly. Vegeta's father stepped away, which allowed him to release Bulma and continue her previously retrained shift into her natural form. Her body, now coated in fur the exact color of her hair, quickly grew four times its current size, destroying her clothing in the process. She laid on the floor writhing as if in pain as her limbs shortened proportionally, her legs becoming haunched and her fingers and toes shortened and formed wicked claws at the tips. Her human hair became the ruff around her neck and an odd upright crest atop her head. The lines that had gone previously unnoted on her back, thickened and criss-crossed her back, sides and tail in a blue dark enough to be black. Her face had developed an elegant snout with sharp canines protruding slightly past her jaw. A few more stripes also danced across the top of her head, down her forehead and to her nose.

By the time she was finished the miniscule distance Vegeta and his father had occupied had grown considerably. Vegeta looked from Bulma's unconscious natural form to his father's worn out one accusingly.

"What the hell just happened?!" he yelled, gesturing to the wrecked study.

Lord Vegeta waited until he caught his breath, placing both halves of the collar in one hand. He ran his fingers through his upright hair, returning it to its normal orientation, and shrugged. "She must possess an untrained magical ability."

He returned to his recently vacated seat and regarded his son with hooded eyes. He hoped he was up to the challenge of dealing with a real Kylarian woman.