Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Reconcile ❯ Reconcile Part III: Breaking the Saiya-jin Warrior Code. ( Chapter 3 )

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Reconcile Part III: Breaking the Saiya-jin Warrior Code.

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Bulma picked up the courage to look at him. "All I want to know is one thing; Tell me if the so-called 'Dark Prince' is still within you?"

He stared at her with hidden shock. How could he answer that? He didn't even know himself.

She continued over the silence, "Because if he is, then he is not the man that I fell in love with. And has no place left in my heart or home." She looked up at him in earnest as the breeze blew tendrils of blue hair across her cheek. "Answer it truthfully Vegeta because if you don't, I will know if you are lying... And then we will have nothing" Her lips trembled as she whispered the words.

A lump in Vegeta's throat stopped him from speaking out rightly. Swallowing, his throat felt rough and brittle. How could he convince her that he was no longer that way?

All he could say was the truth, but he didn't know if the truth was enough

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"Onna." He paused, rethinking his approach. Forcing back the restraint and contempt, he pulled her up from her kneeled position and made her look at him. "Bulma-" But he couldn't finish, for Bulma had backed away from his grasp in wonder and shock. He frowned, not knowing what he had done wrong, again.

"Wh-what did you call me?" She looked at him intently, expecting an answer.

Looking sideways he shrugged, still frowning. "Bulma, I-"

She interrupted him again, "You called me by my name..." Her eyes glassed over and she was faintly aware of the roaring ocean waves rolling onto the shore in the distance.

Vegeta raised his eyebrow, wondering what had gotten into her. Tilting his head, he looked at her complacently. She was acting so strange.

Bulma couldn't stand the way he was looking at her and so she turned away and looked at the never ending ocean instead. "You've never called me by my name... Not once." She didn't bring herself to look at him, she couldn't. Was this his way of showing her that he had changed? Perhaps it was, or maybe he was trying to earn some brownie points. Either way, she didn't know and didn't trust him or her judgment.

He was growing tired of her interruptions. Taking her arm, he forced her to look at him and he spoke again, hoping she would no interrupt. It was difficult enough for him to talk and open up, without having her put her two cents in. "You are mistaken-"

"How?" She frowned, her arm beginning to throb as he gripped it slightly tighter. She looked down at the sand and tried to pull her arm away unsuccessfully. "Please let go. You're hurting me." In an instant she felt his grip loosen greatly, but he did not let go of her. The truth was, he thought that if he let go of her, then she would fade away and disappear forever and never come back to him.

"It was in my first battle with Majin Buu. Right before I was about to..." He trailed off at the remembrance. It pained him greatly to think about it at all. In that moment of self sacrifice, he had stripped his pride bare and committed an act a warrior was not supposed to. He had sacrificed his own life to win the battle, to save the others.

To save Bulma and Trunks.

It was unheard of for a warrior to do such a thing, on Vegeta-sei it would have been seen as an act of cowardice. Saiya-jin warriors fought till the end of their last breath, they would never forfeit a battle and sacrifice their own lives to save others. It was just not the way it was supposed to be done.

Yet Vegeta had stood there before the pink blob and had given up the warrior code, thus sacrificing himself for his loved ones. It was his way of saying 'I'm sorry'. But Bulma would never understand that, how could she? She hadn't been there, she hadn't seen the great power Majin Buu possessed. She didn't understand the code he upheld, and probably never would. Vegeta had no choice but to give up his honorable Warrior Code and self-destruct. He had broken the code, and vowed never to do it again.

It was too bad that it didn't work... Majin Buu had still regenerated himself and so his sacrifice had been in vain. He couldn't help wonder if he had another reason for sacrificing himself. Had not Goku sacrificed himself during the Cell Games, teleporting himself and Cell away from Earth? Maybe it was his way of paying back a debt to the one he called Kakarott.

Vegeta had felt that it was his turn to be everyone's savior. Not Goku. But in many ways, he had also self-destructed for Goku. The bumbling fool had already saved Vegeta's life and so Vegeta felt that he was indebted. Granted that he didn't want to be indebted to a low life third-class baka Saiya-jin. Snapping out of his reverie, he looked down into Bulma's glistening eyes.

He growled and released her from his grasp. "I spoke your name many times, you were just not there to hear me."

She nodded in understanding. She saw a strange, raw emotion burning in his eyes as he looked down at her. She sometimes wondered what went on in the Saiya-jin no Ouji's mind. What was it like to be in there? Blinking back the tears, she looked at him sternly. "So, tell me Vegeta, is there still something inside of you that wishes to be the 'Dark Prince' once again? I want the truth."

He looked up at the diamond cut stars scattered across the sky. Deep in thought, he rubbed the base of his chin. As he blinked slowly, he knew what he would have to do. He would have to break the Warrior Code once again, one final time. But this time, he didn't mind that he had to break it, if it meant obtaining Bulma's love in the process the so be it. Holding his head high, he looked fearlessly into her cerulean eyes.

"Have you ever heard of the Warrior Code, Onna?" He heard himself ask. What he was about to do, would show her just how much his life on Earth meant to him.

Bulma frowned, "What does that have to do with the question I asked you?"

"You will find out soon enough. Now answer my question first."

She sighed and shrugged, "No I haven't heard of this Warrior Code, but let me guess, has it got something to do with pride?" Her voice way dripping with sarcasm.

Vegeta snorted. "Some of it, yes. Most of it, no. Saiya-jin custom had deemed it worthy to build a Warrior Code. Without it, many of our Saiya- jin warriors would have destroyed themselves faster than they engorged food."

Interest began to glow on Bulma's emotionless face. She looked at him suspiciously. "What is this code?"

"It was kept private between the Saiya-jin warriors. Only those who are true Saiya-jin warriors, know of the code. Each warrior must pass a test of strength, endurance and honor. When I accepted Babadi's power, it was for my own purpose and in that I broke the code. However, behind that purpose I had another reason. You were the reason. I wanted to show you that I could be better than Kakarott. You praised him so highly that I felt it should have been me who was praised, not that ignoramus."

"He had already torn my pride to pieces and then he received admiration from my own mate. I was angry, I wanted to show you that I could be just as powerful as he. I thought that if I did this, you would feel the same way about me that you did him." He looked away in disgust. How could he have been so stupid? Why the fuck was he even telling her his most private thoughts..?! He hated himself for his behaviour.

Bulma's lips parted and she blinked several times, trying to comprehend what he was saying. "Vegeta... You know that none of that means a thing to me! How could you even think that I would favour Goku over you?"

"How could I not," he said bitterly. "Saint Kakarott did everything right, what have I ever done right in my life. Tell me that, Onna. My name was known through out the universe, planets trembled at the mention of my name. I was a murderer, a cold-blooded killer and now I am nothing. So tell me, how could you not have favoured him over me?"

She shook her head, "Are you listening to yourself? You sound like a jealous little child Vegeta."

He nodded in agreement, "I am merely telling you what I felt when I accepted Babadi's power. You wanted to know my reasons and so I gave them. I no longer feel that way."

Nodding, she frowned in confusion. "Weren't you talking about the Warrior Code?"

Vegeta rolled his eyes, "Stop being impatient, I shall get to that."

Bulma glared at him.

Vegeta simply smirked and continued, "The time I fought Majin Buu, was the second time I had broken the code of conduct. My reason for it; You and Trunks. After that, I vowed never to break the code again, for breaking the code four times is a loss of honor. Now, at this very moment, I shall break the Warrior Code for the third and final time."

Bulma listened to him silently up until then, "What do you mean?"

He moved cryptically closer to her, making her edge away. Bulma's brow furrowed as she stepped back and he gripped her shoulders. "Break the code again? What are you talking about Vegeta..?"

A strange glint in his eyes caused her to clamp her mouth shut. All she knew was that he was beginning to scare her. Before she could think, she found herself being towed towards a billowing palm tree. As they stood under the tree he looked up at the thick leaves momentarily. "I brought you here for a reason. Not to win your affections with the scenery."

The statement caused her to stand submissively in shock. Earlier, she had accused him of bringing her here purely for his own benefit but now to learn that he had brought her here for a reason, caused her to think twice about the stoic man that stood before her. Why did he have to be so complicated?! Not saying anything, she let him go about his business.

Vegeta hovered into air and tore off four leaves from the palm tree. On Vegeta-sei they would have used the leaf from a similar tree called a Stu- stu. But since they weren't on Vegeta-sei, this would have to do. He was well aware that Bulma was watching him intently, but ignoring her presence for the moment he continued to make the setting for the Py'ar.

The Py'ar was a ritual that was done by non-warriors to bond intimately with their mate. It was a form of marriage in Saiya-jin society. Saiya- jins in Vegeta's time had never performed this ritual because it was claimed to make the warriors 'too weak' and so the ritual had been abolished. Because he and Bulma had never performed the Py'ar, he did not consider Bulma his Tashi, or wife in the earthling custom. It would now go against the code for him to conduct the ritual, as warriors in a high status were forbidden to be joined to a female by Py'ar. Especially if they were from a royal blood line.

Although the King and Queen of Vegeta-sei had 'mated' and somewhat telepathically linked but they had never been joined by Py'ar and so both partners had been allowed to have multiple sexual partners without repercussions. Tonight, he would show Bulma his feelings about her through the Py'ar, he knew that if they were joined by this sacred ritual, then Bulma would be allowed to enter his mind and life, and he would enter her life and mind. They would indefinitely become joined together body, mind and soul.

Once he collected the four thick palm leaves, he lowered himself to the ground to face Bulma's questioning face. "You will find out what I am doing in time."

She looked at him blankly.

He held out his hand. "Do you trust me Onna?"

Reluctantly, she answered. "Do I have a choice?"

"No," he smirked to let her know he was joking.

Instead of her usual smile, she sighed and shrugged. "Lead the way." She placed her small framed hand into his larger one.

Silently, he took her to the middle of the deserted beach. This part had been untouched by the human had and Vegeta had felt content when he found the place. It reminded him of Vegeta-sei somewhat and now he was sharing his safe haven to the only woman who had captured his heart. Bending down at times, he picked up a few large twigs that were strew across the sand. As he neared the geographical point for the Py'ar to take place and slid a glance back at his mate. Even though she was his mate, she was not his Tashi. But this evening would change that and then, he would never have to worry about losing her.

Standing at the points where North and South were aligned, he began to set up the twigs in the sacred symbol of Vegeta-sei, two V's inter linking with one another at the sharp points. Once the base was completed, he laid down all the other debris and started a roaring fire. He had known what to do because he had been taught it in one of his many history lessons of Vegeta- sei. All the while as he was building the fire, he had been muttering a sacred chant under his breath.

"Kinto no sh'adi milai gi torro soguko Tashis nisha'tar gr'in."

Bulma sat down on the sand, growing weary from standing up. She looked at Vegeta as he handled the fire and sniffed as she distinctly heard him mutter something in an alien language. It was all too confusing for her to keep up with his swift movements which he executed so precisely. It was amazing to her how unbelievably intense with concentration he looked. She also knew that no matter how much she had been hurt by him, she would always be affected by his handsome presence and glorious face. Even now, she felt chills up her spine as she watched him perform such a menial task. She wondered how everything about him could ooze perfection. And yet there was a flaw in his personality that even an insect could spot it. She watched with interest as he sprinkled a few grains of sand into the fire, whilst chanting an unknown language.

Vegeta grabbed one of the four big leaves and began to strategically shred it into four pieces by the veins of the leaf. Grimacing, he licked at the leaves. All he knew was that she had better appreciate what he was doing for her. Slowly, he began to power up to half his strength. He let part of his blue aura engulf and surround the leaves. With a raised eyebrow, he watched the leaves dance in the glowing blue light. He pointed his finger at the fire, causing the leaves to be tossed in with the blue aura. He repeated the spoken phrase once more before turning around, and walking towards Bulma to collect her for the next part of the ritual.

Bulma watched with anticipation as he motioned for the glowing blue shredded leaves to be tossed into the fire. She gasped in amazement as she saw the fire burn a bright red and rise up higher than she had ever seen any fire go. She stared fixedly at Vegeta who was now walking towards her with a strange and impassive look on his face.

What was this she had just witnessed? And what on Earth was Vegeta planning to do with her? Panic aroused within her.

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