Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Pseudo Ferocity ❯ Don't Hold Your Breath ( Chapter 20 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z or any of the character appearing in the manga or television show. Nor am I making any profit off of this story.

Author's Notes: Okay, so some of you know I started university this year, some of you don't…but now you do! *giggle* Anyway, I first moved in here in September, and since about 80% of my friends from home are also here, I was always with them, and not writing…That was just plain lazy of me, so sorry. That lasted till about mid October, when mid-terms rolled in (I was about 1/3 done the chapter by then), so I was really busy studying all the time, and since the semesters are so short, by the time mid-terms were over, it was already time to start studying for finals, so that's why this chapter has taken so long to come out. A new semester has started, and I'll say it now that I'm going to put school before fanfiction, but I'll definitely try much harder to get some writing done in between so that you guys don't have to wait another 3 months for an update.

I just wanted to say thanks for being so patient, and for letting me know that even after a 3 month dead period, there are still people who are interested in this fic! And again, sorry for the long wait!!!

*Special thanks to Bulma Peacecraft and Kat8125 for beta-ing*

20: Don't hold your breath.

One black eye snapped open, but it was hardly visible, so deep was the frown on Vegeta's face. Half a moment after that, he was standing, having thrown off the covers and stood all in one fluid movement. One, two, three quick strides and he was at the door, hand poised to turn the knob and dismember whatever fool had knocked on the door.

"Vegeta…" a timid voice came from the rumpled bed, "don't you think you should at least put on pants before you answer the door?" He looked over at Bulma, then down at himself, and shrugged.

"I suppose so." He bent down to grab his jeans, slipping them up over his legs.

"VEGETA! BULMA!" Ray called outside, oblivious to Sam and Max's choked warnings. He pounded on the door again, unaware that the Saiyan stood a mere inch from the other side.

"Vegeta…don't do anything rash…" Bulma began, but it was lost on the prince, who took a deep breath, before throwing the door open with all his might, smashing Ray right in the face, and knocking him down in the process.

"OH FUCK!" he swore, cupping his nose in pain, while trying to stop the bleeding. "I think you broke my nose!"

"Oops. Maybe you shouldn't stand so close to the door." Vegeta turned to see Bulma peeking over his shoulder, wearing nothing but his shirt to cover herself. She gasped in dismay and made a move to help Ray, but was unable to bypass Vegeta, who stood stock still in the doorway.

Ray, hearing the sarcastic tone in the actor's voice, stood up, ready to fight. He had meant to do it! "Why you little…" he trailed off, meeting Vegeta's gaze. Suddenly his resolve was lost. He looked to the side and saw Bulma, saw her long, naked legs, saw her clothing; Vegeta's shirt, saw the way it slipped ever so slightly to the edge of her shoulder, and knew there was nothing underneath. He realized his mistake instantly, and took a step backward, away from the muscled little man.

"You'd better get yourself to a medic, don't you think?" Vegeta asked, coldly gesturing toward Ray's nose.

"Uh, yeah, I'd better." He stammered, "We'll uh, catch up later…or something…I guess." He turned and walked briskly away, trying to stay as dignified as he possibly could; not an easy feat for a man with a bright red face and blood streaming out of his nose. The others followed quickly, not wishing to face Vegeta's wrath as the poor casting director had.

"Vegeta…that really wasn't nice…" Bulma said, as soon as the trailer door was closed. "And probably not a good career move either."

"Oh really?" The sarcasm was thick in his deep voice, "I think it was quite nice of me, considering what I could have done to him."

"You know, you're a real ass sometimes. That's not the way we do stuff here! You can't just go around beating the crap out of people and expecting them to like you afterward!"

"Who said anything about wanting to be liked?" Vegeta asked, pulling off his jeans and looking around for his boxers. What an uncomfortable mistake that had been!

"Ugh, you are impossible, you know that? I don't know why I even bother!" Bulma snapped, tossing her clothes on as quickly as possible. She threw Vegeta's shirt on the bed and stalked out of the trailer. "I'm going to see how Ray is doing." Was the last thing he heard before the door slammed in his face.

Vegeta rolled his eyes and continued getting dressed. Lord, how he hated Earth sometimes! All of their damn customs and rules! Frail old men were running the planet, while the young and strong were trapped in useless, dead end lives by their fool social structure. He shook his head, best not to dwell on things, and looked around the small trailer. It looked as if a tornado had ripped through in the middle of the night…and it absolutely reeked of sex.

Sex…the thought made Vegeta blush, just the tiniest imperceptible little bit. It had been…amazing. The woman had been so aggressive and loud; the thought of her naked body straddling his, their searing flesh grinding together, her moans, so passionate and sweet to his ears… Vegeta shuddered as a wave of heat washed through his body; every inch of his skin tingled, screaming for her touch.

It had been unlike anything he had ever imagined…and within her, everything seemed to disappear. Memories and thoughts were gone, it was just passion and pleasure, giving and taking in ecstasy. He closed his eyes, picturing, reliving the moment again…he wanted her again, over and over forever.

"Ray…" Bulma poked her head around the door frame guiltily. "How's your nose?"

"Oh, broken and hurt as hell, but the doc said it's not too bad a break, so it shouldn't take too long to heal. Probably won't mess up my face too much either." He replied, nervously looking around for Vegeta.

"I'm really sorry Ray…Vegeta's…well…he's…I…I can't really explain. I feel really bad." She sighed, sitting on the hospital bed next to him.

"Hey, don't worry 'bout it Bulma. I've had a lot worse in my time. I knew the guy had a temper," he laughed, "it's why I hired him."

It wasn't until much later that night that Vegeta saw Ray, with his bruised swollen face, a thick white bandage pasted across the top of his nose. He wanted very badly to keep walking, to just ignore what he had done, but Bulma's words came back to him, edging his conscience out of the little hidey-hole in his mind. You can't just go around beating the crap out of people and expecting them to like you afterward! "Ugh, humans…" he grumped, and made his way over to the injured casting director…after all, he did owe Ray his job.

"Oh, Vegeta…nice to see you."

"How is it?" The Saiyan demanded, gesturing toward Ray's bandaged nose.

"Oh, it'll be fine in the end."

"I…" Sorry…he couldn't bring himself to say the words. "I could have done a lot worse. You're lucky." He snapped instead, before stalking off. Ray turned to the sound of a soft, feminine giggle behind him.

"That means he's sorry." Bulma laughed, "But don't hold your breath waiting to hear him actually say it."

"All's forgiven." Ray said, wryly, and made a mental note not to cast any more psychos for movies that he was going to be directly involved in.

"Hey Bulma!" Both turned to see Marille heading toward them. "Bulma, have you got a spare minute? I need you to come and try on your gown for the final scene!"

"Oh, sure Marille, no problem! I don't think we're shooting any of the queen's scenes today, are we?"

"Nope! Now come on!" The dainty costume designer grabbed the sleeve of her shirt and practically dragged her off. "Max has been on my ass for a week now about this damn gown, but it was his dumb idea to start shooting before all the costumes were complete…ugh, directors!" She continued raving for a moment, before stopping quite suddenly in her tracks. "Say, what happened to Ray's nose?"

"So Vegeta, you ready to start?" Max asked as the Saiyan came out of the makeshift dressing rooms. Vegeta nodded. "Good. Now, for this scene, remember you've been playing about as Satan for about five hundred years now and you're just a little bit crazy…not like, loopy crazy, but just a little off your rocker, right?" Vegeta nodded again. "Okay, so finally you're seeing what you think is the reincarnation of Aria and-"

"I know what's going on." Vegeta snapped, cutting him off. "Now can we just get the scene done?" Max nodded.

Vegeta stood, silent and still, staring into a pool of murky water. He was in a cave-like setting, walls, floor and ceiling all made of rock, but in the background, one could see an ornately carved wooden chair, a matching table, and a few other nondescript items that one may expect to find in Hell's Palace.

"Show me," Vegeta hissed, staring intently into the pool, "Show me where she is, damn you!" His voice rose to a thundering yell, and he slammed his fist against the nearby wall, cracking the rock.

"He wasn't supposed to do that." A stagehand whispered.

"Shush; look at the effect of anguish and power he's creating!" Max whispered back, and then turned his eyes back to the actor.

Vegeta grimaced slightly; he hadn't meant to break the set…someone would definitely yell at him for that later. No one had yelled 'cut' yet though, so he drew his arm against himself, cradling his fist in his other hand and working it into the scene. He seemed very calm and serene. "Damn you!" He shouted up at the roof in anguish. "You're doing this, aren't you? Show me! Show me where she is! I did nothing to deserve this!" He fell to his knees, pounding at the ground, screaming and growling in a rage.

He sat, after a moment, breathing heavily, staring murderously into the pond, willing it to show him what he desired to see. He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing back actor's tears, and peered once again at the water, to see it rippling and changing. There was a girl, in its depths, looking for all the world as if she had drowned there.

Vegeta's breathing grew faster and more erratic, and he jumped up, never taking his eyes off the girl's face. "Who is she? Where can I find her? I must know! I must find her!" He crouched down and took off one glove, reaching his hand out toward the apparition's cheek. "My love…I will find you and at last…we will be together…" His fingers touched the water, and she was gone.

Of course, she had never really been there in the first place. That sort of thing would be added in later, with computer animation.

"Great scene Vegeta, very good job with the improvisation; I really liked the bit with the wall. Very emotional." Max said, coming up to the actor. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to make a quick change to the next scene…"

Two days and several scenes later, Vegeta stood on set, pondering the next scene. Bulma sat off to the side; he found himself happy to see her, as she had gone home to work the evening of their coupling and he had not seen her since. Her arrival that morning had been rather awkward for him; he hadn't been quite sure how to act around her, and it had been an immense relief that Max had prodded everyone to work so quickly.

In the next scene Vegeta would have to kiss someone…and it was not Bulma. He didn't quite like the thought of it…Kali was…well, she was pleasant and pretty, but he didn't know her well at all…and besides that, she was not Bulma.

There was a strange sickness in the pit of his belly, and it irritated him to know that it was not the thought of intimacy that bothered him, but more so the thought of betraying the woman. It wasn't as if he could simply refuse to do the scene though…it was a very important scene.

"Okay crew, let's get rolling here!" Max shouted, snapping Vegeta out of his thoughts. "Places please, people! Kali, remember, you're confused and scared. Vegeta, you're determined, angry, and just a little nuts!"

Kali giggled at Max's comment, and smiled prettily over at Vegeta. "I always get butterflies in my stomach before kissing scenes, don't you?" Vegeta shrugged and grunted, taking his place on set. Butterflies…it was more like spaceships were blasting around in his stomach.

Bulma scowled at the actress from her chair off set. "Ooh, look at me Vegeta, I get butterflies! Ooh!" she mimicked nastily to herself around a mouthful of blueberry danish.

"What was that Bulma?" Max asked, turning around.

"Oh, nothing." She smiled sweetly and took a sip of her coffee. "I was just muttering lines to myself. You know, to help me remember."

"Who…who are you?" Kali's voice was shaky. "What is this place?" She looked around, terrified.

"Hm…"Vegeta snorted, "I suppose it makes sense that you wouldn't remember right away…You didn't know me any of the other times either," he laughed darkly, "not consciously at least. But your soul, my dear Aria, is always drawn to me."

"Who's Aria? Buddy, I think you've got the wrong girl. I've never met you before in my life!"

"Oh, not in this life, of course not." He laughed, reaching a hand out to stroke her trembling chin. "I shall enlighten you, my dear girl." He snarled at her as she tried to jerk her chin away. "My name is Dominic Satayn, and I suppose you could say we are in Hell."

"S…Satan? Oh God, this is some weird kind of dream!" she shrieked, "I'm getting out of here!" She turned suddenly away from him, taking a few steps before being captured.

"Get back here!" he roared, yanking her back by the arm and slamming her against the wall. "I've waited 500 damned years to find you, and now that I have, I'm not letting you go anywhere!" Kali cowered in his arms, letting out a cry of pain, and *Dominic's* face fell immediately.

"You're hurting me" she whimpered.

"I…I didn't mean it Aria." He broke into a half sob as his hands roamed her body, running up and down her arms in an attempt to soothe the pain. "Forgive me, forgive me, I'm so sorry," he sobbed, growing ever closer; "I didn't mean to hurt you. I would never hurt you Aria." He was almost yelling then, before his voice dropped into a very quiet whisper. "I wouldn't ever hurt you Aria…I lived for you…I died for you…for 500 years, my love, and we shall be together forever, my love…" He continued babbling, half whispering, half crying in a crazed jumble as his face drew closer to hers.

Kali shrank back into the wall as his lips met hers, ever so gently.

"Aaaand CUT!"

Vegeta tore his lips away immediately, resisting the urge to spit, and took a few steps to distance himself from the actress. Bulma breathed out a shaky sigh of relief; she had anxiously watched the entire scene, clenching and unclenching her fists nervously. She had wondered since first reading the script, how she would react to seeing Vegeta kiss another woman, and the thought had been driving her mad since two days ago. Give yourself a pat on the back; she thought to herself, picking up her mug of coffee, you handled that rather well.

"I think I'd like to try that scene again," Max mused to himself, while Bulma's hands clenched tightly around the mug of scalding hot coffee. "The kiss wasn't quite right." He nodded to himself, unaware of the stricken look on Bulma's face. "Vegeta, I think we need to do that one over again." Bulma felt her muscles tighten up dangerously.

Vegeta looked long and hard at Max, his eyes narrowed down to tiny slits. "No," he said, "that one was good enough." Job or no job, he wasn't kissing that puny little girl again. It wasn't that she was unpleasant…not at all. In fact, if he hadn't met Bulma first, he might have even found himself attracted to her…but he didn't like the way it made him feel to kiss her.

Max blinked, unsure of how to respond to Vegeta's bold declaration. He stuttered and sputtered for a moment, before finally mumbling "Oh…Okay, I guess," sounding almost puzzled. "If you think it was good…"

Bulma managed to stop herself from throwing her mug of coffee at his head, just in time.

There's the chapter, sorry again for the lateness!

Mp3 of the Day: Today, I'm going with a song from the Escaflowne movie. It's called "Sora's Song" or "Sora's Folktale" but either one should yield some results. For the artist, type in either Escaflowne or Yoko Kanno.